First-Time Home Buyer Tips & Strategy

Buyer Tips & Strategy, First-Time Home Buyer Tips & Strategy, Investor Tips & Strategy, Real Estate Trends & Strategies, Seller Tips & Strategy

The New Spring Real Estate Market is Here. Are You Ready?

Which month do you think most people who are considering buying a home actually start their search? If you’re like most of us, you probably think the surge happens in the spring, likely in April. Not anymore. According to new research, January 2019 was only 1% behind February for the most monthly views per listing on realtor.com. So, what […]
Buyer Tips & Strategy, First-Time Home Buyer Tips & Strategy, Investor Tips & Strategy, Real Estate Trends & Strategies, Seller Tips & Strategy

Big Demand for Small Homes

Movies, tv shows, and celebrities often have us dreaming of owning large homes, but the reality for most people is quite different. Since 2015, the square footage of newly built houses has been shrinking, according to Yahoo Finances. This is not projected to change as we continue into the beginning of the year. “We expect this […]
Buyer Tips & Strategy, First-Time Home Buyer Tips & Strategy, Seller Tips & Strategy

Working with a Local Real Estate Professional Makes All the Difference

Some Highlights: Choosing the right real estate professional is one of the most impactful decisions you can make in your home buying or selling process. A real estate professional can explain current market conditions and break down what they will mean to you and your family. If you’re considering buying or selling a home in […]
Buyer Tips & Strategy, First-Time Home Buyer Tips & Strategy, Seller Tips & Strategy

A 365 Day Difference in Homeownership

Over the past year, mortgage rates have fallen more than a full percentage point. This is a great driver for homeownership, as today’s low rates provide consumers with some significant benefits. Here’s a look at three of them: Refinance: If you already own a home, you may want to decide if you’re going to refinance. It’s […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy The New Spring Real Estate Market is Here. Are You Ready? Which month do you think most people who are considering buying a home actually start their search? If you’re like most of us, you probably think the surge happens in the spring, likely in April. Not anymore. According to new research, January 2019 was only 1% behind February for the most monthly views per listing on realtor.com. So, what […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy Big Demand for Small Homes Movies, tv shows, and celebrities often have us dreaming of owning large homes, but the reality for most people is quite different. Since 2015, the square footage of newly built houses has been shrinking, according to Yahoo Finances. This is not projected to change as we continue into the beginning of the year. “We expect this […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy Working with a Local Real Estate Professional Makes All the Difference Some Highlights: Choosing the right real estate professional is one of the most impactful decisions you can make in your home buying or selling process. A real estate professional can explain current market conditions and break down what they will mean to you and your family. If you’re considering buying or selling a home in […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy A 365 Day Difference in Homeownership Over the past year, mortgage rates have fallen more than a full percentage point. This is a great driver for homeownership, as today’s low rates provide consumers with some significant benefits. Here’s a look at three of them: Refinance: If you already own a home, you may want to decide if you’re going to refinance. It’s […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy 75 Years of VA Home Loan Benefits Today, on Veterans Day, we salute those who have served our country in war or peace, and we thank them for their sacrifice. This year marks the 75th anniversary of VA Home Loan Benefit offerings through the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, also known as the GI Bill. Since 1944, this law has created opportunities for those who have served […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy How to Determine If You Can Afford to Buy a Home The gap between the increase in personal income and residential real estate prices has been used to defend the concept that we are experiencing an affordability crisis in housing today. It is true that home prices and wages are two key elements in any affordability equation. There is, however, an extremely important third component to […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy 4 Reasons to Buy a Home This Fall Here are four great reasons to consider buying a home today, instead of waiting. 1. Prices Will Continue to Rise CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Insights Report shows that home prices have appreciated by 3.6% over the last 12 months. The same report predicts prices will continue to increase at a rate of 5.8% over the next year. The bottom […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy Taking the Fear Out of the Mortgage Process A considerable number of potential buyers shy away from the real estate market because they’re uncertain about the buying process – particularly when it comes to qualifying for a mortgage. For many, the mortgage process can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be! In order to qualify in today’s market, you’ll need a down payment (the […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy Buying a home can be SCARY…Until you know the FACTS Some Highlights: Many potential homebuyers believe they need a 20% down payment and a 780 FICO® score to qualify to buy a home. This stops many people from even trying to jump into homeownership! Here are some facts to help take the fear out of the process: 71% of buyers who purchased homes have put […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy Home Ownership is the Top Contributor to Your Net Worth Many people plan to build their net worth by buying CDs or stocks, or just having a savings account. Recently, however, Economist Jonathan Eggleston and Survey Statistician Donald Hays, both of the U.S. Census Bureau, shared the biggest determinants of wealth, “The biggest determinants of household wealth [are] owning a home and having a retirement account.” (Shown in the graph below): This does […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy Think Prices Have Skyrocketed? Look at Rents. Much has been written about how residential real estate values have increased since the housing market started its recovery in 2012. However, little has been shared about what has taken place with residential rental prices. Let’s shed a little light on this subject. In the most recent Apartment Rent Report, RentCafe explains how rents have continued to increase […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy 3 Reasons This is NOT the 2008 Real Estate Market No one knows for sure when the next recession will occur. What is known, however, is that the upcoming economic slowdown will not be caused by a housing market crash, as was the case in 2008. There are those who disagree and are comparing today’s real estate market to the market in 2005-2006, which preceded […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy 5 Homebuying Acronyms You Need to Know Some Highlights: Learning the lingo of homebuying is an important part of feeling successful when buying a home. From APR to P&I, you need to know the acronyms that will come up along the way, and what they mean when you hear them. Your local professionals are here to help you feel confident and informed […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy 62% of Buyers Are Wrong About Down Payment Needs According to the ‘2019 Home Buyer Report’ conducted by Nerdwallet, many first-time buyers still believe they need a 20% down payment to buy a home in today’s market: “More than 6 in 10 (62%) Americans believe you must put at least 20% down in order to purchase a home.” When potential homebuyers think they need a 20% down […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy What FICO® Score Do You Need to Qualify for a Mortgage? While a recent announcement from CNBC shares that the average national FICO® score has reached an all-time high of 706, the good news for potential buyers is that you don’t need a score that high to qualify for a mortgage. Let’s unpack the credit score myth so you can to become a homeowner sooner than you may think. […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy One of the Top Reasons to Own a Home One of the benefits of homeownership is that it is a “forced savings plan.” Here’s how it works: You make a mortgage payment each month. Part of that payment is applied to the principal balance of your mortgage. Each month you owe less on the home. The difference between the value of the home and what you […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy A Recession Does Not Equal a Housing Crisis Some Highlights: There is plenty of talk in the media about a pending economic slowdown. The good news is, home values actually increased in 3 of the last 5 U.S. recessions, and decreased by less than 2% in the 4th. Many experts predict a potential recession is on the horizon. However, housing will not be the trigger, […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy How Property Taxes Can Impact Your Mortgage Payment When buying a home, taxes are one of the expenses that can make a significant difference in your monthly payment. Do you know how much you might pay for property taxes in your state or local area? When applying for a mortgage, you’ll see one of two acronyms in your paperwork – P&I or PITI – depending […]