LaVina P. Pratt


November 2009

Real Estate as a market is constantly evolving!
You owe it to yourself to keep up on what's happening!



Seven Steps To Improving Your Credit

      Credit is a fickle creature. The smallest change can make it go up and down without warning and can make you the happiest person in the world, or the most disappointed. Why is that? For starters, credit follows you from the moment you start applying for secured or unsecured loans and credit cards or pay bills. Not paying bills or revolving balances on time can keep you from owning a home later down the line. Needless to say, it is very important to keep up with your finances and monitor your credit on a regular basis.
      BankRate.com recently found that 32 percent of Americans surveyed never check their credit reports and have no idea what shape it's in. It's time to find out and do something about it. Here are seven starter steps to take toward improving your credit. And remember, you can contact me at any time to find out how your credit may impact your mortgage financing options.
  • Get your credit report and look for errors. These days getting a credit report should be the first step toward improving your chances of landing credit at the best price possible.
          Simply go online to AnnualCreditReport.com, the only federally-sanctioned and cost-free service, and obtain a free credit report from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Given more>





    • Mortgage Rates
     as of October 29, 2009:
    30 yr. fixed:   5.03
    15 yr. fixed:   4.46
    1 yr. adj:       4.57




    Source: Realty Times




    Don't Let An Over-priced Home Be a Humbling Lesson

          Perhaps the greatest influencer in getting your home sold is entering the market with a home that's priced correctly.
          Over-priced homes won't get favorable attention; they lose out to the ones that are reasonably priced.
          All sellers are looking for the highest price for their home. That's why some sellers want to start at the highest point, maybe even asking a higher price than what they really believe they can get -- the continued readjustment of price can be a humbling ride down to finding the reasonable price to sell the home.
          Still dropping the price sounds like an okay strategy, some sellers think.
          Here's the problem, especially in today's current market conditions where numerous sellers are competing for fewer buyers -- adjusting price down may come too late and cost the seller less in gain than if the home were priced correctly from the start.
          The majority of buyers use buyers' agents to assist them with purchasing a property. Buyers' agents will help the buyers more>



    		Vital Information for First-Time Buyers

          The first-time homebuyer Federal tax credit for $8000, record-low interest rates, and nationwide median home prices dropping to the lowest point in five years, makes this an enticing time to consider buying a home. By the way, that tax incentive isn't truly just for first-time buyers -- it's defined as those not having owned a home in the last three years. Research and knowing your options are critical. Check with your tax accountant for more details. Note that the deadline is rapidly approaching to cash-in on this tax incentive, which runs out November 30th.
          According to an article in August in the Raleigh News & Observer, 10.8 more>





    lavina@planetboise.com

     LaVina @ 208-939-3339 (fax) 208-939-4503





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    Home Staging Helps
    Bring Top Dollar Sale

    How to Stay on Top of
    Mortgage Payments During
    a Short-Term Financial Crisis


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    LaVina P. Pratt
    lavina@planetboise.com
    www.EagleHillsProperties.com
    1-208-939-3339
    Eagle Hills Properties, LLC
    771 Eagle Hills Way
    Eagle, ID 83616
    phone: 1-208-939-3339




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