Featured Posts
Yes, You Should Take the Plunge and Buy a New Home in 2017. Here’s Why
Are you thinking about buying a house, apartment or condo? In many markets across the country, there's never been a better time than now to become a homeowner. In this post, we'll share a few reasons why the conditions are right to jump into the market and buy a new home. Interest Rates Are Heading Up If you're like most home buyers, you're probably looking to make use of mortgage financing to help spread out the purchase cost over a longer period of time. If so, you'll want to make a move in … [Read More...]
Is It Possible to Get a Mortgage With Less-than-Perfect Credit? Yes – and Here’s How
Are you thinking about buying a new house? Whether you're a first-time or experienced buyer, if your credit score isn't looking too hot it can affect how much mortgage financing you receive – or whether you're approved at all! But don't fret. It's still possible to get a mortgage approved, even with credit issues. Below we'll share a few ways that you can get a mortgage loan even if your credit is less than perfect. Consider An FHA-Guaranteed Mortgage For many individuals with credit … [Read More...]
NAHB: Builder Sentiment Surges in August
Home builder confidence in housing market conditions surged in August after sagging to an eight-month low in July. The National Association of Home Builders reported a July reading of 68 in August after analysts expected a one- point increase from July's Housing Market Index reading of 64. Any reading over 50 indicates that more builders consider housing market conditions positive than those who do not. Component readings of the Housing Market Index also improved in August. Builder confidence in … [Read More...]
You Ask, We Answer: What Kind of Fees Are Involved When I Get a Reverse Mortgage?
If you are approaching your golden years and seeking a bit of financial flexibility, you might want to look at a reverse mortgage. This unique financial product is only open to individuals over 62 years of age. It allows you to convert some of your home's equity into cash which you can use as needed in your retirement. Of course, a reverse mortgage isn't without its costs. Let's explore the fees that you will encounter when you take out a reverse mortgage loan. Upfront And Pre-Closing Costs The … [Read More...]
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – August 14, 2017
Job Openings, New Jobless Claims Rise Job openings rose in June to 6.20 million as compared to May's reading of 5.70 million job openings. Analysts said that increasing job vacancies show that employers are unable to find qualified workers. Business services, construction, health care and professional job sectors had the most job openings. Slow wage growth could be contributing to widespread job openings. Average wage growth has been running at approximately 2.50 percent, which is lower than the … [Read More...]
The Quick and Easy Guide to Determining How Big of a Mortgage Your Family Can Afford
Are you shopping around for a new house or apartment? One of the key considerations you will need to make is figuring out how much you want to invest in your new home. Below you'll find our quick and easy guide to determining just how much "house" you can afford. Let's get started! Start By Making A Proper Budget The first thing you'll want to do is sit down and get a full budget put together. The easiest way to get the process started is to begin with two lists: income and expenses. For the … [Read More...]
Getting Tired of Renting? Here Are the Top 5 Reasons Why Young People Prefer Owning a Home
At some point in their lives, every renter thinks about home ownership and whether or not it's worth it. Let's explore the top 5 reasons why young individuals prefer the idea of owning a home over renting. It's All About Control It's unlikely to come as a surprise that having control over their living space is the number one reason that younger buyers prefer owning over renting. Living in a home owned by someone else limits your ability to customize your home. Want to expand a room or rip out … [Read More...]
3 Reasons to Hit the Accelerator on Your Mortgage Payments – If You Can Afford It
Does the thought of repaying your mortgage for the next twenty-plus years leave you feeling a little down? Whether you've had your mortgage for weeks or years, accelerating your payments is an excellent option that can help get your mortgage fully paid off in a shorter time frame. Let's explore three great reasons to accelerate your payments so that your mortgage debt is paid down faster. You'll Be Debt-Free That Much Faster It may seem obvious, but it's worth stating that you'll be debt-free … [Read More...]
Community Living: The Quick and Easy Guide to Starting a Community Garden
Ah, the city. With so many people living in an urban landscape these days, it can be hard to find anything more than a planter on the balcony for your herbs. And good luck finding space for vegetables or large flowering plants! Fortunately, coming up with a community garden can be a great way to get the locals together. If you're wondering how to get started with this fun project, begin with the following guide. Find The Right People Organizing your own community garden can seem overwhelming at … [Read More...]
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – August 7, 2017
Last week's economic news included readings on pending home sales, construction spending. Several reports related to employment were also posted along with weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims. Pending Home Sales Rise as Construction Spending Lags Pending home sales rose by 1.50 percent to an index reading of 110.2 in June according to the National Association of Realtors®. Sales of homes under contract that have not yet closed regained positive territory after May's … [Read More...]
5 Things That First-time Home Buyers Wish They Knew Before They Signed
Without a doubt, it can be both overwhelming and exciting to find your dream home and be able to put the money down for it. However, there are a lot of things to know before signing on the dotted line so you can avoid buyer's remorse. Instead of going it alone, here are a few tips to keep in mind before you decide to commit to your new home. A Good Agent Is Important Many homeowners want to find the right place on their own, but having an agent along to assist you in the process can go a long … [Read More...]
Living Under Water Restrictions? Transform Your Garden With These Succulent Plants
It can be difficult to deal with water restrictions if you're a bit of a green thumb and don't want your beautiful plants to go to waste. Fortunately, there are plenty of succulents out there that can be quite striking and will still be able to store the water they need to survive. If you're looking for some low-maintenance plants that thrive in the dry season, here are a few succulents that will do the trick. The Christmas Cactus Known as the Christmas Cactus, this plant can be a great way to … [Read More...]
Thinking About a New Home? 3 Reasons Why a Mortgage Will Be the Best Money You Ever Borrow
In these days of low interest rates, it can be a great idea to get into the real estate market and invest in a home. However, if you don't have the funds saved up to buy a home outright, it may seem like more of a burden than it's worth. The good news is that you might qualify for a mortgage loan, which tends to come with more favorable terms than a traditional bank loan. Here are three reasons why a mortgage might just be the best money you ever borrow. Taking Advantage Of Low Interest Interest … [Read More...]
Finding Your Latte Factor: 3 Ways to Find the Money to Make Extra Mortgage Payments
It's not uncommon for a homeowner to want to pay more than the minimum monthly mortgage payment on their home. However, just because it can seem hard to come up with the funds on a monthly basis doesn't mean it's not possible to find the money for extra mortgage payments each year. If you're wondering how you can pay down your mortgage debt much sooner with extra money, here are some tricks you may want to try. Relinquish Your Refund Many people look forward to tax time because it's an … [Read More...]
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – July 31, 2017
Last week's economic news included readings on new and existing home sales, Case-Shiller Home Price Index reports and an announcement by the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released. New and Existing Home Sales Mixed in June Sales of new homes rose in June rose to a seasonally- adjusted annual rate of 610,000 homes. Analysts expected 614,000 new home sales based on May's reading of 605,000 new home sales. … [Read More...]
Investing in a New Home? 3 Reasons You Can’t Skip the Pest Inspection
There are so many small details involved in the final purchase of a home that it can be easy to lose track of the things that need to be done. While you won't be able to forget about a home inspection, a pest inspection can be every bit as important before you sign on the dotted line. If you're wondering why you shouldn't forego this important step, consider the following information. The Final Offer Few people want to deal with problems, especially when it comes to their dream home. But the … [Read More...]
Forget About the Bank of Mom and Dad — Here’s How You Can Save Your Own Down Payment
Are you considering buying a home for the first time? For some, it can seem nearly impossible to come up with the funds for the down payment. Fortunately, there are a few ways that you can save a little over time and not have to borrow from the "Bank of Mom and Dad". If you're looking to invest in a home in the short-term and are looking for solutions to save up, here are some tips on how to get to your down payment amount more quickly. Create A Budget Most people don't like the idea of a … [Read More...]
Buying a Home in a Fire Risk Area: Here’s What You Need to Know
Outside of the significant financial responsibility of delving into home ownership, there can also be a lot of other risks involved that you may not have thought about before investing in a home. You'll need to protect your home against theft or burglary. And homeowner's insurance to protect your home and belongings is almost a requirement. But there are other less common occurrences you may not have thought about. If you happen to be living in an area that's at high risk of fire, here are some … [Read More...]
Mortgage Tips: Answers to 4 Common Questions About Reverse Mortgages
There are many mortgage products on the market that work for all different kinds of homebuyers, but many people have not heard about reverse mortgages and how they can benefit their situation. If you're curious about this type of mortgage and want to know more, here are some questions that will get you on the road to understanding the ins-and-outs of this product. What's A Reverse Mortgage? The reverse mortgage was created in the wake of the 2008 recession and is commonly known as HECM, the … [Read More...]
