Mortgage

17 Jun 2020

How To Tell If A Home Has Been Well-Maintained

Mortgage

As a homebuyer, your real estate agent will do their best bring you to see homes that meet the criteria you asked for. However, there's no guarantee that a home will have a history of being properly cared for. Your real estate agent can choose the homes you see, but they have no control over the property owner's homeownership habits. Why Home Maintenance Matters Home maintenance should matter to you as a homebuyer and later on as a homeowner. A home needs consistent and proper maintenance in order to run efficiently, and that doesn't only apply to moving parts like the HVAC system. If a home isn't looked after, it begins…

16 Jun 2020

By Mortgage Blog Content

The Most And Least Expensive Cities In America

Mortgage

The cost of living in America varies widely in different parts of the country. In general, it is less expensive to live in the country than in the cities. However, there are many cities where the cost of living is modest compared to others where the money needed to live there is outrageous in comparison. These rankings came from comparing the monthly cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment, utilities, the price for gasoline, and the cost of groceries. The Ten Lowest-Cost Cities For Renters From Texas and Ohio to New Mexico and Arizona, there are some nice cities in this low-cost group. The top ten lowest-cost cities are: El Paso, Texas…

11 Jun 2020

By Mortgage Blog Content

Buying A Home: You Might Be Able To Skip The Home Appraisal – But Should You?

Mortgage

When someone is thinking about buying a home, one of the key parts is the home appraisal. The appraisal ensures that the buyer is paying a fair price for the home while also protecting the mortgage lender against taking a loss. On the other hand, an appraisal is also an added cost of the buyer can be a serious source of stress for both sellers and brokers. Recently, government agencies have passed a rule saying that home appraisals are no longer going to be required on homes that are less than $400,000; however, many lenders will still require them. Therefore, when should someone consider skipping a home appraisal to save some…

10 Jun 2020

By Mortgage Blog Content

7 Reasons To Buy A Home In The Summer Months

Mortgage

If you've been putting off your house hunting, it's time to head out. Summer is the best season to go shopping for a new home, for a variety of reasons. 1. More Inventory Homeowners list their homes for sale in the summer more often than any other season. When you shop for a new home during this time, you'll have a much wider selection of homes to choose from. 2. Better Prices More inventory in summer often turns the local real estate scene into a buyer's market. Home sellers may have to compete with other sellers on the same block or even down the street. This gives buyers a nice position…

04 Jun 2020

By Mortgage Blog Content

Why Every Home Buyer Needs A Pre-Approval Before Home Shopping

Mortgage

There are many people who are considering buying a home because the current market is so attractive. With the ability to carry out virtual tours, this makes it even easier for people to find the home of their dreams. While the fun part is looking at houses, it is important to get pre-approved for a home loan first. There are a few reasons why everyone must get pre-approved before they start the process of shopping for a home. This Provides A Chance For People To Get Their Finances In Order Buying a home is a major decision. For many people, this is going to be their biggest investment. For this reason,…

29 May 2020

By Mortgage Blog Content

4 Surprising Things That Might Increase Your Home’s Value

Mortagage Tips

You've probably heard that living near excellent schools or having curb appeal can boost the value of your home. However, a home's value is dependent upon a lot of different factors. Some of these things are more obvious than others. Things that might seem insignificant can have an impact on your home's worth. Here are some surprising things that can affect the existing value of your home or how much a buyer is willing to pay for it. #1 A Blue Kitchen or Bathroom Painting your home is an easy and cost-effective way to update your home. Just make sure that you select the right colors. Based on recent research, walls…