Questions to Ask Before Buying a New Home 1. How much should I budget for a home? Start by determining how much of a mortgage you can fit into your budget. 2. Can I secure a loan? Before you start home shopping, you can seek a pre-approval for a loan. 3. What type of loan […]
Continue reading...Top 10 Interior Design Trends in 2020 to Freshen Up Your Home
The year 2020 is all about bringing fresh new ideas to your living space. You may need to freshen up the overall design scheme of your new house. Or, you may just be ready to remodel and update your current home to increase its value. These are the top 10 interior design trends that we […]
Continue reading...Are VA Loan Appraisals Tougher?
Your status as a military veteran gives you access to benefits that make buying a home easier. Yet your VA loan does come with a few requirements. A VA loan appraisal must be completed before a lender can approve the loan. At first glance, these appraisals are intimidating. You may have even heard that the ones […]
Continue reading...Hidden Costs When Buying a House
You’ve carefully planned your budget to buy a house. You may have checked out the prices for homes in your preferred neighborhood. While this is a great start, you also want to avoid being surprised by these often unexpected costs that are involved with many home purchases. Home Inspections and Appraisals Many lenders require you […]
Continue reading...How Does a Balloon Mortgage Work?
Balloon mortgages used to be one of the primary loan types used by people buying a home. Although the practice of issuing these types of mortgages has recently become less popular, there are times when one could work to your advantage. What Is a Balloon Mortgage? A balloon mortgage is written to cover a shorter […]
Continue reading...Using Your Equity to Increase Your Home’s Value
Owning a home has many advantages. One of the biggest ones is being able to accumulate equity with every payment that you make. Your home equity is simply the amount of money that you have personally invested in your home, beyond what you owe to the lender. At first glance, this money may seem inaccessible […]
Continue reading...Why Do Home Prices Fluctuate?
Home prices are constantly changing. You may have even heard about the housing market being in the buyer’s or seller’s favor over the years. Naturally, understanding what causes a home’s price to go up helps you pick the best time to buy or sell a house. While the size and location of a house plays […]
Continue reading...How to Come Up With a Down Payment
Down payments on a home show lenders that you are responsible with your money. They also give lenders an added sense of security, since they are not having to issue a loan for the full value of your new home. Being able to put a down payment on a home opens up options that help […]
Continue reading...5 Financial Benefits: Buying vs Renting
In life, being willing to make a change is critical for enjoying greater financial success. At times, renting has its benefits. You may rent an apartment or house for its location or the ability to split payments with roommates. Yet, there comes a point when the rent cycle may be hurting you financially. The decision […]
Continue reading...Touring Etiquette for Home Buyers
Home buyers get excited about touring potential new homes. Not only do you get the chance to find your perfect living space, but you also get to check out new design concepts that help you narrow down what you want in a home. However, you do need to remember that this is someone else’s house, […]
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