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Must see Hi Ranch at 25 Greenwich Road Smithtown NY.25 Greenwich Road Smithtown NY 11787, Listed by The Lowe Team is a 4 bedroom, 2 full baths Hi-Ranch with new siding and new windows throughout. This beautiful home is located in Smithtown, NY, close to North Shore beaches, the Lake Grove Shopping Mall & a plethora of restaurants for casual and fine dining. Smithtown, NY is located only a short drive from major Long Island highways and roadways, making for an easy commute and traveling!25 Greenwich Road Smithtown NY 11787 offers a large backyard with well-manicured lawns and new landscaping. There is a large wooden deck, perfect for entertaining and relaxing. Located within the desirable Smithtown School District, this home is a must-see!The interior of this beautiful home offers large rooms and an updated Eat in Kitchen with granite counters, white cabinetry and all stainless steel appliances! A formal living room compliments a warm and comfortable family room. Outfitted with Hardwood floors throughout, do not miss this lovely Hi Ranch at 25 Greenwich Road Smithtown NY!To Preview 25 Greenwich Road Smithtown NY, contact Realtor Beth Lowe at 631-543-2009.About the Author: The above Real Estate information 25 Greenwich Road Smithtown NY was provided by Beth Lowe. Beth Lowe’s interest in Real Estate was sparked as a child when her father opened his own Real Estate Company in Setauket, NY- Setauket Harbor Realty. In July of 2010, Beth joined Exit Realty Achieve in Smithtown, NY. Exit Realty is a full service real estate company that offers its agents and clients the latest technology. In October of 2010, Beth earned her CDPE designation (certified distressed property expert) in order to help the growing number of people in the area who can no longer afford their homes. Visit www.realtorbethlowe.com for more info or to contact Beth directly at [email protected], www.facebook.com/realtorbethlowe. 516-316-8335.
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In our current economy, taking out a loan can be a smart, financially effective choice for any buyer due to remarkably low interest rates. Over the past few years, the financial market has declined significantly, and the weak economy negatively affected people and business’s inclination to borrow money. However, this economic time presents benefits for home buyers who seek loans for down payments and mortgages. As a result of the weak economy, interest rates have been lowered considerably, due to a lack of demand. The Federal Reserve has chosen to lower interest rates in hopes they can boost the economy through current money lending. What are Interest Rates? Interest is the amount of money that a borrower pays as a fee for borrowing money from a person, business or institution. As you would make a monthly payment to pay back the initial loan, interest is a percentage of the loan that is added into your payments, so the business, person or institution you borrowed from can make money in return. Interest rates, when very high, can be financially draining as people struggle to pay the initial loan back, let alone the additive service fee. However, in today’s market, when taking out a loan or mortgage, interest rates are at an all time low- meaning that the fee a person pays back to the company for the loan is much more affordable. This, in turn, means that monthly payments made by the home buyer would be less than if interest rates were high.What does this mean for home buyers? Buying a house in today’s economy is easier financially than ever before and taking advantage of low interest rates loans now will benefit buyers in the future. Home buying is more affordable now that mortgage interest rates are low, and accommodate a larger spectrum of buyer financial needs. As home buying is one of the best investments you can make, investing at the peak of affordability and availability is key. In addition, low interest rates for mortgages results in lower monthly mortgage payments, which make paying for a home more affordable moving forward. It would behoove home buyers to research their mortgage options and ask about daily low interest rates, as the market is always fluctuating in percentages. Home buyers should take advantage of today’s low interest rates as a means to finding and purchasing your ideal home at your ideal price!
For those on the market for a house, there are several factors that can influence the decision to purchase. An ocean view is always a selling feature. A nice neighborhood is definitely a plus. And a swimming pool in the backyard is like the icing on the cake. However, a used car usually has no place on this list, unless you’re a desperate teenager. But then again, if you were a desperate teen, you wouldn’t be looking for a foreclosed house, right?Where do I start? It was just another day at work. I found myself in a fairly normal community, taking a look at an average foreclosed house with a basic detached garage. Or so I thought. Such an assumption was thrown out the window when I tried to discover some value in the detached garage. The “hidden value” turned out to be a stolen car. Indeed, when I opened the garage door, a new-looking Range Rover sat unsuspectingly in front of me. The only thing missing was the keys.To make things even more entertaining, the original owner’s dry cleaning was waiting to be removed from the back. Perhaps the dry cleaning was so valuable to the thief that it needed to be locked up in the garage of a foreclosed house. But it certainly begs the question: why would you make it so obvious that you stole a car? It was as if the expired 2 year old registration sticker and missing licenses plate were not enough.I must say: stupid criminals surely don’t get the attention they ought to in the local news.In the midst of all this madness, I experienced one of those oh-so-frequent “wait a second” moments. How can a professional bank appraiser miss a full-size white Range Rover in the garage? Did he forget to check the garage because it was detached, or was the car simply tacked on to the appraisal? Better yet, was he going to come back later to pick it up?Oblivious bank appraiser: meet stupid criminal—two lost souls searching for . . . but I digress.While I called the authorities, I searched the garage for other stolen items. For all I knew, there could have been a kitchen sink tossed haphazardly on the floor or hidden underneath the Rover. Truthfully, it wouldn’t surprise me. I left the house thinking to myself: too bad the car was stolen. If it wasn’t for this subtle detail, the house might have been worth something . . . as much as the car, at least.
In the world of real estate, a picture is usually worth a thousand words. Other times, it can stand instead to make things a thousand times more confusing and maybe even a little more odd. Such was the case as I stumbled across the interior walls of this seemingly ordinary residence. From the outside, it seemed pretty normal. Nothing suspicious hanging from the trees. No strange marks on the driveway. A doorbell tone like any other. Personal real estate experience informed me that it was just a typical house in suburbia. Needless to say, it wasn’t.I proceeded to enter the garage, only to find this disturbing scene. It could have been worse, but such an assumption doesn’t make my job any easier. In the place of paintings, ornamental light fixtures, or other decorative pieces, the walls were adorned with randomly arranged brass plates. On these plates were the meticulously assorted collections of either a hardware store-obsessed collector or a wannabe astronaut. I favor the latter conclusion simply because it makes for a better story to tell. Plastic tubes . . . miniature transformers . . . tiny metal plates . . . everything one would find in the darkest depths of a local hardware store were intricately placed and welded onto shiny metal sheets. Unfortunately, the polished finish of the brass plates were lightly masked by the dust of neglect. One thing was certain: the former homeowner had way too much free time on his hands, and made far too many trips to the nearby home improvement store. After minutes, I struggled to decide whether I had mistakenly entered the set of Apollo 13 or that of A Beautiful Mind. I was gazing at Hollywood prop perfection. Certainly, every person has a right to their own freedom of expression, especially in the privacy of their own house. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? We’ve heard this cliché perhaps too many times and I’m not here say it’s false. But I must admit, if this is the current direction of modern art, then maybe it would be better if I strayed away from the Guggenheim for a while.Creativity is usually productive, and sometimes (as I prefer to think) can appreciate the value of a home. After all, no one wants a boring, monochromatic house.Other times, well, . . . it just becomes a tad bit freaky.
Sometimes a house just feels like it's still occupied.There’s a certain feeling you get as soon as you cross the threshold—one that is simply inexplicable with words. I’ve been dealing with foreclosure real estate long enough to realize that I am not intruding when I step foot into a house that no longer belongs to its original owner. Yet such clarity of mind changes as soon someone is suspected of still inhabiting the house. Not just for me, but also for my investors. Sometimes, there’s a certain air that pervades the house. Sometimes the placement of the furniture can arouse suspicion. And sometimes … well, sometimes you just know. Enough said. It’s a scenario that no foreclosure real estate agent hopes to encounter in his or her lifetime. There’s hope, and then there’s reality. My business experience has prepared me for anything and allowed me to remain calm in these cases. Others are not so blessed.Such is the case as I came to inspect a house with a potential investor. This investor was a not a tiny man. Six-foot, two inches of brawn stood by me as I entered a seemingly average house. Maybe the lawn was a little overly preened and the hummingbird feeder possibly a little full, but nothing too suspicious.Yet as we proceeded to walk into the residence, I got this weird feeling, as though I was breaking and entering. Suddenly, I wasn’t completely at ease. Somebody was living there—I just knew it. I apprized my investor of this suspicion, expecting him to react like a normal, 40-year old man. Maybe a look of utter confusion . . . a chuckle, perhaps . . . a scowl if he was a serious type. Negatory. This “tough guy” nearly knocked me over as he charged for the door. It was good that I took my own car; his car was nowhere in sight by the time I could comprehend what exactly had just happened. It was as if his testosterone levels had plummeted faster than the Dow Jones.I’ve heard of “fight or flight” before, but truthfully I never really thought of it in such a literal sense. I can only imagine what would have happened if someone actually popped out from a corner. Needless to say, I don’t think his wife would have been too impressed.Lesson learned: A good sale can be fleeting. But so can pride.
number of rooms it has? Here at Exit Realty Achieve, we realize that finding a home goes beyond the numbers and should be focused more on the quality of living. With a plethora of homes available on Long Island, using a specific search can take the chaos out of sorting through vague databases. We have created the “lifestyle search” that allows interested buyers to pin point their areas of interests that are essential for their next home. The search includes rating tabs for reputation of schools, proximity to dining and shops, family and pet friendly communities, events and activities, etc. Based on how each interested Buyer rates these categories based on importance, the database will automatically eliminate those properties and communities that do not qualify. The search will provide the buyer with a list of towns to pursue based on the criteria that have been deemed most important. Therefore, Buyers are given a specific, custom list of homes that they can trust satisfy their social needs, as well as the quality of the home itself.It’s important that your Real Estate experience is not only about the amenities the home provides, but the type of town or school district the home is located in, and what the community has to offer. Allow yourself the opportunity to away from the broad search databases to settle on a property when you can use the Lifestyle Search to find exactly what you’re looking for. Your agent will be able to more thoroughly meet your needs, and it will make your Real Estate buying experience positive, successful and most of all, personal. Visit http://www.exitrealtyachieve.com/lifestyle today to get started!
The Fannie Mae HomePath Financing offers interest Real Estate buyers an incredible opportunity to purchase foreclosed homes directly, and with many added benefits. The HomePath program, designed by Fannie Mae, offers qualified buyers a great price on bank-owned homes, requiring as little as 3% down and lower payments resulting from no mortgage insurance. Buyers also qualify for up to $35,000 toward any in-home renovations. The HomePath program is designed for buyers who plan to use the property as their primary residence, second home or investment property. Buyers are required to have a credit score of 660 or greater to put 3%-20% down, or must following standard guidelines to put down greater than 20%. HomePath offers interested buyers benefits to investing with their finance program that make them an ideal choice for any foreclosure sale. The program offers the best deals on any Fannie Mae properties, and allows a “First Look” period where owner occupants, public entities or their partners can submit offers and purchase a property free of investor competition. Any down payment, of at least 3%, can be funded by a loan, from a nonprofit organization, state/local government, or employer; a gift; or a grant. There is no MI required and for purchases that do not include renovations, there is no appraisal requirement. HomePath will use the sale price of the property as the appraisal value. This HomePath program allows investors to finance up to 10 properties, even with less than perfect credit. With up to 90% financing for investment properties, the Fannie Mae HomePath program is the optimal choice for investment properties!Purchasing a Fannie Mae HomePath home can be exciting and refreshing, as HomePath offers a plethora of stress-free financing options. For your next purchase, whether it be your first or your tenth investment, consider the great benefits of financing and investing with HomePath. Please contact Beth Lowe at Exit Realty Achieve for more information and to be set up with a helpful representative at HomePath! 631-543-2009. Visit http://www.homepath.com/homebuyers/buying_fanniemaeowned.html for details!
Among the many grant programs available for first time home buyers, the Town of Babylon’s Next Generation Down Payment Assistance Program for First Time Homebuyers is an exceptional choice. This first-come, first-serve Down Payment program offers to match any first-time homebuyer’s down payments-to the dollar-up to $15,000. The grant is compatible with other grant or assistance programs, and is available to those buyers whose income ranks above 80% of the median income, but does not exceed 120%. (If a first time buyer’s income dips below 80% of the median, they are eligible for the Town of Babylon’s HOME program.)The guidelines for the program are fairly simple- here’s a quick glance:The appraised value of the home that is to be purchased must not exceed the HUD 203(b) mortgage limit. These limits change every year and can be found by contacting the Town of Babylon. The program is designed and available ONLY to first time homebuyers. According to the HUD, a “first time homebuyer” is a person or household that has not owned a home during the three-year time period immediately prior to the purchase of a new residence.The program is extended to pre-existing, or new construction single-family homes- including Town Houses, Condos, Co-op Apartments and Manufactured homes. All homes must be located within the Town of Babylon.The purchased home must be the homebuyers principle residence at the time of application, and there on out.Application for the program MUST be submitted and granted prior to entering into any contracts to purchase the home. In addition, applicants cannot close on the home prior to receiving a purchase certificate and approval of LIHP and The Town of Babylon.The Town of Babylon consists of multiple towns – all properties within these towns are eligible for the grant program.• AMI TYVI LLE • FARMINGDALE (SUFFOLK COUNTY)• BABYLON • LINDENHURST• COPIAGUE • NORTH BABYLON• DEER PARK • WEST BABYLON• WHEATLEY HEIGHTS • WYANDANCH**All applicants must have adequate resources and credit to qualify for a home mortgage. All eligible applicants are required to attend the Long Island Housing Partnership pre-purchase mortgage counseling, and obtain a pre-approval from a recognized lending institution (TOB, pg.2). All eligible applicants must provide the Town of Babylon with the standard LIHP documentation required for mortgage purchasing. Contact the LIHP or Town of Babylon for these forms. Eligible Applicants must keep in mind that private mortgages are not acceptable; mortgages must be from a recognizable lender; and “No Doc” loans, 100% financing or 8/20 loans are not permitted.After following through all the necessary steps, and the home is purchased, with help from the Down Payment Assistance Program funds, there is an annual monitoring program that sends out a brief form to confirm the residency, homeowners, insurance policy on the home and current status of the home: sold, rented, transferred, etc.The Down Payment Assistance Program funds are essentially a deferred payment, non-interest loan, to assist the buyer in a first-time home purchase, which are to be repaid to the Town of Babylon if the home is sold or transferred (TOB, pg. 3).The Down payment Assistance Program through the Town of Babylon is a safe and reliable choice for first time homebuyers. Eligible applicants are granted a large sum, as well as piece of mind that the Town of Babylon takes a strong interest in your home buying success. As a deferred-payment loan, the stress of making payments and keeping up with interest is alleviated immediately. For more information regarding this exciting first time buyers program, please contact me, Beth Lowe, at 631-543-2009. Check out my current listing in the Town of Babylon:45 S. Oregon Rd. in West Babylon, NY45 S Oregon Rd West Babylon NY, listed by Beth Lowe at EXIT Realty Achieve is a 6 room, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath home with a full basement and 6 zone in ground sprinkler system. This lovely Colonial home is located in West Babylon, NY- accredited by Newsday as an up and coming Long Island Real Estate area. This home is only a short drive from the beautiful Belmont Lake State Park, close to shops, dining and entertainment; this home is in the ideal location.This lovely Colonial provides a welcoming entry foyer to lead into the spacious floor plan, outfitted with original detail and hard wood flooring. The large Eat In Kitchen features white wood cabinetry, all the appliance amenities and a unique seating area with lots of room. The formal dining room compliments the comfortable living room space on the first floor. The second floor features the master bedroom as well as 2 bedrooms and a convenient hall full bath. This home is where classic detail meets modern design! It’s a must-see in a great area!For pictures and additional information, please visit my website at www.RealtorBethLowe.com or contact me directly at 631-543-2009.
Receiving a Mortgage Assistance Loan has never been so easy with Chase Bank’s Union Plus Mortgage program. The program offers many advantages to Chase’s clientele, as well as parents, spouses/domestic partners and children. Having dealt with Chase before, I have seen my Real Estate clients benefit from Chase’s affordable mortgage assistance and reliable guidance. Here’s the breakdown:Member Eligibility is based on Active or Retired members of unions that participate in the Union Plus Mortgage program. Eligibility also extends to Union member spouses/ domestic partners (widows/widowers ineligible), parents (no in-laws), and children-including step children and adopted children.The benefits of the Union Plus Mortgage program include, but are not limited to, reducing bank loans to $100 for union loans; Union members only pay appraisal fee-NO application fee; and upon closing a purchase, once a survey, sent by the Union, is completed, members will receive a $500 certificate to shop at a Union grocery store.12 Months after obtaining a Chase loan, Union Plus borrowers are eligible for future mortgage assistance- loan & strike benefits. Loan Benefits include:New Loans- Must be in the program for 12 months from closing date.Refinance Loans- Upon refinancing a current Union Plus loan, the original closing date is used when fulfilling the one year waiting period requirement.Can be re-used as often as needed as long as previous benefit has been repaid.PITI paid for up to six months, interest free (if the taxes and insurance were escrowed, if not then Principal and Interest only).Can be used for unemployment, disability or strike.Repayment begins 4 months after the last assistance payment is made on their behalf. Repayment can be completed in two ways:If the total benefit is less an $4,500 the borrower can pay as little as $75 per month, interest free, until the benefit is paid in full; orIf the total benefit was greater than $4,500 the borrower is required to pay at least 10% of their original mortgage payment, interest free, until the benefit is paid in full. Strike Benefits function different that Loan Benefits but hold the advantages of ease and reliability. Strike Benefits are a one-time benefit for the life of the loan and are available to members that are in the program 12 months after closing date. After the member is on strike for 30 days, Mortgage Assistance will cover six months principle and interest, and repayment of this one-time benefit is not required. When members are involuntarily out of work due to layoff, disability, union-approved strike, or lockout, qualified borrowers are eligible for up to six months of mortgage assistance payments. The borrower is responsible for repaying the loan at $75 each month if the total assistance is $4,500 or less & 10% of the monthly mortgage payment is required if the assistance balance is greater than $4,500. Repayment begins four months after last assistance payment has been made on the borrower’s behalf. Chase Bank receives mortgage payments from Union privilege while the member is an active participant in the program.Chase Bank has designed a Union Member program that takes the confusion out of Mortgage Loans, and puts the member’s mind at ease. If you are a Union Member, or eligible family member and would like to know more about Chase's Union Plus Mortgage Program, feel free to contact me, Beth Lowe of EXIT Realty Achieve, at 631-543-2009. I will be more than happy to answer your questions and refer to an excellent Chase representative to get you started!
When buying a home for the first time, the process of selection is as tedious as the financial obligation it requires. Often times, first time Long Island home buyers will seek assistance and grant money to help alleviate the stress of the process. There are several grant corporations for Long Island buyers; two of our favorites are Long Island Housing Partnership Inc., and Community Housing Innovations Inc.(CHI) Both of these corporations provide financial relief to qualified first-time buyers who meet the area median income, but still struggle to afford a home in its entirety. CHI offers two programs for first time buyers for down payment assistance and rehabilitation costs: Long Island Home Ownership Program and Nassau/Suffolk Local Home Purchase Program. Both of these programs allow for first time buyers who meet either 100% of the area median income, or 80% of the area median income to apply for a grant for over $20,000 to assist with home buying costs. In addition to money grants, applicants are required to attend an informational seminar that provides first time buyers with financial knowledge and helpful tips for paying for a home. CHI takes pride in guiding their applicants through the home buying financial process, providing both money grants for down payments, as well as useful knowledge for moving forward.The Long Island Housing Partnership, Inc. is a non-profit organization, designed to develop affordable housing for low income Long Island families. Prospective home buyers who have maximum annual income restrictions, as well as are eligible for private mortgage financing are placed in a lottery and selected at random by a computer generated system. LIHP provides beautiful developments for low income families, as well as technical assistance, mortgage counseling, and down payment grants. First time buyers can feel confident that LIHP has their best interest at heart, as the organization guides all of its members through their home buying process, providing knowledge and financial grants as a means for families to begin building their lives in homes of their dreams. LIHP grants can be as large as over $25,000 and used for both down payment and closing costs. In addition, grants are awarded to members through a simple application process, which alleviates much of the stress first time home buyers may face as a result of financial constraints.Both CHI and Long Island Housing Partnerships, Inc. provide first time buyers with the confidence to buy a new home with their assistance of grants and home buyer education. In addition to these organizations, an effective web tool available now for first time buyers called Down Payment Resource, connects qualified buyers with financial restraints to government funded programs that provide grants and mortgage lending. Down Payment Resources’ goal is provide multiple government funding programs in order to pair first time home buyers with the perfect fit for their needs. This web tool allows for new buyers to research their options, and network about financial home buying assistance.http://www.lihp.org/downpayment.htmlhttp://www.chigrants.org/li_grants.htmhttp://www.workforce-resource.com/site/for_homebuyersFor more information, please contact Beth Lowe at 516-316-8335, Exit Realty.
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