What Exactly is a “Second Mortgage”?
When you buy a home, you normally take out a mortgage to finance such a huge purchase. That’s considered your first mortgage.
But have you ever heard of “second mortgages?” What exactly are they? And why would you ever need one?…
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Is a Rent-to-Own Program Right For You?
What if there was a way to pay rent and not have to come up with a massive down payment for a home, but end up owning your home at the end of the day?
There is, and it’s called a “rent-to-own” program.…
Things to Consider Before Deciding on a Resale or Pre-Construction Condo
Condos are great options for buyers who may be looking for something more affordable than traditional single-family homes. They’re also great for people who like the idea of less maintenance and more built-in amenities. Further, condos tend to be in close proximity to transportation and city centers, making the live-work-play environment an ideal one.…
How to Decide Between a Conventional or FHA Home Loan
When it comes time to apply for a mortgage, which avenue should you take? There are several types of home loan products available, but the one you decide on should closely match your needs and financial position.
More specifically, should you apply for a conventional mortgage, or does an FHA home loan work best for you?…
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How is the Housing Market Influenced By the Economy?
A healthy economy is certainly a good thing when it comes to demand for housing, but how much can the economy actually impact the real estate market?
Both the economy and housing market influence each other to some degree. More specifically, here are a few ways that the economy impacts the real estate market and what that means for buyers and sellers.…
These Are Things That Millennial Buyers Look at When Searching For a Home
Millennials are a unique demographic. They’re well-informed and are very sophisticated when it comes to what they want, particularly when it comes to the home they plan to buy.
These “Generation Yers” have plenty of expectations that the generations before them may not have had when it comes to buying real estate.…
Should You Hire Movers or Move Yourself?
Planning on moving sometime soon? Have you already found your dream home and are in the process of selling? No matter where you happen to be on the home selling/buying spectrum, you’ll likely have some belongings to move.
That’s why moving companies exist.…
Why Did the Home Appraisal Fall Through? These 5 Things Could Be the Reason
Appraisals are an important part of the real estate transaction, especially when a mortgage is involved. Lenders will typically want to verify the current market value of a home before they agree to extend a specific loan amount, and they do this by having the home appraised by a professional appraiser.…
What to Ask a Potential Home Stager Before Hiring One
If selling your home quickly and for as much money as possible is what you’re after, then hiring a professional home stager can be the secret sauce that you’re looking for. While there are certainly many components to successfully selling a home, home staging is often one of them.…
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Strategies For Pricing a Home in a Hot Seller’s Market
If there’s ever an ideal time to list a home for sale, it’s during a seller’s market.
In this type of market, demand is very high, while inventory remains relatively tight. It’s this type of environment that can send sale prices through the roof.…
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Should You Buy an Old House Versus New?
Thinking of buying a new home?
There are plenty of decisions that you have to make, including whether to buy resale or purchase brand-new construction. There are pros and cons to both, and depending on how these stack up, they could influence your choice on whether to go for an older home versus new construction.…
What Should You Do if Your Home Isn’t Selling?
It can be pretty frustrating to sit around waiting for a buyer to put in a solid offer after you’ve listed your home for sale. After listing your home on the market, you’re probably anxious to find a willing buyer and get the sale process moving along.…
How to Make the Most of a Small Space
Your home may be tight on square footage, but that doesn’t have to mean that it’s totally unusable. In fact, there are plenty of ways to make the most of small spaces and make them seem larger than they really are with a little imagination and creativity.…
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Home Equity Loan Vs. Home Equity Line of Credit: What’s the Difference?
Did you know that you can borrow money against the equity you’ve got built up in your home?
If you’re a homeowner and have accrued equity as a result of appreciation, a long string of payments, or both, you may be able to take advantage of certain loan types to gain access to lots of cash to cover a pressing expense.…
Why Sellers Should Never Let Buyers Take Early Possession
It’s not very common, but it can and does happen from time to time: buyers will sometimes ask sellers if they can move into the home early before the actual closing date arrives.
For buyers, they get to haul in all of their belongings and start using the place as their home, which is especially helpful if the closing day of the home they just sold has already come and gone.…
