Choose the Right Mortgage for a Home Renovation
Move-in ready or needing renovation? Small renovations or down to the studs redo? These are big questions when you’re house shopping and need a mortgage for a home renovation. Most people are familiar with the general mortgage process: Find a house, apply for a loan, put some money down, get an appraisal, go through closing, […]
How To Get a Mortgage if You’re Self-Employed
Being self-employed comes with several benefits, such as setting your own hours and working in your PJs. There is one potential drawback, however. It can be more difficult for you to obtain a home loan than it is for people on salary. Take heart, though; while the process is more complicated and involves stricter requirements, it […]
Pricing a Home to Sell
There’s a lot that goes into pricing a home to sell quickly and successfully, but the most important factor is choosing the right listing price. Too high, and the house can languish on the market, becoming stale and often forcing a price reduction. Too low, and you miss out on some significant profit. Your real estate agent […]
Pre-Qualification vs Pre-Approval
It’s important to understand the difference between a mortgage pre-qualification and a mortgage pre-approval. Many homebuyers think of these as interchangeable terms that mean the same thing. But they’re actually quite different, and could ultimately play a role in whether the seller accepts your offer. You’ll want to obtain both pre-qualification and pre-approval before you begin […]
The Benefits of Paying Extra on Your Mortgage
If you’re like most people, a mortgage is the biggest loan you’ll ever take out, and your mortgage payment is your highest monthly expense. So it can be a great idea to take your extra money and apply it toward paying your mortgage down faster–you’ll cut years off your loan term, save tens of thousands of dollars […]
Introduction to Mortgage Types
If you’re a first-time homebuyer, the lending process can seem quite complicated. You may find yourself overwhelmed with new terminology, paperwork, state and federal regulations, and required documentation. A good place to begin your journey is with an understanding of the three basic kinds of mortgage loans.
Advice for Solo Homebuyers
According to an analysis of first-time homebuyers released by Zillow in 2015, “First-time homebuyers are older and less likely to be married than they were in the past.”
This shouldn’t come as a big surprise, since we’ve seen that Millennials—even those who are making this purchase with a partner—are opting to save for a home in lieu of…
Have a Successful Open House: 3 Tips You May Not Have Heard Before
Have a successful open house with this advice that you may not have heard before. Our tips are one tool to get you on the way to a shorter listing time.
Do Low Rates Mean You Should Refinance Your Mortgage?
Mortgage rates are still at historic lows, and they are defying all predictions and expectations, by continuing to lower. Does that mean a refinance is the right thing for you right now? Low rates are just one factor that should go into your decision to refinance your mortgage. Here are a couple of other things to consider:
A Second Chance at Low Mortgage Rates in 2016
When the Federal Reserve raised interest rates a month ago, many people expected mortgage rates to be affected as well, and homebuyers may have felt they’d missed out on the historical lows mortgage rates had fallen to by that point.
