Kathryn Jean Keller

NMLS# 57801 • Mortgage Loans

The Top Questions Everyone Should Ask Before Renovating A Home

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The Top Questions Everyone Should Ask Before Renovating A HomeThere are a lot of people who are looking to improve the home in which they live. One of the top ways to do this is to renovate the building; however, it is also important for everyone to make sure they know exactly what they are doing before they get started. There are several questions that everyone should ask before they start a home renovation project.

Is The Home Worth Renovating?

One of the top reasons why people renovate a home is that they think this is going to increase the value of the home. While this is certainly possible, everyone has to run the numbers and make sure they are either going to recoup their investment when they sell the home or that they are going to be in the home for a long time before they sell it. If the home is worth renovating, then it is fine to proceed.

What Is The Budget On The Renovation Project?

Next, it is also important for everyone to know what the budget is one the renovation project. Remember that there are always going to be expenses that are not foreseen, so be sure to include some room at the top in case the contractors come asking for a budget increase. They almost always do.

What Are The Offers On The Home Renovation Project?

Finally, it is also important to collect multiple offers. Talk to designers, contractors, and architects. Collect a few referrals. Then, talk to all of these individuals and see how much money it is going to cost to complete the project. This is one of the top ways that everyone is able to save money on their home renovation projects and make sure they get exactly what they asked for when the project started.

Answer These Questions Before Starting A Home Renovation Project

By planning ahead of time, everyone is able to plan accordingly, making sure they know what they are doing before the project gets started. When homeowners take the time to plan a home renovation project, they increase the chances of the project being a success. This includes not only an aesthetically pleasing project but a wise financial investment as well.

Understanding Title Insurance and How It Impacts Your Mortgage Loan

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Understanding Title Insurance and How It Impacts Your Mortgage LoanWhen you buy a home, you will be given a title to your new property. A title is a legal document that proves you own the property, and in most cases the title excludes other parties from making an ownership claim.

However, not all titles give you free and clear ownership of the property. Title insurance protects you and your lender from title disputes and other ownership issues that may arise. Here are just a few ways that title insurance can impact your mortgage.

How Title Insurance Protects A Lender

There are certain situations in which someone might put a lien on your property. New owners might see liens if the previous owner failed to pay the mortgage, if a contractor did work without the new owner’s consent or if the previous owner owes unpaid property taxes.

If these liens were not disclosed prior to the sale, a buyer could face a situation where a third party is making a claim to the property. Should the title by voided in court, the insurance policy would repay the lender the outstanding balance on the mortgage. The policy is valid until the mortgage loan is paid off.

When a homeowner refinances, it may be necessary to purchase a new title loan policy, as the new loan will technically pay off the old loan.

How Title Insurance Protects A Buyer

Title loan policies do not just protect the lender. In many cases, the lender will require the buyer’s title insurance to include an owner policy. This policy confirms that the buyer owns the title and that the title is free from defects.

The policy is in effect for as long as the buyer or his or her descendants own the house. Should a homeowner have his or her title challenged, the policy will cover all losses up to the amount of the original purchase price of the home.

How Much Does Title Insurance Cost?

The cost of title insurance can vary between locations. Sometimes, the purchase contract will stipulate that the seller is responsible for buying title insurance.

If this is the case, the buyer may pay nothing. However, it is common to pay on a sliding scale. Title insurance is usually a few hundred dollars for houses selling for under $500,000.

Title insurance is a great way to protect your investment in your home. It insures you against ownership disputes and liens, which means your house is truly yours. For more information about title insurance, contact a qualified mortgage professional in your area.

Three Do-It-Yourself Seasonal Home Improvement Projects

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Three Do-It-Yourself Seasonal Home Improvement Projects Owning a home comes with a lot of joy and responsibility. Many homeowners are looking for improvement projects that they can do themselves. There are a few options that rise to the surface. Take a look at some of the fun projects that most homeowners can do at home!

Perform Routine Maintenance on the HVAC System

One of the top projects that homeowners can perform involves routine HVAC maintenance. In order to make sure the HVAC system is running appropriately, it is important to service it regularly. Even though there are a few tasks that have to be left to those with the right training, there are other tasks that the homeowners can do themselves. This includes wiping off the breaker, cleaning the exterior, and even cleaning the blower with a vacuum.

Seal Home Areas Contributing To A Draft

Another key project to consider involving sealing areas that might be leading to drafts. Some of the most common drafts come from the doors and windows. If there is a draft coming into the home, then this could lead to higher utility bills. Applying foam to fill in areas around the frames of windows and doors to prevent heat and air from escaping to the outdoors. This could help homeowners save a large amount of money on their electric bills.

Eliminate Entry Areas For Certain Pests

Some of the most common pests that homeowners have to deal with include ants, cockroaches, and termites. By taking the time to look for entry points under the cabinets, floorboards, and doors, homeowners can make sure these nuisances are problems of the past. Foam and steel wool works well for deterring the invasive natures of these insects. Make sure to remove dust and debris from the area to ensure that all gaps are filled.

Improve The Home During The Offseason

These are just a few of the top home improvement projects that homeowners might want to consider during the offseason. It is a smart idea to try to tackle these projects before the weather gets too cold. That way, homeowners will be prepared for the temperature to drop and can run their heaters without having to worry about their utility bills rising too much.

Shopping For Home Improvement Supplies Safely

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Shopping For Home Improvement Supplies SafelyThe coronavirus pandemic has impacted everyone and everyone is trying to go about their lives in a safe manner. With so many people spending time at home, now is the perfect time to conduct home improvement projects. At the same time, carrying out a home improvement project is going to require supplies.

While many people are trying to avoid going to the store to buy supplies right now, there are also no contact ways to shop for home improvement supplies. Take a look at the tips below and collect supplies for the home improvement project in a safe way.

Invest In Curbside Pickup

There are lots of home improvement stores that have curbside pickup options available. Even some of the biggest department stores in the country are offering the service. Therefore, take a look at the website of some of the local stores. Then, see if they do curbside pickup. If they do, then it might be possible to place an entire order online. Then, simply pull up to the curb and have it loaded into the trunk. 

Have The Supplies Delivered

In some cases, it might even be possible to have these supplies delivered to the home. Even though this is going to come with an extra cost, there are some home improvement projects that are large enough to make this option worth it. That way, not only is this a no-contact way of shopping but it also prevents the supplies from being damaged on the way to the house. 

Hire A Personal Shopper

There are lots of people who are looking for ways to avoid going to any store right now. This includes not only grocery stores but home improvement stores as well. Therefore, it might be possible to use an app to hire a personal shopper to do all of the shopping. This is a great way to not only have the supplies delivered to the home but also a boy having to take a trip to the store. 

Shop For Home Improvement Supplies Safely

These are a few of the most important tips to keep in mind when it comes to shopping for home improvement supplies during the coronavirus pandemic. These no contact tips can help people pull off home improvement projects safely without having to set foot in a store.

 

Understand Coronavirus Mortgage Relief Options

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Understand Coronavirus Mortgage Relief OptionsThe coronavirus pandemic has impacted everyone. For homeowners, they might be wondering how they are able to keep up with their mortgage in light of shelter in place orders, financial difficulties, and unemployment problems.

Federal agencies and regulatory authorities are putting relief measures in place during the pandemic to help people who might have trouble keeping up with their mortgage. When it comes to coronavirus mortgage relief, there are a few tips that everyone should keep in mind. 

Talk To The Lender First

The first step is always to talk to the lender directly and see if there are relief options. The last thing A lender wants us to have a bunch of loans go into default. When this happens, the lender might be forced to sell the property for a significantly reduced cost, meaning they will lose a significant amount of money. They do not want their borrowers to foreclose either. Therefore, as long as they are given enough notice, they should be able to help borrowers by adjusting their payment plans. 

Understand The Options

Everyone has a different type of mortgage and every contract is different. Borrowers me to take a look at the details of their plans and make sure they understand what their options are. For example, borrowers with certain types of loans might have lenders who are obligated to offer deferred or reduce mortgage payments for a period of six months. This is called forbearance. 

This means that borrowers do not have to pay their mortgage for a few months and will not be charged late fees or added interest. It is important to know that they will owe this money eventually. All borrowers need to read their contracts to see if they qualify for forbearance. 

Foreclosures And Evictions Have Been Halted

Finally, during the pandemic, Federal officials have imposed a nationwide halt when it comes to foreclosures and evictions. This moratorium only affects borrowers with certain plans. Therefore, everyone needs to read their contracts closely to see if they’re playing qualifies. Furthermore, there are certain cities, counties, and states that have halted foreclosures for everybody. 

The coronavirus pandemic has been difficult for everyone. It is important to keep these mortgage relief options in mind and ask for help from professionals. That way, everyone can understand all of your options.

 

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