Buy A Home

You’ve found your perfect home, but soon learn that it’s “for sale by owner” (FSBO). While you shouldn’t shy away from these types of properties, you should understand the nuances of FSBO transactions, as they differ a bit from the typical home buying process. Conversely, if you’d like to sell your home by yourself, check…

There are few things more exciting than exploring the world of homeownership. Perhaps after months of binge watching HGTV and swiping through listings on Zillow, you’re ready to make the leap. But the ins and outs of buying a home can be overwhelming, so it’s important to fully understand the home buying process, especially if…

If you’re thinking about buying a home but concerned about meeting the minimum down payment requirements, there’s good news. Lower down payment options are available, ranging from as little as 5 percent to 0 percent, alongside specialized first-time homebuyer programs. While the 20 percent down payment has been standard, mortgage lenders now offer various programs…

You’ve searched and finally found a home to buy. But now, your lender throws you a curveball and requires that you pay for Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). So, what is PMI exactly? Private mortgage insurance (PMI) protects the lender financially if you stop making payments and default on your home loan. The insurance may be…

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….

Mortgage points are a good idea for many home buyers, though not everyone can benefit from them and for some, they may not make good financial sense. With a bit of understanding and some quick math, you can determine if buying points is a good strategy for you. Buying mortgage points can help you earn…