Entries by Suzzanne Puente

Purchase and Upgrade the home with the same loan.

The FNMA HomeStyle conventional mortgage allows a buyer to purchase a home that needs renovations and include them in the financing.  This facilitates the purchase of the home and the renovations in one loan rather than getting a separate second mortgage or home equity line of credit. The combination of these loans should save closing […]

15 or 30 Year Loan, Which is the Best?

Affordability, stability and flexibility are the three reasons homebuyers overwhelmingly choose a 30-year term.  The payments are lower, easier to qualify for the mortgage and they can always make additional principal contributions. However, for those who can afford a higher payment and commit to the 15-year term, there are three additional reasons: lower mortgage interest […]

First Time Homebuyers

  Fear of the unknown is common among all ages.  Kids, at night, imagine monsters in their closets or under their beds and adults are unsure of what the future might bring. It may be natural for first-time buyers to be unsure of the process because they haven’t been through it before but even repeat […]

Myths or facts about Mortgages

Most parents don’t put a lot of credence in the statements “Everyone is doing it” and “No one does that anymore.”  They’ll dig a little deeper and get the facts of the situation.  Interestingly, when it comes to buying a home, similar common myths continue to prevail surrounding what it takes to buy a home. […]

I want to be your Real Estate go to person.

Being a better homeowner is a full-time job.  It takes good information to make good decisions not only when you buy and sell but all the years you own a home. Think of times when you need advice on financing, taxes, insurance, maintenance, finding reasonable and reliable contractors and lots of other things.  Imagine how […]

Home Equity

Here’s the scenario: you have a project and need to borrow some money, but you want to do it in the most economic manner.  You’ve got a low rate on your existing first mortgage and don’t want to do a cash-out refinance and pay a higher rate.  Is a home equity loan an option? Prior […]

Home Inventory

  Generally speaking, when you need an inventory of your personal belongings, it is too late to make one.  Sure, you can reconstruct it but undoubtedly, you’ll forget things and that can cost you money when filing your insurance claim. Most homeowner’s policies have a certain amount of coverage for personal items that can be […]

Standard Deduction or Itemizing?

  The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 increased the standard deduction to $24,000 for married couples.  There will be some instances that homeowners may be better off taking the standard deduction than itemizing their deductions.  In the past, homeowners would most likely be better off itemizing but the $10,000 limit of state and […]