Fresh Start Home Sales Site

Whether you are a landlord or a tenant it is important to understand what is involved in a Snellville rental inspection. Learn more about what to watch out for in our latest post! There are a number of times when a property inspection may take place. inspections are done when a tenant ismoving in moving out and one or two times throughout the year. For the annual inspections sufficient notice is required before the inspection takes place. Inspections can also be conducted if the landlord or tenant believe there is a problem with the property. The inspections are typically done by the landlord a property manager and in some cases by the tenant. Below we will discuss what is included in a typical rental inspection as well as the responsibilitiesof both the landlord and tenant. Whats Inspected A thorough inspection by the landlord or tenant should cover all aspects of the rental property from top to bottom. Electrical Electrical switches shouldbe checked as should any fans within the unit. It is also a good idea to do a quick test of the outlets using a small lamp or your phone charger. Plumbing Check all faucets for good water pressure. Flush the toilets to make sure they drain properly and dont run after being flushed. This is also a good time to look for mold and mildew around the faucets and pipes. Structural Check the walls for cracks holes and chipped paint. Make sure there are no water stains on the ceiling or signs of mold anywhere thought the property. Smoke Detectors All smoke detectors need to be checkedand in good working order. One should be located in any common areas in the kitchen and in each bedroom. At the very minimum one should be located on each floor of the home. You should check your detectors every 6 months. Many people make it a point to do this when the time changes each year. Kitchen In the kitchen look for damaged countertops floor tiles and porcelain. Make sure the stovetop oven and refrigerator are all in working order. Bathroom Look for chipped tiles scratched mirrors and damages to any of the fixtures. Make sure the sinks work and drain properly. Doors Make sure all doors open and close easily without sticking. All exterior doors need to be lockable. Windows Windows should also open and close easily and be lockable from the inside. Youll want to make sure both the doors and windows are properly sealed. Closets Check all the closets throughout the house. Make sure doors are properly hung and that shelving and the closet bar is properly hung. Heating and Cooling Be sure to check the heat to make sure it is coming through all vents. If there is also air conditioning in the home make sure it blows cool air from all vents and that the filters are clean. Pests Check in cupboards on shelving it the attic the garage and out of the way places for any signs of an infestation. You wouldnt want to move into your home and find out you arent the only one living there. What to look for during a home inspections Things That Cant Be Seen Depending on the property and the type of inspection being done you might need to call in a professional. Some things cannot be seen and need to be looked at with someone who specializes in the field. If there are signs of termites or other pests living in the home a specialty inspection may be required. Same goes for things like sewer pipes and the septic tank. There are also specialty inspections to test the geology of the property. The ground is tested for soil contamination and to determine if the property will be susceptible to things like flooding or landslides. The Landlords Responsibility The landlord is responsible for providing a safe and well-maintained home for their tenant. The landlord needs to perform maintenance to the property as needed and make repairs when they arise. Just as if a tenant were to violate the lease if a landlord is in violation the tenant can break the lease and move out without penalty. The Tenants Responsibility Many times when a renter moves into a new unit they will be given a checklist and asked to note any problems they find within the unit. Once the checklist has been completed the owner or property managerwill review the reported issues fix as needed. If you are a tenant this is your chance to protect yourself for when its time to reclaim your security deposit. If you dont list a problem when you move in you may be liable for it when you move out. To learn more about what to expect during a Snellville rental inspection get in touch with us! We are happy to help answer any questions you have. 678-337-1165 The post What To Expect During A Snellville Rental Inspection appeared first on Fresh Start Home Sales. via Blog Fresh Start Home Sales https://www.freshstarthomesales.com/what-to-expect-during-a-atlanta-rental-inspection/

Your mortgage is a big investment so you can make one of the most important purchases of your life. But it also can easily be one of the most expensive. Just because you need a mortgage to buy your dream home doesn’t mean there’s no room for negotiation to get the best possible price. Here’s how to get a lower interest rate in Atlanta .

KEEP A GOOD CREDIT SCORE

The better your credit score, the better your interest rates. If you have a lower credit score, lenders see you as more of a risk and charge you a higher interest rate to protect their investment.

Before you begin shopping for a home, get as much of your consumer and interest-bearing debt paid down as possible. Make sure any student, auto, and personal loans are current and get your credit card balances are as low as you can get them.

By law, every adult in America is allowed a free credit report each year from each of the three reporting bureaus – Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. In the year leading up to your planned purchase, request a report quarterly from one of the three reporting agencies to see how you fare.

SHOP AROUND

Just because you’ve gotten a quoted interest rate from a bank in Atlanta doesn’t mean there aren’t better options out there.

Sometimes, just shopping around at other banks, credit unions, and mortgage lenders can help you get a lower interest rate. Shopping around is easier now than it ever was before thanks to the availability of online banking information.

If you’ve received a quote from a bank or mortgage lender, consider checking out a credit union. The interest rates at credit unions tend to be a little lower than with other lenders because they have lower fees than traditional banks. They’re also more apt to work with you if you have a below-average credit history.

PUT MORE DOWN

A great way to get a nice long-term payoff is to put the financial pain up front and pay more down on your mortgage.

If you are able to swing more than the recommended down payment, your lender may view you as a safer investment and give you a break on the interest rate. Even an extra couple percentage points of the total loan price can be helpful.

For larger loans (over $417,000), putting down as much as possible gets you out of the “jumbo loan” category. Jumbo loans are seen by many banks to carry more risk and, as a result, get higher interest rates.

SHORTEN YOUR LOAN

Thirty-year mortgages are the traditional way most Americans purchase their homes, as they offer lower monthly payments. However, if you shorten the repayment terms to 15 or even 10 years, you can trade the higher payments to the principal to get a lower interest rate.

This method takes some careful planning and attention to the amount of mortgage you can afford, but the payoff is great for lower interest rates and even freedom from mortgage payments altogether in less time than with a 30-year mortgage.

ASK

This method may seem so simple it can’t possibly work, right? But sometimes the key to getting a lower interest rate is to just ask your bank for a lower interest rate.

The worst they can say is, “No,” but using a little courage to ask can really pay off.

If you have an exceptional credit score (800 or more), ask your lender to either match the lower interest rate of a competitor or to just lower your interest rate based on your credit history. Banks want the business of people with exceptional credit scores, and many will do what they need to to keep you from taking your mortgage elsewhere.

Your Trusted Agents in Atlanta !

Getting a mortgage doesn’t have to be stressful. Our experienced agents can walk you through the process, helping you get a lower interest rate than you thought possible. Contact us at 678-337-1165 today!

The post How To Get A Lower Interest Rate On Your Mortgage In Atlanta appeared first on Fresh Start Home Sales.

via Blog – Fresh Start Home Sales https://www.freshstarthomesales.com/how-to-get-a-lower-interest-rate-on-your-mortgage-in-atlanta/

As a real estate investor it may be wise to learn how to classify your property as low-income in the Atlanta area. There can be many benefits to doing this when you get the right tenants in place. In our latest post we outline the process and the benefits classifying your property as low-income can mean for you! The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) providesa rental assistance program to help low-income families by providing them with a voucher to receive reduced rent. In turn the landlord receives a subsidy covering the remaining balance of the rent. By opening your house up to low-income individuals with a Section 8 voucher you are opening the door (literally and figuratively) to an entire group of renters who may not have been able to afford the property otherwise. Some people worry about crime and other problems with low-income housing however the right property with the right tenants can lead to a steady income stream for years to come. Section 8 can assist people in all areas of their lives from young families to the elderly with little to no income. The Benefits of Owning Low-Income Housing Owning low-income investment property is a great way to find investments with low-vacancy rates while helping to give back to the community. There is always a demand for affordable housing so you shouldnt have too much trouble securing a tenant. Plus youll always have some insurance knowing that even if your tenant has some trouble paying the rent you will still receive the subsidy provided by HUD. It guarantees you will receive at least a portion of your rent while the tenant is occupying the home. The tenant will not want to come up short however if they do their benefits can be taken away completely. The Application To make yourhome available to Section 8 renters you mustfill out an application with HUD. The application includes standard information about you and the property you wish to make available to low-income tenants. You must also let them know how much you are charging in rent to make sure the amount is within the fair market rents as outlined by HUD. The application is pretty standard and will be followed up with a detailed inspection of the property. The Inspection Once you decide to make your house available for low-income tenants it will need to be inspected by a member of the public housing authority on a contractor acting on their behalf. Inspections are heldwhen a tenant moves in and once a year thereafter.Theinspection is done to ensure the landlord isproviding a decent safe and sanitary environment for the tenants to live and that the tenants are taking proper care of the home without causing any damage. Your property can fail the inspection for any one of many infractions many of which may seem minor. For example chipped pain with children in the home a cracked faceplate or a small leak in a faucet which may have the potential to burn someone. Overall there are 13 performance areas that must be met in order for the property to qualify. If any items on the inspection is missed you will fail your inspection and will need to repair before a reinspection is done If repairs are not made you will no longer receive the subsidy. Qualifying Tenants Low-income familiesreceive vouchers for housing assistance based upon their income levels. However you will still screen the tenants just as you would anyone else. Make sure to run background checks to ensure you have people of a high character moving into your home. Just because someone is dealing with some setbacks in life does not mean they wont be an absolutely wonderful tenant. Evictions If a tenant is no longer able to pay you the rental amount owed or if they cause damage to the property you will need to go through the same eviction process as you would with any other rental property. If tenants breach theirSection 8 lease they will likely no longer be able to receive Section 8 assistance in the future. As a landlord it can be tough when you see people struggling to pay rent. While it is commendable to have a big heart a repeated pattern of letting rent be paid late or not at all will only make the problem worse and cause you to lose even more money. At Fresh Start Home Sales we can help you to find the perfect properties to qualify as low-income or Section 8 in the Atlanta area. We are here to answer all of your questions so you can learn how to invest in there profitable investment properties while helping people at a time when they need it most. To learn more about how to classify your property as low-income give us a call or send us a message today! 678-337-1165 The post How To Classify Your Property As Low-Income In Atlanta appeared first on Fresh Start Home Sales. via Blog Fresh Start Home Sales https://www.freshstarthomesales.com/how-to-classify-your-property-as-low-income-in-atlanta/

Find Us Online:

500px
Bitly
Box
Diigo
Dropbox
Evernote
Postach.io
Instapaper
Newsblur
Nimbus
OneDrive
OneNote
Pocket
Pinterest
Quip
Todoist
Toodledo
Trello
Tumblr
Twitter
Weebly
WordPress
Facebook Page
MySpace
Blogger
Google Drive
Youtube
Google+ Page

Recommended Links:
About.me
Alternion
BrandYourself
FollowUs
Gravatar
BeHance
Linkkle
Ello.co
Carrd.co
Scoop.it
Zumvu
iLink