PMI: Private Mortgage Insurance is required by a mortgage lender when a homebuyer makes a downpayment of 20% or less on a...
Blog
County to offer septic system workshops
Is there a septic system on your property? If you want to learn how to keep it functioning properly, Erie County invites...
Olear Makes It Clear – Episode 9 – Transfer Tax
Calculated as a percentage of the sale price on a parcel of real estate, the transfer tax is a revenue generator for state and local governments. Revenue generated by the transfer tax is often earmarked for a specific purpose within a community. Individuals 62 or older are eligible for an exemption to reduce the percentage used.
Olear Makes It Clear – Episode 8 – Sonyma
The State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) is a program exclusively for first-time homebuyers. Benefits may include lower interest rates and reduced closing costs. SONYMA loans are also a good option when interest rates increase dramatically.
Olear Makes It Clear – Episode 7 – Reverse Mortgage
Funded through the Federal Housing Administration, a homeowner can qualify for a reverse mortgage — a type of loan — at age 62 or older using the equity in your home. Payments can be received as a lump sum, monthly payments or both. Closing costs can be substantial, so consult your financial manager or an elder law attorney for more information.
Olear Makes It Clear – Episode 6 – Loan to Value Ratio
In this video, Michael explains loan to value ratio, which is the relationship between the mortgage and the total purchase...
Cohousing communities are an interesting housing alternative for seniors
While most will desire independence and an opportunity to live in their own home, condo,
townhouse or apartment, that might not be the best option for those who need extra care or
attention. There is a popular alternative becoming more common across the country, and it’s
called “cohousing.”
Olear Makes It Clear – Episode 5 – escheat
The process where unclaimed funds revert back to the ownership of the state is known as escheat. Assets can include bank...
Olear Makes It Clear – Episode 4 – Conventional Mortgage
Conventional Mortgage: A conventional mortgage is considered more appealing to a seller because it does not rely on...
Falls in the home are common, but often preventable
before you take that next step across a cluttered room, take some easy steps to ensure your safety in the home, or the safety of your parents or elderly family members and friends.
Olear Makes It Clear – Episode 3 – Mortgage Closing Costs
Mortgage Closing Costs: Your closing costs when buying a home will typically include the down payment, fixed-costs items...
Olear Makes It Clear – Episode 2 – Adverse Possession
Adverse Possession: If you commonly use someone else’s land and have it under your control for 10 years, you can file a...
Olear Makes It Clear – Episode 1 – Abstract of Title
In this video, Michael explains the term abstract of title, commonly known as the “search,” which shows any transfer of the...
The Olear Team
Tonawanda Community Project Ballots Now Being Accepted!
???? Attention Tonawanda Community members ???? Visit the following link to learn how you can cast your vote for the...
When To Make the Move to Senior Living
by Solstice Senior Living As we and our loved ones age, there comes a time to reconsider current living arrangements and...
10 Balance Exercises for Seniors
by Solstice Senior Living It’s normal for seniors to lose some of their sense of balance as they age, but just because it’s...
Tips for Reducing Stress During Times of Anxiety
by Solstice Senior Living Stress can be a result of many causes, including adjusting to big changes, managing an illness or...
Enriching Your Mind, Body and Life Through Music
by Solstice Senior Living It’s safe to say that almost everyone loves music. There are so many different genres and styles...
Unique Homes: Sandbag Homes
As children, we took to the beach to build sand castles complete with towers, doorways, and moats. Once we grow up however,...
Spring Cleaning for your Mental Health
by Solstice Senior Living Spring Cleaning for your Mental Health Spring cleaning is just around the corner! Decluttering is...
Unique Homes: Beer Can House
If you were to renovate your house just to get out of having to do a certain chore, what would be the dreaded task to drive...
3D Printed Homes of the Future
In futuristic themed media, there were a lot of theories about how far technology would have progressed by the 2020’s....
Unique Homes: Paper House
When it comes to unique homes built from unusual materials, you typically envision strong industrial building blocks such...