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Whatever your got-to home buying strategy is—a cash buyer or home loan diva—we’ve put together a little boot camp house buying list for what comes after you say “Yes” to your dream home. What is a mortgage commitment letter? A mortgage commitment letter is a formal document from a mortgage lender stating that you’re approved…
Oh. We hear you if you saw the word “commitment” and either turned away or dug in. Sometimes, you’ll need to be all-in in the home buying journey, and other times, you can pass. What are the mortgage basics? Applying for a home loan and understanding loans terms is daunting. You either need the required…
We quit searching high and low for a much-obsessed-over house buying guide. Because, unfortunately, one did not really exist—so we hit the reset button and set out to develop one. The top attribute of our coveted home buying guide was home insurance. Every buyer will need some type of home insurance to cover themselves against serious events…
You might think that a home inspection is an essential part of the home buying process, and you’d be right to do so, but some home buyers don’t bother to hire home inspectors. Unfortunately, in doing so, they often commit huge mistakes. Unlike home appraisals, which determine the fair market value of a property, home…
Things you could buy for a dollar years ago are probably a lot more expensive these days. Even within a year, the prices of a lot of commodities can go up, down, and up again. For real estate, the value of properties also depends on several factors like supply, demand, and the national economy. Do…
Now that you are researching home insurance binders, we bid you congratulations! You are most likely in the home stretch to get the keys to your dream home. When you’re buying a brand-spanking-new house, worst-case scenarios are probably the furthest from your mind. And we get it! Nobody wants to spoil this period in your…
It isn’t very often that you get to choose your home. So once you arrive at this point in your life, you want to make the most out of it. After all, when you buy a house, you will most likely spend most of your life’s savings. So this decision you will make today will…
A home purchase is not an easy decision to make. You have to consider several factors aside from the actual house you will eventually buy. It’s also not something you can always prepare for because while some people can experience this much further in the future, others have to make this call earlier. If you…
House-hunting is a thrilling exercise that is only really dampened by the amount of paper-pushing you need to do to buy a house. You’ll talk to lots of real estate agents and loan officers who will have a lot of demands. Let’s face it. Nobody is a big fan of paperwork. On the bright side,…
A house is the biggest purchase that not everyone has the privilege to experience in life. However, it is an exciting accomplishment once you know that you are ready to buy your first home. Due to the large amount of money involved with real estate transactions, though, the home buying process can get very complicated.…
Many people come to a point when they need to decide whether to buy a house. Sometimes you have to uproot yourself from where you’ve been used to because you got a new job, you recently got married, or you’ve found a better opportunity. There is a first time for everyone, and it isn’t always…
As of this writing, the average credit score in America has reached an all-time high of 711. The FICO Scoring scheme is the most commonly used credit scoring model used by the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Chances are, you will have a credit score of at least 500 today because Experian…
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan is often referred to as a first-time homebuyers’ loan, but did you know that you don’t have to be a first-timer to apply? We’re not kidding! The FHA loan is just one of three government mortgage programs, but it is one of the most popular home loans around for…
When people choose the home loan that will finance their real estate purchase, they usually want to know if they’ll have to pay for mortgage insurance, make a deposit, or stay in the home for a specific length of time. Another critical concern people have in their minds is the loan rates. When you get…
Everyone has a mental picture of their dream home. Some people may prefer to live in a detached house with its garage or even a garden. On the other hand, if you are a city person, you might want to live in a brownstone so that you can get closer to all your favorite hangout…
How do you know when you are ready to buy a house? Is it when you are already out of school? Can you only purchase real estate when you’ve saved a lot of money? Or is it best only when you’re starting a family? The choice to get our own home is really up to…
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) traces its roots to as far back as 1934, under the Roosevelt administration. Unfortunately, although the program’s goal is to make housing more affordable for many Americans, it wasn’t until the 1960s when the FHA loan program became more widely available to everyone regardless of race. As of 2020, the…
When people find out that they have a 500 credit score, it is rational to ask if they can qualify for a mortgage given a low credit score. However, when you take into account that even consumers without credit scores can avail of home loans, it’s more reasonable to ask, “What kind of mortgage loan…
If you’ve seen your credit report and know your credit score, you’ve made the first step in the mortgage application process. The next step is finding out what kind of loan you should be aiming for to have a higher chance of getting approved. Logically, borrowers will want the best type of loan that gives…
Mortgage applications are often more complex than your average loan application process, and with good reason. There are thousands of options that can be found depending on where you are, and each one has its unique list of requirements. For the same reason, however, Americans today can enjoy the opportunity of applying for a home…
Renting may be cheaper than buying a home in many places in America. But, unfortunately, renting does not earn you an investment the way buying a home does. Suppose you bought a house last year and decided to sell it this year. Today, you stand to earn at least 10 percent more than the money…
A house you haven’t fully paid for can be a liability, but what if you can use the equity you have built in the home to create another income-generating possibility? If you run into an emergency or find any need for a lump sum of cash, a home equity loan might provide what you need.…
One of the most significant decisions we’ll make in life is renting or buying a house. It can be cheaper to rent in many places in the country than to own a home. In a study by LendingTree, they found that the average difference in cost can climb up to $606 monthly. But homes can…
A mortgage application can be a very daunting task, especially during a global pandemic. Yet, you keep wondering if it is worth delaying such a drastic move. For many of us, mortgages are just a fact of life. But, COVID-19 or not, we have no choice but to keep beating against the current. Inevitably, the…
Are you feeling nervous after seeing your credit report? Don’t worry. It’s normal to get the jitters, especially when you’re applying for something. The minimum credit score required to get the primary type of home loan may surprise some people, but it is just 500. And this is not one of those subprime loan deals…
Where should I buy a house that will be most suitable for my lifestyle? Should I live in the suburbs or further out in the country? How much space can my savings afford? These are just some of the questions that will start running through your mind the moment you decide that it’s time for…
The different needs and circumstances of borrowers call for varied types of home loans. For example, there are traditional mortgages you can get from private lenders if you have above-average qualifications. Otherwise, you can depend on government-backed loans if you don’t have enough savings or have bad credit. Do you know if your credit score…
If you want to purchase your first home, credit score is needed to determine if you qualify for a loan. Even if you have put away a lot of savings in the bank, it makes more sense to get a mortgage, especially if you don’t want to tie up your liquid assets to real estate.…
If you want to qualify for a mortgage, it is inherent that you become aware of minimum credit score requirements. Each type of loan has benefits for particular borrowers and situations. There’s a mortgage that can be great for you if you plan to buy a house in a small town. And there’s a home…
Any fantasy about dream houses or the perfect seaside home is usually accompanied by the realization that it’s time to take a look at your latest credit report. Many people often worry if they qualify for a mortgage, especially if they have what is usually referred to as bad credit. However important credit scores are…
When you have a credit score of 650, there’s really not much left to go to get to the Good FICO Score range. If you didn’t know this yet, though, we have great news for you because, as far as home loans are concerned, you don’t need to maintain a good credit score if you…
With a 700 credit score, you’re probably the envy of some of your neighbors. A credit score of 700 is more than enough to fulfill the minimum credit score requirements of most mortgages you will find in the market. There’s no better time to buy a house when you find yourself in this position. However,…
When home prices are rising, it might be harder to find a house in your price range than qualify for a mortgage with reasonable interest rates. Recently, we’ve been seeing the lowest mortgage rates in a long time due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, so more people have been motivated…
FICO Scores start at 300, so a 300 credit score is definitely the worst score you can get. According to Experian, only 1% of American borrowers actually have a FICO score lower than 500, but this doesn’t mean that only 1% of people have bad credit. In fact, the threshold for what a bad credit…
There is a good and a bad credit score range. Fortunately, a 680 FICO Score falls under the good credit score category. So, if you want to buy a house, it can put you at a great advantage so you can get a mortgage. The kind of home loan you will get will absolutely depend…
It’s not easy to improve your credit score after going through bankruptcy, but it is possible. However, depending on how long it has been since you had a debt turned over to collections, it can take a long while before you can see any significant rise in your credit score. If you have a credit…
With home prices continuing to rise, are you anxious that your credit score might not allow you to buy a house? Worry no more because credit scores are not the end-all-be-all of mortgage applications. You could even get approved without an existing FICO Score if you are willing to undergo manual underwriting. The world has…
If you have a 725 FICO Score, this is a very good credit score to buy a house. But you don’t actually need to get your FICO rating this high to assure yourself of at least two options. Whether you are still single or already have a family, everyone has their own picture of their…
Even if you have a 500 credit score, it’s not the end of the world. We promise! In fact, since you are now reading this article, we’re happy to inform you that by the time you finish, you might have the answers to all those questions you haven’t even thought of asking yet. We want…
It’s not easy to save money, which is why debt is just a fact of life. When you want to buy a house, you will need to get a mortgage. Mortgages are basically home loans where you put your house up as collateral. You will have to make a down payment or make none depending…
Whatever plans you may have for yourself in the future will most likely include having your own house. After all, that’s the American Dream, and you can’t just keep renting forever. With this in mind, whether we like it or not, we will eventually have to deal with the reality of credit scores. This is…
Relatively speaking, it’s not that hard to get a mortgage in America, especially if you’re getting a government-backed loan. Although it may take some time and involve a lot of paperwork, lenders tend to want to give you this home loan because, at the end of the day, mortgage lending is a big business. With…
If you intend on staying in your home for 10 years or more, it’s just cheaper to buy a house than to rent overall. But if you want to buy a house, you need to have a good credit score, especially if you don’t have the right cash to pay for this kind of purchase.…
According to the Fair Isaac Corporation, which came up with the most commonly used credit scoring system bureaus, a 600 credit score only falls slightly above the Poor range. But don’t despair; as long as you have enough money to make a 3.5% down payment on your home, you’ll be able to qualify for at…
The first thing that many people most likely check for when they decide that they want to buy a house is their FICO Score. After all, more people will be bound to purchase real estate with the help of a home loan when you think about how astronomical home prices have grown in 2021. Now…
Buying a house is an exciting new adventure. But, unfortunately, if you’re doing it this 2021, it can also be a very challenging endeavor. The real estate market keeps getting hotter and hotter, and it’s not just the prices. Homebuyers are getting more competitive that some are even adding 10,000 or 20,000 dollars as cash…
You need a credit score of 620 if you want to get approved for conventional loans. If you have a credit score of 600, this makes you ineligible for these traditional mortgages. What are home loan options there indeed for a 600 credit score? What are your chances, and who should you be speaking to?…
Whenever you think about mortgages, you probably imagine that you need a seriously exceptional credit score to get approved. After all, you take on a mortgage to fund a home purchase, which can cost quite a fortune. This is why a lot of people work to get the highest FICO score they can get. The…
There is a misconception that the number of homes you can buy will depend on your credit score. Up to a certain extent, it might be able to affect your purchase options drastically, but only if you are planning to buy a house through a mortgage. Your credit score is the measure of the likelihood…
Yes, even if you have a low credit score, you can still qualify for a home loan! First, you will want to know how low, exactly, is low. As far as mortgages go, the higher your credit score, the better terms you can get. The first thing you will want to do as soon as…
Are you excited to buy a house? Well, the first thing you will have to know about is your credit score. Do you know what your credit score is? Have you tried researching what credit score do you need to get approved for a mortgage? These are the pertinent questions you have to start asking…
There’s never a good time to find out that you have bad credit, but it can be exceedingly worse if you try to apply for a home loan. However, remember that it’s not the worst thing that can happen in your life. Most people who are already planning to buy a house have basically started…
Your credit score does not actually determine how much home you’ll be able to afford. A FICO Score is only a representation of how much risk you bring as a potential borrower. However, your credit score significantly affects how expensive your mortgage can be if you decide to take on a home loan. People are…
Credit scores are essential to qualify for a mortgage, but only if you are really bent on getting a particular type of loan. Many people may not be aware of this, but it is actually possible to get a mortgage even if you don’t have any credit history. Many people have even been approved to…
Bad credit can sound really horrifying, but many misconceptions need correcting if we’re talking about home loans. For example, did you know that you can get a mortgage even if you don’t have a credit score? We’re not kidding! Just imagine what other possibilities are out there if you do have a credit score, no…
Often, those last 10 seconds before you see your credit score are the scariest. Even if you have been religiously paying your bills on time or watching your card utilization rates, there can be a brief moment of self-doubt as you move to face this fear. This is perfectly normal! Most of the time, you’ll…
If you understand how interest rates work, you probably already know how important it is not to get a mortgage when you have bad credit, especially if you’re looking to pay for it for up to thirty years. There are many types of home loans in the market, and the good news is, you can…
These days, more people get mortgages instead of paying in cash for a home purchase because, for the greater majority, home loans offer a better deal than giving up liquidity. It’s simply more convenient to slowly but surely gain home equity than wait for years until you can save up for the kind of money…
Whether you are already planning to buy a house in the next year or in five, it’s never too early to start working on your credit score. After all, maintaining a good rating can also prepare you for emergencies, in case you find yourself in need of a loan, or even when you need to…
Many people tend to get antsy when it comes to knowing their credit scores, that they might probably do whatever they can to avoid getting any loan. However, the reality remains that sooner or later, you will need to borrow money for something you really need. This is true for home purchases. The good news…
Finding out your credit score is like learning your weight on a scale. If you haven’t been diligently taking care of yourself, you probably will get scared to find out where you stand in the spectrum. However, at the end of the day, it really is best if you had a baseline on where to…
Even if you might say that you’re already pretty satisfied with the home you are renting right now, nothing beats having your own house. Sure, you’ll still have to deal with the same leaks or plumbing issues, but at least there’ll be lesser hurdles when it comes to home improvement. However, there’s a good reason…
There’s a common misconception that you can get a credit score as low as zero. But today, we’re happy to set the record straight. There. Is. No. Such. Thing! That is, you either have a credit score, or you don’t because a credit score is simply the measure of your most recent credit history. If…
Once you have decided that the only way forward to make that dream home purchase is through a mortgage, there is one vital decision you need to make. Are you going through the whole process with your lonesome, or are you going to seek the help of a mortgage broker? This choice is important because…
In life, no matter how much you study or how many books you read, you can never really know everything. Even when you are able to do your best, you can always do with a little bit of help. Today, even though it may be part of everyone’s American Dream to own a house, not…
If you’ve been finding it hard to choose a mortgage, you’re not alone. Home loans are one of those adult hoops everyone encounters inevitably. Signing a mortgage deal can be one of the most important decisions a person can make in life. There are many things you will need to consider: the different mortgage and…
Choosing the right home where you will raise your family and work on your dreams is already a challenging business, but it might feel like a piece of cake to some compared to looking for the ideal mortgage loan. You might get told that you need to improve your credit score, run so much paperwork,…
Everybody deserves to enjoy the home buying experience, but many people don’t look forward to applying for mortgages for understandable reasons. This is unsurprising when you realize that what you’re visualizing when you’re shopping for a home is a nice outlook for your future. You’ll be thinking: this is where I’ll raise my family, this…
When we get right down to it, the only obstacle that most people really encounter when they want to purchase their dream home is funding. Not all of us will be lucky enough to have spare cash lying around for purchasing a house anytime we want. And this is why mortgage loans are very important.…
Securing a home mortgage is no piece of cake. You don’t just have to take on the labor of accurately filling out forms and gathering documentation; you also need to be able to absorb and analyze the fine print in loan offers and terms. Not to mention that you have to be a good negotiator…
Even as the world continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, life goes on, and with it are the many responsibilities many of us cannot put on hold. One of which is securing a home for our families. Whether you plan on buying a home or you need to refinance an existing loan, now, it’s…
Stressing because you’re not sure which type of mortgage is best for you? Aside from worrying about securing approval for a home loan, another common source of anxiety for borrowers is the concern for getting the best mortgage deal. For the most part, this apprehension is understandable. This kind of judgment can only be arrived…
For many of us, debt is just a fact of life. It’s one of those things everyone eventually encounters as we grow old, especially if we mean to settle in our own home. Today, applying for a mortgage is an essential step to making a dream home purchase a reality. But how can you best…
When you want to borrow money to fund the purchase of your dream home, there are several loan options you might be eligible for, depending on your credit score, your profession, or even where you are planning to buy real estate. But when it comes to how you can find the ideal home loan for…
Buying a home is one of the biggest challenges we will encounter as we go through our own paths in life. And the going can get even tougher during a pandemic which makes securing a home all the more a task that must not be delayed. Unfortunately, many of us will find that the lack…
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been forced to seek online alternatives for things that we otherwise sought out in the real world before. People go on fewer runs to the supermarket since we can get a lot of what we need from online retailers like Amazon. For mortgages, today, it is now possible…
Mortgages are one of those things you only start reading up on once you find that you need them. After all, it’s not an application you have to make plenty of times in your life. Some people ultimately do not even get a mortgage to fund their home purchase. The home loan process can be…
It’s important to keep the possibility in mind that you could be on the hook for other hidden homeownership expenses and plan well in advance. Here’s how.
Seven charming ways to ramp up the curb appeal at your house. From a quaint window box to spiffing up the front door, give your home a touch of charming character
Being proactive in the mortgage loan process can result in a faster loan closing. Here are methods that can help you be successful in the process.
There will come a time in your life when you will want to buy a home, and for many of us who won’t have the cash for upfront payment, the options are not always clear. Did you know that you can avail of a first-time home buyer loan? The federal government has set up a…
Even when you think you’re doing great financially, you don’t really know when life will take a 180-degree turn to put you down in the dumps. With just a few missed bills, your credit score can really take a deep nosedive. Bad credit can happen to anyone, especially after an emergency, and everyone also has…
For many people, mortgage loans are just an inevitability in life. If you’re lucky, you get to have the funds needed to afford your dream home that you can opt to pay for upfront. But when you’re just in your early working years and starting to build your savings, payment in cash is just not…
These five steps can help you make progress away from letting your money slip through your fingers and towards more conscious, mindful control of your finances.
Everybody needs a space they can call their home, but not everyone can find themselves financially set to start talking to a real estate agent even when they’ve decided to settle down. This is why many people, especially first-time home buyers, opt to apply for a mortgage to finance their dream houses. A mortgage is…
Apprehensive about applying for your first home loan? Whether you are anxious about the interest rate or closing costs, applying for loan grants can get a bit stressful, especially when you feel that your most recent credit history has been less than ideal. But the desire to settle into a space you can call your…
It’s a common misconception that it’s impossible to get approved for a home loan in your early working years. But did you know that the federal government offers zero-down payment options? They can also help you get approved even with a relatively low FICO score. Today, we’re going to talk about the mortgage loan options…
Settling into your dream house is a fascinating time in anyone’s life. However, one thing that may dampen that experience is the home loan application process. Is it truly better to purchase real estate property through a mortgage? And are there home lending services available for first-time homebuyers? Let’s find out. What is mortgage lending?…
Applying for a housing mortgage can be nerve-wracking and downright scary. But it doesn’t have to be! You might not be able to secure the home loan you are targeting, or you might be approved for an interest rate or down payment amount you cannot afford. But whatever your fear, there are things you can…
Not everyone has the luxury of time for research and running papers, which are exactly the things you need to do when you are set on a home purchase. You want to make sure that the house you will be buying will be worth your money, and it can take a while to search for…
No one starts as an expert on how to handle money because we all have a learning curve. The same is true for good credit standings. Did you know that credit scores don’t actually start at zero? Just the same, you won’t have a lot of options with a lower credit rating. But just how…
The decision on how to finance your home is a personal one that depends on many circumstances. You might be applying for a mortgage for the first time or just looking to refinance. But whether you can or cannot afford any home equity just yet, the factors that will affect your choices will be dictated…
Mortgages are long-term commitments. Sometime during the life of the loan, you will experience exceedingly different circumstances compared to when you first applied for your mortgage. You might find yourself with a better credit score, thanks to on-time bill payments. You might even have a tidier sum put away in the bank at this time.…
No one likes to be defined by numbers. However, there are unavoidable aspects in our lives when we have to rely on such figures to get closer to our goals. The good news is, with such measurements as credit scores, some numbers are within our control. After all, our credit score is just a reflection…
Once you have decided to settle down and find your dream home, there’s one important choice you have to think of next. For most people, that decision is the mortgage option they will be choosing to finance their ideal house. There are many reasons why it’s better to apply for a mortgage than to pay…
All of us have some idea of what our perfect future looks like. Whether you are looking forward to building a family or carving a path for your career, one thing is for certain: we will all need a home that we can call our own. But choosing that ideal home is just half the…
The amount of time and effort one puts in to become a doctor is no minor achievement. In the U.S., it can take between ten to fifteen years before someone can practice as a fully licensed physician. And while the average salary at the end of that road is something to look forward to, many…
Debt is one of those necessary encumbrances you will be sure to encounter at least once in your life. You might finish your education through student loans or be capable of purchasing your needs through credit cards. Debt isn’t always a burden but a means to an end, especially if it helps you get closer…
Buying your own house can be exciting! But it’s not your usual application for personal loans. When you decide to finance your home through a mortgage loan, this automatically means that you will be paying higher than its purchase price after a years-long period. This is why it is essential to understand how mortgage rates…
Supporting a happy family is part of everyone’s American Dream. To secure this vision, many Americans must apply for a mortgage to buy a home where their families can grow. If you will be a first-time homebuyer with no idea where to start, we got you! In this article, we’ll help you by covering the…
A mortgage is a loan made to purchase, own, or renovate real estate, which will then be paid overtime with interest as agreed by both the lender and borrower. The property being acquired will serve as collateral for the loan. With the real estate market being highly competitive and with numerous options available for mortgage-seekers,…
Preparing the ground properly before you start browsing listings can remove a lot of the hassle and worry. Here are seven of the most important things to do.
Choosing the right mortgage is essential, but looking for the best online mortgage lender is of paramount importance. Your mortgage loan not only helps you purchase your real estate but is also probably the largest loan you will ever take out during your life. It doesn’t matter whether you’re buying a townhouse or a sprawling…
Buying a home is an exciting endeavor. Whether you’re purchasing your first property or expanding your investment portfolio, one can’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment while obtaining a new property. It can also be costly. Unless you’re rolling around in a ton of money, you’ll need to get a home loan to finance…
Getting Started So you’ve decided to purchase your property. Congratulations! Whether you’re buying your first home or the property of your dreams, it takes a lot of time and effort to make a real estate investment. Before you go house hopping for your new property, you must sort out your finances. This means you need…
A mortgage is a loan made to purchase, own, or renovate real estate, which will then be paid overtime with interest as agreed by both the lender and borrower. The property being acquired will serve as collateral for the loan. With the real estate market being highly competitive and with numerous options available for mortgage-seekers,…
Blockchain technology can benefit the mortgage industry in several ways. It can help speed up the transaction time, making settlements happen more quickly.
A mortgage is a loan made to purchase, own, or renovate real estate, which will then be paid overtime with interest as agreed by both the lender and borrower. The property being acquired will serve as collateral for the loan. With the real estate market being highly competitive and with numerous options available for mortgage-seekers,…
For people around the country and across the globe, moving to LA seems to be the best option to chase their dreams. Seeing that Los Angeles is the epicenter of a multi-billion dollar entertainment industry, it makes sense that aspiring actors, screenwriters, directors try to make their way to LA. Understanding Mortgages Whether or not…
Most people think it’s impossible to get a home loan with bad credit. But then, there are many available loans for bad credit borrowers and people who are working on improving their credit scores to qualify for a loan. Getting a Home Loan with a ‘bad credit score Your credit scores qualify you for a…
Buying a home can be a very intimidating process, especially for first-time homeowners. Choosing the neighborhood, the number of rooms, available amenities, and other home features can be complex. Still, arguably the most challenging part of the home-owning process in the U.S. is paying for the home. This is where a home mortgage comes in.…
When shopping around for a home loan, you’ll want to find a mortgage lender who can provide you with the most attractive deal possible. However, even once you’ve found the most suitable option you can qualify for with your credit score, you’ll want to know, “Can my mortgage be negotiated further?” And most of the…
Just like the stock market, the best time to take on a mortgage is when you are financially ready. Interest rates can go up and down due to many factors. Even if you somehow think that you can time it, your success as a reasonable mortgage payment will depend on your financial stability and paying…
Everybody wants a place they can call home, but buying a home can be very complicated. Finding the right place is tough, but everyone gets anxious when committing to the most significant financial transaction of their life. Don’t worry. In this blog post, we will explain mortgages so you can feel confident when applying for…
Looking for a mortgage for the first time is very challenging. With so many home loans and financing options in the market, most first-time homebuyers get overwhelmed during this period of searching for their new home. The 30 years fixed rate is 3.125%, with an APR of 3.193%. We understand how crucial it is to…
If you’re reading this right now, I would like to congratulate you! You are one step closer to getting the new home that you have worked so hard for. But of course, the job is far from done. Buying your first home may be a fulfilling milestone, but it is not just as easy as…
There are many financial considerations you have to assess when buying a home for the first time, but some of the questions that you should ask yourself are: are you ready to buy a house as an individual? Is a mortgage a good option for you to purchase your dream house? What are the advantages…
We have all felt that not-so-subtle pressure to buy our first home. There’s the gnawing feeling that you are losing financial ground, then there’s seeing your friends buy a place and of course there’s the never ending “money” conversation with your parents. Buying a home for the first time is daunting, though, because of all…
The thought of buying a house is already overwhelming. If you have a bad credit score, you probably think that you have to wait a couple of years while you improve your credit or need a huge down payment. Neither of those is necessarily true. There are some loan options that you may qualify for…
Working as a self-employed business owner or an independent contractor can have enormous advantages. The ability to go your own way and earn money based on your experience and talents is certainly appealing, as is the chance to work from just about anywhere. But for the self-employed, activities the rest of the world takes for…
A jumbo loan is used to buy a home that costs too much for a conventional loan. Depending on where you live, the local confirming loan limit is usually over $510,000.
Whether you need a credit card to cover college expenses or a mortgage to buy a home, a high FICO score can help to lower costs.
If you have issues on your credit report due to errors or payment issues, it is important to understand that it will take time for these to be fixed, so the sooner you start the process the better.
Buying a home for the first time is exciting, but many first-time homeowners fail to budget for the ancillary expenses. If you are thinking about buying a home, you need to be prepared for all the costs.
For most people, buying a home is the biggest purchase they make in their entire lives. If you’re looking to save money on that huge purchase, it helps to look at ways beyond just the sales price of the home. Here are three financial mistakes to avoid when buying a home.
Not every eye-popping low rate you see represents automatic savings for you. If you’re looking to refinance, here’s how to get the best deal.
In 2019, about 70 percent of younger homebuyers purchased homes in the suburbs or rural areas. The ‘burbs might not be for everyone, and there are pros and cons to be argued for both urban and suburban dwelling. Do the pros outweigh the cons? It depends on your priorities, but here are three reasons to move away from the city.
Are you a potential homebuyer doing research on mortgages, particularly those with options for a low or no down payment? The USDA loan guarantee program is presented, including qualifications for borrowers, eligible areas and properties, and loan types and terms, optimized for no down payment mortgage at 1.4% density.
A home inspection is a key component of purchasing a home, but the process can seem daunting to someone who has never had one completed before. A home inspection helps buyers and mortgage lenders determine if there are problems with a home before it closes escrow.
The basic idea of consolidation is to take out a single large loan which you use to clear all your other debts. For it to work out, your new monthly repayment will need to be less than the total of your current ones.
FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration and are designed to help low-income homebuyers get a home loan.
Consumers who borrow and spend money responsibly find it easier to maintain a good credit score. Keep in mind that good credit doesn’t happen on its own.
Financial lenders provide mortgages and loans to people that need them. Sometimes the lender may not be as honest as we would like. A few signs that the lender may not have your best interest at heart are included here.
How will you ever be able to save to purchase a home? Don’t worry. This article will show you five methods to think outside the box and put homeownership within reach.
If you are buying a home here are four ways to save on your monthly mortgage payment.
If younger prospective first-time homebuyers are confused about any aspect of the home buying process, they can seek help from reputable professionals in the industry.
This article examines how much money homebuyers need to put down before buying a home. It mentions a typical down payment, first-time homebuyer programs, and private mortgage insurance to help homebuyers understand their options.
If people don’t know how the credit bureaus calculate credit scores, they will not know how they can improve their credit rating. HLP explains each of the factors that affect a consumer’s credit score.
The use of trended credit scoring started in 2016 when Fannie Mae applied it to understand the spending patterns of debt consumers over an extended period of time.
buying a home is an important life event, and you want to make sure you are prepared. There are many considerations to be made, and it can get overwhelming.
If you want to reduce your risks of defaulting to the minimum, check the following financing methods for home improvements and pick the one that best suits you.
To save on costs when building a new home, follow these five tips
Here are 8 mistakes that people often make when trying to pay off debt. These are mistakes that you need to watch out for.
Renting and buying both have their advantages and disadvantages and are useful at different stages in life. Explore all the financial implications before making your decision.
If you have been thinking of buying a home to take advantage of low prices, it can help to be aware of the pros and cons of making a move now.
A reverse mortgage can be a tempting investment for retirees who want to supplement their retirement income. Here are five scenarios where a reverse mortgage is a bad investment.
A layoff is tough but it doesn’t have to lead to financial ruin. This article offers five steps to create a bare-bones budget to survive a layoff.
History suggest that the less real estate is involved in the cause of a recession, the better it fares during it. Here’s what past financial crises have meant for real estate.
There are several financial benefits of being a homeowner including the increased predictability of expenses and tax breaks.
Get advice for things to consider when building your own home. Instructions for making a budget for construction. Descriptions of construction loans, construction timelines, building tips, and more.
Buying a home for the first time is an exciting process, but it is also an expensive one. Here’s a look at the additional expenses you should be prepared to pay
Stop waiting and start saving. Make a list of expenses that can be reduced or eliminated. You can save a down payment for your home sooner than you expect.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew when it comes to choosing the house of your dreams. Set a realistic budget and stick to it.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) was passed in order to provide oversight for the collection of consumers’ private credit information and to establish rules for accessing credit report data.
Record-low mortgage rates are a great time to refinance. However, many borrowers still don’t understand all the benefits of refinancing.
Get answers to some of your money related questions when you are a first-time home buyer.
Are you having a tough time saving all the money you think you’ll need to purchase a new house? Before you throw in the money towel, learn how you can buy a home with minimal out-of-pocket cash.
Social Distancing during COVID-19 changes the process to buy a home but it doesn’t mean it is impossible should you choose to buy one.
Are you affected by lock-down measures related to COVID-19? Do you find it difficult to meet your mortgage payment due to reduced work hours, job loss, or sickness?
The thought of buying a home can elicit a lot of anxiety. How do you know you’re ready to be a homeowner?
Recasting your mortgage is different from a traditional refinancing offer, and these differences could save you a lot of money.
There are a number of options for choosing a homebuyer mortgage education workshop. Whether you choose to learn online or offline, go paid or free, it’s a good idea to find a course
Worried that existing debts and loans may affect your mortgage application?
Whether or not it’s a good time to buy a home is almost always a personal question. Does it feel like the right time for you?
HLP partner Better.com shares insight on the factors that determine your mortgage price
So, you’ve started the process of buying your first home! You’re probably looking forward to taking this major life step. Often, prospective home buyers are so excited about purchasing their new home that they tend to get a little bit ahead of themselves. While you may want to put off the more tedious work in…
There are many additional costs associated with purchasing and owning a home that often blindside first-time buyers. Are you thinking of these expenses?
in the case of homeownership information, what you find on the internet might not always be the advice that will help you make the right decision
Determining what percentage you want to put down on your home can be tricky. It’s important to remember, first and foremost, that every individual’s situation is unique
There is quite a bit of misinformation out there with regards to credit scores and the home buying process. Here is why you should check your FICO score early in the process
In order to avoid taking on a risky mortgage, it’s important to do your due diligence before signing off on a home purchase that will cause unnecessary financial stress
Here are things you should consider to avoid buying more house than you can afford
By leveraging artificial intelligence, you can get all of the same personalized advice you would obtain from speaking to a mortgage advisor without feeling the pressure to commit.
Whether you are in the market for an affordable starter home or shopping for your dream property, you need to carefully calculate how much you have to spend.
An AI-powered mortgage advisor can provide you feedback and personal recommendations on how to get ready to buy a home from the comfort of your living room.
Though self-employed applicants will not be able to provide the same documents as a regular employee, there is still a pathway that can be taken to obtain a mortgage
This program, known as HARP, is offered by the federal government. HARP helps people refinance when they are underwater on their homes
With the cost of home ownership in many markets continuing to rise, many prospective home buyers are moving away from conventional mortgages and towards jumbo home loans
When a borrower refinances their mortgage and takes out more money than needed to pay it off, this is known as the cash-out option
Many of the most common property issues can be identified in the very first viewing if you know what to focus on and which questions to ask
If you’re financially solvent, you have a choice: should you rent a home or buy one? It might not be as straightforward as you first think, and here’s what to take into consideration
With a little preparation and care, a foreclosed house could be the perfect new home for your family. These five steps are a great place to start
There are considerable differences in ownership rights, insurance and what you can do or not do to modify
Buying a home is both exciting and scary, especially for the first time. There are two things that every home buyer is most interested in – price and interest rate
A reverse mortgage is a financial tool for individuals who own their own homes and are age 62 or older, who would like to get money out of their house to supplement their retirement
Whether you’re starting with a mortgage pre-approval or are refinancing an existing home loan, many of the required documents are the same
As well as being able to qualify for a mortgage, you will also need to have quite a bit of cash on hand in order to buy your first home. So then, how much cash is needed in order to buy a house?
Whether you need to buy a car, take out a loan, or purchase real estate, your credit score will often be the factor which determines the success or failure of your application
Mortgage length is one of the primary concerns that prospective homeowners have. What term lengths are available and what are the advantages or disadvantages of each?
Something your real estate agent may not mention, as it’s not on a lot of their checklists, is the C.L.U.E.
If you’ve been thinking about purchasing a home and you served or are serving in the United States Military, you’re in luck!
You may be eligible for a VA Home Loan
Homebuyers who are having to compete for homes must get into the shoes of the seller to gain an edge in a home bidding war
Be sure to have all the information you need as you contemplate the obligations you are committing to with a home loan
Whether financing is needed for a newly constructed property or for an existing home, a buyer must ensure that reasonable terms are obtained
You’re about to go shopping for a new home. If you already are and you don’t have a mortgage pre-approval, stop, read this, and get one