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Down Payments 101: Is It Worth It to Put More Than 20 Percent Down?
Are you thinking of buying a new home this spring or summer? If so, you’re not alone. Many thousands of individuals and families alike will become homeowners this year. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned veteran of the housing market, you probably know there are significant choices to make. One of the big decisions you will have to ponder is how much you want to invest in your down payment.
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – January 29, 2018
December sales of previously-owned homes dipped to an 18-year low with a reading of 5.57 million sales on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis. Pre-owned home sales were expected to reach 5.73 million homes based on November’s downwardly- revised reading of 5.78 million sales. December sales were 3.6 percent lower month-to-month, but were 1.10 percent higher year-over-year.
Spring Is Coming: Get a Jump on Spring Cleaning and Breathe New Life into Your Tired Spaces
Spring is almost here – and with it, the need to clean out the clutter and freshen up your home. Let’s explore a few tips that will help you to get a jump on your spring cleaning so that you can get outside and enjoy the nice weather later.
Curious About Homeowners’ Association (HOA) Fees? Here’s What You Need to Know
If you are thinking of buying a condominium or a home that is part of a planned community, you have likely come across the term “homeowners’ association” or HOA. In short, the HOA is a coalition of local homeowners who have banded together to manage the needs of the local community. Let’s explore the concept of the homeowners’ association, why they charge fees and what you can expect from your HOA if you buy a home that is part of one.
NAHB: Home Builder Confidence Drops in January
Homebuilder confidence in housing market conditions dipped two points in January; ongoing challenges including labor shortages and materials costs were cited by the National Association of Home Builders, which provides monthly readings on home builder sentiment. Three component readings of the Housing Market Index declined by one point each. Readings for current sales conditions, housing market conditions for the next six months and for buyer traffic within new single-family housing developments were 79, 78 and 54 respectively.
Selling Your Home to Millennials? 3 Tips That Will Help You Get the Sale Closed
Are you thinking of selling your home this year? If so, you are almost certainly going to interact with millennial homebuyers. This generation numbers around 80 million and are the fastest-growing consumer demographic in the country. As their earning power continues to increase, millennials are now turning their attention to real estate. In today’s post, we’ll share three tips that you can use to help make your listing more attractive to younger millennial homebuyers.
Marketable Title vs. Insurable Title
I have had a lot of questions recently regarding the topic of marketable vs. insurable title. They are both terms of art, in that they are unique terms to the legal and title industry. They are not easily defined with comparable examples. When a title is marketable...
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – January 22, 2018
Last week’s economic news included readings on home builder confidence, housing starts and building permits issued. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released; the week wrapped with the University of Michigan’s report on consumer sentiment.
How Much Is the Right Amount to Commit to Your Down Payment? Let’s Take a Look
Are you thinking about buying a new house or apartment? If you are going to take out mortgage financing, one consideration you will have is your down payment, which is the amount you pay up front in cash to cover some of the purchase cost. Let’s consider a few points that will help you to decide how much is the right amount for your down payment.
On Time, Every Time: How Being Late on Monthly Payments Can Affect Your Mortgage
Are you the type of person that struggles with remembering to pay their bills on time? You’re not alone. People across the country regularly submit late monthly payments, inflicting terrible damage to their credit. Let’s take a quick look at how paying your monthly payments late can have a negative impact on your mortgage.