Here’s a guest post from Hilary:

Forty percent of home buyers obtain only one mortgage loan quote before choosing which mortgage offer to apply for, and only 28 percent of buyers say they are confident they received the best mortgage deal. (According to polls from Harris Interactive and LendingTree.) Seventy percent say that mortgage shopping can be frustrating. It is vitally important to ask your Realtor whom they would recommend as a mortgage broker or banker.
With insight information in how the different banks run their mortgage departments and what other options are available can ease the stress of shopping for a mortgage. I always give my clients two or three recommendations including both brokers and bankers so that my clients are ensured to see a variety of products available and have the best chance of finding the best loan for their individual needs.

Thanks Hilary! A home is usually the biggest purchase a person will make, I can’t believe those statistics–the number of people who don’t shop around for rates, amazing.

It’s tax season! So in the spirit of the season (might as well look at it as a positive!), here are some things to think about, from Hilary.

The massive tax-extension law that President Obama signed at the end of 2010 keeps tax brackets and capital gains rate at existing levels for two more years and maintains other key real estate provisions such as the 15-year cost recovery period for leasehold improvements, 25 percent depreciation recapture rate, and the deductibility of expenses related to certain necessary remediation work.

The law also extends some energy efficiency tax benefits for up to two years and holds onto the deductibility of mortgage insurance premiums. This is important to anyone selling their home who would have been hit with capital gains taxes and those who have made improvements to their properties and were planning on writing off those expenses.

If you have any questions or want to request future articles, ask her.