Financial – Dirt2Doorbell

Are You A First Time Home Buyer?

We have the Best Kept Secret In Fort Worth- An Exceptional First Time Home Buyer Program! Call us now to find out more 1-800-ANTARES 1800-268-2737

If you have never owned a home or have not owned a home in the last three years you’ve got to take advantage of this great First Time Home Buyer Program we are offering! Would you like help with Down Payment and Closing Costs? How about help that you don’t have to pay back? With interest rates so low and home prices on the verge of dramatic increases the time is now! Don’t miss out. Call one of our Fort Worth Neighborhoods for more details on how to qualify for this great program!

Parkview Hills 817-259-1907

Glen Mills Village 817-259-1909

Matador Ranch 817-350-6298

Villages of Sunset Pointe 817-701-3010

Parks of Deer Creek 817-704-7530

Mission Ridge Estates 817-704-7530

Summer Creek South 817-350-6298

A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words You Say?

Why pay more each month on rent and electric bills than most of our Home Owners are paying for their mortgage and guaranteed energy?

I agree! Rents are rising every six months, mortgage rates remain at their lowest in decades. So why would you pay more every month for a cramped apartment than you would on your own home? You don’t know? Me either!

It’s Easy!

Buying a New Home is Easy! We’ll show you how.

Did you know that buying a new home is a very simple process? You have one major choice to make before you begin the process: do you want to build your new home from the ground up or do you want to move into your new home in the next 30 days or less?

If you want to move quickly, let’s say your home has sold or your lease is up, or you have just re-located, an inventory home is the best option for you. An inventory home is one that the builder chose to build knowing that it is a popular floor plan and anticipating that some people may need to move into their new home in 30 days or less. There are about five steps to buying a completed inventory home:

-Gathering Your Paperwork

Now this is the first step no matter what type of home you are buying. You will need to provide your lender with a copy of your last two year’s W2’s, the two most recent paycheck stubs, a copy of your driver’s license, a copy of your social security card and your most recent checking and savings account statements. Getting this paperwork together before you begin looking will streamline the process when you are ready to make your decision.

-Loan Application

Most Home Builders will have their list of preferred or in house lenders. At Antares we have a list of over six Lenders that we prefer to work with. These people have earned their place on our list by providing great customer service to our Home Buyers and to our Sales Consultants. They are Lenders we can depend on to answer our phone calls even on weekends and after hours and they take care of our Buyers. You can submit a loan application at any of our Model Homes any day of the week. You are also welcome to use your own Lender that has already pre-approved you. Getting this part out of the way early on in the process helps you to determine what price range you want to stay in. It can also help with planning a budget for after you close. Having a realistic plan for your lifestyle is very important. For example, if you love to travel, you may want to keep your mortgage payment way below the maximum you can qualify for.

-Choose Your Home

This is the fun part! Visiting our Model Homes, looking at our completed inventory and imagining where you’ll place your furniture! Not sure what exactly will be the best style home for you? No problem. Our Sales Consultants are very good listeners and they will ask you lots of questions to discover which home will best suit your needs.

-Go to your Home Owner Orientation

Meet with the Construction Manager and find out all about the unique construction of your New Home. You’ll learn more about Water Heaters, Grout, Foundations and Insulation than you every wanted!

-Go to Closing

Signing on the dotted line and getting the keys to your future! Congratulations!

Have you decided you would like to pick all of the colors for your new home? Need a few months to save up your down payment? Want a floor plan that we don’t have as a completed inventory home? In love with that over sized Cul-De-Sac Home Site? Build! After the first two steps above, the next step is:

-Choose Your Floor Plan and Home Site

It can be overwhelming when we have so many different plans and locations to build. But don’t worry we are here to help! With plans ranging from three bedrooms to six bedrooms, we will have the perfect plan for you!

-Visit the Selection Studio

This is my favorite part! Since we don’t limit our Buyers to pre-selected packages, every home can be customized in many different ways. We will help you choose options that are beautiful and within any budget!

-Watch Your Home Emerge!

The construction process is very interesting if you ask me! A lot of our buyers will visit their home weekly to take pictures and observe their dreams taking form. You will meet with the Construction Manager during this time to get an overview of the construction process. He will also be able to answer any questions you have about how your home is being built. All of the Construction Managers at Antares Homes are Graduate Master Builders! Where else can you find that?

-Save Your Down Payment Money

Most of our buyers are using FHA loans. These loans require 3.5% of the mortgage value of the home as a down payment. A lot of people don’t have that amount sitting around and have to budget to save it. Since it takes us four months to build your new home, most of our buyers are able to save down payment money in that time period. We also have various Zero Down loans available for qualified buyers. If you want more information on those programs, please contact one of our Sales Offices. Our Sales Consultants will be able to tell you very quickly if you qualify for one of those programs.

-Meet with the Construction Manager

You will meet with your Construction Manager at least three times during the building process. He is a great educational resource for our buyers. Every wonder why we do what we do? He’ll be able to tell you!

-Go to closing!

The same last step: Signing on the dotted line and getting the keys to your future! Congratulations!

Now Wasn’t That Easy?

A Little Something Extra

No stress. No worries. From extra inspections during construction to engineered steel rebar foundations to guaranteed heating & cooling costs, your Antares home will provide peace of mind.

Sometimes you just want that little bit more. Something extra. We get it. And we think that little bit more is peace of mind. With the hustle and bustle of life, you don’t need any more stress and worry than absolutely necessary. So we go out of our way to provide our customers with a worry-free experience. Let’s examine the ways:

Guaranteed Heating and Cooling. Seriously. Not Kidding. It’s a warranted item. Our 3098 square foot floor plan in Garden Heights is GUARANTEED to average 907.5 kWh/month to heat and cool. At a price of $0.084/kWh that’s $76.23 on average to run the HVAC. Incredible, and true.
Extra Inspections. We go above and beyond to get additional third party inspections on each home. We want to make sure that a second set of eyes has inspected our homes to catch mistakes we may have missed. The result? Fewer Warranty Requests from our Home Owners.
Rebar Foundation. Each foundation is tailored to the specific needs of each neighborhood. Did you know that Tarrant County soils can vary so much that a soils test in one neighborhood can yield completely different results when compared to another? We always take the most conservative approach with our foundations and it shows in our record with Bonded Builders — our Third Party Warranty Partner. We have been claims free on our foundations since the company was founded in 1998.
Graduate Master Builders. Astonishing as it may be, all of our Construction Managers that build our homes are Graduate Master Builders. Continuing education is vital for anyone who desires to be the best in their field. We are no different. Experience and education make a difference in the end product. We are very proud to have such a great team building our homes, and you will be too.
Top Notch Salespeople. Our Sales Team is the best in the business. Why? What’s different about them? They are highly trained in areas that make the most difference to our Customers. They are very knowledgeable about the latest loan programs for first time buyers, repeat buyers and credit challenged buyers. If there is a way to save you money and get you the Home of your Dreams, they can find it. They are most concerned with helping people, not selling people. And our Customer Service Surveys reflect their hard work.

And if you still want more, call one of our Sales Offices to find out what’s so special about their neighborhood!

STOP! Don’t work on improving your credit all by yourself!

Think you know how to repair your credit score? You’d be surprised at how easy it is to make it worse. Best advice: Talk to an expert before you take any action. There are plenty of dos and don’ts when it comes to credit repair.

bad-credit — Photo Credit: money-for-single-moms.com

Sorry for yelling STOP in all upper caps but this topic is way too important to let slide. A prospective home buyer–let’s call her “Melanie”–just stopped by one of our sales offices to share some exciting news. Turns out she’s been trying to repair her credit score on her own. (Insert big “oh, no” here.) Ms. Melanie said her credit score (pulled just two months ago) was only 20 points short of qualifying for a loan. She had taken on the challenge to boost her score and proudly announced, “I’ve been paying on some old stuff.” (Insert another “oh, no” and throw in a sigh.)

So what’s the big deal?

The problem is that credit repair is very tricky these days. Recent credit items are more important than old debt, and most lenders can overlook some dings to your credit if they occurred a long time ago. Believe it or not, paying on an old debt breathes new life into that carcass and makes it show up on your credit report as a recent item. This can cause your score to tank.

No one told Melanie to do this. Despite a consultation with Marcy Rutherford, a veteran sales counselors who is very knowledgeable in credit repair, Melanie didn’t take her advice. The result is that Melanie may very well have set herself back over 100 points! This will take a very long time to undo.

Please take a lesson from our unfortunate friend and stop working on your own credit. We can help! Just call one of our Sales Offices and make an appointment to find out more about our Credit Watchers Program. Call toll free: 1-800-Antares (800-268-2737) or choose your favorite neighborhood and phone number from this list.

You work hard for your money. Make it work for you. The best investment you can ever make.

Today’s Master Builder Musing is by Nancy Scott, VP of Sales and one of our newest team members to earn the Graduate Master Builder (GMB) designation.

A house is an asset that is built for folks and families to live in, enjoy and maintain. It gives us a sense of who we are. By making payments to a mortgage company instead of a landlord, the house becomes an asset. The problem with combining that thought with housing is that our houses are not banks. The real purpose of housing has nothing to do with cash-out refinancing. It is a place to call home, to raise a family, to enjoy Sunday ballgames, to decorate with your style, to park your car in, or to barbecue in the back yard with friends.

This year, the average renter in Tarrant County will be handed two rent increases. Let’s face it, you have to pay to live somewhere. If interest rates are low and rent increases are high, the true best investment is housing. The required down payment when you buy a home is usually less than 3 and one half percent (sometimes as low as zero down), yet when housing prices rise, the investment value increases on the total price of the house.

Now it quickly makes sense. Builders are now building on discounted lots. The lots were discounted to the builders when the housing market declined. The builders now offer brand new homes at lower prices than they have been able to offer in decades. Lower pricing combined with the new home warranty and energy efficiency really add up and just make good solid sense. The discounted lot supply is limited, as developers cannot redeliver new lots with the same type of discounts.

Today’s interest rates are some of the lowest in the history of our country. Today’s home prices are the lowest since the 1990’s. These two combined make a huge difference in a payment. Let’s compare the principle and interest payment.

For example, in June 2000, the average interest rate was 8.5%. On a $150,000 home with a 8.5% interest rate the principle and interest payment was around $1124. The total payment with taxes and insurance was $1672.00

The new builder pricing in August 2011 for a similar home as the above example is about $130,000 in the current marketplace. The current interest rate is about 4% – the principal and interest payment is $628. The total payment including all taxes and property insurance is around $1121.

Now let’s see how much you will have paid off after 15 years if you stay in your home. With the 2000 pricing and rates, you would have paid down to a balance of $114,155.

With 2011 pricing and rates, you would have paid your home balance to $84,924 after 15 years. Now imagine, if you paid extra each month, the amount that buyers actually paid in June 2000 and kept paying it for the 15 years-an extra $496 per month. Where would you be? Your house would be completely paid for and it would have been paid for in February 2024. That means your home would be completely paid for in 13 ½ years. This is the true way to wealth. This is the true American dream.

Amazing, huh? This doesn’t even show how much the “discounted home” will rise in value over the years. An apartment will never be paid off. Renters just make someone else rich.

Do you really want to take this risk that interest rates and housing will stay low? Or do you want the benefits that a home provides?

Shocking!

After all of the gloomy predictions about what a downgraded credit rating will do to our economy I was shocked to learn today that many of our recommended lenders are offering a 30 year fixed rate loan at 3.75%. Crazy! Just a few weeks ago rates were hovering around 5%. What does that mean to you? On a 30 year fixed rate FHA loan for $120,000 your payment at a 5% rate including Taxes, Insurance, Mortgage Insurance and Interest is around $1065/month. At 3.75% that number drops below $1000/month to a shocking $979/month! If you buy our least expensive home, priced at $99,490, your payment becomes $812/month. Why would you not buy today? With prices and rates so low, you can’t miss this opportunity to invest in your future!

–Link to 8825 Highland Orchard, pictured above.

Help is Here!

CSR-Model-2053-500x333 — Crescent Springs Ranch, 701 Jetton Court, Crowley, TX 76036

Do you need help just figuring out if buying a new home is an option for you? Do you need help planning to save money for a down payment? Do you need help understanding why your credit score went down instead of up after all that work you did? We have answers for you! We are offering a FREE Home Buyer Class at our Crescent Springs Ranch location this Wednesday, August 10 from 7-9 pm. Call the office at 817-704-7532 to register today! We will have a finance specialist on site to help with planning for a home in your future!

Did you Know?

The Homebuyer Tax Credit was extended for members of the Uniformed Services, members of the Foreign Service and members of the Intelligence Community.

If you fit into one of those categories and you were serving on qualified official extended duty service outside of the United States for at least 90 days from January 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010, you can still qualify for the Homebuyer Tax Credit.

Are you one of the above qualified people and did you buy a home after the tax credit ended this spring? You can still claim the credit.

Thinking about buying a home? There is still time. You must be on contract before April 30, 2011. Call one of our Sales Offices today to find out more information! We have a Home for You!

1-800-ANTARES

Here are the Forms you need to claim your Tax Credit, even if you are not eligible for an extension, but you just haven’t filed for it yet.

8 Reasons to Buy a New Home

If you’re like most first-time home buyers, you’ve probably listened to friends’, family’s and coworkers’ advice, many of whom are encouraging you to buy a home. However, you may still wonder if buying a home is the right thing to do. Relax. Having reservations is normal. The more you know about why you should buy a home, the less scary the entire process will appear to you. Here are eight good reasons why you should buy a new home.

Pride of Ownership

Pride of ownership is the number one reason why people yearn to own their home. It means you can paint the walls any color you desire, turn up the volume on your CD player, attach permanent fixtures and decorate your home according to your own taste. Home ownership gives you and your family a sense of stability and security. It’s making an investment in your future.

Appreciation

Although real estate moves in cycles, sometimes up, sometimes down, over the years, real estate has consistently appreciated. The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight tracks the movements of single family home values across the country. Its Housing Price Index breaks down the changes by region and metropolitan area. Many people view their home investment as a hedge against inflation. Texas is one of the states that lead the Nation here.

Mortgage Interest Deductions

Home ownership is a superb tax shelter and our tax rates favor homeowners. As long as your mortgage balance is smaller than the price of your home, mortgage interest is fully deductible on your tax return. Interest is the largest component of your mortgage payment.

Property Tax Deductions

IRS Publication 530 contains tax information for first-time home buyers. Real estate property taxes paid for a first home and a vacation home are fully deductible for income tax purposes.

Capital Gain Exclusion

As long as you have lived in your home for two of the past five years, you can exclude up to $250,000 for an individual or $500,000 for a married couple of profit from capital gains. You do not have to buy a replacement home or move up. There is no age restriction, and the “over-55” rule does not apply. You can exclude the above thresholds from taxes every 24 months, which means you could sell every two years and pocket your profit–subject to limitation–free from taxation.

Preferential Tax Treatment

If you receive more profit than the allowable exclusion upon sale of your home, that profit will be considered a capital asset as long as you owned your home for more than one year. Capital assets receive preferential tax treatment.

Mortgage Reduction Builds Equity

Each month, part of your monthly payment is applied to the principal balance of your loan, which reduces your obligation. The way amortization works, the principal portion of your principal and interest payment increases slightly every month. It is lowest on your first payment and highest on your last payment. On average, each $100,000 of a mortgage will reduce in balance the first year by about $500 in principal, bringing that balance at the end of your first 12 months to $99,500.

Equity Loans

Consumers who carry credit card balances cannot deduct the interest paid, which can cost as much as 18% to 22%. Equity loan interest is often much less and it is deductible. For many home owners, it makes sense to pay off this kind of debt with a home equity loan. Consumers can borrow against a home’s equity for a variety of reasons such as home improvement, college, medical or starting a new business.

-Ron Formby