Boston Home - 3 Steps to Being an Attractive Mortgage Candidate

When you are searching for your perfect Boston home you will need to make yourself as financially attractive as possible to your potential mortgage lender. There are three key steps to being an attractive mortgage candidate. And don't worry, if you need some help with one or all of these categories – with a little work, you can fix those first-time Boston homebuyer blemishes.

#1 Have a Stable Job

Evidence of a dependable income can help you get a better mortgage rate and make you more attractive to lenders. Banks understand a certain degree of turnover, but, the longer you are with one company, the better it looks to a lender. Stay in your present position for a while, at least until you have secured the loan. Make sure you know your debt-to-income ratio and don't try to buy a Boston home outside of your means.

#2 Manage your Credit

The better your credit score the better looking you will be to the lender. If you have made credit mistakes you can work to clean up your score by removing any non-factual items from your credit report, pay off any bills or credit cards to lower your debt-to-income ratio, and don't take on any new debts at this time.

#3 Have a Down Payment

Ideally you would want to have at least 20% of a down payment in your savings. Do you need help saving for your Boston home down payment? There are several things you can do such as downsizing where you are now while you save, strict budgets, and low risk savings plans.

When you are ready to purchase your Boston home, look to an experienced Boston real estate agent. I'm committed to providing you with the highest quality buyer service. When making the type of investment that buying a home requires, you deserve to have all the latest market information and the very best advice, both of which I can provide you with. I am always here should you have a question on a Boston, MA neighborhood such as South End, Fenway, Beacon Hill, or any other. I thoroughly enjoy getting prospective residents familiar with new neighborhoods and exposing them to the best of everything Boston has to offer. I hope to speak with you soon!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Boston, MA – Pick Your Own Pumpkin, and More!

Fall is officially here in Boston, MA and Halloween is just around the corner. I hope you and your family enjoyed some of the Boston, MA kids Halloween activities that I posted a few weeks back. With October 31^st just around the corner its time to start looking for that perfect pumpkin. Whether you will turn it into a jack-o-lantern or create an artful display for your home, pumpkins are an essential component to any fall decoration in your Boston home. To make things easy for you, here is a list of some of the top farms in Massachusetts for your pumpkin hunt!

Boston Hill Farm. Not only can you pick the perfect pumpkin at Boston Hill Farm, but, you can also take a hayride tour, visit the petting zoo, ice cream shop, bakery or gift shop, and go apple picking! Every weekend through October is the Fall Festival which includes all of that plus food, activities, and live music. Route 114, North Andover, MA

Connor's Farm. With a 7-acre corn maze, a mechanical bull, and pumpkin tether-ball, Connor's Farm has activities for all ages. On Friday and Saturday nights in October (adult) horror fans can go to Hysteria Scream Park and of course, there are plenty of pumpkins for the picking. 30 Valley Road, Danvers, MA

Long Hill Orchard and Farm. Located on 150 acres, Long Hill Orchard and Farm is just an hour away from Boston, MA. Spend the day hiking the trails or pack a picnic, dog friendly too. 520 Main Street, West Newbury, MA

I hope you enjoy this beautiful autumn season and are able to get out and support some of these local farms. Please know, a Boston Real Estate agent is only a click away if you have any Boston, MA real estate needs. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Boston, MA – Why you should buy NOW

Have you been teetering on the edge of the Rent vs. Buy decision in Boston, MA? Don't delay any further as the average 30-year mortgage has now dipped below 4%. With the average rate hovering around 4.5% for most of the past summer this is good news for those looking to buy real estate in Boston, MA. Why else is now the perfect time to buy in Boston?

Home prices expected to go down

Real Estate forecasters are predicting a third dip in home prices making this fall the perfect season for purchasing your Boston, MA home. Buying during this lower pricing period may ensure significant appreciation of your home over the next few years.

Rates are down, but, not for long

Mortgage rates for the 30-year fixed are at a low for the year, but, it is very likely they won't stay there for long. Rates are expected to climb at the end of 2014 and into 2015. It is best to take advantage now and lock in that low rate.

When you are ready to purchase your dream home contact an experienced Boston real estate agent. I'm committed to providing you with the highest quality buyer service. When making the type of investment that buying a home requires, you deserve to have all the latest market information and the very best advice, both of which I can provide you with. I am always here should you have a question on a Boston, MA neighborhood such as South End, Fenway, Beacon Hill, or any other. I hope to speak with you soon!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Boston, MA – Best Halloween Events for Kids

One the best times of year for a kid is coming up soon – Halloween! Kids enjoy dressing up as their favorite princesses, super heros, monsters, and more and of course - collecting all of the candy! Halloween doesn't have to be all about trick-or-treating though, there are several fun events in Boston, MA and the surrounding cities for all sorts of Halloween fun. Here are a few of the highlights for Halloween 2014 in Boston, MA.

Professor Wunder's School of Magic. Kids of all ages will love Professor Wunder's School of Magic. The Professor guides the kids through a fun show with a non-scary atmosphere. Available Sunday's in October, reservations encouraged! Salem, MA.

Boo at the Zoo. Stone Zoo invites families for a weekend of Halloween-themed activities including crafts, scavenger hunts, mazes, and costume contests. October 18-19^th, Stone Zoo, Stoneham, MA.

Pumpkin Fest at 75 Chestnut. 75 Chestnut Restaurant invites the whole family to carve and paint pumpkins. Adult fun featuring special apple and pumpkin martinis will ensure the parents have a great time too. Specialty themed desserts and seasonal treats will be available. Take home your pumpkin creation! Call for reservations, event on October 11^th. Beacon Hill, Boston, MA.

If you're visiting us in hopes of buying a home in Boston, please give a Boston real estate agent a call in between your Halloween fun. Without the guidance of a local expert, it can be tricky to cover all of the city's vibrant neighborhoods! My services extend beyond helping buyers and sellers through their transactions. I thoroughly enjoy getting prospective residents familiar with their surroundings and exposing them to the best of everything Boston, MA has to offer. I hope to speak with you soon!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Boston, MA – 3 Steps to Getting a Mortgage

Shopping for a mortgage is one of the first steps toward owning your own home in Boston, MA. It can be especially daunting if you are not prepared. There are dozens of loan types and hundreds of loan programs available through even more mortgage brokers, bankers, lenders, and credit unions. Contrary to popular belief, finding a mortgage doesn't begin with an application. First you must educate yourself on the vast number of mortgages available. The three steps outlined below will help you get that application process and then eventually to the closing table to purchase your Boston, MA dream home!

Step 1: Examine your finances

Start by determining how much mortgage you can afford. Lenders may have a heavy hand when it comes to what you are approved for. Do the math to figure out what sort of payment you will be comfortable with. Don't forget to include insurance, taxes, any homeowner dues, and other costs associated with the payment.

Step 2: Shopping for a loan

When shopping for a loan there are two “stores” you can shop at – direct lenders and mortgage brokers. When borrowing from a direct lender they are the ones lending the money to you and have the final decision on your application. Brokers are intermediaries who have lenders to choose from, just like you. Direct lenders may have only a few in-house loans available while a broker can shop many lenders and their store of loans.

Make an educated choice and don't just go with the lowest interest rate. There are many factors that affect the true cost of your loan, including fees, points, penalties, loan term, application fee, appraisal, and more.

Step 3: Apply for a loan

Now that you've done all the work the easy part is next – filling out the application. You will need several documents to prove income, debt, and job status but other than that it is just a bit of paperwork. Once you submit the paperwork your lender will run your credit score and verify the numbers that you submitted. If they deem you creditworthy they will likely hire an appraiser to check the value of the Boston, MA home you want to buy. After that you will be well on your way to the closing table!

And above all, make sure you are working with a qualified professional! A Boston Real Estate agent who has the experience to help you compose the perfect offer to get that Boston, MA home of your dreams and the skills to negotiate you straight to the closing table. Please contact a Boston Real Estate agent when you are ready, I cannot wait to earn your business!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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