Author Archives: Shawn Molem

Mortgage Preparation Checklist

Category : Home Loan

If you are thinking about doing a mortgage, it always helps to know what documents the mortgage loan
originator will require from you. So here is a quick list to get you started on your new mortgage loan.

Find Income Tax Return copies for last two years
Find W2 forms for last three calendar years
Find business (C-Corporations, S-Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships) Income Tax
copies (if Self-Employed) for last two years
Find K-1 forms for last three calendar years (if Self-Employed)
Collect pay documents (one month’s worth of paycheck stubs, a Social Security, Pension, Annuity Award
Letters, adoption stipend stubs and/or county printout of child support payments received)
Collect asset documents (two months most current bank statements for all checking, savings, and money
market accounts, last two statements received for all IRAs, 401Ks, Stock accounts, and Annuities,
HUDs from recent property sales) Note that state, county and federal retirement accounts for current
employees do not count as assets.
Collect situational documents (Divorce Decree, Bankruptcy discharge letter and list of creditors,
leases for Rental Properties, Tax Appraisal notices for Rental Properties, Homeowner’s Insurance
Declarations Pages for Rental Properties, proof of payment for Judgments, Tax Liens or collections)
Obtain statement of Whole Life Cash Value (if applicable)
Find Survey (if Refinancing and in a state that uses surveys)
Find Homeowner’s Insurance Declarations Page
Write down the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all landlords for the past two years
Write down the name, address and telephone number of the Human Resources department for all jobs.


Best secrets for selling your home.

Selling Secret #6: Pricing it right

Find out what your home is worth, then reduce 15 to 20 percent from the price. You’ll be stampeded by buyers with multiple bids  even in the worst markets and they’ll bid up the price over what it’s worth. It takes real courage and most sellers just don’t want to risk it, but it’s the single best strategy to sell a home in today’s market.

Selling Secret #5: Light it up

Maximize the light in your home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites that they want in a home. Take down the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs and cut the bushes outside to let in sunshine. Do what you have to do make your house bright and cheery – it will make it more sell able.

Selling Secret #4: Play the agent field

A secret sale killer is hiring the wrong broker. Make sure you have a broker who is totally informed. They must constantly monitor the multiple listing service (MLS), know what properties are going on the market and know the comps in your neighborhood. Find a broker who embraces technology – a tech-savvy one has many tools to get your house sold.

Selling Secret #3: The kitchen comes first

You’re not actually selling your house, you’re selling your kitchen that’s how important it is. The benefits of remodeling your kitchen are endless, and the best part of it is that you’ll probably get 85% of your money back. It may be a few thousand dollars to replace counter tops where a buyer may knock $10,000 off the asking price if your kitchen looks dated. The fastest, most inexpensive kitchen updates include painting and new cabinet hardware. Use a neutral-color paint so you can present buyers with a blank canvas where they can start envisioning their own style. If you have a little money to spend, buy one fancy stainless steel appliance. Why one? Because when people see one high-end appliance they think all the rest are expensive too and it updates the kitchen.

Selling Secret #2: Always be ready to show

Your house needs to be “show-ready” at all times – you never know when your buyer is going to walk through the door. You have to be available whenever they want to come see the place and it has to be in tip-top shape. Don’t leave dishes in the sink, keep the dishwasher cleaned out, the bathrooms sparkling and make sure there are no dust bunnies in the corners. It’s a little inconvenient, but it will get your house sold.

Selling Secret #1: The first impression is the last impression

No matter how good the interior of your home looks, buyers have already judged your home before they walk through the door. You never have a second chance to make a first impression. It’s important to make people feel warm, welcome and safe as they approach the house. Spruce up your home’s exterior with inexpensive shrubs and brightly colored flowers. You can typically get a 100-percent return on the money you put into your home’s curb appeal. Entryways are also important. You use it as a utility space for your coat and keys. But, when you’re selling, make it welcoming by putting in a small bench, a vase of fresh-cut flowers or even some cookies.


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    Although Magna Enterprises, LLC and Magna Capital Group, Inc. are referred to throughout the text of this website as Magna Group of companies, they are not affiliates, parent or subsidiary companies as both companies are separate and distinct entities. Any questions or issues regarding this disclaimer should be addressed in writing c/o Shawn Molem.