VA Loan / Veteran Mortgage News

Military Discounts and Special Offers

The GI Bill Can Change Your Future.

Today's Purchase Opportunities

Stretch Your Income

• Prioritize your spending. Make sure your money is being used to achieve your life goals. Start by keeping track of everything you spend for a month. Some items probably will jump out at you as taking up more funds than they should. You may decide to begin with a big change, such as dropping a phone plan. But it's also effective to take several smaller steps which will add up to significant savings each month.
  
  
• Keep looking for ways to cut back on spending without depriving yourself. Try going out to eat less frequently, or bringing your lunch to work some days. You also may find that at times you spend too much on holiday and birthday gifts. Come up with less-expensive ways to make those days special for friends and family.
  
  
• Having goals helps you put aside funds for the future. Saving small amounts regularly helps a college or retirement fund to grow steadily - and that will make you feel great!
  
  
• Take money management steps at your own pace. Don't give up an extra car right away. Instead, don't drive it for a few weeks, and then decide if you the savings you'd enjoy would mean more than having use of that vehicle. Some spending patterns also may represent habits that we no longer enjoy as much as we used to. Instead of stopping at a coffee shop every morning, put that money into a vacation fund.
  
  
• Don't go shopping when you need an emotional lift. Play some favorite music or spend time with a friend instead.
  
  
• Know what your hourly earnings are, and ask yourself before buying something, "Is this worth the time I'll spend on the job to pay for it?" Living on less simplifies our lives and gives us more time to spend at home with family and friends. You may find that provides more pleasure than anything you could buy.

Best Holiday Wishes!

Real Estate Psychology

• Today some sellers are pulling properties off the market because they don't like the offers they're receiving. That's true even though the sellers have lived in their home for years and now can sell for a substantial profit. Price appreciation has come down from above-average levels. Yet many owners now aren't happy unless they can sell at a much better price than their neighbor received a year ago. What happened is that last year's market created inner expectations. Some sellers now see rapid price appreciation as normal, and aren't willing to settle for less - even though the market is different from a year ago.
  
  
• Home buyers also can be strongly influenced by their emotions. Someone may unconsciously feel comfortable in a house that reminds them of the home they grew up in, even if another residence could better serve their needs today.
  
  
• Lifestyle changes often should lead to moving to another house. But some owners remain in properties that no longer suit them.