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Is it time to break up with your landlord? 5 ways to know if you are ready to buy a home.

Blog posted On March 06, 2024

Buying a home is a significant milestone for many people and it has several financial, emotional, and social benefits. However, determining whether you're truly ready to take this huge step involves more than just a desire for homeownership. It requires careful consideration of various factors that can significantly impact your financial well-being.

In this blog post, we'll explore five key indicators that can help you determine if you're truly prepared to break up with your landlord and buy a home.

What Is Home Equity?

Blog posted On February 29, 2024

Being a homeowner comes with a number of perks and financial benefits; one of which is home equity. Homeowners looking to maximize the value of their investment would be wise to understand their home equity, how it works, and what they can use it for. In this blog post, we'll answer all your burning questions about home equity, and hopefully you’ll leave with a few ideas on making the most out of your investment.

Struggling to Sell Your Home? DON’T Make This Costly Mistake

Blog posted On October 19, 2023

“I’ll wait until next year...” “Maybe when rates fall…” “I can’t afford to buy right now…” High mortgage rates are pushing many people out of the home buying market. With fewer interested buyers, selling a home has become significantly harder than a couple of years ago. If you’re trying to sell now, don’t give up hope. We have ways that can help you save money and still sell your home at top price.

The Best Time of Year to Buy A Home: Insights And Tips

Blog posted On June 02, 2023

As you start shopping for a home, timing can play a crucial role in securing a deal or getting the location you want. While the real estate market fluctuates throughout the year, certain periods offer definite advantages for potential home buyers.

Legislative Proposal to Ban Trigger Leads Offers Consumers Hope of Long-Needed Relief

Blog posted On April 27, 2023

Last week, Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York introduced bill H.R. 2656 in hopes of ending the sale of trigger leads, which could greatly reduce the number of unsolicited calls a consumer receives after applying for a mortgage. Oftentimes, trigger leads cause confusion for buyers because they can come from competing lenders who are asking for personal information. Although this bill is still in the early stages, it’s a good (and far overdue) step in the right direction.

5 Things to Negotiate When You Buy Your First House

Blog posted On November 30, 2022

Buying your first house is an exciting move, especially in the current market. More and more sellers are offering consessions to buyers like closing costs, points, etc. But there might be more conessions that your real estate agent could negotiate. It's always useful to work with a real estate agent, especially when buying your first house. They have the ability to potentially save you hundreds or thousands. 

5 Tips to Help You Choose a Mortgage Lender

Blog posted On September 28, 2022

When shopping around for a mortgage lender, it's important to investigate more than who has the lowest rates. While most mortgage lenders have a lot of the same processes, other factors that can set them apart include the service you receive and the fees they charge.  

Closing Day Checklist for Home Buyers

Blog posted On September 14, 2022

You are finally about to close on your dream home! As closing day gets closer you may be stressed that you may be forgetting something important for the big day. By making a closing day checklist, you can eliminate the stress and prepare for a smooth day.

Here is a checklist of closing day must-haves.

How Your Rent Payments Can Help You Qualify for a Mortgage

Blog posted On July 21, 2022

One of the biggest obstacles for first-time home buyers is their limited credit history. Credit history is a big factor in the mortgage application process. However, we’re now offering an alternative solution for first-time buyers. With positive rent payment history, we can include your completed rent payments in the application process, which may help boost your overall credit assessment and allow you to qualify for a mortgage more easily.

5 Ways to Decorate Your New Home on a Budget

Blog posted On July 20, 2022

Moving into a new home is an exciting process, but sometimes decorating it can be an extremely daunting and expensive task. This can be especially true if this is your first home, or if you are moving into a bigger place and you need to buy additional furniture to fill the home.

Below are five things you can do to help decorate your new home on a budget.

Why Now is Actually a Good Time to Buy

Blog posted On June 22, 2022

Lately, the media and news has been portraying the current housing market as a ‘bad time to buy.’ While home prices may be high, they’re set to stabilize soon. While mortgage rates are trending higher than two years ago, they’re not as high as their pre-2010 average. Now might be a better time to buy than you think, and the tables are starting to turn in favor of buyers.

Pros and Cons of Adjustable-Rate Mortgages

Blog posted On April 14, 2022

In a rising interest rate environment, the numbers that you see can be intimidating. Especially if you’re used to record-low rates. Getting a fixed-rate mortgage in a high-rate environment can be intimidating. Once you close on your loan, you are locked into that interest rate unless you refinance. Another alternative – one that many homeowners and home buyers haven’t thought of in a while – is an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM).

Benefits of Purchasing a Multifamily Home

Blog posted On March 31, 2022

Unless you’re a seasoned real estate investor, it’s likely that you haven’t considered purchasing a multifamily home. At first glance, buying a multifamily home sounds much more expensive than a typical single-family purchase. Although yes, most multifamily homes have a higher sales price than comparable single-family homes, they actually could help you save money every month.

6 Signs That You’re Ready to Buy a Home

Blog posted On March 23, 2022

Most people reach an age where they debate if buying a home is right for them. If you find yourself asking this question often, it might be time to evaluate if you’re really ready to buy a home. Here are six sure signs that will help you decide if you’re ready to transition from renting to owning.

The Difference Between Prequalification, Preapproval, and Underwritten Approval

Blog posted On January 20, 2022

Buying your first home can involve a lot of different steps and terminology that might not sound familiar. You may have heard of mortgage preapproval. But what about prequalification? And underwritten approval? What’s the difference between these steps? We’re here to break it down for you and help guide you through the process every step of the way.

Government-Backed Mortgages Explained

Blog posted On November 18, 2021

The extensive list of different home loans can be overwhelming, especially for first-time buyers. FHA, USDA, VA – the acronyms can get confusing.  But they’re worth understanding because they could help you save thousands of dollars on your mortgage.

What to Know Before Buying Your First Home

Blog posted On November 04, 2021

Buying your first home can be intimidating, and if you ask a lot of homeowners, they would’ve done certain things differently. To guide you in your first home purchase process, here are six quick tips that can save you time and money.

9 Loan Programs for First-Time Home Buyers

Blog posted On October 28, 2021

Saving for the down payment is one of the biggest hurdles for first-time home buyers. But with the help of low down payment loan programs and down payment assistance, you can be home sweet home in no time.

How to Budget for Your First Home Purchase

Blog posted On October 21, 2021

A lot goes into buying your first home. At first, it can be an intimidating process, but with the right guidance it can go by smoothly. If you’re considering buying your first home, there are a few things you should keep in mind when making your home budget.

Closing Costs Explained

Blog posted On October 14, 2021

When you purchase a home, you don’t typically pay for the whole thing upfront. This is why people get mortgages loans. Once you close on your loan, you will begin making monthly mortgage payments that will pay for your home little by little. When you originate a loan, you will be required to make some initial payments upon your closing. One is the down payment. The other is your closing costs. Though you will get a full breakdown of all of your closing costs in your initial loan estimate and final closing disclosure, here’s a quick overview of the most common closing costs you can expect.

Should You Trust Online Home Price Estimates?

Blog posted On October 13, 2021

In the age of Zillow and Zestimates, it can be difficult to discern what’s real and what’s not. Online home price calculators like Zillow’s Zestimate tool and Redfin’s Estimate calculator can give you a rough idea of how much a home is worth. This can help sellers get an idea of their market value and buyers determine what’s in their budget. However, it shouldn’t be the sole factor influencing your sales price or home offer.

What to Expect When You Close on a Home

Blog posted On October 07, 2021

Closing on a home is an exciting start to a new future, and it’s a huge accomplishment. If you’re about to close on a home of your own – congrats! We’re sure you can’t wait to move in and start enjoying life as a homeowner. Before you do, there are a few important steps of the closing process left.

Renting vs. Buying: Which is Right for You?

Blog posted On July 15, 2021

Buying your first home is an exciting transition, but it’s not always the right time for every renter.  Sometimes it depends on timing, other times it depends on the responsibilities and costs that come with buying a home. To help you determine which is right for you, here are some factors to consider.

5 Myths About Buying a Home

Blog posted On May 19, 2021

Buying a home is a big step. Renting allows you to live more commitment-free, and when you think of buying, you might be worried about what it entails. For many people, they envision a large debt, strict mortgage requirements, and settling down. But not everything you hear about buying a home is true. To help you transition from renting to buying, here are five common myths about buying a home.

5 Mortgage Terms Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Know

Blog posted On April 29, 2021

There are several different steps of the home buying process that you might not have seen on Million Dollar Listing. It might feel overwhelming at times, but professionals like a REALTOR^® and loan officer can help guide you through the process. According to the National Association of REALTORS^® (NAR), 91% of buyers aged 22 to 30 cited a real estate agent as a main source of information when buying a home. Among that 91%, a large majority of first-time buyers had similar questions about these five mortgage terms.

New Home Buyers are Taking Charge of the Current Market

Blog posted On April 13, 2021

Last year, the number of first-time home buyers hit its lowest level in over 30 years. The coronavirus pandemic likely played a large role in the decline, but outside of that, the market had other challenges for first-time buyers as well. Low inventory, high demand, and rising mortgage rates are all making it harder for new buyers to break into the homeowner’s club. Consequently, first-time buyers are having to pave more creative paths to homeownership – paths that may differ from their parents and grandparents.

More First-Time Home Buyers Choose Conventional Over FHA Loans

Blog posted On March 30, 2021

The FHA Loan has been a cost-effective staple for first-time home buyers since its creation in the 1930s. With low down payments and lenient credit requirements, the FHA Loan has helped millions of home buyers over the years. However, recent data by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has shown a sharp decrease in the number of buyers who are financing their first homes with the FHA Loan. Over the past 1-2 years, more first-time buyers have been choosing the conventional financing route – but why? When might a conventional loan be a better option for first-time buyers?