Online Services for First Time Home Buyers

I received an email from Debra Patterson regarding an online service that matches first time homebuyers with eligible down payment assistance programs:

DOWN PAYMENT RESOURCES MATCHES FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS
WITH ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WITHIN MINUTES

Workforce Resource Launches Online Service in Metro Atlanta; Gives Lenders Competitive Advantage; Ensures Homebuyers Achieve Maximum Opportunities for Home Ownership

ATLANTA, Sept. 9, 2009 – With the Atlanta rollout of Down Payment ResourceSM (www.downpaymentresource.com), the typically confusing and time-intensive process of matching qualified first-time homebuyers with downpayment assistance programs is now automated and easily completed within minutes. Using this online service, lenders can educate their clients about available funding, and ensure those eligible for assistance are provided with maximum opportunities for home ownership.

Developed by Workforce Resource (www.workforce-resource.com), the Atlanta-based company licenses its innovative flagship service to professionals across the housing industry. Down Payment Resource identifies and cuts through the bewildering array of federal, state and local government assistance programs – each with complicated rules and oftentimes contradictory requirements – to provide prospective homebuyers with preliminary determination of eligibility.

“There is a real need for service providers to easily identify downpayment assistance and incentive programs available to their clients,” says real estate and lending industry veteran Rob Chrane, founder of Workforce Resource. “Down Payment Resource assembles and analyzes complex program criteria, identifying relevant opportunities. This enables lenders to present their clients with timely and accurate information that leads to critical marketplace knowledge, strengthened relationships and increased sales.”

Competitive Advantage for Banks, Mortgage Lenders and REO Asset Managers

Based on household size, income, occupation and assets combined with desired location and type of housing, Down Payment Resource identifies assistance programs that a:

• Bank or mortgage lender’s customer is qualified to receive, and may be used in conjunction with an appropriate first mortgage product.
• REO Asset Manager recognizes may enhance the affordability of their listing, and that their customer can provide to a lender to improve financing options.

“A cornerstone of our value proposition is that everyone who touches this service wins,” states Chrane. “While homebuyers are the ultimate beneficiaries, lenders make more loans, real estate agents and builders sell more homes, and assistance agencies meet their missions in spite of dwindling resources.”

Lending professionals further benefit by tapping into an expanded pool of qualified prospects, generating greater customer satisfaction and increasing referrals. Also lenders can strengthen the security of the first mortgage and mitigate risk of loss from early payment default. In addition, banks can more effectively meet their Community Reinvestment Act requirements with this cost-effective service.

Down Payment Resource also acts as a lead generation tool for lenders who display a customized link on their website, encouraging visitors to complete a self-administered questionnaire and quickly assess their assistance program eligibility. In addition, when a prospective homebuyer clicks through to learn more about a home posted on a Multiple Listing Service that qualifies for downpayment assistance, a notice may appear and link to more information including the online eligibility questionnaire. After completing this informative exercise, consumers frequently engage in ongoing interaction with lenders, leading to expanded sales opportunities.

Avid Supporters

Launched during second quarter of this year in metro Atlanta (the country’s eighth largest Metropolitan Statistical Area), Down Payment Resource supports consumers who want to buy affordable housing in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties, as well as in the cities of Atlanta, Marietta and Sandy Springs. Workforce Resource is building a national platform to expand coverage to the 250 largest MSAs in the United States, starting in the Southeast and in California.

The proprietary web-based application already has avid supporters. The Atlanta Development Authority and the City of Atlanta Bureau of Housing have signed cooperative marketing and information sharing agreements with Workforce Resource. Respected real estate and financial organizations are using, or have committed to utilizing, the Down Payment Resource service including: The Integral Group, Brock Built Homes, Russell New Urban, Keller Williams Realty, Coldwell Banker NRT Development Advisors, Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, Inc., as well as Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta.

Helping Homebuyers Overcome Challenges

“A big challenge for those seeking affordable homes is understanding the complexities of the many assistance programs available today. Too often, program dollars go unspent because of a lack of easily accessible and consumer friendly information,” explains John O’Callaghan, CEO, Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, Inc. “Despite vast quantities of material on the Internet, people still desire knowledgeable guidance and personal service.” Down Payment Resource offers a centralized source of information that the lending community can share with consumers.

Affordable lending programs are often under-marketed; qualified homebuyers are under-served; and chances to reduce the staggering inventory of unsold homes are missed. Millions of homebuyers and lenders could benefit from information garnered through Down Payment Resource:

• First-time homebuyers represent 50 percent of the market*.
• Downpayment assistance of $7,500 would double the renters qualifying for a mortgage from 7.6 percent to 15.4 percent**.
• Millions of homeowners displaced by foreclosure will be considered first-time homebuyers within three years of losing their homes, and may be eligible for assistance.

“Our goal is to put Down Payment Resource at the fingertips of hundreds of thousands of lending, real estate and home building professionals who support families nationwide,” explains Chrane.

Workforce Resource has developed an innovative solution that helps qualified homebuyers achieve sustainable homeownership.”

About Down Payment Resource

Workforce Resource licenses its proprietary online Down Payment ResourceSM service to professionals across the housing industry to promote awareness of, increase access to and simplify prospective homebuyers’ applications for downpayment assistance programs. Using this innovative service, real estate agents, home builders, lenders, REO asset managers and housing counselors can quickly match first-time — as well as low- and moderate-income — homebuyers with available funding, ensuring those eligible for assistance are provided with maximum opportunities for home ownership, while they strengthen client relationships and increase sales. For more information, visit www.downpaymentresource.com.

About Workforce Resource

Founded in 2008, Atlanta-based Workforce Resource developed an electronic platform to help consumers acquire scarce affordable housing in U.S. urban job centers, making it possible for school systems, hospitals and police departments, as well as corporations and small businesses to recruit and retain employees. Those protectors, educators, healthcare and other service workers who are willing to “drive til they qualify” often endure long daily commutes that exacerbate traffic congestion, create air pollution and otherwise diminish their quality of life and that of their families and communities. For more information, visit www.workforce-resource.com.

* HouseHunt Q-4 2008 survey of 2,000 realtors.

** “Who Could Afford to Buy a Home in 2004,” Housing and Household Economics Statistics Division, U.S. Census Bureau, May 2009.

** Is your deck safe? **

Now that the weather is breaking, people will be spending more time outside and on their decks. An unsafe deck could possibly collapse causing serious injuries to you and your family.

The number of deck failures resulting in injuries has been increasing at an alarming rate. In the last eight years there were at least 30 deaths reported as a direct result of decks collapsing and more then 75 percent of the people on a deck when it collapses are injured or killed. With more then 40 million decks in the United States that are over 20 yeas old, it’s important for a homeowner or a buyer to have a home inspector to carefully inspect the deck.

One way to make sure your deck is safe and code compliant, is to check with North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA). NADRA has a 10-point checklist. This is a good way to keep up on the maintenance of your deck. You might also consider hiring a home inspector to insure that every inch of the deck is secure and a report is generated to establish the condition of the deck. The home inspector will identify any dangerous problem areas and give you a map of what to keep your eye on in the future. If your deck is older (over 20 years) or shows signs of wear, this might be a great time to schedule an inspection.

Older decks require closer scrutiny; many of the decks were built before code requirements were in place to protect the consumer. If your deck is not safe or old–take action! Have it inspected, repaired or rebuilt, if necessary. If you choose a deck builder visit www.nadra.org. Remember there is more to consider than just price! For more information on this topic contact david@vahinspections.com.

Drawer Pulls For Home Safety

When you look around your home what do you think about? The colors? The décor style? About a few things you would like to clean up? These are all common thoughts as people study their homes. Unfortunately, they don’t always think about safety. This is especially true when it comes to drawer pulls and other cabinet hardware.

Whether you realize it or not those drawer pulls, and other pieces of cabinet hardware, can be an accident waiting to happen. This is especially true if you have small children in the house.

As soon as babies start being able to move around the home by them, everything within their reach becomes a play toy to them. But, what you may not realize is that those drawer pulls that are now within their reach may be their newest threat threat.

Impact Threat

The first threat from the drawer pulls is that they may be what are called an ‘impact threat’. That means the drawer pulls will have a physical impact on your child and could harm them. While many drawer pulls are rounded and are simple c-shaped pieces that allow for the opening of the drawer, there are other drawer pulls, which are more ornate. These drawer pulls may have pointed ends that accent the overall look of the piece. These pointed ends are a disaster waiting to happen with your baby.

When babies are first trying to walk around, they will use anything they can grab a hold of to pull themselves up. When they grab a hold of your drawer pulls they will pull up on them to be able to stand. But, babies are wobbly. They are not going to stay up too long, and when they fall there is no way to tell which way they are going to tumble. If they tumble forward, they could well fall into the pointed end of the drawer pulls and be hurt.

Opening Threat

The other threat made out of the combination of babies and drawer pulls is babies being able to get inside those drawers.

Think about the things you have packed away in drawers throughout your house. There are numerous chemicals and mixtures they should not be ingesting. While you know not to eat these things, babies put everything in their mouth. That means any cleaning supplies, make up or other items they are able to find when they grab a hold of those drawer pulls are going to end up in their mouth.

So how do you make your home safer?

Dealing with the impact threat is relatively easy. Make sure you have rounded door handles that will not be an impact threat to the baby.

The second threat takes a little more work. You need to go around your house and assess what is behind all of those drawer pulls. If there are things you don’t want your baby chewing on or putting in his or her mouth, you need to invest in drawer safety latches. These latches will hold the drawer shut, no matter how much your baby tugs on the drawer pulls.

Author Jennifer Akre, owner of many sites dedicated to indoor and outdoor home decor product and information, provides online consumers with advice on purchasing gorgeous cabinet hardware and stunning knobs and pulls from http://www.ekitchenhardware.com Learn how to furnish your space in style and comfort - Click today
If you want “Peace Of Mind” for your next home purchase, plus lots of extra value, then give Vasser & Associates, Inc., a call Today at 973-380-3641 to schedule your inspection!

(Be Sure to Ask About Our $25 Discount)

Schedule Your Inspection Online

CALL RIGHT NOW: 973-380-3641

Vasser & Associates Home Inspections (VAHI) is a locally owned and operated company serving Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, and Union Counties. Other locations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

As part of your holiday home preparations, regularly check boiler and dryer exhaust vents to keep them clear of leaves, debris or snow to prevent blockage. Also check batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Many manufacturers recommend installing new batteries every six months. Carbon Monoxide is a lethal gas that is odorless, colorless and tasteless, producing flu-like symptoms.

Known as Nicole’s Law which became effective March 31, 2006; all Massachusetts single and multi-family homes that incorporate fossil-fuel burning devices and/or incorporate parking within the structure near living areas must be equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. This applies to fossil-fuel burning devices such as natural gas, propane or oil furnaces and water heaters; fireplaces, pellet or wood stoves, gas or propane ranges. Check homeowner insurance which may also require compliance.

There are many types of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors such a battery operated and hard wired or both. Most hardware stores and even pharmacy chain stores carry these detectors. Be sure to follow manufacturer instructions for where to place the detectors as well as check with your local fire department and consult your state website for any mandates that apply to your specific building type and any local building code regulations.

In addition, Massachusetts and several other states require the installation of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms by homeowners, certified with a site visit inspection by the local fire department, prior to the sale of property. These types of laws protect the public from the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and they help save lives.

Copyright Tamela Roche, Realtor®
http://www.CambridgeAgents.com

If you want “Peace Of Mind” for your next home purchase, plus lots of extra value, then give Vasser & Associates, Inc., a call Today at 973-380-3641 to schedule your inspection!

(Be Sure to Ask About Our $25 Discount)

Schedule Your Inspection Online

CALL RIGHT NOW: 973-380-3641

Vasser & Associates Home Inspections (VAHI) is a locally owned and operated company serving Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, and Union Counties. Other locations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Winter Home Safety Tips in New Jersey & New York

Is Your Home Safe?

Home Safety - Take This Simple Quiz

Home Safety is easy to overlook. Is your home safe? I’ll bet you’ve never looked at home safety through the eyes of an insurance adjuster. But it will benefit you to think about all of the ways you could have an insured loss at your home.

Here’s a simple quiz. If you have done all of the tips after the question, you can answer “Yes!” If not, you’ve got some work to do.

1. Is your home secure?

-Install deadbolt locks on all exterior doors.

-Install outdoor lights next to all exterior doors, and make sure the bulbs are working. Connect the outdoor lights at doors to motion detectors that go off when someone approaches.

-Install a monitored security system that has sensors at every opening, including second story windows.

-Install curtains or blinds on windows so people outside cannot easily see what’s inside.

2. Is your home safe?

-Install one smoke detector on each level of the home.

-Install a radon gas detector in the basement.

-Keep the areas in front of doors, and sidewalks cleared of leaves and snow.

-Make sure there is a fence around any outdoor pool.

-Place a home fire extinguisher in the kitchen, one in the garage, and one in another room.

-Clean out the lint filter on your dryer every time you use it.

-Get your fireplace chimney cleaned once a year.

-Get your furnace checked once a year.

3. Are you living safely?

-When you have guests in your home, monitor their alcohol consumption, and don’t allow them to drive if they’ve had too much to drink.

-Be extremely careful when working outside on ladders. A fall can seriously injure or kill you.

-Insist that any workers on your property provide you with their certificate of insurance. No exceptions.

-Be extremely careful when working inside. Use a safe small ladder or solid stool, don’t jump up on a chair to reach overhead.

-Keep your staircases clear. Don’t stack stuff on stairs and then try walking around it.

-Don’t start to cook on the stove and then walk away. Cooking fires are number one for home damage.

-Don’t plug a bunch of electrical devices into a cheap extension cord.

-Don’t cover extension cords with rugs or run them under carpet.

If you were able to answer “Yes” on all three questions….CONGRATULATIONS!! You will likely never have to have an insurance adjuster visiting your home!

If you have experienced a property loss, whether fire, wind, flood or other, you need to know winning insurance claim strategies. The insurance company will not tell you the claims process, but I will. I will show you how to take control of your insurance claim, and add hundreds or even thousands more dollars to your claim settlement. For more information, go to the website listed below.

P.S. I wrote a book that YOU need!

check out: http://www.insurance-claim-secrets.com

NUMBER ONE at Amazon.com in its category!

Nominated for Georgia Author of the Year Award 2008

Finalist, USA Book News “Best Book Awards 2008″

My blog is at: http://insurance-claim-secrets.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Russell_Longcore

Russell Longcore - EzineArticles Expert Author

If you want “Peace Of Mind” for your next home purchase, plus lots of extra value, then give Vasser & Associates, Inc., a call Today at 973-380-3641 to schedule your inspection!

(Be Sure to Ask About Our $25 Discount)

Schedule Your Inspection Online

CALL RIGHT NOW: 973-380-3641

Vasser & Associates Home Inspections (VAHI) is a locally owned and operated company serving Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, and Union Counties. Other locations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

New Jersey | New York Home Inspections