From the category archives:

For Buyers

Nine Great Reasons to Buy a Home

by Lynette Chapman September 29, 2009

1. Quality of life – a home provides stability and security for you and
your loved ones.
2. Pride of home ownership – it’s your personal haven.
3. Historically low interest rates – around 6.5 percent in the United
States.
4. Appreciation potential – your home investment can grow in value.
5. Equity buildup and debt pay down – homeowners enjoy [...]

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FHA loans for houses that need renovation

by Lynette Chapman August 18, 2009

I ran across this article today about FHA rehab loans. This is a great program available for buyers who want to buy a ‘fixer upper’ and don’t have a lot of cash. The down payment is only 3.5% . With this program you can finance repairs that need to be done on your new Wichita [...]

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Know your rights when applying for a mortgage

by Lynette Chapman August 13, 2009

Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) – How it Can Help You
Those who apply for mortgage loans are not totally in the mercy of the creditors. One of the laws that protect borrowers is the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). If you are planning on purchasing a home in Wichita anytime soon, you might want to [...]

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What makes a good Realtor?

by Lynette Chapman May 6, 2009

There are a lot of real estate agents out there and finding the right one can be hard! As with any business, a strong relationship is important.
But how does this relationship become established?
Really, the same way that any other relationship becomes established – good human qualities with professional skill thrown in.
The top five things you [...]

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$8000 Tax Credit for First Time Buyers

by Lynette Chapman February 17, 2009

President Obama signed the Economic Stimulus bill today. Included in the bill is a First Time Buyer tax credit that is sure to motivate potential buyers. Here are the highlights:

Maximum credit of $8000
Does not have to be repaid
You can take advantage of this if you haven’t owned a home for 3 years
You must buy a [...]

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Federal Housing Tax Credit for First-Time Home Buyers

by Lynette Chapman January 18, 2009

For aspiring home owners who find their goal stubbornly elusive, newly enacted legislation providing a tax credit of as much as $7,500 for first-time home buyers might just be the opportunity of a lifetime.
But like so many of the good things in life, time is of the essence for buyers who want to take advantage [...]

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Despite recent layoff announcements, Wichita is still predicting overall job growth in 2009

by Lynette Chapman November 25, 2008

Wichita State University revised its 2009 jobs forecast downward, but it is still calling for job gains despite the national recession.
The Wichita area will add 1,650 jobs next year, according to the prediction released Monday by the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at WSU.
The forecast calls for job growth across most sectors, with [...]

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Home Maintenance Tip – Avoid Halloween Mishaps

by Lynette Chapman October 15, 2008

Many homeowners get into the spirit of Halloween by turning their homes into haunted houses, carving pumpkins, and handing out treats to costumed kids who come to their door. If you’re a homeowner planning on getting involved in the holiday, following a few precautions can help keep the night from turning scary in an unwanted [...]

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Report: Wichita housing starts down in June – Wichita Business Journal:

by Lynette Chapman October 2, 2008

New Wichita housing starts were down 32 percent year-over-year in June, according to the June TREM report, which was issued by First American Title this week.
The number of building permits issued in June in Derby, Maize and Haysville were up over last year. They were down in Andover and Valley Center.
Through the first six months [...]

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Wichita’s foreclosure rate on the rise, data says

by Lynette Chapman September 22, 2008

Wichita foreclosure rates in July increased slightly in over the previous year, according to First American CoreLogic, a collector of local residential real estate data.
The foreclosure rate in Wichita among outstanding mortgages was 0.74 percent during July, up from 0.69 percent from a year earlier. That was lower than the national foreclosure rate of 1.6 [...]

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