My Blog

For Immediate Release

January 26, 2009

Contact: Dana Mundy, 509.735.6603, dana@americhoicehomeloans.com

WINE AND CHOCOLATE TOUR TO RAISE FUNDS FOR TRI-CITIES HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Tri-Cities, WA AmeriChoice Home Loans of Richland, WA will host the Yakima Valley Wine and Chocolate Tour on February 14, 2009. Profits will go to support Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity helps local families achieve the dream of home ownership through corporate and private donations as well as community support.

“It is my goal to support the efforts of the Habitat for Humanity because I believe home ownership can unite a community. We are thrilled to be a part of such a dynamic organiation” says Dana Mundy of AmeriChoice Home Loans. This tour is the first of two scheduled for the year.

The wine tour will depart at 10:00 am on the 14^th and return at 5:00 pm. Tickets cost $20.00 and include snacks and desserts on the bus. Tickets are going fast. The first bus is sold out. For more information on contact AmeriChoice Home Loans at 509.735.6603.

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You've put on your best dress, make-up and dolled up your hair, arranged for a sitter and your husband got off work early.  All this work for one quiet night to enjoy each other and a great dinner.  You arrive early for your reservation and you wait.  You wait and you wait and you wait.  Thirty minutes after your arrival you are seated at a small table near the kitchen where it appears the air conditioning is stuck on.  The waiting continues.  It's fifteen minutes before your waiter appears and he seems to be in a fowl mood.  But this is your big night so you're willing to shrug it off.  You place your drink orders and you wait. You wait and you wait and you wait.  He finally brings your drinks.  Well not your drinks at least not the drinks you ordered.  But this is your big night and you're willing to shrug it off.  You place your order and they are out of your favorite dish.  But this is your big night and you're willing to shrug it off.  But why?  Why are you willing to settle for less than PERFECT SERVICE?  Maybe you have had so many experiences like this that you no longer believe you are entitled to EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE. 

I disagree.  I believe that at the very least I deserve great service.  I believe that the time has come to expect the best service available and that we should no longer accept anything less. 

At AmeriChoice Home Loans we believe you deserve service beyond your expections.  Your home loan is one of the largest financial decisions that you will ever make and we don't take it lightly.  If you are considering a new home purchase or a refinance allow the experts at AmeriChoice Home Loans to guide you through the process and give you service that will not just meet your expectations it will blow them away.

Is your lease up?  Are you still on the fence about buying a home?  Now is the time make your move.  Uncle Sam is offering up to $7500 in the form of a tax credit (interest free loan) not only can you qualify for this incentive, owning a home can provide you ongoing tax savings.  While it's true that zero down loan programs aren't as readily available, they are still an option.  Don't sit around and let this opportunity pass you by.  Mortgage rates are currently under 5% (for qualified buyers).

To find out if NOW is the best time for you to buy your first home give the experienced team at AmeriChoice Home Loans a call.  Buying a home doesn't have to be an adventure.  Let us guide you to the doors of your first home.

Are you looking for a new home? Have you explored the online network of for sale by owner websites?  The internet is a powerful tool.  More than 80% of home buyers use the internet to research their home purchases.  There are a number of great sites that allow you FREE access to information on for sale by owner homes.  I have been working with local sellers in the Tri-Cities, Walla Walla and Yakima for over three years.  You can access a large database of for sale by owner homes by going to www.homesbylender.com and choosing the state and city that you are interested in.  It's simple and it's free.  Can't find the home that you are looking for?  You can register for the Buyer Advantage Program and our system will notify you every time a home that meets your criteria is added to the site. 

Now, shopping for a home and buying a home are two different things.  There are a lot of legalities that you will need to be aware of and if you are dealing directly with a seller, you must do your homework or better yet hire a Realtor to represent you.  A Realtor is trained to negotiate, they know the laws and they can help protect you during the home buying process and in Washington State, the seller pays their commission.  Buying a home is an emotional time and making home buying decisions when your emotions are running the show, can end up costing you.

Be smart. Do your homework.  Be prepared.  Buying a home is one of the best financial decisions that you will ever make and now is a great time to do it.  The Tri-Cities economy is strong.  The job market is strong and that means a strong housing market.  Stop paying your landlord's mortgage and start investing in your own future.

Buying a home vs. renting is a big decision that takes careful consideration.  But the rewards of home ownership are great.  For many years, purchasing real estate has been considered an extremely profitable investment.  It is an achievement that offers a sense of pride, financial stability and     potential tax advantages.  Yes, there are certain responsibilities associated with owning a home.  Landlords will often argue the benefits of renting, and for obvious reason.  If you are renting, you're helping them make their mortgage payment.

The numbers are staggering if you look at it this way.  If you are paying $1000 per month for an apartment, and you know your rent will increase 5% every year, then over the next five years you will pay your landlord $66,309.  Your landlord thanks you.

However, if you were to purchase your own home or condominium, you would be well on your way toward building equity in that same five-year period.  In addition to building equity, there are tax advantages that come into play with home ownership.  Depending on your tax bracket, owning a home is often less expensive than renting after taxes.

There are many different types of loan options available, including "low" and "no" down payment mortgage programs. 

Housing is an expense that takes a big bite out of the monthly budget.  If you are a renter and feel that "home" is more than someplace to hang your hat, think about the advantages of purchasing real estate.  It may be time to take the step into building your personal net worth as a home owner.

When I was growing up I learned about life from fairy tales.  Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White were my role models.  They were all lovely maidens waiting around for Prince Charming to come rescue them.  In these stories it was Prince Charming that provided the "Happily Ever After".  Real women in the real world aren't waiting around.  According the National Association of Realtors® nearly 25% of the homes sold in the United States are sold to single women that is nearly triple the number sold to single men.  The Joint Center for Housing Studies credits single women for more than one-third of the growth in real estate ownership since 1994.

This fact is astonishing considering that until Congress amended the Fair Housing Act in 1974 providing that no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, national origin, religion, or sex, be excluded from purchasing a home. Prior to that landmark amendment many banks would not even consider the income of a woman because it was understood that she would quit her job to have children.  Women have come a long way in a very short time.

Women homebuyers come in all shapes, sizes, ages and from all walks of life.  Some are divorced, never married and some are single mothers.  Each has a unique tale and a common thread.  Women are taking charge of their financial future.  They don't need Prince Charming.  With today's low interest rates many women are taking advantage of low down payment loan programs.  The fact is buying a home is affordable and with the tax benefits your mortgage payment can be less than your rent. 

If you're a potential single woman home buyer who is considering making an investment in real estate, Jennifer Musselman's book, Own It: The UPS and DOWNS of homebuying for women who go it alone, will help you make that decision with confidence.  You can have Happily Ever After in your very own castle.

I've been in the lending business for over 15 years and I am still amazed at the level of "dis-service" clients continue to receive.  I was recently contacted my a woman "Lisa" who had been working with an online mortgage company.  Lisa and her husband had applied for a VA home loan back in November.  They made an offer on a home on five acres.  The purchase price was $170,000 which included an addendum stating that at closing the seller would be provided $2500 so that in the near future he could connect the property to public irrigation.  RED FLAG!!  VA never allows seller concessions.  This should have been explained to the borrowers at application, not 6 weeks later.  Even after six weeks the lender said they thought they could make it happen.  Fortunately Lisa decided to explore her options.  Since concessions aren't allowed, I sought an alternative.  Lisa and her husband thought they lacked the resources to come up with the $2500 necessary to purchase the supplies needed to connect the irrigation.  I contacted the Realtor and worked out an alternative solution to the problem.  I asked the Realtor that if the buyer agreed would they lower the sales price by $2500 and elimate the concession.  They agreed.  I contacted Lisa and proposed that we would reduce our fees so that she could recoup her $1000 earnest money, then explained to her that if she closed in January she would not have to make a mortgage payment until March.  Her paymen was $1200 per month.  Add that to her $1000 earnest money and she had the funds necessary to complete the transaction.  This is a much much simpler way to get the job done and everybody wins. 

The moral of this story?  Now more than ever it is important to seek advice from a local, experienced professional.