Category Archives: Finance & Credit Issues

No Money Down Financing?

Posted on October 25, 2019 by Joyce Albert

This gallery contains 2 photos.


Yes!  . . . and it is not a gimmick nor is it VA. It is a little known federal program called USDA Rural Development. Unlike most loans, a USDA-RD loan is unique in that the property itself is the … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Who is a Likely Buyer for a ‘Bond for Deed’?

Posted on March 2, 2019 by Joyce Albert

. . . an important question if you are the seller So many people with poor credit want to know if they can do a Bond for Deed. The short answer? NO ….at least not with my sellers. Although I am an advocate for … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Power of Interest

Posted on January 2, 2019 by Joyce Albert

This gallery contains 1 photo.


If you listen to the news even once in awhile, you’ve probably heard a commentator make reference to interest rates… and how they are helping to stimulate the economy. If the whole topic about interest rates makes you yawn, wake up!!  You … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Bond for Deed’ – A Type of Owner Finance

Posted on April 25, 2017 by Joyce Albert

This gallery contains 15 photos.


What is a Bond for Deed? A Bond for Deed is actually a Deed in Trust and is used as a type of owner financing. It is in fact, an interim finance program whereby the deed is held in trust by a bonded … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Improve Credit Scores with NO MORE Late Payments

Posted on January 5, 2014 by Joyce Albert
Increase Income

This gallery contains 2 photos.


If you earn enough to pay your bills, but are always just a day ot two late, this small adjustment to your bill paying methods could save you lots of money and add an add’l 50 points to your credit score. … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Free Money for First Time Homebuyers

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Joyce Albert

This gallery contains 1 photo.


Yes!   . . . And it’s called a ‘Soft Second’ A ‘soft second’ is money provided only to first time homebuyers. The program will provide up to 20% for a down payment (limited to $30,000 and a $200,000 home price … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Free Credit Scores

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Joyce Albert

This gallery contains 10 photos.


… and Credit Reports Quite often people may know their credit isn’t ‘stellar’, but when thinking about buying a home, they would like to know ahead of time just how bad (or good) it is. . . and often to their surprise, they … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

FHA Loans

Posted on June 25, 2011 by Joyce Albert

What is an FHA loan? The word ‘loan’ is a bit of a misnomer, since Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans are not loans at all. What the FHA does is insure loans so that lenders can offer mortgage assistance to … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

401K Funds Used for a Down Payment

Posted on June 25, 2011 by Joyce Albert

Reprint from The Mortgage Professors Website, April 19, 2004, Revised November 28, 2006, October 2, 2007, Reviewed April 10, 2011 —  © 2011 Mortgage Professor The cost of using funds in a 401K as down payment should be compared with … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Pre-QUALIFICATION or Pre-APPROVAL?

Posted on June 18, 2011 by Joyce Albert

What’s the difference??? There are three types of home-sales that require you to be Pre-Approved. REO’s (home foreclosures) Short Sales (sale price is lower than the sellers mortgage payout) ‘Relos’ (homes being sold by a seller’s relocation company) Add to that, ordinary … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Loan Pre-Approval – Who needs it?

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Joyce Albert
credit score

This gallery contains 10 photos.


“If I’m not buying a repo or a ‘short sale’, why do I have to be pre-approved?”  The answer to this will quickly become obvious once you understand what it means to be a seller in today’s market. In fact, … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Repos, Short Sales, and Pre-Approval… What Every Buyer Needs to Know

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Joyce Albert

This gallery contains 5 photos.


OK….this is it. 2012.  The year everyone says we will see more repos and ‘short sales’ than in 2010 or 2011. As bad as that sounds, it’s a huge opportunity for buyers. Unfortunately there are so many buyers who are … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mortgage Choices: FHA 203k? …or HomePath Loan?

Posted on May 1, 2011 by Joyce Albert

This gallery contains 1 photo.


In this market, agents are quite often asked which is better… An FHA 203k or a Fannie Mae Homepath loan? The following is a reprint from a blog by Justin McHood who works for Academy Mortgage and is based in … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Can’t Afford Your Mortgage? Read on. . .

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Joyce Albert

This gallery contains 3 photos.


Have you recently suffered a major financial loss and can no longer afford your house note? Have you already missed one or more payments and the mortgage company is stressing you out with harassing phone calls and letters? Do you … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

What is a Short Sale?

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Joyce Albert

This gallery contains 7 photos.


A ‘short sale’ occurs anytime the net proceeds from a sale of a home are less than the amount needed to pay out the mortgage and any other liens that might be against a property. What You Need to Know … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Rehab a Home with HUD’s 203k Loan

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Joyce Albert

This gallery contains 2 photos.


The following is a reprint courtesy of HUD.Cov, US Dept of Housing and Urban Development The Section 203(k) loan program is HUD’s primary program for the rehabilitation and repair of single family properties. As such, it is an important tool … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Do-It-Yourself Credit Repair

Posted on April 10, 2011 by Joyce Albert

This gallery contains 6 photos.


Have you had a bankruptcy in the past? Had debts that went to ‘Collection” and were written off? Do you think because bill collectors don’t call anymore, it’s all forgotten? Wrong!!  Not only is it not ‘forgotten’, you have to … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments