23 Oct 2019
By Mortgage Blog Content

Real Estate Tips for a First-Time Home Seller

Real Estate
Many homeowners don't think about what it takes to successfully sell a home until they make the decision to purchase a new home. It makes sense to consider the best ways to improve your home sales appeal early if you think you might consider selling at any time in the future. Some reasons for buying a new house are to accommodate a growing family or a transfer to a new job. No matter the reason you want to buy a new home, it is important that you take the right steps to ensure you sell your home on terms that meet your needs. Not only do you want to get a…
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22 Oct 2019
By Mortgage Blog Content

4 Easy Ways to Make the Most of Your Outdoor Living Space

Real Estate
If you want to maximize your outdoor living areas, the ideas below will help you do so. Backyards are seldom used to their full potential. No matter how large or small your yard is, a makeover can create cozy sitting areas and larger spaces that are perfect for entertaining. Here are four ideas to transform how you use your yard: 1. Move Your Kitchen Outside Outdoor kitchens let you enjoy fine weather while you cook. It also makes feeding a large gathering easier since there's probably a lot of room to expand. Setting up a fully stocked outdoor kitchen gives you a multi-purpose space that can double as a lounge or…
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21 Oct 2019
By Mortgage Blog Content

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 21st, 2019

Financial Reports
Last week’s economic reports included readings from the National Association of Home Builders on builder confidence in housing market conditions, Commerce Department readings on housing starts and building permits issued. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also reported. Builder Confidence in Housing Markets Rises The NAHB Housing Market Index rose in October from September’s index reading of 68 to 71.Home builders were confident in market conditions due to strong demand for homes caused by low mortgage rates and slower growth in home prices. Obstacles including tariffs on building materials did not deter builder confidence; any reading above 50 on the Housing Market Index indicates that most builders…
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18 Oct 2019
By Mortgage Blog Content

How To Get Your Free Annual Credit Report And Why You Need It

Mortgage
Your credit report influences whether or not you'll qualify for a mortgage and what kind of interest you'll pay on that loan. This isn't something you can safely ignore. Smart homebuyers understand the importance of monitoring credit scores and credit reports. Here is some information about how to get your credit report. Free Credit Report Available You're entitled to free credit report, according to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. You can get one free report each year from each of the three major credit bureaus; Experian, Equifax and Transunion. The easiest way to get your free report is to go to AnnualCreditReport.com. This is the official site that was originally established…
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17 Oct 2019
By Mortgage Blog Content

Pros and Cons of Replacing Your Roof Before a Listing

Real Estate
You might be wondering whether to replace your roof before listing your property. Most reputable real estate agents will advise you only to do so if your current roof isn't likely to pass inspection or if replacing it will significantly raise the value of your home.  Here is some valuable information to help you decide. Pros Of Replacing Your Roof Before You Sell Buyers are attracted to homes with curb appeal and online photos highlighting a new roof will attract a lot of traffic. That means you may sell your home more quickly. Roofing replacements also help you when it comes time to negotiate a sales price. Buyers will be willing…
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16 Oct 2019
By Mortgage Blog Content

What Exactly Is Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)?

Mortgage
PMI, which is also called private mortgage insurance, is protect that the lender may ask the buyer to purchase. In the event that the buyer defaults on their home loan and the home enters foreclosure, the lender has a way to recoup their losses. While the lender may not ask everyone to purchase PMI, there are some situations where the lender may ask the buyer to purchase this insurance policy to qualify for the loan. Every lender is a little bit different; however, there are some trends throughout the industry. Most lenders ask the buyer to place a down payment of about 20 percent of the total price of the house.…
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