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.
4 Things You Should Be Doing Now to Buy a New Home Next Spring
The holiday season will be over before you know it, and it will be time yet again for New Year’s resolutions and house hunting season. If you’ve thought that next year is the year you want to buy a new home, here are a few things you should be doing right now: 1. Save If […]
How to Make Buying and Selling at the Same Time Work
Shopping for a new home? Already own a home that you want to sell? You might be wondering where to start. It feels like you have to time things perfectly, or you’ll either find yourself in a situation where you’re carrying two mortgages, or you’ll have nowhere to live. The truth is, it’s difficult to […]
Your Mortgage Pre-Approval and Pre-Qualification Timeline
If you’ve decided the time is right to buy a house or condo, you might be tempted to start searching for your dream home right away. It’s fun to click through sites filled with MLS listings looking through countless photo galleries and virtual tours of beautifully staged dwellings. However, before you fall in love, you […]
New Bill Could Expand Availability to Those With FHA Mortgage Loans
President of the National Association of Realtors, Chris Polychron, testified on Capitol Hill last week to voice his support for the House of Representatives bill called the “Housing Opportunities Through Modernization Act of 2015.” This bill, if passed, will relax some of the Federal Housing Administration’s policies concerning condominiums. Specifically, the requirements for condominium developments […]
Don’t Worry So Much About the Down Payment
With rental vacancies at historic lows, and rental rates stronger than ever, many renters are considering becoming first-time homebuyers. However, some potential new homeowners may be held back by what they think they know, even if their preconceived ideas are incorrect. GoBankingRates.com posted 7 Common Myths About Home Buying this week, and the number one […]
What is TRID, and What Could It Mean for You?
This week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rolled out their new disclosure policy, TRID, and while it is expected to simplify the home mortgage process in the long run, there will most likely be a learning curve, which could result in an initial increase in the number of days it takes to close on […]
Discounted Home Loans Available to Veterans Displaced by Memorial Day Flooding
Central Texas often faces extended periods of drought; however, when it does rain, it floods. Just a couple months ago, over the 2015 Memorial Day weekend, central Texas faced some of the worst flooding in Texas history, which resulted in the deaths of over a dozen people and caused thousands to flee their homes (texasmonthly.com). […]
Pay Yourself: Buying a Home Is Now Cheaper than Renting
When you purchase a home, you stop paying your landlord and start paying yourself – everyone’s heard that. Maybe you’ve had this old adage knocking around in your head for a while now, you’ve been saving for a down payment, and you’re considering making the leap into home ownership. In that case, you may be interested to […]
