SOLDbyNat.com Real Estate Services

If you have a mortgage with an escrow account to pay your property taxes and insurance, you expect the company servicing your loan to pay this year’s taxes this year so that you can deduct them on your 2014 income tax return.  After all, your monthly payment includes 1/12 the annual amount so there will be money available for them to be paid on time. IRS requires that expenses must actually be paid in the year that a deduction is to be taken. The predicament occurs when you’ve made your payments but the mortgage company didn’t pay the taxing authority in the tax year they were due.  If they paid your 2014 taxes in January of 2015, they wouldn’t be deductible for you until you file your 2015 income tax return. Verify with your lender after you make the December payment that they did indeed pay your property taxes.  The question for your lender’s customer service is: "Have you or will you pay the 2014 property taxes this year so I...

With fixed rate mortgages as low as they are, most purchasers or owners wanting to refinance might not even consider an adjustable rate loan.   The determining factor should be how long the person plans to be in the home and which mortgage will provide the cheapest cost of housing. For instance, if you compare a $300,000, 30 year term mortgage with a 4.125% rate on the fixed and a 3.25% on the 5/1 adjustable, the breakeven point would be almost seven years assuming the rates adjusted the maximum that they could in each year.   Therefore, if a person is going to stay in the house less than 7 years, the ARM would provide the cheapest cost of housing.  This example shows that at the end of five years, the ARM would generate almost $13,000 savings over the fixed-rate.  On the other hand, this could be a good time for homeowners with an existing adjustable rate mortgage to consider refinancing into a fixed-rate mortgage.   The longer that they int...

FYI - This information is subject to change and may vary amongst lenders. Please consult your lender. There are many complexities to the mortgage process. These mistakes can cost prospective homeowners to be turned down, even after receiving an initial pre-approval letter. Many of the things that make this process complex is completely out of the buyers control. BUT NOT ALL! There are steps you can take as a consumer to make sure your mortgage application stays approved after you've been issued that pre-approval letter. So let's jump right in, here are 12 things that can cause a buyer to be denied after receiving their pre-approval letter! This is by no means an exhaustive list, but I want to help my buyers be able to achieve their dream of home ownership. 1.      Failing to disclose past bankruptcy, foreclosure, or short sale.   There are credit repair companies out there who claim they can remove these items from your credit report. Or i...

CONGRATULATIONS to my darling clients on the purchase of their 1st home! Isn't this the cutest house?! The red door had me at HELLO :-) I first met with this couple a few months before we actively started working together. They had been though a not-so-pleasant experience with another real estate agent and they were a bit weary about moving forward. I totally understood, but didn't want them to miss out on a tremendous opportunity for their young family. We kept in touch and when they were ready, we found this adorable house. Watch the videos below to hear more about their experience.... *LIFE LESSON - We all experience bumps in the road and hiccups in our plans. Once you are confident you are on the right track, stay the course. Regroup and refocus when necessary, but don't give up! If you risk nothing, you gain nothing. *MY TAKEAWAY - We are not always in control of what happens to us, however, we can control how we respond. When closing had to be...

A homeowner’s tax saving benefit is generally realized when they file their federal income tax return after the money has been spent for the interest and property taxes.  Some people look forward to the refund as a means of forced savings but some people need to realize the savings during the year. It is possible to adjust the deductions being withheld from the homeowner’s salary so they realize the benefit of the savings prior to filing their tax returns in the form of more money in their pay checks.  Employees would talk to their employers about increasing their deductions stated on their W-4 form. By increasing the exemptions or deductions, less is taken out of the check and the employee will receive more in each pay check.  If a person over-estimates their exemptions and therefore, underpays their income tax, they might incur interest and would have additional tax to pay when they filed their tax return. Buyers considering this strategy should s...

LARGEST split foyer you’ll ever find! $168,500  This UPDATED & SPACIOUS home boasts of 5 BEDROOMS, 3 FULL BATHROOMS ON A GIGANTIC CORNER LOT!     Interior features include... IN-LAW SUITE in FULLY FINISHED BASEMENT, HUGE UPSTAIRS TEEN SUITE (can be an office, play/game room, etc.), and LARGE WORKSHOP off ROOMY GARAGE. Exterior features include... BRAND NEW ROOF (lifetime warranty, architectural shingles), 2 DECKS (one pre-wired for a pool), HUGE FENCED YARD with CYPRESS TREES that will mature for added privacy, NO HOA, and GREAT COMMUNITY in sought after GRAYSON SCHOOL DISTRICT. Hurry, this gem won’t last long!   Watch the Video Tour See more pictures -  MLS listing Hurry, this gem won't last long.  Contact me to today to schedule a showing (404) 857-2508! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Natasha Liburd Bazile ...