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Vikki P.

VA Home Improvement Loans

by Vikki P.

Did you know that aside from buying or building a new home, veterans can actually use VA loans for home improvements?  Everybody knows that updating a home can cost a lot of money but if you’re a veteran who is eligible for a VA loan can borrow as much as 90% of your home equity [...]

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Loan Officer or Realtor: Who Do You Get First?

by Vikki P.

This sounds like a chicken or egg question but should you get a loan officer or a real estate agent first?  Let’s break it down to help you decide:

Realtor first! Believe it or not, real estate agents would want you to start with them.  A realtor would help you get to the right track and [...]

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Attention Home Buyers: Tax Credit Could Go Up!

by Vikki P.

To cope with the gloomy real estate market, lawmakers and businesses call out for an increase in tax credit for first-time home buyers.  Right now, the tax credit is maxed at $8,000 and is expiring this coming fall.  Some business groups suggest the tax credit be increased to $15,000 for first-time home buyers.
According to the [...]

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To Pay or Not to Pay? The VA Loan Funding Fee

by Vikki P.

For guaranteed loans, the law requires the borrower to pay the VA Loan Funding Fee.  A veteran will be asked to pay this upfront during the final stage of the loan application process. Though VA home loans provide veterans a no-money-down benefit, a veteran is asked to pay the VA Funding Fee as a [...]

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10 Things You Must Do After Buying a New Home

by Vikki P.

You finally closed on your new home. Congratulations! The process of checking credit reports, getting a VA loan to finance your purchase, finding a realtor, looking for a house, and moving are over so whats next?

Update your address. Complete an official change of address form online or at a local post office to [...]

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In The News: Sears Remodels US Army Veteran’s Home

by Vikki P.

In Rome, New York, 50 volunteers turned up to remodel Robert and Cathy Ross’s home. Bob Ross, a US Army veteran was chosen to have a remodel courtesy of Sears. Bob has served 22 years in the army. And now, he has two sons who also decided to follow his army footsteps. “One of [...]

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VA Loan Closing Costs 101

by Vikki P.

Whether you are applying for VA loan or any mortgage loan, a borrower has to pay the closing costs. But what exactly are you supposed to and not supposed to pay? If you’ve already began your research, you will notice words such as allowable and non-allowables. Veterans applying for VA mortgages or loans are only [...]

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4 VA Loan Myths Demystified

by Vikki P.

Researching is very crucial if you are currently considering a VA home loan. And while you’re at it, you can’t help but discover some funny information about getting this type of loan.
Here are the truths behind the five of the most common VA loan myths:
Myth No. 1: I have bankruptcy on my credit report [...]

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A Veteran’s Guide to Property Taxes

by Vikki P.

Paying property taxes to your city, town, or county is part of a home owner’s responsibilities. Property taxes are computed based on your home’s assessed value. Don’t get confused because the assessed value and appraised value are two different things. To make it simple, the appraised value is simply the market value of a property [...]

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Help for Homeless Veterans

by Vikki P.

According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV), about 23% of America’s homeless population are veterans. That is somewhere between 529,000 and 840,000 veterans who are homeless at some time each year. Because of this, the Department of Veterans Affairs and other non-profit organizations have devised a number of initiatives to help our homeless [...]

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