Our Blog - Jim Simpson Realtors, Inc.

Jim Simpson Realtors, Inc.

Jim Simpson Realtors, Inc.
Risk Determines Rate	2/8/2012 1:48 AM
Regardless of what a lender quotes on mortgage rates, the actual rate paid by a borrower is based on a number of variables. Lenders determine whether to loan money and at what rate based on the risk involved with the transaction. Factors that increase the risk that the loan will be repaid will proportionately increase [...]
In search of an honest man	1/30/2012 10:47 AM
Similar to Diogenes’ search for an honest man, homeowners want someone to do quality repairs at a fair price. The task appears reasonably easy but if you’ve ever tried to locate someone to fix something, you know just how difficult it is. Finding a list of companies from a phone book doesn’t mean they’ll be [...]
Deductible Is the Point	1/23/2012 10:36 AM
Points refer to prepaid interest on a home mortgage and can be fully deductible by the buyer in the year paid if the right conditions exist. The points must be used to buy, build or improve a taxpayer’s principal residence but not all fees charged by the lender are necessarily deductible. According to IRS Publication [...]
Choose Your Deduction	1/16/2012 3:03 PM
One third of all U.S. households, 75% of households with more than $75,000 income and most homeowners itemize their deduction on their federal income tax returns. It makes sense because the interest paid on their mortgage and their property taxes probably exceeds the allowable standard deduction. However, with interest rates as low as they have [...]
Forced Savings…Really?	1/10/2012 6:02 PM
Part of the American Dream is to own a home. A home is a place to call your own; a place to raise your family and share with your friends. A home is a place to feel safe and secure. A home is a good investment? In a recent report* by Beracha and Johnson, it [...]
The “Right Size” Home	1/3/2012 1:17 PM
Work hard, buy a home, start a family and continue to upgrade your home until everyone has enough room. This has been the blueprint for lots of homeowners for the last fifty years but there is certainly a shift in thinking that could change all of that. Interestingly, Americans live in much larger homes than [...]
“This Year I’m Going To…”	12/27/2011 4:00 PM
Every year, it seems like the same things are on the list but this could be the year you really do invest in a rental home. Rents are climbing, home prices are cheap and mortgage rates are low for even non-owner occupied properties. A $125,000 home with 20% down payment can easily have a $300 [...]
Last Minute Gifts Without Shopping	12/20/2011 1:04 PM
What do they want? What do they need? Will it fit? Do they already have one? These are the common thoughts running through our minds when trying to find the perfect gift. The gift of really listening with no interrupting, no daydreaming and no planning your response is exactly what people want when they have [...]
There’s No Place Like Home	12/13/2011 1:34 PM
You don’t have to be Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz to feel like there’s no place like home. Home is a place to call your own. It’s a place to raise your family and share with your friends. It’s a place to create memories. A home is a place to feel safe and secure. [...]
Finding the Best Deal	12/7/2011 9:40 AM
Consumers are vigilant about buying opportunities like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday along with sales, coupons and rebates. Some cautious buyers will even risk shopping early to find exactly what they want to waiting until the last moment for potentially lower prices. In retail, the hype is more obvious and the signs [...]