Anyone shopping for a home in 2023 faces an unfortunate truth: Mortgage interest rates have risen over the past year. And when interest rates rise, so do the total costs of buying and owning a home. Housing market pundits often point out that mortgage rates are still historically low even with this recent rise. The […]
Making an offer on a house is a critical step in home buying. Your offer price and the seller’s response may have implications that last for years! Savvy buyers know that successful offers — those that work for both the buyer and seller — don’t happen by chance. They take forethought and planning, plus an […]
If you’ve felt stressed while buying a home, you’re in good company. According to a June 2022 survey by Zillow, 50% of homebuyers cried at least once during the process. Younger respondents — who are more likely to be first-time homebuyers — were also more likely to have shed tears over the process. It’s no […]
Identity theft. Cybercrimes. Hacking. Phishing. We’ve all heard horror stories of how scammers use these tactics to take advantage of unsuspecting individuals. But they don’t stop there. Real estate transactions are one of the most common areas that criminals target. Why? Because there are large sums of money involved, usually hundreds of thousands of dollars. […]
If you consider three to be a lucky number, then you’re in luck. Why? Because there are three key factors that play a role in determining your eligibility for a mortgage. You’re likely familiar with the first two – income and credit history – because these are the two that most often come to people’s […]
Now is the right time to refinance my mortgage, right? Well, maybe. There are lots of good reasons to trade in your old mortgage for a new one, especially with increasing home values and the current mortgage interest rate environment. But whether or not it’s the right decision for you depends on your unique financial […]
You’ve undoubtedly heard the expression “Time is money.” When it comes to shopping for a mortgage, we’re going to tweak it slightly by saying “Time can save you money.” Putting in a little time and effort on the front end to compare mortgage types, rates, and offers can help you get the best deal and […]