With Spring on the way (in most parts of the country) and winter behind us, the home shopping season is just starting to warm up. And as usual, one question gets asked more than most, will mortgage rates go up or down? 2014 wasn’t as brisk as some had hoped with weak activity for both sellers and buyers. However, heading into January there were 9 percent fewer homes on the market than in 2014. And the news on mortgage rates is good too. Read more here.
When you are preparing to sell your home, you need to look at your ‘home’ as a house. A home is something you love, warts and all. But to a potential buyer, those warts aren’t as endearing. The good news is, you don’t have to have unlimited resources to get your home looking like the house that someone will love. By increasing the curb appeal, cleaning the clutter, and adding a few modernizing touches, you will help increase your home’s appeal to potential buyers. Read more here.
With the return of low down-payment mortgages, there is a lot of buzz on the merits and the risks of these types of loans. Based on many recent articles and commentary, one might be convinced that these types of loans are a harbinger of tragedy. However, the truth may be far different. For starters the industry is very different today from what it was prior to the collapse. Read more about why low or even no down payment mortgages might be a great idea here.
What you own and what you are responsible for may often be the same thing, but that sidewalk out in front of your house is a tricky proposition. Many cities and municipalities own the sidewalk, but the responsibility for their upkeep may fall to you, the homeowner. The decision on who owns the sidewalk and who is responsible is often controlled by individual states. The rules, responsibilities and even financial obligations can change from city to city, too. Learn more here.
After a brutal winter, spring is finally in the air. As the clothes get lighter and windows open up to let in the fresh air, you probably notice that there are a lot of things that could use a good cleaning and organizing. Winter clothes need to get stored away, and those windows could use a washing. And while everyone knows how to clean, there are always a few tips that make the effort faster, more efficient and a bit more organized. Here are a few tips for you that might make your spring cleaning a bit easier this year. Read more here.
In July of last year, the now completed merger of Zillow and Trulia was in the early stages. Questions on how the new company would look were plentiful. Well, the wait is over, and the future of the Zillow Group is direct connections between brokerages and MLSs. The Zillow Group is losing some listings due to a court fight with List Hub, but they are working feverishly to limit the impact by signing new and interesting listing partners. Read more here.
How much mortgage can you get? If you want to get formal about it, you can get in touch with a Loan Officer and get preapproved for a mortgage, but that might be a step too far for some to consider. Another way is to look into a mortgage access index online. By considering several different variables like credit score, debt to income ratio, and loans you might have, you can quickly get a solid picture based on Fannie Mae Loan Acquisition data. Find out how much mortgage you can afford today, read more here.
When you’re considering buying a home, advice can come in from all sides, some of it good, some of it might be a bit of a stretch to put it mildly. What good advice has is a solid base in practicality and reason. And it is always worth the time to revisit solid tips on home buying. These tips are a collection of insider standards that will help you to disqualify those homes that have some fundamental challenges and narrow down the list of potential homes that have the foundation you need for a sound home investment. Read more here.
Being in charge of the things that matter to you can help ensure that they are done right. Delegation has its place, but there are some things you need to ‘own’. When you are going after a mortgage, you may think this is a process largely out of your control and you might wonder how you can own it. Understanding the right questions to ask and what factors you need to consider will help keep more of what happens in your control, and ensure that the results are more fitting to your needs and wants. Read more about how to control your mortgage application process here.
If you are planning on making what is likely the biggest purchase of your life by buying a home, you will definitely want to consider how to protect it. When you get your mortgage, your lender will require you purchase insurance, but don’t think this is just a box to check on your way to moving in. Insurance is important, and getting the right coverage is crucial to your future stability and security. Consider the landscape, the surroundings, the location and more. Should you consider flood insurance? There are many considerations, read more here.
