Heather Embrey's Blog

 If you only have 1% cash to put down on your new home purchase, consider VHDA FHA Plus. The VHDA FHA Plus combines a first and second loan and requires only a 1% of sales price cash requirement. The income limit for 2 or fewer buyers is $97,500 and the purchase price limit is $450,000. For more ...

Members of the military and certain other federal employees serving outside the U.S. had an extra year to buy a principal residence in the U.S. and qualify for the 1st Time Homebuyer $8000 Tax Credit credit.  An eligible taxpayer must buy, or enter into a binding contract to buy, a principal resi...

There will be an  increase in the Annual Mortgage Insurance Premiums effective for case numbers assigned on or after April 18, 2011.  This will cost about $21 a month  per $100,000 borrowed here in Northern Virginia.  This may not sound like much, but for a $417,000 loan that is $84 more a month ...

I know this should go with out saying, but after spending last weekend showing homes to two different buyers, I realize how the lack of snow removal not only creates a hazard, but it also gives a buyer a bad impression of your home. I have used the heel of by boot or even a hammer when needed to ...

Eligible homeowners selling their home and feel the value has been impacted by a BRAC/realignment or closure may be compensated for the difference between 95% of the appraised fair market value of the property prior to the announcement date, and the appraised value of the property at the time of ...

I was just reading a post where the host of an agents domain would not release her domain.  PLEASE be careful when selecting a company to host your domain!  Large real estate corporations may OR MAY NOT return your domain to you when you leave the firm.  It is always best for YOU to be responsibl...

Above is the QR code to one of my listings.  I have created a sticker of this code & placed it on my brochure box but I wonder how many folks will a.) know what it is and b.) know how to read it?  I have placed instructions on the box as well but still..... This is a fun experiment for now, but ...

To qualify as a first-time homebuyer in DC, a homebuyer and his/her spouse must not have owned a home in DC during the one-year period before the date of purchase. A homebuyer who owns property outside the District may still be eligible for the $5,000 tax credit, as long as they qualify as a firs...

Thanks to my uber Loan Officer, Trish Richard w/Home First Mortgage, 703-549-3400 for sharing these REALLY great economic numbers we have in the Washington Metro area: The unemployment rate is now at 5.8%, well below the national 9.6% unemployment rate.   (The highest was around El Centro, Califo...

Another violent attack against a Realtor, this time in San Antonio Texas.  We are easy targets if you think about it.  Read the story here:  http://www.realtor.org/rmodaily.nsf/pages/News2010122706?OpenDocument Please be careful out there.  NEVER meet a new client at a property - vacant or occupi...