real estate license #732006998
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about eastern PA area

selling real estate - tips

real estate sales - ask ellen FAQs

 

Buyers' Agent:
My average actual
sale price - to list price
as a buyers' agent is
92% of list price.


       ask for ellen: 610.253.6123

. . . buying tips for home-buyers

  • Figure out how much $$ is a comfortable range. Unless you are planning to pay cash - before you start looking at homes, speak with a lender about savings, debts, income, assets, etc. to establish what $$ range will be most comfortable for you. Try a mortgage calculator, to get an idea of range... keep in mind, you will also need to pay for heat, electric, taxes and homeowners insurance... if you put less than 20% down on the property you may also need to pay for PMI (private mortgage insurance) -- see fannie mae mortgage calculators.
    Below are some good lenders i've recently worked with. A pre-approval is FREE, and required with any bid/offers.
    Here's a nice pre-qualification worksheet to try out, to get to what $$$ is most affordable.
  • Figure out how far you'd like to commute & drive around some areas/neighborhoods to establish your target areas. If you are worried about safety, it's always a good idea to speak with the local police station about whether crime happens in the area.
  • Figure out what you would like and what you must have in a home (# bedrooms, # baths, garage, acreage, certain schools, square footage, style, older home vs. new construction) -- all useful info. in your search.
  • Pick up a local newspaper to get a sense of prices and local flavor.
  • Speak with a buyers' agent about available properties in your area/range and start a search.

If you would like me to do a preliminary search for you of current listings that might be of interest, just send me an email with a few of the parameters you are looking for and I'd be happy to keep you posted on properties that fit the bill!               

C A U T I O N ! Buyer Beware:

...be wary of mortgage pitfalls - ask questions!

  • pre-payment penalty - find out if there is one on your loan, if you sell in x years or want to re-finance
  • adjustable rate mortgages - find out the # years it is a fixed rate and when the 'adjustable' kicks in... you may get stuck with huge interest rate % down the road!
  • once you've chosed a lender & loan, get the lender's 'good faith estimate' which shows you all the related costs to get that loan

ellen@realsellen.com
610.360.3394

 

1. your name
2.   phone number
3.
email address
4. choose the minimum    
5. what price range are you looking in?
    
7. any special lot size, home requirements/styles/details?
     
9. preferred             10.  

to start your search, fill out this
<---- quick form & send

mortgage lenders

residential mortgages:

Todd Brown or Eileen Dunn, Wells Fargo 610.997.7180 -- tried & true! also, some excellent FHA programs
Michael Boulos, Merchants Bank 610.509.4577 or email: mboulos@merchantsbangor.com -- attractive financing pacakages to purchase EASTONIAN condos... they are offering $300-off of closing costs, when you use them for your mortgage. Depending on your credit & finances you may get up to 95% mortgage to purchase a condo.

mortgage brokers:

Mike Bower, Mortgage America 610.366.2586 or email: mikebower@rcn - nice FHA and 'PA 1st-time homebuyer' rates!
Romolo Guzman, Countrywide - 610.366.9090, 1.800.675.5638, or cell: 201.306.6317 - se habla espanol!

. . . when shopping for a loan, just watch out for how many times you get a credit check run.
Inquiries on your credit score can actually take your credit score DOWN a few points when there are tons of inquiries. Once you know your score you can just mention it to lenders for idea on %rates (and be honest about your $$ income & debts!) rather than have credit pulled each time.

Local Utility Numbers:

UGI gas: 610.867.0571
Met Ed Electric: 1.800.545.7741          PP&L electric (lehigh cty): 1.800.342.5775
Water - Easton: 610.258.7181     Bethlehem: 610.865.7070      Beth Township: 610.865.0471    Allentown: 610.437.7751

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