Landscaping, Mortgage News, and a Link

Landscaping is a tool to accentuate the home, not hide it among a jungle of assorted plants, flowers, and overgrown herbi-monsters.

Good landscaping can always be seen right off the bat.  It can provide a soft touch to ease the rigid house exterior, or it can be used to push the voice that this house is of some importance with a bordered driveway, or guided walkway to the front door.

How your landscaping is shaped, flows, and whats in it says much about you and your home.  Do you have many holly bushes adjoining the front porch warning people to stay away?  Or do you have lambs ears giving a welcoming feeling to your guests?

Remember minimal landscaping is much better than an overdone circus of a yard.  There's one just off of South Parkway that screams for a vendor to be selling cotton candy.

Quick Excellent Reminder of Landscaping Mistakes by HGTV.

Mortgage News:  Word is coming from Phoenix where President Obama will speak about restructuring Freddy Mac & Fannie Mae or possibly shuttering them altogether.  These nationalized companies still hold a large amount of mortgages as well as foreclosures. This brings the big question: mortgages might be easier to unload but how will the current foreclosures they have on their books be moved out when they use a system of local agents to handle the marketing of the properties.  Not many private companies will want to jump and accept the responsibilities of foreclosures with the maintenance that comes with it, but if no takers will this be passed off to each of the states for more local control?  Just a question that remains unanswered for now.

Link to Popular Mechanics Strange Homes.

Today's Tidbit:  Use times of constant and heavy rains to check for roof and garage leaks in walls and ceilings.

Huntsville Metro Area Homes

6/18/13 - Yes Mortgage Rates Are Going Up! Mortgage Rates for Huntsville Alabama Area

Its true we haven been climbing upwards with mortgage rates.  Better to lock in your low rate now!

INSTITUTION	Conv. 30-year fixed Rate/points/APR	Conv. 15-year fixed Rate/points/APR	5-Year ARM Rate/points/APR	Yearly cap Lifetime cap	FHA Rate/pnts/APR 30yr	VA Rate/pnts/APR 30yr	Last Update
Renasant Bank (256) 382-2828	3.75/0	2.875/0	NA/0 (0 APR)	2/5	3.375/0	3.375/0	17-Jun-2013 2:47:35 PM
Servis First Bank (256) 722-7821	3.75/0	2.875/0	NA/NA	NA/NA	3.25/0	3.25/0	17-Jun-2013 11:19:26 AM
Charis Mortgage Corporation (256) 885-4044	3.750/0 (3.750 APR)	2.875/0 (2.875 APR)	NA/NA	NA/NA	3.250/0 (3.250 APR)	3.250/0 (3.250 APR)	17-Jun-2013 10:33:20 AM
REDSTONE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION (256) 882-8500	3.875/0	3.0/0	2.5/0 (0 APR)	2/5	NA/NA	NA/NA	17-Jun-2013 10:06:42 AM
Progress Bank (256) 319-3630	3.750/0	2.875/0	2.500/0 (0 APR)	2/5	3.125/0	3.125/0	17-Jun-2013 9:43:19 AM
First Bank Mortgage Partners (256) 533-5576	3.875/0	2.875/0	2.5/0 (0 APR)	2/5	3.25/0	3.25/0	17-Jun-2013 9:09:17 AM
First Commercial/Synovus 256-288-2316	4.000/0	3.000/0	NA/NA	NA/NA	3.375/0	3.375/0	14-Jun-2013 1:30:20 PM
PNC BANK 256-382-4560	3.75/NA	2.875/NA	2.25/NA	NA/NA	3.25/0	3.25/0	14-Jun-2013 11:57:41 AM
Supreme Lending (256) 715-9465	3.99/0	3.00/0	2.875/0 (0 APR)	2/5	3.625/0	3.265/0	14-Jun-2013 10:09:37 AM
South Bank (256) 535-6000	3.750/0	2.875/0	2.50/0 (0 APR)	2/5	3.25/0	3.250/0	13-Jun-2013 11:54:15 AM
Starkey Mortgage (256) 533-2362	3.875/0	3.00/0	2.75/0 (0 APR)	2/5	3.5/0	3.5/0	11-Jun-2013 2:48:46 PM

Huntsville Metro Area Homes

Finance Side Info on Custom Home Builds?

Something we have not discussed is Custom Built Homes.  Good for some, not for all.  If you know what you're doing and have good advice you should be fine.

First, Home Construction Loans.  These are short term loans for the client to build a home.  The client usually puts 20% down on a construction loan.  It should be remembered by the client though that this loan is in their name not the builder, and given in a lump sum to be disbursed as construction progresses. In these types of Custom Build scenarios, banks wanting to limit their risk, check out the contractor and their references.

One of our co-workers who specializes in land for new construction says that land can be anywhere between $20K-$200K all depending on the location and size.  Factors influencing price can be hill side, mountain top, wooded/forested, flatland, etc.

Although many clients build for themselves and their unique tastes, they should always remember that their tastes are should be tempered in case of emergency and have to sell the home.  Resale should always be thought of as a possible future what if.  If worse comes to worse always make sure that it can be resold without difficulty.  Know what you can afford, do your research, get educated, don't go over your limit.  As always for help on who to get for a contractor/builder you can go find reviews or go to the BBB and see what their rating is.  Remember when you minimize your own risk, you maximize your future happiness and ease of mind.

Today's Tidbit:  Redstone Federal Credit Union will be opening a new Full Service branch on Redstone Arsenal at 5216 Mills Road, south of the new shoppette and near the child development center.  Redstone Federal Credit Union President and CEO Joseph H. Newberry states: "This new branch will allow us to provide more convenient service to Redstone Arsenal personnel.  The credit union was originally chartered to serve Redstone Arsenal so we have maintained a strong relationship with the arsenal, and are always looking for ways to better serve them."

Huntsville Metro Area Homes

Highlighting A Mortgage Lender

Today the decision was reached to highlight a mortgage lender.  Supreme Lending under Shannon Fortner has always provided us with the best of service.  They have never ceased to amaze us with the amount of hard work, good attitude, and wonderful quality of their work.

Originally Shannon Fortner and his team were with Countrywide Home Loans before the company collapsed amid financial troubles and political corruption which included waived points, lender fees and company borrowing rules for members of the Democratic Party of the United States.  This led the team to W.R. Starkey in which they had a troubling relationship due to the W.R. Starkey's over bureaucratic methods.  The Shannon Fortner team didn't stay long before they moved over to their present place at Supreme Lending.  Although they have moved from company to company, the once constant is their fantastic services they have provided to their clients.  Their strong unit has proved time and time again, their eagerness to do as much as they can for the benefit of their clients and agents.

Thank you for everything Shannon, Beverly, and Debbie.  You've always been wonderful to work with and provided many great times.

Shannon Fortner - Supreme Lending
Contact Information

• Phone Numbers:
  Cell 256-755-0156
  Direct 256-715-9465
  Main 256-715-9465
  Fax 256-715-9501
• Branch Location:
  2101 Clinton Ave W, St. 202
  Huntsville, AL 35805

Today's Tidbit:  Don't be afraid to ask your mortgage lender questions, they're there to help you understand. If you don't ask the questions, they won't be able to read your mind to assist you.

Huntsville Metro Area Homes