7 Reasons Buying Beats Renting

Why Buying a Home is Better than Renting Conventional wisdom used to state that buying a home is always a great investment. But after the housing crisis, many people who saw their equity sliced in half began questioning this logic. That’s unfortunate. In most parts of the U.S., home buying is still a better decision [...]

5 Kinds of Mortgages: What’s Right for You

Home buying can be a whirlwind and, unless you are a lottery winner or heir to a fortune, likely includes taking out a mortgage. Choosing the right mortgage loan for your budget includes assessing your income, lifestyle, credit history and qualifications. But it’s not just a matter of finding an affordable option – it’s also [...]

Saving for a Home: How Much Is Enough?

It's easy to get caught up in credit scores when considering a home purchase. But as lenders continue to loosen requirements, the need to have money in the bank doesn't get any less acute. Getting prescriptive about how much you need in savings to satisfy a mortgage lender is tough business. The answer can depend [...]

Reverse Mortgages: New Rules Make Them Safer for Homeowners

The promises of a reverse mortgage -- never having to pay a mortgage bill again and using your home's equity to finance retirement -- can sound too good to be true. It almost was too good to be true during the Great Recession, when more borrowers were withdrawing most of their home equity at closing [...]

VA Loans Are A Beautiful Thing

The VA loan program was created in 1944 by the U.S. government as a benefit to veterans for their service to our country. VA loans are not made by the Veteran’s Administration rather the VA provides a partial guarantee to the lenders that provide them. This allows for favorable program features and terms for the [...]

When Is The Best Time To Buy A House?

With many markets reporting an abundance of homes for sale, and interest rates remaining at near 45-year historic lows, now might be one of the best times in recent memory to buy a home. While buyers have the advantage in today’s real estate market, they still need to be savvy in order to get the [...]

House Hunting? Be Prepared With A Pre-Approved Mortgage Loan

Homebuyers often forget one of the most important steps in the home buying process: arming themselves with a pre-approved mortgage loan before they begin their house hunting. A pre-approved mortgage loan is a lender’s commitment to lend to the homebuyer, with specifications on the exact loan amount. To get pre-approved, homebuyers need to provide personal [...]

Single Home Buyers Are Buying Homes

Today’s housing environment has more single home buyers entering the real estate market than ever before. With inventory levels high, interest rates near record lows and affordability up in many areas across the country, many people who may have never considered buying a home in the past are recognizing that a mortgage payment on a [...]

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