The Foreclosure Crisis: 10 Years Later

CoreLogic recently released a report entitled, United States Residential Foreclosure Crisis: 10 Years Later, in which they examined the years leading up to the crisis all the way through to present day.

With a peak in 2010 when nearly 1.2 million homes were foreclosed on, over 7.7 million families lost their homes throughout the entire foreclosure crisis.

Dr. Frank Nothaft, Chief Economist for CoreLogic, had this to say,

“The country experienced a wild ride in the mortgage market between 2008 and 2012, with the foreclosure peak occurring in 2010. As we look back over 10 years of the foreclosure crisis, we cannot ignore the connection between jobs and homeownership. A healthy economy is driven by

10 Steps to Buying a Home This Summer [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights:

• If you are thinking of buying a home, you may not know where to start.
• Here is a simple list of 10 steps that you will go through to purchase a home.
• Make sure to ask your agent for details about each step and what else may be required in your area!

Top 5 Reasons You Should NOT FSBO

Rising home prices coupled with a lack of inventory in today’s market may cause some homeowners to consider selling their home on their own (known in the industry as a For Sale By Owner). However, a FSBO might not be a good idea for the vast majority of sellers.

The top 5 reasons are listed below:

1. Online Strategy for Prospective Purchasers

Recent studies have shown that 95% of buyers search online for a home. In comparison, only 13% use print newspaper ads. Most real estate agents have an Internet strategy to promote the sale of your home. Do you?

2. Results Come from the Internet

Where did buyers find the home they actually purchased?

• 50% on the Internet
• 7% from a yard sign
• 28%

Americans Rank Real Estate Best Investment for 6 Years Running! [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights:

• Real estate has outranked stocks/mutual funds, gold, savings accounts/CDs, and bonds as the best long-term investment among Americans for the last 6 years.
• Stock owners are more positive about real estate than stocks as an investment.
• Of the 4 listed, real estate is the only investment you can also live in!

Know What to Expect at Your Home Inspection

So you made an offer and it was accepted. Now, your next task is to have the home inspected prior to closing. Agents oftentimes make your offer contingent on a clean home inspection.

This contingency allows you to renegotiate the price you paid for the home, ask the sellers to cover repairs, or in some cases, to walk away. Your agent can advise you on the best course of action once the report is filed.

How to Choose an Inspector

Your agent will most likely have a short list of inspectors that they have worked with in the past that they can recommend to you. HGTV recommendsthat you consider the following five areas when choosing the right home inspector for you:

1. Qualifications – find out

The official first days of Summer are finally here. Naturally, you and your family will be spending more time outside and what’s better than creating your perfect home away from home in the comfort of your backyard. Check out the best backyard DIYs to make your Summer days & nights more fun! 

1. Set up an outdoor movie theater

 If you have the backyard space this one is a no-brainer! After a long hot day, the Summer nights can be quite enjoyable, and there is no better way to spend them than watching a good movie! Set up this easy DIY Backyard theater to really bring in the Summer vibes. Click here for the instructions.

2. Build a super-simple tree house.

 This is a quick weekend project that your kids will love! This tree house is

Artificial plants may never die, but having live plants in your home will make your home look and feel better. Nothing brings life into a home better than well-maintained greenery.  Most indoor trees are easy to take care of and only need adequate water and a spot where they'll get enough light. You can fill your home with trees or just add enough to a room to beautify empty space. Here are the best indoor plants to add life and coziness to your home. 

1. Fiddle Leaf Fig

You probably have a friend who has a Fiddle Leaf Fig tree in their home right now, and for good reason. They only need regular watering and indirect light, and are the perfect size to add a touch of greenery to a room. Be sure not to overwater this

We have worked with countless sellers. The sale of your home relies on a number of factors, and we understand it’s easy for things to fall through the cracks. Don’t let these traps sabotage the sale of your home.

We’re here as a resource for this potentially stressful transaction to be a smooth sail from listing to closing.

Mistake #1 - Not Knowing The Local Market

Knowing the sold price of homes in your neighborhood gives you a good idea of how much you should list your home for. Overpricing can leave your home on the market for longer than anticipated, putting things on hold. We keep track of the neighborhood statistics for you, so you’ll always be up to date.

Mistake #2 - Overlooking Easy Fixes Before An Appraisal

We’ve been there and let’s face it, moving is stressful.

This epic moving checklist will help you stay organized and keep track of even the smallest details.

Feel free to use our checklist to take the guesswork out of moving and put your mind at ease!

One Month To Go:

 1. Read over documents from your movers before signing anything. Don’t let contracts intimidate you by learning about the documents you’ll be receiving ahead of time. We can’t emphasize enough how important this is.

2. Take pictures of all electronics & cables before unplugging them. This will make reconnecting things such as your TV, cable box, and internet much easier.

3. Make a list of all your valuables before they go on the moving truck. Label the boxes you

If you plan on buying a home in Shreveport Bossier, you'll need to show clear proof of your ability to do so. This means showing that you possess the qualifications to take charge of a house and pay what you owe in a responsible and timely manner. One of the most effective ways to do so is to get pre-approved for a mortgage so that you can purchase property in the area without any unnecessary restrictions or delays.

Is It Easy To Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage?

There are several steps that you will need to take in order to quickly get approved as a homeowner. It's easy enough to get pre-approved for a mortgage, provided that you follow several important steps in order to prove that you possess the qualifications necessary to do so. The