As potential home sellers put their plans on hold due to the widespread impact of the coronavirus, available inventory of for-sale homes shrunk, making the landscape a little more challenging for buyers. If you’re currently in the market for a home, you can expect...
By Brooke Chaplan Being the first person to own a newly built home can be a source of immense pride and enjoyment. Having the chance to build a house to your exact specifications gives you a great opportunity to move into a home that you can enjoy for many years....
If you’re looking for a new home, you probably already know that a mortgage lender will consider your credit score, percentage of available credit used and debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. If your score is too low or your credit utilization or DTI ratio is too high, the...
Saving up for a down payment is one of the biggest challenges for aspiring first-time homebuyers. A typical down payment can range from 5 to 20 percent of a home’s purchase price–that’s no small chunk of change. Although it might seem overwhelming to rack up thousands...
By Bill Gasset Do you know how much of a down payment is necessary to purchase a home? Many folks have misconceptions about a down payment. With incorrect information, the buying process can quickly become an expensive experience. The down payment is a substantial...
By Bill Gassett Let me guess: You are interested in buying a foreclosure property? When you want to buy a home, but the mortgage payments are difficult to afford, buying a foreclosure can look attractive. The unfortunate previous homeowner will have struggled with the...
Plan on applying for a home mortgage, car loan or new credit card? Lenders will be looking at your credit score to determine if you’re a responsible borrower. The higher your credit score, the more likely a lender will qualify you and offer the best terms. Although...
If you are in search of a new home, it’s vital that you learn how to detect mold in homes, get the home seller to disclose any information about mold and be prepared to negotiate around any mold problems that come to light in the course of the sale. Let’s face it, no...
As new homeowners will learn, borrowers need to provide their lender with proof of homeowners insurance for the full value of the property (usually the purchase price) in order to be approved for the loan.Typically, the standard insurance policy protects your new...
By Anica Oaks Gauging a potential fixer-upper is a complicated undertaking that requires experience, knowledge and good judgment to know the difference between a serious fault and a cosmetic flaw. There are many different things that you should look at and consider...
Being in your first home is an exciting time in your life. But coming up with a down payment may not have been the toughest part of it. Aside from buying furniture, painting and decorating, and making those first fixes, you should probably give your finances an...
There are a multitude of things house hunters need to consider before choosing a home, such as price, location, schools, distance to work—the list goes on and on. Most homebuyers may not think about the costs and rules associated with buying a house that’s part of a...
Buying a home often requires years of saving for a down payment, which is money that a buyer pays upfront toward the cost of a house. This is the immediate equity that a buyer has when purchasing a home. Unless buying with cash funds, the rest of the money comes from...
When shopping for a new home, everybody wants to get a good deal. Many buyers consider properties in foreclosure because they are often available at below-market rates. While you may be able to find the home of your dreams for less money than you thought, there are...
Any time you move to a new home, things change. A new neighborhood, new people to meet and a new address. With the stress of a big move and the excitement of starting the next chapter in life, there are important tasks that need to get done, but are inevitably put on...
