Prequalifying for a Celebrity Home Loan – It’s Easier than You Think

Please call us at (402) 896-3100 for the above mentioned documents.

Celebrity Homes doesn’t believe that qualifying for a loan should be a difficult, intimidating process. In fact, we’ve made it as simple as we possibly can. There are a few things to know about the home loan process if you want to see what type of Celebrity Homes custom-built home you might qualify for.

Your Debt Ratios

To determine if you qualify for a home loan, the mortgage company uses two ratios:

Front end ratio: This is the allowable percentage of your gross monthly income that you are permitted to use for your mortgage payment. 

Backend ratio: This is the allowable percentage of monthly income you are allowed to use for all of your revolving debt obligations. This includes items like your monthly minimum credit card payments, car payments, student loans, child support, and anything else that is a regular debt obligation for you.

The mortgage company takes your gross monthly debt payments and divides it by your monthly gross income to calculate the home loan amount for which you qualify.

In addition to your debt ratios, the mortgage company will also consider your credit score when determining your home loan amount.

Celebrity Home’s Process

While we cannot personally pull your credit score, we can show you both of your ratios to give you an idea of what to expect and what is reasonable when you apply for a home loan.

If you have not checked your credit score recently or just wish to have a complete picture of exactly what the mortgage company will see when they look over your information, you can easily get your credit score online at a number of reputable websites.

Celebrity Home Forms

We have a worksheet we use to work out and record your estimated monthly payment. We also have a form you can use to determine if it would be in your best financial interest to purchase a Celebrity Home over a pre-owned home.

Would you like to see if you qualify for a Celebrity Home new home loan? The answer might surprise you. With today’s economic situation yielding all time lows in interest rates, many qualify for a much larger, nicer home than they ever thought possible.

Celebrity Homes Savings Event

Fall often brings many new beginnings. School starts, football season kicks off, and the fun of the holidays is right around the corner. Now is a great time to make new goals for the coming months and prepare for the new year. What if you included building a new home in those plans? Sound impossible? Think again!

Now Celebrity Homes makes owning a new home easily within your reach. In fact, owning a new home has never been easier. Celebrity Homes knows there are new memories just waiting to be made in a new home that we want to make it easier than ever. Building your dream home is easily within your reach and we’ve developed a “Celebrity Homes Savings Event” to make it even simpler.

Save Big with Celebrity Homes

Want to celebrate the holidays in a brand new, custom built home? Here is what you can expect with this amazing “Celebrity Homes Savings Event:”

* Amazingly low “Celebrity Homes” price
* Paid closing costs
* First year’s home insurance paid
* “Celebrity Homes Savings Discount”

The first three things are not new to those who have seen our great collection of Celebrity Homes lately. However, the “Celebrity Homes Savings Event” makes a Celebrity Homes even more attainable by the end of the year.

What is the “Celebrity Homes Savings Discount?”

In addition to the incredible prices Celebrity Homes already offers, the “Celebrity Homes Savings Discount” makes building your new home an even closer reality than it ever has been before.

Here is what you can expect:

When you purchase a new home during this fall, you will receive an additional discount on top of the great prices Celebrity Homes already offers. The minimum discount you can expect is $1,500 for any new home Celebrity Homes offers.

What can be better than building a dream home? Saving money building your dream home!

What do you need out of your current home that you don’t already have? Maybe you want a bigger garage, a larger kitchen, or a pool for next summer. Whatever your dream home looks like, Celebrity Homes can make it become a reality, and no longer a dream. In fact, that’s what we specialize in: making the home you’ve always imagined an actuality!

But who says you need to spend a fortune making those dreams a reality? Certainly not us! Talk to us and let us help you realize your dreams in a way that you never thought possible with our “Celebrity Homes Savings Event.”

Two Things to Consider for a More Energy Efficient Home

Home appliances look pretty much the same on the outside, but they vary greatly in terms of their ability to be energy efficient on the inside. The more energy efficient an appliance is, the less it costs to run. Insulation is also an important component of maintaining an energy efficient home.

Furnaces

Modern condensing furnaces are the most energy efficient heating systems on the market today. An easy way to choose the most efficient furnace is to look for e2SMART® label. e2SMART® furnaces must have an AFUE rating of 90 percent or greater, and it will have a sealed combustion chamber.

Furnaces are rated by their Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). Their AFUE rating must be posted on the furnace's yellow Energy Guide label on the side of the appliance. If your furnace has a pilot light that can see constantly burning inside the combustion chamber, or if it is more than 25 years old, it probably has an AFUE rating of 60 to 70 percent. That means that more than one fourth of the fuel you purchase is wasted and never gets used to heat your home.

You have two choices when shopping for an efficient gas furnace. A mid-efficiency furnace (80% AFUE rating or above) should save you 15% to 20% of your current heating costs. A high-efficiency furnace (90% AFUE rating or above) furnace should save you between 20 and 25 percent.

The most energy efficient furnaces have an AFUE rating of over 90%. Furnaces recover extra heat by taking water from the combustion gases within a special corrosion-resistant heat exchanger. They draw combustion air from the outdoors, if there is an extra margin of safety by eliminating the possibility of back drafting and carbon monoxide poisoning.

To make your current furnace more energy efficient, make sure it is properly insulated. Taping the seams of your furnace also helps insulate the system even more to prevent heat from escaping. Taping the seams makes the unit run more efficiently, as well.

Insulation

No matter how efficient your heating and cooling system is, it won’t make a difference if your home’s walls can’t hold in the warmth or keep out the cold. Heating and cooling can be responsible for up to 70% of a home’s energy use. Properly insulating your home can help you keep the heat in where you want it to be and your heating bills low.

Insulation does more than just lower your heat bills in the winter, it can also:

• Increase the resale value of your home
• Make your home comfortable in the summer, as well
• Your home is more durable, as condensation that can decay materials, is prevented


If you want a more energy efficient home but are not sure where to put insulation to make it that way, consider these areas:


• The attic, including the door or hatch cover
• Under any floors that are above unheated spaces
• Around walls in heated basements
• Exterior walls
An energy audit can show how much insulation you have and how much more you need. Think of insulation like a big blanket that keeps the warmth in the house.

While energy efficiency is a bit of trend right now, it makes perfect sense. Things like a more efficient furnace and a better insulated home both help save you money and save the environment.

NIFA (Nebraska Investment Finance Authority) Home Buyers Assistance Program

NIFA (Nebraska Investment Finance Authority) Home Buyers Assistance Program

A new program is in effect for the Nebraska homebuyers which promises to make owning a home a reality for even more potential home buyers. The Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) offers assistance to buyers who seek to buy a home. The program provides low interest and low down payment mortgages that will help you buy the home of your dreams, or at least one that meets your unique needs.

The NIFA Program and Celebrity Homes

The NIFA program provides first time home buyers the ability to finance an extra 3% of purchase price to use for either their closings costs or down payment. Since Celebrity Homes pays your closing costs for you, you are able to funnel this entire 3% into your down payment.

Once you start to crunch the numbers, what does this mean to you? It allows you to come to the closing table with as little as $1,000. That means you can use your money in other areas of home ownership if you choose to do so.

How Do You Qualify for NIFA?

To qualify, the borrower must meet the NIFA’s requirements as a first time home buyer. This means a person who has not held an ownership interest in his or her principal residence within the past three years. In addition, potential owners must meet the income and purchase price limits. These are different, depending on the number of occupants over the age of 18 living in your home. For a detailed explanation, visit the NIFA website.

In some cases, an exception might be granted to the above rules if a buyer lost their previous home by either a divorce, forced job relocation, or a natural disaster.

Also if the property is located in a specific targeted area, the buyer is not required to be a first-time homebuyer and higher maximum income and purchase price limits apply. The property is still required to be owner-occupied for the term of the NIFA mortgage.

These guidelines offer a great potential for Nebraska homeowners to find a great home and be able to afford it.

How Does NIFA Work?

Just like any other program, there are some qualifications a potential a home buyer needs to meet. In addition to being deemed a first time home buyer and income limits (as mentioned previously), there are also particular sources of income that qualify a home buyer for the program.

NIFA is required to use all sources of income for persons all potential home occupants who are 18 years and older who will be occupying the home as their principal residence. This would include regular income (such as from a job), but it also include part-time income, overtime income, bonus income, net rental income, unemployment income, and interest income derived from family assets exceeding $5,000. The total household income cannot exceed NIFA’s maximum income limits for the applicable family size.

Once qualified, the home owner must put down a 3% down payment. NIFA offers some loan products that require little or no down payment depending on the location of the property and buyer eligibility.

The NIFA program can also provide assistance if you need help with a down payment. They can help with up to 4.25% of the loan amount. This may be used for a down payment or closing costs charged by the lender. In the case of a Celebrity Homes buyer, this money would applied completely to the down payment since closing costs are covered. The buyer is required to contribute a $500 minimum investment and execute a second mortgage that is forgiven over an 11-year period.

The Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) Home Buyers Assistance Program provides an excellent opportunity for Nebraska residents to get some much needed assistance in buying a home. By doing a little research into the program and understanding the unique qualifications that it contains, you could easily receive assistance to buy the home of the home of your dreams.

Celebrity Homes Make Owning a Home Easy

There has never been a time to like today to purchase a home. Interest rates are at an all time low and the housing market is ripe with great homes on the market. Celebrity Homes knows buying a home is a big decision. We also know there a number of factors to take into consideration when deciding what type of home to buy.

Here are 3 reasons that Celebrity Homes is a great choice:

Interest rates are at an all time low. Never before in history have interest rates been as low as they are today. There are no guarantees the rates will continue another day. Grab them while they are low before they slip back up to more ordinary interest rates.

100% financing to veterans. Even if you haven’t served in the military, the sacrifice the men and women who do is undeniable. We think that service should be rewarded in some small way when they purchase a home. Celebrity Homes offers veterans the ability to purchase a home with zero down.

Conventional financing and FHA financing only require a minimum down payment of 3.5%. With a low down payment, you get to choose how you spend the extra money you would normally put towards a down payment. You can purchase a larger house or purchase more luxuries for your new home. Celebrity Homes give you the choice of how you will invest in your money.

Down Payments Come From Multiple Sources

When you think of where the money will come from for your down payment of your new home, most people think of just one or two sources. However, there are a number of sources that you can tap into to make a down payment on your new home.

Most of clients use one or more of the following sources for their down payment:

• 401K
• Mutual funds
• Checking account
• Savings account
• Gifts from family or friends
• Incorporated into the regular budget

Celebrity Homes makes owning a home as easy as possible. With low interest rates, low down payments, and multiple ways to pay your down payment, buying a new home is easier than ever.

Considerations When Buying a New Home

When you buy a new home, all of the options can be a little overwhelming in the beginning. It’s hard to know where focus most of your attention when looking a new home. Celebrity Homes knows that the whole process can be bit daunting. Here are a few things we recommend to turn your attention to in order to make sure your new home meets your unique needs.

Garage

Undoubtedly the garage is the first thing anyone sees when they drive up to a new home. This is an important feature of the home and you should put some thought into exactly the type of garage you want in your new home to have.

Depth of garage. It’s easy overlook the size of an empty garage when you are touring a new home. An empty garage looks much larger than a full garage so it’s easy to miss the fact that a garage is small.

Celebrity Homes builds garages that are 10 to 12 feet deeper than an average garage to give you ample room for storage. This is an important and rather unique feature in many homes, both old and new, don’t always have.

Beam. Is there a supportive beam in the garage? This may not seem like a big issue when you are touring the home but it can make the garage seem remarkably smaller once your car enters the garage. Older homes, as well as some new homes, frequently have a beam in the garage that should not be overlooked during the home hunting process.

Kitchen Space

Did you know that 68% of home tours are spent in the kitchen? This room is an important place where a lot of activity will take place. Even if you are not a gourmet chef, a kitchen is still a very important part of your new home. Here are a few things to keep in mind to make sure your kitchen space is adequate to meet your current and future needs.

Counter space. Is there enough counter space for your cooking needs? Even if you don’t cook, will there be enough room if you choose to entertain? This space is something that you may not recognize while looking for a house but you will certainly notice if you don’t have it once you move in. Take a moment to examine just how much counter space and make sure it will meet your needs.

Cabinet space. There is nothing worse than not having enough space to store all of your kitchen belongings. With Celebrity Homes, not only do you have ample cabinet space, but we also provide pantry storage. Our pantries are tall and deep to give you even more cabinet space.

Appliances. Before you buy a new home, double check to determine exactly what appliances come with the home. Many homes come with the stove and dishwasher but not with a refrigerator. It’s best to ask early so you know what to expect.

Living Space

A large chunk of time is spent in your living room. Celebrity Homes has large cathedral ceilings, as well as a larger family room. When viewing a new home, make sure the area where you will spend the bulk of your time is adequate. Things to consider are cable location, window placement, and anything else that is important for your living spaces needs.

There are a number of things to keep in mind when buying a new home. A few important areas to keep in mind are places like your garage, kitchen, and living room. These are the areas you will spend a great deal of time so you want to make sure that they meet the needs that you bring to a new home.

Celebrity Homes had these areas in mind when they designed their homes. They give you extra space in each of these areas so you new house quickly becomes home for you and your family.

What to Look for When Visiting a Celebrity Home

Wonder why so many people in the Omaha area are choosing a Celebrity Homes for their new home? We think one reason is because Celebrity Homes is unmatched when it comes to pricing, floor plans, and warranties. But we think our “Yes, It’s All Included!” motto is what puts head and shoulder above other home builders.

So, what exactly can you expect when you buy a celebrity home?

Your Choice of Floor Plan

Celebrity Homes has 25 models for you to choose from when you pick which home is right for your family’s needs. In fact, you can chose plans that are 2 stories, ranch, split entries, or a multi level. Only you know which plan meets your needs, so the choice is yours.

Your Choice of Price

A new home does not have to break the bank. We work to provide your dream home with a price tag that you can afford. Our prices range from $120,000 to the low $200,000’s. You can select the perfect home for you.

Your Choice of Location

Your choice of where to build your new Celebrity Homes home is diverse. There are numerous locations around the Omaha area a new home can built. We have locations in all parts of Omaha itself, as well as locations in Gretna, La Vista, Millard, and even Elkhorn.

“Yes, It’s All Included!” Mentality

Many home builders charge for each every little thing they can use to drive your bill up. When that happens, you are left spending a considerable amount more money than you intended. At Celebrity Homes, we include everything. And we do mean everything.

This includes:

• Appliances (washer, dryer, refrigerator, etc)
• Gas fireplace
• Ceiling fans
• Light fixtures
• Blinds
• Garage door openers
• Full sod yard
• Tree in front yard

Great Warranties

Few can beat Celebrity Home’s incredible warranties. We offer the following warranties with all Celebrity Homes purchases:

• 1 Year Builder’s Warranty
• 2-10 Home Buyer’s Warranty (2 year warranty on the homes’ systems and a 10 year warranty on the structure of the home)

Celebrity Home Communities

The communities that Celebrity Homes creates offer many amenities that our competitors do not. In many of our communities we provide green spaces, walking trails, tennis courts, water parks, and playgrounds. Your entire living experience is our focus, not just the house you choose.

Celebrity Homes has been building new homes in Omaha for over 30 years. Each of those years, we have consistently given our customers above and beyond what they expect in a home buying experience. We are locally owned and operated because we want to help you give your new home that personal touch you hoped for.