Racheli Refael

Claim your Home Buyer Guide Today CLICK HERE!Racheli Fort Lauderdale Lender, will guide you through the mortgage process. Being that not all Pre-Approval letters are created equal. And Not all Mortgage Lenders are created equal, Speak with Racheli when you are ready to run the #’s. and Get Pre-Qualified for a mortgage  today before you go shopping for a home. “Talk to Racheli it’s like taking to 100 Banks”

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Curb appeal is the first impression that your home will have on potential buyers, so it’s important to make it a good one. Try these simple budget upgrades to give your home the “WOW” factor that buyers are looking for! Crystal Clean As simple as it sounds, it is extremely important to make sure that your house is nice and clean on the outside. This is overlooked by sellers more than you’d think as they become so focused on perfecting the inside of their home that they forget about the exterior! Dirt streaks running down stucco or siding give the impression that your home isn’t well kept, and smudges on windows will prevent them from sparkling in the sun. Remember: you want your home to...

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If you’re looking to invest in a cottage or waterfront getaway, there are three key things to keep in mind throughout your search. How’s The House? Even if the lake is the highlight of a property you’re considering, it is important to make sure that the home is equally as great as the beautiful body of water it borders. How’s its orientation? Is it built on the ideal angle to take full advantage of the sun? Does the deck or large windows face another house directly? The orientation is an important factor to consider as it can make or break the comfort of the property. You’ll also want to consider the lot itself, as many waterfront properties are not built on level lots, but rather...

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With real estate becoming more affordable, new homes being sold in a range of prices and the cost of rent going up, there has never been a better time to consider buying a starter home. Put That Rent Money Into Your Own Property People who live in areas that have become trendy know the pain of rising rent rates. At what point is the amount of money being spent on rent more advantageous to put into a new home? Starter homes are not the crazy investment they used to be. With the increase in condo developments and the lower entry price for smaller homes, it’s never been easier and less expensive to put a down payment on a new home and put that rent money...

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5 Funny Closing Surprises, They only left us one key. The front door has two locks! This happens more often than you think. Calling the sellers won’t help because they probably left the rest of the keys on the kitchen counter. The likely choice for a buyer when this happens is to call a locksmith who offers 24-hour service to get you in and then send the bill to the sellers. In my experience this can cost up to $400. Lesson: Sellers need to make sure that they give their lawyer enough keys to provide access to the buyer after closing. In our office, in most cases we give the sellers a lockbox and just ask them to leave the keys in the lockbox for...

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When you initially start shopping for a home mortgage, you may be drawn to advertisements for ultra-low interest rates. These may be rates that seem too good to be true, and you may gladly contact the lender or mortgage company to complete your loan application. However, in many cases, mortgage applicants are unpleasantly surprised and even disheartened to learn that they do not qualify for the advertised interest rate. By learning more about the factors that influence your interest rate, you may be able to structure your loan in a more advantageous way. Your Credit Rating One of the most important factors that influence an interest rate is your credit score. Lenders have different credit score requirements, but most have a tiered rating system. Those...

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Last week’s economic news included reports on retail sales, inflation, and weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims. Retail Sales Slip as Consumer Prices Inch Up Retail sales dipped into negative territory in August with a reading of -0.30 percent as compared to expectations of -0.10 percent and July’s reading of +0.10 percent. Retail sales excluding auto sales were better at +0.30 percent. Analysts expected a reading of +0.20 percent based on July’s reading of -0.40 percent. August’s negative reading for retail sales was the first negative report since March. Inflation fared better than retail sales with August’s Consumer Price Index reading at 0.20 percent. Analysts expected a reading of 0.10 percent; July’s reading was flat. Core Consumer Price Index readings for August...

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With approximately one million people having purchased vacation homes in the last year, this type of residence is gaining popularity for those who are interested in a home in a beach setting or a vacation hot spot. However, while a second home can seem like a great purchase and solid investment opportunity, there are different requirements that go into this type of purchase. If you’re considering a vacation home, you may want to be aware of the following financial factors. The Down Payment Amount If you currently have a primary residence, you may be aware that you don’t need to put down 20% or even 10% in order to make a home purchase, but things are different when it comes to a vacation home. Because...

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If you’re just getting into the real estate market, you may have heard that 20% down is the ideal percentage in order to lower your monthly payments and get your mortgage application approved. However, while 20% is often suggested, many people struggle to come up with this amount of money. If you’re staving off home ownership, here are some reasons you may not need to hold off as you long as you thought. Minimizing Your Insurance Costs Putting down 20% of the total purchase price of your home is often suggested, but it doesn’t definitively mean that your application won’t be approved if you don’t. If you have a good credit score and are in good financial standing, putting less than 20% down means you’ll...

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