If you are in the market to buy a home and find one that checks off most of your “must-haves” list, you may want to go ahead with the purchase. First-time home buyers can be at a disadvantage since they put most of their available cash into a down payment and closing costs. This forces […]
We often assume that as we age we will have house payments and car payments for the rest of our lives. But if you plan now and stick with it you too can be mortgage free. Retire planning should begin when you start your first job. However, most of us procrastinate on this vitality important […]
A question I often get from people who have filed bankruptcy, had a short sale or foreclosure is, “How long do we have to wait to qualify for another mortgage.” What kind of new loan you can get will differ according to how long it has taken to heal your credit score. The chart I […]
Freddie Mac predicted it and it is happening. We are past the first quarter of 2018 and the 30-year fixed rate mortgage is going up. The rates will exceed the 5 percent, if this pace continues, by the end of this year. The first of an expected three raises in rates by the Fed has […]
Concerned buyers who were unsure about the new tax laws that affect home ownership can breathe a sigh of relief. The 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act which was passed by Congress and signed into law treats real estate as a favored investment. Tax laws are in place whether you are living in the home […]
Back in 1968, mortgage rates were 8.5 percent. Then the following year, rates dropped to 7 percent. Homebuyers were able to buy a 15 to 20 percent larger home with the same payment if they could get their mortgage assumed. Back then FHA and VA mortgages were very popular for certain price ranges and these […]
Some potential home buyers determine which agent they will use when they start looking for their dream home. They believe that finding the home is the most critical part. While finding a home is critical, the most important part is getting good representation. Finding the right agent requires more skills then just being the agent […]
Private mortgage insurance is usually required on mortgage loans for more than 80 percent loan-to-value. If a borrower defaults on their loan, mortgage insurance will reimburse the lender. You need to be aware that when certain conditions have been met, expensive PMI can be removed. When your mortgage balance has reached 80 percent of your […]
You would be shocked to hear just how many people have spent more time on vacation planning or mobile phone purchases than they have on planning for retirement. These same people are probably expecting that Social Security will support them through their golden years. It can be assumed that a single person who has paid […]
Mortgage loan companies require a homeowner to carry insurance on their home while it has an active loan on it. The benefit is that in exchange for paying a yearly or monthly premium the homeowner transfers the risk of any loss to the insurance company. Insurance companies allow homeowners to select a deductible that will […]
