Saturday, August 14th
10AM to 2PM
Refreshments will be served

3 different floor plans available to walk-thru!

Please contact Justin Davis (910) 265-0694 with any questions.

Directions: Hwy 24/258 Towards Richlands, Left on Gregory Fork Road (orange painted produce stand on corner), Drive about 3 miles.
Take Left on Luther Banks Rd (sign is missing)… there is a one story brick house immediately to the right of where you need to turn left.
Drive approximately 2 miles, turn left on Ashbury Park Lane. 131 Ashbury Park Lane is on left hand side of road just beyond the bend.

Military service is a tough job, but it comes with privileges at tax time.
By Kimberly Lankford, Kiplinger.com

Service members get a tax-free housing allowance, can qualify for tax-free pay while serving in a combat zone and have an extended tax-filing deadline while deployed — giving them up to 180 days after returning from a combat zone to file their tax return.

They can also stockpile extra money for retirement in tax-deferred accounts. Not only can military personnel stash up to $16,500 in the federal Thrift Savings Plan in 2010, but they can also contribute all of their tax-exempt combat-zone pay (as long as total TSP contributions for the year don’t exceed $49,000). Tax-exempt pay that goes into the TSP comes out tax-free in retirement. At the same time, they can contribute up to $5,000 to an IRA ($6,000 if 50 or older), even if their entire yearly income is tax-exempt combat pay.

Homeowner breaks. And now service members serving outside the U.S. for at least 90 days between December 31, 2008, and May 1, 2010, have an extra year to qualify for the $8,000 first-time home-buyer credit or the $6,500 credit for current homeowners. They have until April 30, 2011, to sign a contract and until June 30, 2011, to close on the new house. Normally, if homeowners don’t live in the new house for at least three years, they have to repay the tax credit. But there’s an exception for members of the military who have to relocate because of government orders.

Military families also get a special break when they sell their homes. Most homeowners need to live in a house for at least two of the five years leading up to the sale in order to claim tax-free profits of up to $250,000 ($500,000 if married filing jointly). But because they move frequently, military families need to live in the house for only two of the preceding ten years in order to qualify if they are on qualified official extended duty, which means living at least 50 miles from home or in government quarters.

Provided by Bill Calder of Cunningham Mortgage

It is better to compromise on the home than the location. Changes can be made to the home, but you can’t move it! Here are some tips to be sure you choose wisely.

1) Test drive the location. Pretend you already live there and try the commute to work. Check out the traffic flow during rush hour.

Visit the neighborhood at different hours. You can check to see if there are children in the neighborhood the same age as yours, you can see activity and even meet some of your neighbors!

Do you prefer a more secluded or private area or do you like to be around people and activity? How much traffic is in the neighborhood?

Check the schools, visit the school during the day and speak to people who have children in the same school. Ask for information on the school’s scholastic achievements.

If you are near retirement, does the location work for you? Near shopping? Secluded? Near a hospital?

Do you like being located near restaurants and entertainment?

Work with a trusted Real Estate agent, and rely on them to help you find information on the Community. They will know where the library is to be found, what school district your home is in, where the local mall and entertainment is located, etc.

1) Not knowing your credit score – If you have decided it is time to buy a house, find out exactly what your credit score is. Check your credit history for errors first and correct it if necessary. Often a Mortgage Broker can do a prequalification and advise you how to improve your credit score.

2) Not paying a qualified home inspector to inspect the home. Big mistake, the cost of a home inspection can be much less than repairs later on. Also you may be able to bargain with the seller to have some repairs done prior to closing. If the repairs are structural or pertaining to the proper functioning of the home, the seller is usually more agreeable to repairs. Your Realtor will help you negotiate any repairs.

3) Not finding out insurance costs. Be sure to get more than one quote on insurance, in certain areas, insurance can be more than anticipated – for example if the house is located in a flood zone. Be sure to check for flood zone information prior to purchasing.

4) Not knowing the amount of property taxes you will be paying. Check the amount of property taxes you will be paying. Ask your Realtor or your attorney for this information, prior to signing an offer to purchase. These may be escrowed (included in your monthly payment) depending on the type of loan you obtain.

5) Making large purchases. Do not make any major purchases (a car for instance) in the months prior to applying for a home loan, ESPECIALLY after you have applied, a payment or even several small purchases can prevent you from closing the home loan. Wait until your loan is closed to purchase furniture or appliances.

6) Not saving all that you can. Often in this market the seller will be willing to pay closing costs or part of the closing costs, however, you may have closing expenses. Your Lender or your Real Estate Agent will discuss this with you upfront.

7) Not knowing all your choices for financing. VA Loans usually require no down payment. FHA usually requires 3% down payment – this varies. USDA Loans may be available with no down payment and may be Government assisted. Contact your Realtor to obtain information on what type of loan you are eligible for and which one is the best choice for you.

USA Today

Sales of new homes surged 27% last month exceeding expectations. The Commerce Department said Friday that new home sales rose in March to an adjusted annual sales pace of 411,000. It was the strongest month since July 2009 and the biggest monthly increase in 47 YEARS! The median sales price was $214,000.

The National Association of Realtors has announced that pending home sales rose in
February, in response to the homebuyer tax credit. The Pending Home Sales index rose 8.2% to 97.6%. The data reflects pending sales. There is a lag time of approximately two months to track those closings.
Lawrence Yun, National Association of Realtors Chief Economist, says “The rise in buyer contact activity may signal the early stages of a second surge of home sales this Spring.”

Jacksonville Daily News – Forbes magazine survey rated 205 cities in recession recovery. Jacksonville NC is the No 1 place to find a job. Out of 205 metropolitan areas in recession, Jacksonville is the only area in full-bore expansion, according to MSNBC’s research The Marine Corps presence has helped keep the economy stable, said Ralph Leeds, director of the NC Employment Security Commission in Jacksonville.

Low down payment and flexible mortgage terms (fixed-rate, adjustable-rate, or interest-only)
You may qualify even if your credit is less than perfect
Available to both owner occupiers and investors
Down payment (at least 10% for investors) can be funded by your own savings; a gift; a grant; or a loan from a nonprofit organization, state or local government, or even an employer.
No mortgage insurance*
No appraisal fee

Ten percent down, as you know, is hard to get these days. Plus the HomePath Special Financing Program requires no appraisal and no mortgage insurance. Fannie Mae requires no appraisal. Most banks and asset companies simply get 2-3 BPO’s, but not Fannie Fannie Mae gets an appraisal and a BPO to determine listing prices.
The program does have requirements. You have to use an approved HomePath lender. You can go to the HomePath web site to find HomePath approved lenders.
Another condition of the HomePath program is that only certain Fannie Mea REO properties are in the program

Send Choice Jacksonville Realty an e-mail to JoyatChoice@Hotmail.Com . We would be happy to run a search for you and find some good Fannie Mae investment property candidates for you.

If cash is a bit tight, or you simply like to get into your investment homes with little down, the Fannie Mae Homepath program may be the ticket.
As always, we are here to answer questions anytime… well maybe not at 2:00 am.

The sun is starting to shine! Spring is in the air. We are all tired of being inside – new plans are being made. Fresh starts are fun! Many of us will begin looking for another home or our first home. Here are some things you can do to make the process fun and productive.
1) Go online and checkout realtor.com or visit choicehomz.com for free access to 3 separate MLS sites. You will find the Jacksonville area MLS, which includes Hubert, Richlands, Sneads Ferry, Maysville, Beulaville, Swansboro and more. Also the Topsail Island MLS – which includes Surf City, Sneads Ferry, Holly Ridge and Hampstead and the Carteret County MLS which includes Swansboro and more extensive list of homes for sale in Carteret County and the surrounding area. First choose the area you are most interested in and then enter criteria such as bedrooms, baths, and most important, the location you are interested in. Do a search and bookmark or save everything that looks interesting to you.
2) Choose the right Real Estate Agent. Make it someone with whom you feel you can be yourself and share your wishes as well as needs in a home. Choose someone you feel you can trust to work in your best interest. It is important that your agent LISTENS to you. A Buyers Agency means that your Real Estate Agent will be working for YOU, and this service is free.
3) Choose an Agent and discuss with them your criteria (we have videos online to enable you to meet your agent). First impressions are important. Advise your agent of the homes which interest you and ask them if they know of any others matching your criteria. Ask the agent to email the listings to you and check them out before meeting.
4) Finally, make an appointment to go into the office and discuss with a loan officer the price of home you are interested in to be sure you qualify for that amount or more. Your Agent will offer a choice of loan officers and even call the lender for you. You may prequalify over the phone.
5) AT LAST! Time to look at the best houses for your needs. Don’t eliminate something that looks great even if it doesn’t meet ALL your criteria. No home is perfect and you may love it and decide that it is OK if it has 1 ½ baths versus two. Keep in mind that square footage is not always the determining factor for roominess. The floor plan makes a huge difference!
6) When you arrive to meet your Agent, bring a pad and pencil and your camera. You’d be surprised at how much you can forget when looking at several homes! Make notes and photograph some of your favorite features.
7) Once you have picked a home that works for you – your Real Estate agent will lead you through the inspections, survey, insurance, taxes, any warranties, and give you guidance in finding the right answers. The Agent will give you a list of contractors, home inspectors, lenders, insurance agents, etc. from which to choose.

HAPPY HOUSE HUNTING!!

Squirrels are ALWAYS facing intense competition amid threatening socioeconomic conditions. Much of what will equip us to succeed despite these challenging economic times can be discerned by observing their behaviors. They are:

1. early risers.
2. highly industrious; endlessly striving.
3. not intimidated by those larger than they are.
4. undaunted that the odds are stacked heavily against them.
5. not expectant of help from others; they take responsibility for themselves
6. able to accomplish amazing feats because they’re willing to try what those who are smarter than they are believed to be impossible.
7. willing to turn themselves upside down to get what they need.
8. establishers of territory or niche, and are willing to be aggressive in defending it.
9. perpetually instantly to opportunities and threats.
10. FAST – responding instantly to opportunities and threats.
11. instantaneous decision makers when necessary.
12. willing to be off balance, even to fail.
13. willing to take the leap, to take risks, to get what they want.
14. able to ignore their wounds, and continue their mission.
15. resolved not to cower when under peer attack.
16. not intimidated by those of larger size.
17. confident. They’re committed to outlasting or outsmarting their enemies.
18. sophisticated communicators.
19. willing to be thought of and treated as pets if that helps them succeed.
20. not passive; they behave commensurate with being in competition for survival.
21. action oriented, regardless of their fears. They have a fighting spirit rather than a victim mentality.
22. unconquerably persistent. When confronted by barriers, they find another way to win. They just never, Never, NEVER give up.

Source: Carolina Business – March 2010