How To Prepare For Your Mortgage Application
Taking out a mortgage to buy a home is the largest financial decision most people will ever undertake, so it’s wise to spend some time fully understanding how your current financial situation may impact your future mortgage options. The more time you give yourself to prepare before you’re ready to apply, the better off you’ll […]
11 Mortgage Terms Homebuyers Should Know
Every industry has insider jargon. While homebuyers don’t necessarily need to understand every term used in the mortgage industry, there are some words, concepts, and phrases you will benefit from understanding. Key Takeaways Unless you work in the industry, you probably won’t know the meaning of every word you hear. If you don’t understand what […]
3 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers
With the internet at the tips of our fingers almost at all times, we are just taps away from anything and everything we could ever want to know. While that’s usually an advantage, the web can offer up conflicting and confusing information…especially when it comes to buying your first home. That’s why we’ve put together […]
What a lender looks for during an appraisal
Whether you’re buying, refinancing or selling a home, one unavoidable step in the process is a home appraisal. While there’s not much you can do to prepare for one, you can go into it knowing exactly what a lender is looking for and why it’s happening. What is a home appraisal? A real estate appraisal […]
Stages of the Mortgage Process
This article explains the five primary stages of the mortgage loan process. There may be steps in addition to what’s covered here, but in general this article will let you know what to expect. Key Takeaways: It’s a good idea to do a self-evaluation of your finances before applying for a mortgage. Your information is […]
Prequalification vs Preapproval
If you’re shopping for a mortgage, you’ve likely heard the terms “prequalification” and “preapproval”, and are wondering how they differ. They are both actions a lender takes to determine how much money is appropriate to lend you. The difference lies in how closely your finances are examined to determine that figure. Key Takeaways: A Prequalification […]
How Much Home Can You Afford?
When trying to figure out how much home you can afford, there are a lot of factors to consider. This article will walk you through some things to think about before you start shopping for your next home. Key Takeaways: Your debt-to-income and housing expense ratios are key factors in determining how much money you […]
Choosing an adjustable-rate mortgage
If you think there’s a chance you’ll sell your home within 5-10 years, or you expect your income to increase and prefer a lower monthly payment for the first few years of your mortgage, an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) could be an attractive option. It’s exciting to buy a house and think about the special memories […]
Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Credit Score
There are steps you can take right now that may boost your credit score, which can make it easier to rent an apartment, buy a house, or get a loan. One of the best things you can do for your financial health is build a strong credit score, which is sometimes referred to as VantageScore […]
8 Ways to Save For a Down Payment
/*! elementor – v3.5.3 – 28-12-2021 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px} Coming up with the funds for a down payment on a new home may seem overwhelming at first, but it is possible by developing a solid plan and sticking with it. It’s not an insurmountable task to save for the down […]