Phil Aitken
Phil Aitken
Owner/Broker

Blog

5 Tips On How To Pick a Lender For a Mortgage

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Wondering how to pick a lender for a mortgage? Finding your dream home begins with finding the right financial institution to help you secure a mortgage. Factors such as interest rates, fees, and the length of time it takes to qualify for pre-approval all come into play when shopping for a mortgage. In this post, The […]

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Credit 101

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Many renters and prospective home buyers understand very little about credit.  Even fewer know how to build it nor do they understand the criteria for “good” credit and how credit is calculated. Credit is really a trust system that allows a consumer to obtain goods prior to making payment. It is a promise to pay… […]

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“House Hacking”: 5 Reasons it’s Tricky

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“House hacking” might be an unfamiliar phrase to those outside the world of real estate. For newbie investors and first-time homeowners, this prospect is becoming rather “trendy.” House hacking is the concept of purchasing a multifamily property such as a triplex, for example, and electing to live in a part of the property while renting […]

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No Deal is Better than a Bad Deal

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As a first-time homebuyer, it can be easy to “catch the bug”.  In other words, you may find difficulty securing the home you want.  You’ve made offers on several, however, you’ve been outbid on each one.  You are determined to secure your first residence and you are at a point where you are making ridiculous […]

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Florida in Top 10 for Beach Homes

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Most sun-loving Americans equate summer months with tans, beaches, and coastlines.  The east and west coasts are desirable vacation spots for eager travelers, some of whom are searching out premium beachfront property in markets that boast a stronger return on investment than others. With factors such as cap rate, buying opportunity, and median home cost, […]

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Should the “Kids” Pay Rent?

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Times have changed in the last fifty years and one of the most notable changes is that we have now entered the era of “helicopter parenting” which often results in “boomerang children”.  A boomerang child is an adult child who leaves home for a period of time only to return to live with Mom and […]

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A Senior Guide to House Hunting in Jacksonville

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Buying a new house in Jacksonville can be exciting, especially if the purchase launches a new chapter in your retirement adventure. But finding the right home to support independence and quality of life in later years can be daunting, which is one reason to work with an experienced real estate agent. Here are four things […]

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The New Family Heirloom

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According to a recent study performed by the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans are not as transient as in past years.  In fact, only 4.2 percent of the nation’s population relocated over the past year.  That is almost half of the number of moves which took place thirty years ago.   Eighty-six percent of homeowners have no […]

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3 Steps to Data Protection

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First American Financial Corp. recently and accidentally exposed nearly 900 million mortgage-related documents due to a website design flaw.   These confidential documents included bank account numbers and statements, social security numbers, and images of driver’s licenses as well as other personal info.  Needless to say, homebuyers are a bit edgy regarding whom they may […]

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4 Summer Mishaps & How to Avoid Them

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Summer is here!  Let the fun begin!  Fill your calendar with weekend barbecues and evening swims and don’t forget to schedule those trips to the beach!   Amidst all your planning and socializing it can be easy to make some serious mistakes that are sure to dampen your otherwise hot summer.  The Aitken Home Team has […]

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