Holy poo interest rates are low right now...

[pantherfan49]

is there anything, site wise that's close to knowing what your house might really be worth...I've heard that Zillow blows goats

best thing to do is to go to your county's tax site and check recent solds in your neighborhood. It isn't too hard to guestimate your house value.

Zillow is also good at showing recent solds in your neighborhood. Just pull up all the recent solds (assuming houses are about the same age) and compare square footage. You should find something that works.

[Jase]

zillow may be flawed, but short of doing a complete realtor-style comp on recent sales in your area, zillow's probably as good as it gets.

[pantherfan49]

zillow may be flawed, but short of doing a complete realtor-style comp on recent sales in your area, zillow's probably as good as it gets.

I am convince that if a realtor can do it, anybody can do it.

[Jase]

I am convince that if a realtor can do it, anybody can do it.

yep, lol, you just have to make sure to take into account things like achitectural & land features that aren't in the county records. And then assign values to them. It isn't just straight up $/sqft.

[pantherfan49]

yep, lol, you just have to make sure to take into account things like achitectural & land features that aren't in the county records. And then assign values to them. It isn't just straight up $/sqft.

Architectural features aren't a problem since most homes now are cookie cutter, cheap work product.

As far as land features, just make sure you aren't near the highway, a cattle farm, etc, and maybe bump up just a bit if you are in a culdesac or have a larger than normal lot. Not exactly rocket science.

[Niner National]

is there anything, site wise that's close to knowing what your house might really be worth...I've heard that Zillow blows goats

Try Trulia.

[Mrs Pantherfan]

that one is a little better but there's absolutely no way we can sell right now..we'd have to rent if we wanted to move. ...and renting scares the sh*t out of me..

[Jase]

trulia has my 3-BR listed as a 4-BR and it's comparables are $30k higher than my house's astronomical tax value.

[Hotsauce]

"good debt" i.e. student loans, mortgage, etc.... Is a misconception, there is no such thing as good debt. That is a word made up by credit companies. Screw a credit score. If you are debt free, have no bills, everything you make will goto your pocket (or to hookers and blow)

[Niner National]

trulia has my 3-BR listed as a 4-BR and it's comparables are $30k higher than my house's astronomical tax value.

Has the townhome I just bought almost spot on.

[Carolina Husker]

I just re-fied my mortgage last week from 4.75% to 3.625%. Saves me $105 on my minimum payment.

Anybody paying ahead on their mortgage? Have a plan to pay it off early? What is it? I have a plan where I increase my monthly payment by $50/year. Seems to be working great so far. My goal is to be mortgage-free by the time my daughter enters college (2028, 19 years from origination).

Home values seem to be sinking again. Checked zillow yesterday and from december to january my house value dropped 3.5%, and has dropped 8.3% from its 2011 peak.

Care to say who you used to refinance? I'm in the same boat and about to hit 20% equity, so getting a lower rate and losing my PMI would be awesome.

[Jase]

I have a private mortgage from an individual who will honor a rate quote from any bank, so I can't be of much help to you there.

[pantherfan49]

Care to say who you used to refinance? I'm in the same boat and about to hit 20% equity, so getting a lower rate and losing my PMI would be awesome.

where are you located at?

[pantherfan49]

Care to say who you used to refinance? I'm in the same boat and about to hit 20% equity, so getting a lower rate and losing my PMI would be awesome.

also, when you get to 22% equity, the PMI disappears.

For most of us, the 7/1 ARM is the best option out there. You get the low rate associated with an ARM and the chances of you being in that house at year 8 are relatively low.