Monthly Archives: October 2016
Buying a Home Can Be Scary… Know the Facts [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights: 36% of Americans think they need a 20% down payment to buy a home. 44% of Millennials who purchased a home this year have put down less than 10%. 71.8% of loan applications were approved last month. The average credit score of approved loans was 731 in September. Members: Sign in now to... Read More
Percentage of Homeownership by Decade and by State
There has been a lot of talk about the falling homeownership rate in the United States. In December 2004, the homeownership rate reached an all-time high of 69.4%, while the current rate is 62.9%. When comparing these two figures, there is some room for concern regarding the difference. However, today we want to shine some... Read More
What is a Buyer’s Agent?
Ready to house hunt? It’s a jungle out there: Prepare for a flurry of paperwork, stampedes of buyers competing for the same digs, and other challenges before you get your hands on those house keys. We won’t lie: The process can be complex and stressful—which is why having a pro by your side can make all the... Read More
What to Expect When Home Inspecting
So you made an offer, it was accepted, and now your next task is to have the home inspected prior to closing. More often than not, your agent may have made your offer contingent on a clean home inspection. This contingency allows you to renegotiate the price paid for the home, ask the sellers to... Read More
The ‘Great News’ About Rising Prices
Recently there has been a lot of talk about home prices and if they are accelerating too quickly. In some areas of the country, seller supply (homes for sale) cannot keep up with the number of buyers out looking for a home, which has caused prices to rise. The great news about rising prices, however,... Read More
What’s the Difference between Pre-qualification and Pre-approval?
There are a lot of terms used in the mortgage and real estate industry that may be unfamiliar to you, especially if you are a first time home buyer. The phrase Rate/Term Refi may not sound like much to you, but to a mortgage lender this simply means someone wants to refinance his or her... Read More
How Historically Low Interest Rates Increase Your Purchasing Power
According to Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, interest rates for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage are currently at 3.47%. Rates have remained at or below 3.5% each of the last 16 weeks, marking a historic low. The interest rate you secure when buying a home not only greatly impacts your monthly housing costs,... Read More
3 Questions to Ask Before Buying Your Dream Home
If you are debating purchasing a home right now, you are probably getting a lot of advice. Though your friends and family will have your best interest at heart, they may not be fully aware of your needs and what is currently happening in the real estate market. Ask yourself the following 3 questions to... Read More
Have You Put Aside Enough for Closing Costs?
There are many potential homebuyers, and even sellers, who believe that you need at least a 20% down payment in order to buy a home, or move on to their next home. Time after time, we have dispelled this myth by showing that there are many loan programs that allow you to put down as... Read More
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