EVOLUTION: TEN ITEMS
OR LESS
In
2003, Glenn Arnold quit his job as a
drugstore manager to dive into the world of freelance writing. He has written for
Intermission Magazine,
Humor Is Relative,
Suite 101,
and
Go
Inside Magazine and his work has appeared in the book
Funny Bone Fitness (Let There Be Laughter).
A
graduate of the University of Virginia, Glenn holds a bachelor's degree in
English and looks at it on his wall every day. Born in San Diego,
Glenn now lives in Virginia where he writes and produces mortgage and real
estate newsletters for
Left Field Media Publications. He is available for contract
freelance writing projects in a variety of fields and genres.
LEFT
FIELD MEDIA PUBLICATIONS
How A New Law Could Affect Your Renovation Project » » » » "...Renovation jobs may take longer to complete—which, in turn, could add more of a financial strain on contractors ..."
Are Interest Rates On The Rise? » » » » "...No matter what the timeframe turns out to be, sooner is probably better than later if you’re considering buying or refinancing..."
30-Year Fixed Or 15-Year Fixed? » » » » "...The 30-year fixed-rate may be the one you hear about the most, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only mortgage option or even the best option..."
The New Good Faith Estimate » » » » "...Although the new GFE does not cover all areas (such as complete payment or cash required at closing), it can be a helpful tool..."
Can You Get A Deal? Buying A Bank-Owned Property » » » » "...You’ll want an agent who has extensive experience with bank-owned properties and knows the market and current homes values..."
Determining Your Current Home Equity » » » » "...Home values change constantly and the equity you have today may be very different than the equity you have tomorrow..."
How Much Leeway Before The Tax Credit Deadline? » » » » "...Most closings do occur on the scheduled date, but, unfortunately, delays can happen..."
The 2010 Outlook: A Good Year For Buyers » » » » "...And what’s in store for 2010? Not only should the trends of last year continue, but this will be an even better year for buyers..."
The Tax Credit Has Been Extended--And Expanded » » » » "...And here’s more good news: If you’re currently a homeowner, you may be eligible for a new tax credit of up to $6,500..."
How Low Can You Go? Locking In Your Rate » » » » "...Not only do interest rates fluctuate from week to week and day to day, but they can change throughout a single day..."
Saving Up To Buy Your Dream Home » » » » "...A good rule of thumb is to budget $1,000 per year for general home expenses going forward..."
One More Reason Why You Need To Improve Your Credit » » » » "...These changes could affect your credit score quite dramatically—especially if you have less-than-perfect credit..."
Refinance Or Home Equity Line Of Credit? » » » » "...With a refinance, on the other hand, you would get a lump sum payment and start paying interest on that amount immediately..."
Four Things You Need To Know About Getting A Fair Appraisal » » » » "...Although an appraisal isn’t based upon a home’s appearance, it does nevertheless have an influence on the final number..."
What Conveys And What Doesn't » » » » "...You certainly don’t want misunderstandings cropping up later that could potentially derail the sale..."
Timing Is Everything If You're A Buyer And A Seller » » » » "...Lock in your interest rate, research all of your new home possibilities and be ready to pounce when the time is right..."
Paying Off Interest vs. Paying Off Principle » » » » "...It's not until later in a loan's life that the majority of your monthly payment will go towards principle..."
Hiring An Agent For A New Construction Purchase » » » » "...This isn’t a steadfast rule in every case and with every developer—especially with the current market conditions..."
Remodeling With An Eye Towards Energy Efficiency » » » » "...Your refrigerator and dishwasher will be your biggest energy users, so shop for these two appliances wisely..."
How Not To Lose Your Loan Approval » » » » "...Changes in balances or contribution amounts will change the information on your loan application—after the fact..."
The Smallest Repair Could Make The Biggest Difference » » » » "...The glut of homes on the market has given potential buyers more power—and the freedom to be picky..."
Stimulus Plan Aims To Help Struggling Homeowners » » » » "...According to the administration, the refinancing plan is expected to help 4-5 million homeowners to refinance..."
Breaking Down The First-Time Buyer Tax Credit » » » » "...Last year’s tax credit has been modified—and this year’s version is much more beneficial to first-time buyers..."
Why Are Buyers Still On The Fence? » » » » "...It does show that potential buyers are very much concerned with the financial considerations of buying a home in this market..."
Interest Rates: Now Is The Time To Buy Or Refinance » » » » "...There is speculation that interest rates will go even lower in the near future, but don’t hold your breath waiting for that to happen..."
What Is A Short Sale? » » » » "...Although a seller doesn’t necessarily have to be facing foreclosure to sell short, that is usually the case..."
Real Estate 101: Buying In Today's Market » » » » "...With housing prices constantly changing, make sure your real estate agent finds the most current comps..."
Real Estate 101: Selling In Today's Market » » » » "...The national average time on the market for a home is right around ten months, so you’ll need to be patient..."
The 2009 Housing Market Outlook: Is There A Silver Lining? » » » » "...Lost in the hubbub over the credit crisis is the fact that borrowers with good credit still have viable options..."
Beyond Recycling: The Green Building Initiative » » » » "...The green building initiative does not just refer to new construction; it also pertains to existing buildings and other structures..."
The Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac Takeover » » » » "...For the investors who drive the mortgage market, the takeover means that buying Fannie or Freddie-issued debt is now much less of a risk..."
Reverse Mortgages: Cashing In On Your Home Equity » » » » "...Borrowers can get the payout as a lump sum, as monthly payments, as a line of credit, or as a combination of all three..."
Cash Upfront: Overcoming The Down Payment Hurdle » » » » "...In reality, many borrowers simply don’t have enough funds to save up for a down payment..."
The Basics Of A Home Inspection » » » » "...You should not only be present during the inspection, but you should also follow the inspector throughout the house..."
On A Budget? Home Projects That Pay Off » » » » "...At less than $30 a gallon—plus a few extra dollars for brushes, rollers, and other supplies—paint is a good way to get a lot of bang for your buck..."
The Basics Of The Hope For Homeowners Act » » » » "...The new Hope for Homeowners Act is considered to be the most significant housing bill Congress has passed in 50 years..."
The FHA's New Risk-Based Pricing Structure » » » » "...Effective July 14, the Federal Housing Authority began instituting a new “risk-based” pricing structure on all FHA home loans..."
Ten Steps To Having A Successful Moving Day » » » » "...Make sure the moving truck can get in and out of both your old neighborhood/street and your new one..."
Freshening Up Your MLS Listing » » » » "...Your home will appear to be a new listing and the stigma of a home languishing on the market will be removed..."
Don't Panic If Your Home Equity Line Of Credit Has Been Frozen » » » » "...Since most freezes and limitations are not being instituted on a case-by-case basis, most lenders will allow you to appeal..."
How The Internet Is Changing Real Estate » » » » "...The real estate business has become more of a do-it-yourself industry than ever before..."
Ten Tips For Buying And Borrowing » » » » "...If you’re ready to buy a home, don’t wait around. Interest rates and housing prices are affordable right now..."
Yes, Now Is A Great Time To Buy Your First Home » » » » "...After the seemingly out of control rise in prices between 2003 and 2006, home prices have dropped—quite dramatically in some areas..."
Is There An Average Amount For Closing Costs? » » » » "...Because every state has different regulations, the amount you’ll have to pay will depend on where you live..."
What's Being Done In Washington To Help Ease The Mortgage Crisis? » » » » "...So the big question is: Will these steps help to ease the mortgage crisis and help homeowners?..."
Renting Your Home Is An Option » » » » "...First and foremost, keep in mind that leasing your home can be expensive so take a close look at the financial costs of renting..."
What You Need To Know About Buying From A Builder » » » » "...Some builders won’t pay a commission to your agent if you don’t have an agent at the beginning of the process..."
The First Step Is To Plan Out Your Financial Future » » » » "...Keep in mind that your tax situation will more than likely change, especially if you’re buying, selling, or renting out your home..."
A Lack Of Comps Isn't Necessarily A Problem » » » » "...Many real estate agents will tell you that there are always comps—just not always easy comps..."
Alternative Loan Types Are Still Available, But Choose Wisely » » » » "...Adjustable-rate loans certainly aren’t for everyone, but may be a viable solution for some borrowers..."
Ready To Show: A Home Staging Checklist » » » » "...Remove clutter from all closets, cabinets, and easily accessible storage areas. Potential buyers will look in these areas..."
Getting The Best Interest Rate Possible » » » » "...To say that interest rates have been fluctuating a lot lately is quite an understatement..."
Taking Steps To Avoid Foreclosure » » » » "...Foreclosure proceedings can happen within 30-60 days so ignoring the problem will only make it worse..."
Interest Rates Fall Below 6 Percent, But For How Long? » » » » "...Although the rates on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage are currently below 6 percent, that may not be the case for the rest of 2008..."
Your First Homeowners' Association » » » » "...Pay particular attention to specific rules such as restrictions on pets, vehicles, and exterior standards..."
New Fees On Conforming Loans » » » » "...Beginning March 1st, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac added new credit score-based fees to all conforming loans..."
Going Green: Saving The Environment And Saving Money » » » » "...A 25-watt fluorescent light gives off as much light as a standard 100-watt bulb, yet it uses only one-quarter of the electricity..."
Now Is The Best Time To Improve Your Credit Score » » » » "...New credit is 10 percent of your credit score, so avoid opening any accounts within six months of applying for a mortgage..."
Falling Home Prices And Home Equity: A Dangerous Mix » » » » "...Specifically, you need to think carefully about your home’s equity as it relates to the trend in home prices..."
Curb Appeal In The Winter Months » » » » "...A new doormat or a fresh coat of paint on your front door can help make your entrance area inviting to potential buyers..."
Home Equity Concerns » » » » "...Keep in mind that most experts believe home prices have either already bottomed out or will do so sometime in 2008..."
How Will We Know When The Rebound Is Here? » » » » "...Another good sign that the market is coming back is when home prices start to rise again or—more precisely—rise at a faster pace..."
Do I Have A Prime Loan Or A Subprime Loan? » » » » "...Subprime loans have substantially higher start rates, shorter terms, prepayment penalties, and in many cases require larger down payments..."
Seller Expectations: One Couple's Story » » » » "...Not only was it possible that they might have fewer potential buyers, Vicky warned, but potential buyers may be more demanding..."
Maintaining A Paper Trail » » » » "...If you pay your landlord directly and by check, be sure that your checks are being deposited in a timely manner..."
Should You Pay Points Or Not? » » » » "...The most important question to ask yourself when you’re considering paying points is how long you’re going to have the loan..."
Renovate And Remodel Or Sell It "As Is?" » » » » "...Making smaller upgrades to your house is usually a good idea if there’s a wide discrepancy between your home and other homes..."
What To Do If Your ARM Is About To Adjust » » » » "...A fixed-rate loan eliminates the worry factor and allows you to have a set payment each month..."
Title Insurance For A Refinance » » » » "...The important difference between owner’s and lender’s title insurance is that lender’s title insurance lasts for only the life of the current loan..."
Interviewing Real Estate Agents, Part 1: The Basics » » » » "...The key to this question is the percentage of listings sold rather than the total number of homes sold..."
What Is My Agent Supposed To Do For Me? » » » » "...Your agent is required (ethically and legally) to perform or undertake certain marketing task in an attempt to successfully sell your home..."
Is A No-Cost Loan The Right Loan For You? » » » » "...Obviously, not having to pay closing costs all at once is a big draw of no-cost loans..."
Interviewing Real Estate Agents, Part 2: The Specifics » » » » "...A quality agent will have a marketing plan that is tailored specifically to your house, neighborhood, and market..."
"Purchasing" A Credit Score? Beware! » » » » "...Legally, it is impossible to remove negative information from a credit report if that information is accurate..."
The Mortgage Market: It's Not All Bad News » » » » "...Lost in the hoopla about the (so-called) demise of the housing market has been the recent trend in interest rates..."
Determining The True Value Of Your Home » » » » "...Agents have all of the experience, knowledge, skills, and tools to accurately assess your home’s value..."
Home Prices: What Does The Future Hold? » » » » "...Price your home realistically and pay attention to current market trends..."
Yard Sale Questions » » » » "...As for pricing your items, your goal should be to get rid of everything rather than trying to make a lot of money..."
Property Tax Assessment Concerns » » » » "...Your home’s assessment will more than likely vary from assessments of other houses on your street..."
What Is A Buy-Down? » » » » "...A buyer can use the money saved to furnish or decorate their new home..."
How To Find The Contractor Who's Right For You » » » » "...Word-of-mouth is still extremely vital and many contractors and remodelers depend on good references for the majority of their business..."
Buying, Selling, Borrowing, And Refinancing: The 2007 Outlook » » » » "...The health of the real estate market will depend heavily on interest rates—and that may not be an area of concern in 2007..."
Are Developers Reducing Prices? » » » » "...These developers are taking an “offer/counteroffer” approach to moving unsold units..."
Buy-Downs Gain In Popularity » » » » "...The seller can generate more interest from potential buyers and the eventual buyer is able to get reduced payments going forward..."
Getting A Pre-Listing Home Inspection » » » » "...With a pre-listing home inspection, you’ll be able to see what repairs—both obvious and hidden repairs—you’ll need to make..."
Will You Save Money By Selling It Yourself? » » » » "...The average home sold without a Realtor® had a final sale price of 16 percent less than the average home sold with a Realtor®..."
Are Home Prices Really Going Down? » » » » "...Overall, more areas than before have seen a decrease—and some of theses decreases are quite dramatic..."
Why You Shouldn't Try To Wait Out The Market » » » » "...According to the National Association of Realtors, rental prices are expected to increase an alarming 5.3 percent this year..."
What You Need To Know About Writing Off Moving Expenses » » » » "...Your new job must be at least 50 miles farther from your current home than from your old job..."
Why You Shouldn't Pay Off Your Mortgage » » » » "...You should ask yourself an important question: Will I get a better return on my money if I keep my mortgage and invest elsewhere?..."
The Importance Of Location When It Comes To Reselling » » » » "...You'll need to consider the prospect of future development, namely residential and commercial growth..."
Buying A Vacation Home As A Rental » » » » "...In some vacation areas, weather-related disasters or other natural disasters have driven up insurance premiums..."
Flexibility And Choice: The Option ARM » » » » "...The Option ARM has many benefits, namely allowing you to tailor you loan payments to achieve your financial goals..."
Maximizing Your Profit When Selling A Vacant House » » » » "...If you plan on having your house shown in the evenings, keep enough lights on so that your home is well-lit..."
When Your Realtor® Refers A Lender » » » » "...Like with all kinds of services, personal referrals are often very rewarding..."
Disclosing Noisy Neighbors » » » » "...Most disclosure laws require the seller to let a buyer know about such issues once a buyer shows interest in a house or an offer is made..."
All Remodels Great And Small: Recouping Costs When You Sell » » » » "...Making upgrades to your house may seem like a quality investment at first glance..."
Real Estate Terms And Definitions » » » » "... Despite the popular belief that housing is unaffordable, the current affordability index is well above 100..."
Are We Being Priced Out Of The Market? » » » » "...Granted, prices will still go up, but not nearly as quickly as they have in the past few years..."
Making The Move: A Primer For The First-Time Homebuyer » » » » "...Knowing exactly what you want is only half the battle. Getting exactly what you want requires quite a bit more work..."
A Safe Haven: Checking Out Your Neighborhood Before You Buy » » » » "...Local business owners are a great source of information and are very often candid about how safe the area is..."
When Will The Fed Increases End And Interest Rates Level Off? » » » » "...The reality is that the end is within sight and the largest increases have already taken place..."
Cutting Down On Your Closing Costs » » » » "...As you get ready to sign your closing paperwork, you discover the closing costs add up to a lot more than you thought. Are the fees right?..."
Battling The Rising Cost Of Homeowners Insurance » » » » "...As a general rule, the higher your deductible is, the less your yearly premium will be..."
Don't Be Afraid Of The Down Payment » » » » "...Although many lenders require three to five percent as a down payment, there are ways of getting around this..."
Why Hasn't My House Sold Yet And What Can I Do About It? » » » » "...Because every home in the MLS is assigned an ordered number, re-listing your house will “freshen up” your listing..."
Five Things To Avoid In The Home Buying Process » » » » "...The phrase “curb appeal” is bandied about quite often, but you need balance between the exterior and interior..."
How Much Can You Afford Without Overextending Yourself? » » » » "...Make sure you understand that affording a house doesn’t mean just affording a mortgage..."
Improving Your Credit Score » » » » "...Remember that a recent late payment affects your credit rating more than a late payment from a year ago or several years ago..."
A Look Ahead: 2005 Will Be Strong, But Tempered » » » » "...Is 2005 the year the proverbial bubble finally bursts, or will the current trends continue?..."
Is There A Particular Time Of Year To Buy? » » » » "...Many people who put their homes on the market in the off-months of fall or winter have a need to sell their home as soon as they can..."
Ken Byrne, Your Mortgage Professional » » » » "...With great service and continual follow-up, Ken is able to offer very competitive rates and outstanding programs for almost any situation..."
Adding Value To Your Home Is A Good Investment » » » » "...The quality and layout of your kitchen, master bedroom, and master bathroom are critical to your home’s value..."
Mortgage For The Self-Employed » » » » "...As for what type of mortgage you can get, remember that lenders are looking for steady income and a positive future earning potential..."
Pre-Qualification Vs. Pre-Approval » » » » "...Although both are measurements of how much a buyer is able to afford in terms of a loan, the differences between the two are very important..."
Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Negotiating » » » » "...Make sure you set solid limitations in terms of how far you’re willing to go to get your new home..."
Types Of Construction Loans » » » » "...A construction-to-permanent loan has only one closing and only one set of closing costs..."
Removing Clutter For An Open House » » » » "...Not only do prospective buyers try to imagine where their furniture goes, but they also mentally place smaller, more personal items like pictures..."
So You Want To Invest In Real Estate » » » » "...Before you start snapping up real estate right and left, however, do your research. Then do your research again..."
Just Why Are Pre-Approvals So Important? » » » » "...Now imagine being halfway into the purchase process and finding out you’re not quite qualified to buy the house...."
Three Reasons Why An Interest-Only Loan May Be Right For You » » » » "...Want to invest in the stock market? Contribute more to your 401K? Or maybe just pay off high-interest credit cards?..."
Too High Or Too Low? The Basics Of Setting Your List Price Correctly » » » » "...You may want to have your house appraised if your home is unique or has complex additions and extras..."
Death Penalty Updates » » » » "... Recent developments suggest that the battle for and against capital punishment is still fairly even..."
Death Penalty Drives Governor's Race In Virginia » » » » "... Kaine knows he is walking a fine line between upholding the law and answering to his personal belief..."
Catholic Bishops Launch Controversial Campaign Against The Death Penalty » » » » "...The results of this poll show that 47 percent of Catholic Americans now oppose the death penalty..."
The Unusual Case Of Kathy MacClellan » » » » "...Crimes such as this one happen every week, but this particular murder made headlines across the country because the suspect is 70-years-old..."
Now What? The Next Legislative Step May Be The Most Difficult » » » » "...The next push may be played out on the most ambitious of all battlefields: the legality of executing the mentally ill..."
The Death Penalty In The Military » » » » "...By increasing the number of jurors, they argue, the standard for conviction is increased to the same level as that of civil cases..."
Looking At Capital Punishment: What To Watch For In 2005 » » » » "...The Court felt the statute gave the state an unfair advantage over defendants during sentencing..."
The International Perspective, Part 1 » » » » "...Despite the perceived shift towards abolishment on an international scale, 115 countries still allow the death penalty..."
The International Perspective, Part 2 » » » » "...International laws and treaties are usually not binding in U.S. courts..."
A Downward Trend » » » » "...The trend among prosecutors is to save the death penalty for the 'worst of the worst' cases..."
Where The Candidates Stand, Part 1: The Democrats » » » » "...A major-party candidate for the land’s highest office has denounced the death penalty in all but a few select cases..."
Where The Candidates Stand, Part 2: The Republicans » » » » "...Although Bush stated that he was 'not proud of any record,' he did say that he was proud that Texas held people accountable..."
Doctors And Executions: A Complex Question Of Medicine, Ethics, And Law » » » » "...They argue that lethal injection is simply a procedure that imitates a medical procedure..."
In-Depth With The DPIC » » » » "...The biggest stumbling block is less the general definition of retardation, but actually establishing a number value..."
Defining Mental Retardation » » » » "...Dr. Samenow based his opinion, in part, on the fact that Atkins used words such as 'orchestra,' 'decimal,' and 'parable' during his examination..."
Why The Evolving Standards Of Decency Will Spare Juveniles » » » » "...Because of the so-called 'evolving standards of decency,' the Supreme Court will uphold Missouri’s decision..."
The Death Penalty Debate: A Starting Point » » » » "...112 people have been exonerated and freed from death row because of 'factual innocence'..."
Understanding The Malvo Sentence » » » » "...Simply because four out of five people don’t believe juveniles should be put to death doesn’t mean that the statutes are meaningless..."
The
Pendulum Will Swing Back »
» » »
"...Undoubtedly, the Justice Department is working to lay blame for the September 11th attacks and gain some measure of
retribution..."
GO INSIDE MAGAZINE
It's All About The
Respect, Baby
»
» » »
"...The season is over and
the team that knocked you out is now happily skating all over the rink like crazed monkeys..."
HUMOR IS RELATIVE
Skip The Stomach, Go Straight For The Heart
»
» » »
"...We’re eating healthy, eating smart, and eating light. In other words, we’re having
nutritious and low-calorie water droplets..."
For
more work samples,
freelance projects, questions, or general conversation, please contact Glenn
directly either by email or by phone.
Email:
u2glenn[at]earthlink.net
Office:
703-980-4710
Way
Out In Left/Left Field Media Publications
10815 Charles Drive
Fairfax, Virginia 22030-5140
© Glenn Arnold 2000-2010, Left Field Media Publications 2003-2010