As a moving company with over 75 years of experience North American, has seen it all. If you want peace of mind on moving day here are five things we think you should never move without.

1. A Bright Tote Box: It’s easy to lose important paperwork, keys, documents and valuables on moving day. Set aside a special ‘moving day’ tote bag or box that is designated for items that need to travel with you. Purchase a box or tote bag that is brightly colored so that it doesn’t get confused with other boxes
2. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner: On moving day it’s important that you make time for meals. Plan ahead so that you don’t skip meals. Even if you’ve hired a moving company to physically move your boxes, it’s important to stay fresh and alert for driving and coordinating box placement.
3. Multi-Colored Sharpies: Keep yourself organized by diligently labeling boxes with multi-colored markers. Think about using one color for each room or area of your house and then adding a detailed description of the boxes’ contents for reference at your destination.
4. H20: Stay hydrated during your move by stocking the fridge at your destination. Not only will you be happy to have water on ice while you unpack, but if you’ve hired movers they’ll be grateful to be offered some water for their hard work.
5. A Floor Plan: Create a rough map of where the furniture should be placed in your new home. This will help your movers, friends or family move furniture to the right place the ‘first’ time. Not only will they be grateful for only having to move your grand piano once, it will help you think through the layout ahead of time.

Now, with these five things and a good mover, you’re ready to face moving day head-on. Just remember to plan, stay organized and take care of yourself on moving day.

Panama City Homes for sale

Owners, put my technology to work for you. If you are interested in selling your home or condo, contact me today (850) 774-6582 for a free no obligation Home value report.

Buyers, when you’re ready to purchase a Panama City home or condo, contact me directly (850) 774-6582 for the latest information and pricing on any of the Panama City homes sale.

Jennifer Mackay
850-774-6582
Panama City Real Estate | Florida

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Right Company

All insurance companies are rated by the state insurance commission wherever the company is licensed to underwrite insurance. The rating information is available online and should be reviewed during the evaluation process and prior to purchase of the policy. Big name auto insurers like State Farm and Allstate also offer home insurance but doing adequate research is key. A company’s proven payout record is essential to the financial future of the insured in the event of a catastrophic loss.

Experienced Agent

Prior to the purchase of the policy an experienced agent will ask appropriate questions that encourage the insured to improve the property in ways that will lower the risk of loss and reduce the premium associated with the policy. Changes to laws and insurance coverage rules directly impact the insured policy holder, and the experienced insurance agent will communicate actively with every person he represents. Any change that could save money for the insured must be communicated without the policyholder having to initiate the conversation.

Replacement Value

Premiums are directly tied to the amount of coverage written into the policy. The cost to replace the contents and rebuild the home at current market rates is considered to be replacement value. While market value policies are substantially less expensive, the homeowner will not receive enough funds to rebuild the home and replace the contents in the event of a total loss. All homeowners policies should be written to cover the replacement value of the home and the contents.

Sufficient Coverage

Every insurance policy contains stated coverage amounts that act as thresholds for the highest payout required from the insurance company. When replacement costs are underestimated, the benefit paid by the insurance company will not exceed the stated coverage amount. Specific cost estimates are provided to insurance companies by the construction industry based on location, labor costs, and material costs. Overstated coverage amounts are not beneficial because the insurance premium will be higher, but the insurance company will only pay the actual replacement value of the home and contents.

Liability Coverage

Every homeowners insurance policy carries a liability component to cover damage incurred to nearby property caused by an event on the insured property. Many insurance companies are offering umbrella liability insurance policies to cover the gaps left between each of the major insurance policy types like auto and home. The liability component of the policy has a separate stated coverage amount that acts as the payout threshold.

Safety Features

Lighting, railing, fire suppression, smoke alarms, and fire extinguishers are viewed by insurance companies as risk-lowering efforts by the homeowner. To encourage the use of each of these devices, the insurance company will lower the annual insurance premium for any home where these features have been installed and maintained in good working order.

Security Measures

Dead bolt locks, alarm systems, security screen doors, and cameras are acceptable theft and entry deterrents. Insurance companies will lower annual insurance premiums for homeowners who install security measures that lower the risk of loss of property. Specific statistics are maintained by the manufacturers, emergency responders, and insurance companies to assess the risk reduction associated with these measures. In certain locations, these measures are required for a homeowner to be eligible for homeowners insurance.

Policy Discounts

Insurance companies offer discounts to certain groups of people to reward policy holders for loyalty and perceived reliable lifestyle habits. Senior citizens are given premium discounts because they are perceived to be more mature and responsible about maintaining the value of the property. People who have multiple policies with one insurance company are awarded with discounts for keeping all of their insurance with one company. Keep in mind that even your credit score will affect home insurance rates so be sure to shop around. Agents do not always offer information about discounts, but every insured policyholder should ask for discount information.

Affordable Deductible

Every homeowners policy has at least one deductible that must be paid by the policyholder prior to the insurance company paying the claim. Care must be exercised to set the deductible at an affordable level to prevent hardship for the homeowner in the event of multiple losses. When the automobile is lost at the same time as the home, both deductibles will be subtracted from the insurance payout. If the insured is not able to afford the combined deductibles, the amounts are set too high. Very low deductibles will raise the annual insurance premium.

Specialty Riders

Valuable possessions are less expensive to insure under a rider that is attached to the standard homeowners insurance policy. Replacement values are provided by certified dealers of each type of item and attached as the stated payout for the specialty rider. The calculated risk of loss is lower for the rider because of the probability of loss. Specific statistics are tracked to set the premiums for each type of rider attached to a homeowners policy. Insurance agents should be given information concerning valuable possessions that are present in the home.

Choosing the Best Policy

Homeowners insurance policies are required by lending institutions that carry a mortgage against the property. Specific coverage amounts are required and the proceeds from the policy must be used to restore the value of the property to the prior condition following a loss. Certain home improvements will add to the value of the property but may actually lower the premium amount because of the safety or security added by completing the project. All information must be provided to the insurance agent on an annual basis to allow coverage amounts to be adjusted to prevent loss. The role of the insurance agent is to balance the risk against the cost for the benefit of the company and the homeowner.

Here’s a quick update regarding inspections / property conditions required for Rural Development Funding (well, septic, pest, etc) from Kathi Hallmon

Regardless of whether the appraisal is completed by an appraiser on the FHA roster or by a
licensed or certified appraiser not on the FHA roster, the lender must obtain documentation for
an existing dwelling showing that the following requirements have been met:

• If the property is served by an individual water supply system, the local health authority or state certified laboratory must perform a water quality analysis. The water quality must meet state and local standards.* (see table below).
• If the property is served by an individual septic system, the septic system must be free of observable evidence of system failure. A FHA roster appraiser, a government health authority, a licensed septic system professional, or a qualified home inspector may perform the septic system evaluation. The separation distances between a well and septic tank, the drain field, and the property line should comply with HUD guidelines or state well codes.
• For any property in which the lender or FHA roster appraiser is in doubt about the operation of septic systems for the dwelling or in the neighborhood (e.g. if the property is vacant), the local health authority or a septic system professional has determined the viability of the system.
• Any repairs necessary for the dwelling to be structurally sound, functionally adequate, and in good repair must have been completed prior to requesting the Loan Note Guarantee, or the escrow account requirements of RD Instruction 1980-D, section 1980.315 have been met.
• If required by the lender, appraiser, inspector, or State law, a pest inspection has been obtained showing that the property is free of active termite infestation.

A property which an appraiser indicates is in average or good condition may generally be
considered in good repair, though repairs may still be required by the lender. Regardless of
whether the appraisal is performed by an FHA roster appraiser or not, the appraiser must report
all readily observable property deficiencies as well as any adverse conditions discovered
performing the research involved in completing an appraisal. When lending to low- and
moderate-income borrowers under the SFHGLP, lenders are expected to use professional
judgment and rely upon prudent underwriting practices in determining when a property condition
requires additional inspections or repairs. Conditions that would warrant additional repairs
include those that pose a threat to the safety of the occupants jeopardize the soundness and
structural integrity of the property; or adversely affect the likelihood of a low- to moderateincome
borrower from becoming a successful homeowner.

Panama City Homes for sale

Owners, put my technology to work for you. If you are interested in selling your home or condo, contact me today (850) 774-6582 for a free no obligation Home value report.

Buyers, when you’re ready to purchase a Panama City home or condo, contact me directly (850) 774-6582 for the latest information and pricing on any of the Panama City homes sale.

Jennifer Mackay
850-774-6582
Panama City Real Estate | Florida

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Thanks Kathy Hallmon at Vision’s, I’ve receive another update on Rural Development…

Today marks the beginning of Fiscal Year 2011 for USDA Rural Development.

As was the case in previous years when the new fiscal year began, there will be a brief delay in available funding as Rural Development awaits receipt of funds for Fiscal Year 2011.

During this time, USDA Rural Development has committed to continue to accept and review new loan application packages for purchase transactions.

During this time, until new funds for Fiscal Year 2011 are received, USDA Rural Development will issue loan approvals (RD Form 1980-18) with language referencing that the approval is “subject to the availability of Congressionally appropriated funds”.

Owners, put my technology to work for you.  If you are interested in selling your home or condo, contact me today (850) 774-6582 for a free no obligation Home value report.

Buyers, when you’re ready to purchase a Panama City home or condo, contact me directly (850) 774-6582 for the latest information and pricing on any of the Panama City homes sale.

Jennifer Mackay
850-774-6582
Panama City Real Estate | Florida

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A special thanks to Kathy Hallmon for keeping my customers and visitors up to date on FHA Changes…

Effective for FHA Case numbers assigned starting Monday, Oct 4, the upfront & annual (monthly) premiums will change to:

(based on 96.5% financing for 30 yrs)

Upfront 1.0% (was 2.25%)

Annually (paid monthly) .9% (was .55%)

(for financing of < 96.5% &/or a 15 yr loan, the terms are different).

Owners, put my technology to work for you.  If you are interested in selling your home or condo, contact me today (850) 774-6582 for a free no obligation Home value report.

Buyers, when you’re ready to purchase a Panama City Beach Gulf or Bay front condo for your vacation home, contact me directly (850) 774-6582 for the latest information and pricing on any of the Panama City Beach homes sale.

Jennifer Mackay
850-774-6582
Panama City Real Estate | Florida

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To assist my customers and visitors, I’ve provided a new article: 20 Real Estate Terms Every Home Buyer Should Know.

Here are the first few terms from this article:

1. Acceleration clause
   A provision statement in a mortgage or loan document that gives the lender the right to demand payment of the entire principal balance if a monthly payment is missed.
2. Adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)
   A type of mortgage that permits the lender to adjust the mortgage’s interest rate periodically on the basis of changes in a specified index. Interest rates may move up or down, as market conditions change.
3. AmortizationThe gradual repayment of a mortgage loan by installments.
4. Annual percentage rate (APR)The cost of a mortgage stated as a annual rate; which may include such items as interest, mortgage insurance and loan origination fee (points).
5. AppraisalA written analysis of the estimated value of a property prepared by a qualified appraiser.
6. ClosingA meeting at which a sale of a property is finalized by the buyer signing the mortgage documents and paying closing costs. Also called “settlement.” At this meeting, ownership of the property is transferred from the seller to the buyer.
7. Closing costsExpenses (over and above the price of the property) incurred by buyers and sellers in transferring ownership of a property. Closing costs normally include an origination fee, an attorney’s fee, taxes, an amount placed in escrow and charges for obtaining title insurance and a survey. Closing costs percentage will vary according to the area of the country.  Lenders or REALTORS® often provide estimates of closing costs to prospective homebuyers.

Read the entire 20 Real Estate Terms Every Home Buyer Should Know article here.

Jennifer Mackay
850-774-6582
Panama City Real Estate | Florida

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This point is so important that it bares repeating

“When working with an agent as your representative, it is vital that you work with just that one agent.”  If of course, you are pleased with the service that agent is providing you.

There are many reasons for working with one agent not the least of which is we all work on a commission basis.

Meaning…

If I or one of my team agents is showing a potential buyer a property, we  only get paid if our buyer purchases that property through us!

Using real estate terminology it is called “Procuring Cause”: The agent who ultimately caused the buyer to purchase the property and is entitled to earn the commission.

If a potential buyer is working with a real estate agent not on my team and requests one of my team agents to show them a property, we are not going to get paid a dime if they purchase that property.  So what is our incentive to show the buyer the property?

Well, there is none.

Unless a potential buyer is willing to sign a buyers agreement contract with my team, there really is no incentive to show another agents customer a property.

Does McDonald’s sell Whoppers? No, they sell the Big Mac. Does Coke sell Pepsi?  Absolutely not.

Working with one agent and contacting another to show you a property is very much like:

Going to a Ford dealer and asking the salesman to take you to the Chevrolet dealer and show you a car on the Chevy lot.

Now if a potential buyer is not satisfied with the service they are receiving from an agent, that is an entirely different matter.

Yes, of course we can help and we welcome you into our family of satisfied customers.

My team and I receive many requests from my Panama City Real Estate website who would like to see a property but their agent is out of town or unavailable.

Let’s examine this scenario for a moment:

• Your real estate agent went out of town or is unavailable
  • Did your agent not provide you with a back up agent from their office?

At Panama City Real Estate we have a team of agents to assist all our customers.  If the agent you are working with is out of town, you are still guaranteed service as we have other agents to assist you as back up.  When one of our agents goes out of town, our policy is to ALWAYS have someone available to help with their clients.

Owners, put my technology to work for you.  If you are interested in selling your home or condo, contact me today (850) 774-6582 for a free no obligation Home value report.

Buyers, when you’re ready to purchase a Panama City Beach Gulf or Bay front condo for your vacation home, contact me directly (850) 774-6582 for the latest information and pricing on any of the Panama City Beach homes sale.

Jennifer Mackay
850-774-6582
Panama City Real Estate | Florida

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This well maintained 3 bedroom 2 bath Cherokee Heights home is move in ready for any first time home buyer or  relocating family.

The home boasts:

• Open, split floor plan
• Llarge master suite with walk in closet
• Double vanities
• Garden tub & separate shower.

The bedrooms are newly painted & carpeted and all appliances convey including washer/dryer. The home also features a large landscaped yard with enclosed patio.

Survey on file, all sizes approximate and taken from appraisers web site, please verify if important.

Panama City Homes for sale

Owners, put my technology and marketing expertise to work for you.  If you are interested in selling your home or condo, contact me today (850) 774-6582 for a free no obligation Home value report.

Buyers, when you’re ready to purchase a Panama City home or condo, contact me directly (850) 774-6582 for the latest information and pricing on any of the Panama City homes sale.

Jennifer Mackay
850-774-6582
Panama City Real Estate | Florida

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In my continuing effort to educate the public on buying and selling real estate, I’ve written a new article: Common misconceptions about buying and selling real estate.

Here is an excerpt from my newest real estate article:

Foreclosures are the best deal

Many who purchase real estate either for investment or as their primary home are under the impression that foreclosures are the best deals.

While there are certainly some very good deals when purchasing foreclosures, often times making an offer on a property not in foreclosure is a better deal…

Look first get a loan second

First time home buyers as well as those who have not purchased a home recently are often misled into believing they should look at homes before obtaining proper financing.

While this may have been somewhat true during the boom years, many sellers no longer entertain offers on their property that are not accompanied by a letter of approval from a lender…

I must see all properties in my price range before deciding

Many buyers believe looking at every available property for sale will give them more options before making an offer.

Unfortunately the truth is actually the reverse – Looking at many properties tends to blur one into the next.  When buyers view too many properties, they tend to forget or blend one properties prominent feature with another…

Real estate agents make too much money

This misconception is quite interesting – It is often expressed mostly by sellers wanting to haggle over a commission amount.

Did you know that the real estate agent actually only receives a small amount of the total commission?

Buyers have to pay a real estate agent

This misconception is quite common in today’s market.  Many buyers believe when they work with a real estate agent, it will cost them money.

Actually, in many areas real estate agents work with buyers for free.  The agents fee is paid by the seller when the property is sold and closed…

Working with more than 1 agent is ok

This extremely common misconception is one of the most wasteful of all.

There are many acceptable reasons a real estate agent may be unavailable to show you a property: personal illness, prior engagement with another customer, family matter etc.

However, there are also many unacceptable reasons agents may be unavailable: they went on vacation without letting their clients know or they failed to provide another agent as backup to assist their clients, perhaps the agent does not work the hours clients are available to view homes or perhaps the agent doesn’t work weekends or holidays and many others…

Listing with a friend/relative will save me money

This misconception can be quite damaging to a relationship.  First off, if the agent is a friend and have agreed to reduce their commission, are you certain they are still able to market your property correctly?

Also, an interesting issue that often arises when working with friends or relatives – if your property does not sell and you believe you are not being represented appropriately, will you be able to fire them and hire an agent who will?

Read the full  Common misconceptions about buying and selling real estate article as well as others to help you with your next real estate sale or purchase.

Owners, put my technology to work for you.  If you are interested in selling your home or condo, contact me today (850) 774-6582 for a free no obligation Home value report.

Buyers, when you’re ready to purchase a Panama City home or condo, contact me directly (850) 774-6582 for the latest information and pricing on any of the Panama City homes sale.

Jennifer Mackay
850-774-6582
Panama City Real Estate | Florida

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The restoration of the single-family rural housing program that would guarantee home loans for rural buyers was passed by the Senate today and is on its way to President Obama.
The National Association of REALTORS® has vigorously lobbied to restore funding for the rural program since last March, and hailed this development as a great victory for rural home buyers.

“This is going to be a great lift for thousands of rural home buyers who need to close on their home purchases before Sept. 30 to take advantage of the home buyer tax credit,” said NAR President Vicki Cox Golder. “Many rural families would have been left out in the cold without these guaranteed loans. Increasing the commitment authority will help rural families, support local housing markets, create jobs and generate new tax revenues.”

“The rural housing program is a good example of the kind of program needed for responsible and qualified home buyers who bring common sense to the housing market,” said Golder. The legislation increases the guarantee fee for borrowers, but allows the fee to be financed. “This change will make the program completely self-sufficient,” she said.

Golder thanked Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Reps. Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) for moving the bill to passage in both houses.

The legislation was part of H.R. 4899, “The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act” that the Senate passed today. The measure increases the Rural Housing Service commitment authority allowing guaranteed loans; previously, RHS has been providing conditional commitments. The RHS is expected to announce new guidelines shortly after the president signs the bill.

Source: NAR

Owners, put my technology to work for you.  If you are interested in selling your home or condo, contact me today (850) 774-6582 for a free no obligation Home value report.

Buyers, when you’re ready to purchase a Panama City home or condo, contact me directly (850) 774-6582 for the latest information and pricing on any of the Panama City homes sale.

Jennifer Mackay
850-774-6582
Panama City Real Estate | Florida

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