Ken Rutherford, CRS. Counseling Buyers and Sellers of Residential Real Estate in the Tulsa Metro Area Since 1992, 'KenSellsHomes'
Showing posts with label ken rutherford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ken rutherford. Show all posts
Friday, March 24, 2017
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Closing Bank Accounts and Your Credit Score
Many people don’t know that closing accounts can affect your credit score – but not always in a positive way! Knowing the right way to close an account will help you maintain healthy credit.
The right way
Before you close any accounts, you should first evaluate how many accounts you have, what they are costing you, what you use them for, and how they may affect your credit score. Closing an account may save you money in annual fees, or reduce the risk of fraud on those accounts, but closing the wrong accounts could actually harm your credit score.
Check your credit reports online to see your account status before you close accounts to help your credit score. A good mix of credit is important, and too many accounts of the same type may be hurting your score. But remember, accounts that have been open for a long time, and those with high credit limits but low balances, may have a positive impact on your credit score.
If you still decide to close some accounts to help your credit score, start by looking at inactive accounts that you no longer use. Cards that you don’t use, but charge high annual fees, may be candidates for closure in order to save you money.
When you close accounts, remember to keep at least one of your older credit accounts open. And consider keeping enough accounts open so your total balances on all open cards is less than 35% of the total credit limits.
If controlling your spending is a problem, designate one card for regular use and try to pay the balance in-full each month to help your credit score. Keep the other cards in a safe place for emergencies only so that you are not tempted to overspend.
The wrong way
Try not to close the oldest account on your credit reports. This could shorten your active credit history and damage your score.
Don’t just throw away old cards and expect your accounts to close automatically. When you close accounts, the correct way is to call or send a letter to the customer service department of the card issuer (not the credit reporting company). You should receive an account closing confirmation letter in 10 days.
You shouldn't be tempted to cancel several accounts all at once when you close accounts. Gradually paying down and closing accounts may be the best plan if you are unsure about the impact on your credit score, or the amount of debt you need to carry. If you want to cancel multiple credit accounts, space the closures over time to avoid this being viewed negatively by potential creditors.
Avoid putting all your balances on one card as you close accounts to help your credit score. If your credit balance increases to above 35% of your available limit on that card, it could negatively affect your credit score.
Keep monitoring your credit reports for updates once the accounts are closed to help your credit score. Wait 30-60 days for the creditor to report the closed account and the credit reporting companies to update records. While the accounts and payment histories will stay on your report for seven or more years, they should be marked as "closed."
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Averages Current Previous Change
Mortgage News Daily updated daily
30 Yr Fixed 3.75 3.69 +0.06
15 Yr Fixed 3.02 2.95 +0.07
FHA 30 Yr 3.68 3.59 +0.09
Jumbo 30 Yr 4.24 4.14 +0.10
5/1 Yr ARM 3.06 2.98 +0.08
Freddie Mac updated weekly
30 Yr Fixed 3.62 3.59 +0.03
15 Yr Fixed 2.88 2.84 +0.04
1 Yr ARM 2.69 2.65 +0.04
5/1 Yr ARM 2.76 2.77 -0.01
FHFA updated monthly
15 Yr Fixed 3.16 3.34 -0.18
30 Yr Fixed 3.88 4.04 -0.16
30 Year Fixed
About These Rates Get This Widget
Mortgage Rates Reach Two-Month Highs. Best-Execution Shifts Higher
Mortgage Rates made an abrupt move higher today, leaving most lenders at their worst levels since early June. Recent momentum has carried rates in a weaker direction despite a relative lack of i...
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Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Mortgage News Daily, Today's Answers from Yesterday's Quiz
Here are the answers from yesterday's quiz.
1. Johnny's mother had three children. The first child was named April, the second child was named May. What was the third child's name? Johnny.
2. There is a clerk at the butcher shop, he is five feet ten inches tall, and he wears size 13 sneakers. What does he weigh? Meat.
3. Before Mt. Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world? Mt. Everest - it just wasn't discovered yet.
4. How much dirt is there in a hole that measures two feet by three feet by four feet? There is no dirt in a hole.
5. What word in the English Language is always spelled incorrectly? Incorrectly.
6. Billy was born on December 28th, yet her birthday is always in the summer. How is this possible? Billy lives in the Southern Hemisphere.
7. In California, you cannot take a picture of a man with a wooden leg. Why not? You can't take pictures with a wooden leg.
8. What was the President's Name in 1975? Same as is it now - Barack Obama.
9. If you were running a race, and you passed the person in 2nd place, what place would you be in now? You would be in 2nd.
10. Which is correct to say, "The yolk of the egg are white" or "The yolk of the egg is white"? Neither, the yolk of the egg is yellow.
11. If a farmer has 5 haystacks in one field and 4 haystacks in the other field, how many haystacks would he have if he combined them all in another field? One big stack.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Signals Improving for both Home Builders and Remodelers
Mon, Mar 19, 2012
Signals Improving for both Home Builders and Remodelers
BY JANN SWANSON
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) held steady in March, consolidating five straight months of gains for this measure of how home builders view the health of their industry. The index is at 28, the highest level since June 2007.
The HMI is derived from a survey conducted among NAHB members each month. Home builders are asked for their perceptions of the current market for new homes, rating the market as "good," "fair," or "poor," and asked to rate their expectations over the next six months on the same scale. NAHB also asks them to assess the traffic of prospective buyers as "high to very high," "average," or "low to very low." The three measures are reported individually and aggregated into the HMI. Any number over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than as poor.
The component gauging current sales conditions was down one point from February to 29, the component gauging traffic of prospective buyers was unchanged at 22, but expectations for the next six months increased two points to 36.
On a regional basis the HMI was at 25 in the Northeast, five points higher than in February. It gained two points in both the Midwest and South to 32 and 27 respectively but, after jumping 22 points in February the Western region score fell 10 points in March.
"Builder confidence is now twice as strong as it was six months ago, and the West was the only region to experience a decline this month following an unusual spike in February," observed NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. "That said, many of our members continue to cite obstacles on the road to recovery, including persistently tight builder and buyer credit and the ongoing inventory of distressed properties in some markets."
Builders involved in remodeling got a little good news on Monday as well. BuildFax reported that building permits for remodeling rose in January to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 2,998,000. This was an increase of 13 percent over the December number of 2,653,000, and 11 percent higher than in January, 2011.
Estimates of permits rose in three of the regions. Only in the Northeast was the number down, declining 7 percent to 430,000 which was still 12 percent higher than one year earlier. Remodeling in the South rose 17 percent from December and 6 percent from a year earlier to 1,122,000 permits
KenSellsHomes
918-260-9932
BY JANN SWANSON
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) held steady in March, consolidating five straight months of gains for this measure of how home builders view the health of their industry. The index is at 28, the highest level since June 2007.
The HMI is derived from a survey conducted among NAHB members each month. Home builders are asked for their perceptions of the current market for new homes, rating the market as "good," "fair," or "poor," and asked to rate their expectations over the next six months on the same scale. NAHB also asks them to assess the traffic of prospective buyers as "high to very high," "average," or "low to very low." The three measures are reported individually and aggregated into the HMI. Any number over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than as poor.
The component gauging current sales conditions was down one point from February to 29, the component gauging traffic of prospective buyers was unchanged at 22, but expectations for the next six months increased two points to 36.
On a regional basis the HMI was at 25 in the Northeast, five points higher than in February. It gained two points in both the Midwest and South to 32 and 27 respectively but, after jumping 22 points in February the Western region score fell 10 points in March.
"Builder confidence is now twice as strong as it was six months ago, and the West was the only region to experience a decline this month following an unusual spike in February," observed NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. "That said, many of our members continue to cite obstacles on the road to recovery, including persistently tight builder and buyer credit and the ongoing inventory of distressed properties in some markets."
Builders involved in remodeling got a little good news on Monday as well. BuildFax reported that building permits for remodeling rose in January to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 2,998,000. This was an increase of 13 percent over the December number of 2,653,000, and 11 percent higher than in January, 2011.
Estimates of permits rose in three of the regions. Only in the Northeast was the number down, declining 7 percent to 430,000 which was still 12 percent higher than one year earlier. Remodeling in the South rose 17 percent from December and 6 percent from a year earlier to 1,122,000 permits
KenSellsHomes
918-260-9932
Monday, February 27, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
What is a lease purchase and how does it work?
Lease with Option to Purchase
Ken Rutherford, CRS is a Broker Associate with Coldwell Banker Select. He is an expert in all facets of residental real estate and has been counseling buyers and sellers of residential real estate since 1992. He has earned the coveted CRS designation held by ony 4% of all real estate associates. He lives in Broken Arrow Oklahoma and services all of the greater Tulsa Metropolitan Area.
918-260-9932 ken@kensellshomes.com
For sellers a lease with option to purchase can be a viable tool to induce a sale where the buyer lacks sufficient funds for downpayment and closing costs.
The lessee (Buyer) enters into a contract to lease a home with an option to purchase it. The terms, price and option period (usually one year) are spelled out in the contract. The seller collects upfront money (the option consideration) from the buyer which is non refundable. The option consideration is typically applied toward the purchase price in the event the option to purchase is exercised. Also, lease options generally provide that a portion of the rent is applied toward the purchase if the option is exercised. This is referred to as "rent credit".
Buyer Advantages to a lease option are:
The lessee (Buyer) enters into a contract to lease a home with an option to purchase it. The terms, price and option period (usually one year) are spelled out in the contract. The seller collects upfront money (the option consideration) from the buyer which is non refundable. The option consideration is typically applied toward the purchase price in the event the option to purchase is exercised. Also, lease options generally provide that a portion of the rent is applied toward the purchase if the option is exercised. This is referred to as "rent credit".
Buyer Advantages to a lease option are:
- Low cash requirement.
- Partial rent credit applied toward downpayment
- Lock-in of purchase price at today's market value.
- Time to plan and prepare for the finance of the purchase.
- Higher than market rent
- Top market sales price for property
- Extra care of the property from the future owner
- Tax free use of the "option consideration" until the option expires or is exercised.
- Continued tax deductions for expenses and depreciation during the option period.
Ken Rutherford, CRS is a Broker Associate with Coldwell Banker Select. He is an expert in all facets of residental real estate and has been counseling buyers and sellers of residential real estate since 1992. He has earned the coveted CRS designation held by ony 4% of all real estate associates. He lives in Broken Arrow Oklahoma and services all of the greater Tulsa Metropolitan Area.
918-260-9932 ken@kensellshomes.comWednesday, February 22, 2012
Prepping for Solar Power
Prepping for Solar Power
By John Voket
Well, 2012 may be the year I take the plunge and add a solar water heating or electrical generating system to the old homestead. During a preliminary search for information, I ran across residentialsolarpanels.org, a useful site.
While hosts of the website will be glad to send you specific information in exchange for your email address, they also provide some basic information for free on sizing up your home for solar power.
According to the site, there are five things you need to do in the process of preparing to 'go solar.' We'll begin covering them here, and continue in the next segment along with taking a look at how you might be able to sell surplus power back to the grid.
First, the folks at residentialsolarpanels.org say you have to calculate the potential solar radiation power you need. For most parts of the United States, an average of 4-5 kilowatt hours per day can be achieved, though in some regions it is possible to achieve up to 8.
To find the output for your area, refer to a map on the website for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Resource Assessment Program.
Next, you need to determine your average energy use. Once you know how much energy you can expect to get from the sun, you can determine about how much energy you will need based on your current monthly energy consumption.
If you don’t have copies of your last 12 bills, you can view the state by state averages, as published by the Energy Information Administration. According to the chart, a consumer who lives in New Jersey, for instance, will use an average of about 730 kWh/month in electricity, while one in Alabama may use as much as 1,300 kWh of energy per month.
Now that you know how much solar radiation is available and how much of it can actually be utilized by a solar panel, you can calculate how many photovoltaic solar panels you will need in order to replace your current source of electricity.
Stay tuned for more on sizing up your home for solar in our next segment.
kensellshomes
By John Voket
Well, 2012 may be the year I take the plunge and add a solar water heating or electrical generating system to the old homestead. During a preliminary search for information, I ran across residentialsolarpanels.org, a useful site.
While hosts of the website will be glad to send you specific information in exchange for your email address, they also provide some basic information for free on sizing up your home for solar power.
According to the site, there are five things you need to do in the process of preparing to 'go solar.' We'll begin covering them here, and continue in the next segment along with taking a look at how you might be able to sell surplus power back to the grid.
First, the folks at residentialsolarpanels.org say you have to calculate the potential solar radiation power you need. For most parts of the United States, an average of 4-5 kilowatt hours per day can be achieved, though in some regions it is possible to achieve up to 8.
To find the output for your area, refer to a map on the website for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Resource Assessment Program.
Next, you need to determine your average energy use. Once you know how much energy you can expect to get from the sun, you can determine about how much energy you will need based on your current monthly energy consumption.
If you don’t have copies of your last 12 bills, you can view the state by state averages, as published by the Energy Information Administration. According to the chart, a consumer who lives in New Jersey, for instance, will use an average of about 730 kWh/month in electricity, while one in Alabama may use as much as 1,300 kWh of energy per month.
Now that you know how much solar radiation is available and how much of it can actually be utilized by a solar panel, you can calculate how many photovoltaic solar panels you will need in order to replace your current source of electricity.
Stay tuned for more on sizing up your home for solar in our next segment.
kensellshomes
Friday, February 10, 2012
11221 S. 107th E. Ave, Bixby, OK. 74008
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Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Letter from NAR to Mitch Connell addressing HR 3630
December 15, 2011
The Honorable Mitch McConnell United States Senate
361A Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator McConnell:
The members of the Mortgage Bankers Association, the National Association of Home Builders and the National Association of REALTORS®, respectfully request that H.R. 3630, the “Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2011”, be revised or defeated to ensure that Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's credit risk guarantee fees (g- fees) continue to be used solely for the purpose of minimizing the loss exposure of the government- sponsored enterprises (Enterprises), investors and taxpayers.
Because g-fees currently are calculated by the Enterprises as a function of the costs of guaranteeing the securities they issue, i.e., the risk of underlying loans, our organizations believe g-fee levels would be most appropriately addressed as part of comprehensive housing finance reform. Further, we strongly believe that fees charged by the Enterprises to manage risk and enhance capital should not be diverted for purposes unrelated to the safety and soundness of the housing finance system. Implementing this guarantee fee increase will also hinder necessary reforms to the GSEs in the years ahead, as any effort to reduce their role in the market would result in a loss of revenue.
We are also very concerned that a disturbing collateral consequence of this measure is that it raises revenue in a regressive fashion. Since the Enterprises are prohibited from purchasing loans in excess of $417,000 ($625,500 in high-cost areas). This de-facto housing tax is being imposed exclusively on the low to moderate income Americans that the underlying tax cut extension is supposed to benefit.
We also object to a proposed amendment to the act that would authorize Ginnie Mae to increase their guarantee fee. While this may seem like a simple measure to provide parity between Ginnie Mae and the Enterprises, we believe it will disproportionately impact the low and moderate income borrowers and first time homebuyers that FHA loans are targeted towards.
We appreciate the attempts by Congress to provide financial relief to the middle class, as well as foster job creation. However, we are united in our belief that H.R. 3630 is counterproductive because it diverts g-fees away from their intended purposes of minimizing the Enterprises' risk exposure and ensuring the liquidity of the secondary mortgage market to the detriment of the taxpayers.
Therefore, we respectfully request that you revise or defeat, H.R. 3630 the “Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2011”.
Thank you for your consideration of this very important matter. Sincerely,
Mortgage Bankers Association National Association of Home Builders National Association of REALTORS®
The Honorable Mitch McConnell United States Senate
361A Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator McConnell:
The members of the Mortgage Bankers Association, the National Association of Home Builders and the National Association of REALTORS®, respectfully request that H.R. 3630, the “Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2011”, be revised or defeated to ensure that Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's credit risk guarantee fees (g- fees) continue to be used solely for the purpose of minimizing the loss exposure of the government- sponsored enterprises (Enterprises), investors and taxpayers.
Because g-fees currently are calculated by the Enterprises as a function of the costs of guaranteeing the securities they issue, i.e., the risk of underlying loans, our organizations believe g-fee levels would be most appropriately addressed as part of comprehensive housing finance reform. Further, we strongly believe that fees charged by the Enterprises to manage risk and enhance capital should not be diverted for purposes unrelated to the safety and soundness of the housing finance system. Implementing this guarantee fee increase will also hinder necessary reforms to the GSEs in the years ahead, as any effort to reduce their role in the market would result in a loss of revenue.
We are also very concerned that a disturbing collateral consequence of this measure is that it raises revenue in a regressive fashion. Since the Enterprises are prohibited from purchasing loans in excess of $417,000 ($625,500 in high-cost areas). This de-facto housing tax is being imposed exclusively on the low to moderate income Americans that the underlying tax cut extension is supposed to benefit.
We also object to a proposed amendment to the act that would authorize Ginnie Mae to increase their guarantee fee. While this may seem like a simple measure to provide parity between Ginnie Mae and the Enterprises, we believe it will disproportionately impact the low and moderate income borrowers and first time homebuyers that FHA loans are targeted towards.
We appreciate the attempts by Congress to provide financial relief to the middle class, as well as foster job creation. However, we are united in our belief that H.R. 3630 is counterproductive because it diverts g-fees away from their intended purposes of minimizing the Enterprises' risk exposure and ensuring the liquidity of the secondary mortgage market to the detriment of the taxpayers.
Therefore, we respectfully request that you revise or defeat, H.R. 3630 the “Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2011”.
Thank you for your consideration of this very important matter. Sincerely,
Mortgage Bankers Association National Association of Home Builders National Association of REALTORS®
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas
Christmas Real Estate
Posted: December 24, 2010 at 5:36 PM by Call Ken Rutherford
It’s Christmas Eve. You would think that real estate would be the last thing on my mind. Surrounded by my family in the comfort of my home I can’t help but think about the blessings I have received this year and throughout my life. By happenstance, I was born in America. What a privilege to be born in a Christian nation founded on Christian principles. By example I learned the value of hard work. What a gift to learn to provide for one’s self. By observation and life lessons I’ve learned that integrity is more important than money and kindness to others has one of the highest returns of any investment you will ever make. I’ve learned the most important dwelling you will ever occupy stares back at you in the mirror and smiles and laughs or torments and taunts depending on how you have furnished it. I’ve come to know that the peace of sharing this earthly home and body with the spirit of my creator is the only lasting peace I’ll ever find on this earth. Thank you Lord for your kindness, patience and mercy and Happy Birthday!
Ken Rutherford, CRS , Broker Associate
918-260-9932
www.kensellshomes.com
kensellshomes
Republished by popular demand
Sunday, December 18, 2011
6505 S. Oswego
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Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Home Sales Increase Across the Country
Posted: 29 Nov 2011 10:37 AM PST The National Association of Realtors recently released their 2011 3rd Quarter Housing Report. In the report, they showed that combined sales of single family homes, condos and co-ops increased in EVERY state as compared to the 3rd quarter of last year. Here are the state-by-state numbers.  The next time someone says houses aren’t selling, ask them which state they live in and show them this chart. |
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Part time real estate?
I'm running as fast as I can to stay up to date with all of the technological advances available to me to market homes. I am putting QR codes in WebSites, (see left QR Code) on brochures and Brochure boxes, signs and sign riders. I am fully immersed in social media with a Facebook page and twitter and Linked-in accounts. I have a word press blog, a blogger blog, an active rain blog and am involved in several internet discussion groups relating to the various aspects of real estate. I have several websites, and I've familiarized myself with widgets and gadgets and incorporated them in my blogs and websites. I have spent hundreds of hours creating a unified all encompassing presence on the internet. Type Ken Rutherford into your google search.
In addition to staying up to date with the daily advances in technology I SPEND 50+ hours each week calling clients past and present, farming neighborhoods, creating and passing out flyers and promotional items. I service my listings, calm my sellers, show homes to my buyers, and interface with the title companies. I try to incorporate webinars, continuing education, sales meetings, and weekly discussion groups into my 7 day week to enhance my business. So I ask all of you that sell real estate part time. How do you do it?
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
9012 E. 87th St. Tulsa OK. 74133
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