Our Latest Blogs
Underwriting Process
Many assume that a pre-approval is a guarantee and that they will receive a loan. But, you need to get a final approval during the mortgage underwriting process before you can officially receive your loan and close on a house. So we’re here to share everything you need to know about underwriting and the process. What is Underwriting? Underwriting is the process used by lenders to determine if a potential homebuyer is eligible for a mortgage loan based on their
Homeowners Association: Everything You Need to Know
Many properties, usually condominiums and those in gated communities, are part of a homeowner’s association. But what exactly is a homeowner’s association? We’re here to tell you everything you need to know about HOA and how to make the best decision when buying a housing property. What is a Homeowner’s Association? Homeowner’s Association (HOA) is an organization that manages the community for a subdivision, planned community, or condominiums. Each HOA creates and enforces their own covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs).
Advantages of Living in the City
There are many factors that play into where you decide to live. Depending on your income, age, lifestyle preferences, family, cost, and psychographics, you may choose to live in the city, suburbs, or rural area. The city offers unique benefits that are not offered in other areas so we’re sharing the top four advantages of living in the city. Public Transportation In the city, it is a lot more convenient and cost-effective to go from place to place. Urban public
Why Buying a House With Foundation Problems is Risky
Many people underestimate the risk of buying a house with foundation problems and the extent of repairs needed. Foundation problems generally reduce the value of a home. It can also be very costly, stressful, inconvenient, and take a lot of time to repair. Repairing a home’s foundation is much more extensive than just doing home design or decor. And you don’t want to be shocked by tremendous costs after you move into your new home. So we’re here to tell
Renting Vs. Buying a House
Should you rent or buy a house? There are many factors that go into deciding to rent or buy like your current financial situation, location, lifestyle, family, housing market, and personal preferences. Try using our Rent vs Buy calculator to help you make a good financial choice on renting or buying a home. We are also sharing the pros and cons of renting and buying so that you can make the best decision possible! Benefits of Renting Moving Flexibility Renting
6 Tips On How to Save Money For a House
If you are thinking about buying a house in the near future, it’s time to start planning and saving now. According to the Census Bureau, the average sale price of a new home in the U.S. is $358,200. Purchasing a house includes costs like a down payment, closing, and inspection. In general, a down payment for a house is typically 20 percent so you’ll need to save $71,640 for a down payment. Saving money for a house can seem intimidating
How Long Does It Take to Buy a House?
A common question asked by potential home buyers is: how long does it take to buy a house? Every buyer and situation are different, but on average, buying a house can take anywhere from 10 weeks to 9 months and sometimes even longer. Based on our 10 Steps to Buying a House we’re going to break down the timeline of each step and how long it really takes to buy a house from start to finish. There are many different
Mortgage Rate Trends for 2016
Today’s mortgage interest rates are extremely low which means that homeowners pay lower monthly payments. Currently, it’s cheaper to own a home than to rent in many U.S. housing markets and home buyers are definitely taking advantage of it. However, these low mortgage rates are actually not a normal trend in the housing market and they’re expected to change soon. Mortgage interest rates have a historical 30-year average of 8.375% and today’s rates are less than that. We’re sharing everything
