Join us for a tour of this incredible building in my home town of Port Republic. In this video tour we see the entire church including the bell tower, steeple and the basement.
Tag Archives: matthew haviland
Homes For Sale In Egg Harbor Township NJ London Court Condos
We just reduced the price on this fantastic home to $110,000. This 2 bedroom 1 bath condo is a first floor unit located in London Court in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. Contact us for more details.
How To Survive And Thrive Financially During A Crisis
Join us for our new live video talk show Thursday April 23rd at 4 PM.
In light of the current crisis, we want to help people survive and thrive financially during this time. Our new live video show will go over things like what bills to pay when you are limited on income. We’ll also talk about how to make money and look at employers that are hiring now. And we will highlight local people and businesses making a difference.
Here is a replay of the show and join us for our next episode at https://www.facebook.com/havilandgroup/
How will COVID 19 Affect Real Estate In South Jersey?
First of all we want to extend our sympathy to those who have been personally affected by the COVID 19 virus. We also would like to express our support to those who have lost jobs at this difficult time.
As of today Governor Murphy announced that all non essential businesses should close and work from home. At Keller Williams Realty we are honoring this request and have already made preparations to work remotely. Our staff and leadership team will continue to work remotely from home. Our affiliated title company is also prepared to work from home and handle closings remotely.
We anticipate our scheduled closings to close on time and are communicating with our clients on any potential delays.
For new seller clients we have initiated a Virtual Home Selling Service. We will take new listings including video tours without having to come to our client’s home and without any buyers having to come in their house. We have also implemented a virtual live open house strategy to further promote our listings on social media.
For our home buyer and seller clients we have implemented video conferencing for all meetings. We also have a Virtual Home Buying Service to help our buyer clients navigate through potential homes and neighborhoods without having to leave the comfort and safety of their home.
Is now a good time to buy or sell real estate in South Jersey? The answer is it depends on your circumstances. We are offering phone or video consultations to help you determine if this is the right time for you.
We are committed to help our clients with their real estate needs and add value to their lives. We pray that everyone would stay safe and well.
Richard, Matthew, Linda Haviland
P.S. Is there anything we can support you with? If we can help we will. If we can’t we’ll let you know or do our best to connect you to someone that can help.
The Haviland Group 2019 Thanksgiving Pie Giveaway
Every year we offer fresh baked pies to our clients and referral partners as a way of saying thank you. It’s a great day and this year was our best pie day yet. We are grateful to have the opportunity to help so many wonderful people buy sell and invest in real estate. Thanks to our clients for trusting us with their real estate needs and introducing us to the people you care about!
Feb 2019 Atlantic County Announces First Time Home Buyer Grant Money Now Available – $10,000
It's back! $10,000 available for Atlantic County, NJ First Time Home Buyers
Good news! As of today the Atlantic County, NJ grant program is now funded with grants available of up to $10,000 for first time home buyers! All funds are forgiven after 5 years. This program is administered through the Atlantic County Improvement Authority. This program does not work for everyone so I’ve outlined the key requirements below. If you don’t think you’ll qualify for this program the state grant program is also giving $10,000 grants and it’s easier to qualify. Click here for details on the state grant. You will need to be pre-qualified by an a approved mortgage company. My preferred lenders are on stand by to help qualify potential first time home buyers asap and get them qualified to receive the grant money. Complete the form below and we’ll reach out to see if you qualify.
Atlantic County, NJ First Time Home Buyer Grant Money Is Now Available
Eligible Applicants:
HOUSEHOLDS
- Who have resided in Atlantic County for the last 12 months or are employed in Atlantic County.
- Who have not owned a home for the last three years.
- With acceptable credit history and the ability to obtain an approved mortgage.
- With incomes below 80% of Median income:
These income levels are (2019):
| # of Household Members | 80% of Median Income | |
|
1 Person |
$42,850 |
|
|
2 Persons |
$49,000 |
|
|
3 Persons |
$55,100 |
|
|
4 Persons |
$61,200 |
|
|
5 Persons |
$66,100 |
|
|
6 Persons |
$71,000 |
|
|
7 Persons |
$75,900 |
|
|
8 Persons |
$80,800 |
|
If you or someone you know may be eligible to qualify for this grant please call me for more details at 609-338-3773. Time is limited and funds are usually gone in a few months so please call me now. Matt
Do I need PMI on a First-Time Home Buyer Mortgage?
Recently we shared a post explaining what Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is. We covered different reasons a home buyer may need to pay for this insurance and why. If you’re planning to buy your first home soon, there’s a good chance you’ll be required to pay for it as part of your monthly mortgage payment. But even as a first-time home buyer, there are scenarios where you won’t need to take on this extra bill to own a home.
Do I need PMI on a First-Time Home Buyer Mortgage?
To recap, PMI is insurance which protects a lender’s risk in loaning money to someone for purposes of buying a home. The more money a lender funds, the greater the risk they bear in loosing out on their investment, should a homeowner find they are no longer able to pay their monthly mortgage payment.
As many first-time home buyers tend to seek out a larger loan-to-down payment ratio, they tend to fit into the higher-risk-end of funding parameters. When a loan ratio is greater than 80% of the purchase price for a property, lenders will want PMI included. Saving $20,000 to buy a $100,000 house is a challenge for most anyone. Lending institutions understand this, and by hedging their bets with an insurance policy to protect their risk, there are loan options available for qualifying buyers with less than 20% to put down.
If you happen to have the funds needed to meet or exceed the 20% marker, even as a first-time home buyer you won’t need to cover the cost of PMI. If you start saving at a young age and seek out various ways to invest and grow your money, it’s possible to reach the magical and elusive 20% goal for a down payment. But there are other ways you can get to this figure.
As a first-time home buyer there are a variety of programs available, including grants to help fund your down payment. If you’re enrolled in a 401k or retirement plan through work, there’s a strong chance you can borrow some funds to put towards the purchase of a home, and with fewer to no tax penalties, depending on your plan. Some adventurous home buyers have even been able to get a great down payment through crowdsourcing platforms like Go Fund Me.
If you’re not able to get the minimum 20% saved but are otherwise ready to buy a home, don’t let the idea of PMI hold you back. While the insurance may not cover you from loss, it will help you achieve your dream of buying your first home if you need a viable solution to get you there. The cost of PMI is usually a small percentage of your mortgage payment, and once your home’s value appreciates to where you own less than 80% of your loan, you can look into refinancing without Private Mortgage Insurance.
Whether you need PMI or not, when it’s time to buy a home, work with a Realtor® who has a passion in helping their clients find solutions towards achieving their home dreams. Get the conversation started with Matt Haviland, give him a call today at 609-338-3773 or send him an e-mail. The Haviland Group and Keller Williams Realty are here to help you find the right home from start to finish.
Can I Buy a House in Atlantic County with No Money Down?
Atlantic County Real Estate
Many people continue to rent for fear of the unknowns of home buying. We’ve shared some information on several great programs for first-time home buyers in our last post. But what if you don’t have a down payment? There are some programs which allow no money down, but certain criteria must be met.
Can I buy a house in Atlantic County with no money down?
USDA Loans are backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These loans are also known as rural housing or rural development loans as they provide help with the purchase of houses located in certain rural areas and include zero down payment mortgage options for borrowers who qualify. Criteria for qualification includes household income, number of people living in the home and other factors such as approval of the property you are purchasing by area and size among other parameters.
USDA offers a helpful tool on their website to easily calculate the numbers you enter to determine your eligibility. Two types of single-family home loans are available with USDA, Single-Family Direct Home Loans and Single-Family Guaranteed Loans. Both programs have specific requirements for potential buyers which are outlined on the website. You can also search an address for eligibility to determine if a property in a small town or rural area of Atlantic County is covered. For example, just south of Egg Harbor, Corbin City is an area where there may be eligible homes due to its rural designation.
VA Loans programs assist active military members and veterans through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. These loan programs don’t require private mortgage insurance and they have no down payment mortgage options. While these loan programs are provided by private lenders and mortgage companies, the VA guarantees a portion of the loans to get the borrowers the best rates possible. This program is also available to surviving spouses of military personnel and veterans as well.
The New Jersey HomeSeeker Program now offers $10,000 down payment assistance grants for residents of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Mercer, Passaic and Union Counties. This grant is available for first-time homebuyers who qualify and obtain first mortgage financing through the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency’s (NJHMFA) Homeward Bound mortgage program. Contact our office to see if you qualify.
For more information on no down payment mortgage options, check out this information from Investopedia. As always, Matt Haviland with The Haviland Group and Keller Williams Realty offers free consultation for first-time homebuyers. Contact Matt today at 609-338-3773 or via e-mail to find out how he can help you.
First Time Homebuyer Mortgage Options Around Atlantic County
You’ve saved and planned and you’re ready to take the plunge into home ownership. There are many great mortgage choices for first-time homebuyers to consider. This list will break down some of the most popular options and provide links to find out more about the ones you may qualify for.
First Time Homebuyer Mortgage Options Around Atlantic County
FHA Loans are 15 or 30-year loans which are backed by the Federal Housing Administration under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). FHA Loans usually allow approval for borrowers with lower credit scores. These loans can also help through low down payment mortgages and lower closing costs. You’ll have to pay a slightly higher rate for mortgage insurance however, which can be paid upfront or annually.
USDA Loans are based on income for qualification and backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These loans provide help with the purchase of houses located in certain rural areas and include zero down payment mortgage options for borrowers who qualify.
VA Loans are available to active military members and veterans through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and are partially backed by the same. The goal with this program is to assist veterans in purchasing houses. These loans can include no down payment mortgage options and don’t require private mortgage insurance. They do require a one-time funding fee which is a small percentage of the total loan amount.
Good Neighbor Next Door assistance program offers loans for houses which have been foreclosed on at half price to qualified borrowers. This is an incredible program and as such has stringent guidelines. The Good Neighbor Next Door program is available only to borrowers who work in public service sectors as law enforcement professionals, teachers, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) or firefighters. The firefighters and EMTs must also work within the same jurisdiction as the house they are purchasing. These homes are offered in “revitalization areas” as defined by the FHA. These areas generally have a high number of foreclosed properties available.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are government programs which help qualify first-time homebuyers who have low or moderate income with lenders. The Fannie Mae HomePath Ready Buyer Program in particular offers qualified first-time homebuyers up to 3% toward closing costs for HomePath Properties which were foreclosures under their loan programs.
New Jersey State and Atlantic County Residents can also benefit from some wonderful down payment assistance options outlined in our previous post about First Time Homebuyers Government Programs. Check out the blog post to find out more about first time government programs that are available. These are great offerings specifically for area residents.
The options are too many to list but there’s sure to be something for most any first-time homebuyer to benefit from. For more choices and information see this informative Bankrate article.
Matt Haviland with The Haviland Group and Keller Williams Realty always offers free consultation for first-time homebuyers. Contact Matt today at 609-338-3773 or via e-mail to find out how he can help you.
Take Advantage of First Time Homebuyer Programs Around Atlantic City
Sometimes growing up is hard to do and sometimes there’s the thrill of it all, the firsts you’ll experience. There are few things in life as thrilling as becoming a first-time homeowner. Buying your first property, getting the keys and walking through the threshold of a house which will become the first home of your dreams is an exhilarating experience. But where do you start? First-time homebuyers often have many questions about how to search for the features they desire in a house, how to get the best financing assistance and how to find a Realtor® they can trust. There are some great first time home buyers programs right now. Let’s look at how to qualify.
Take Advantage of First Time Homebuyer Programs Around Atlantic City
You’ll want to begin by saving for your down payment but how much do you have to put down to buy a house? Typically, conventional loans require 20% down, but as a first-time homebuyer you may be able to get help covering your down payment. It’s possible to lower or eliminate the amount you need to have up front for a down payment through federal, state and local government programs.
How do you qualify for first-time homebuyer government programs?
Your lender and buyer’s agent will be trusted sources in directing you to the best options which may be available to you. Some of the most common federal government mortgage options such as FHA and USDA loans are well-known and may offer solutions for low or no-down payments for those who qualify.
Most state and local governments offer some assistance as well. We dug a little deeper to find out.
first-time homebuyer government programs are available in the area.
The Atlantic County Improvement Authority offers a down payment assistance program to individuals who have resided in Atlantic County for at least 12 months and who have not owned a home in two years or more. At a state level, The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency offers several different programs for first-time homebuyers including down payment assistance and mortgage programs explained in a step-by-step guide to help you decide which options are best for you.
All of this information can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Check out some great tips for first-time homebuyers from Nerd Wallet. They offer an easy-to-follow but detailed list with some general information to help you get started.
Now that you’re ready to set sail, the importance of having a trusted buyer’s agent is key in making the home-buying process go smoothly. You’ll want to find someone who’s ready to work for you, who’s also experienced in serving first time homebuyers and who knows the area real estate market. Matt Haviland with The Haviland Group and Keller Williams Realty offer free consultations for first-time homebuyer programs. Contact Matt today at 609-338-3773 or via e-mail to get started on the path to the door of your first home.