You probably already know mortgage rates are at all-time lows, which makes this an especially attractive time to buy a home. If you already own your place, we may still be able to help you get in on this opportunity for savings by refinancing your existing home loan. Federal mortgage agency Freddie Mac reports mortgage rates continued their slide to the end of 2020, with 30-year fixed loans at an average of 2. Read on →

If you’ve set a goal of making 2021 the year you purchase a home, let us start this off by saying congratulations! This is a big move and one that can help you build a significant amount of financial strength and equity. While the mortgage process can be intimidating, we’re here to walk with you through it all, and doing a little work before you actually get into the market can set you up for success. Read on →

Whether you’re looking to buy a home or never considered the possibility, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with the ubiquitous advice that you have at least a 20% down payment. While that remains a good benchmark, it’s one few Americans actually get to before they make a purchase. Knowing that, what should you do if you find yourself in that majority and are shy of the mark to make by a little or a lot? Read on →

While the process of applying for a mortgage can seem like it comes with a lot of very challenging scrutiny, all that research we do into your situation is meant to ensure you get the right loan for you. From ensuring there’s a good chance you’ll be able to make your payments to finding the most favorable rates you qualify for, it takes a lot of effort. To help give you an understanding of what we’re looking at as we walk through this process with you, here’s a list of some of the factors we’ll check during the application process. Read on →

If you pay attention to the news, you’ve likely heard mortgage rates have been at historically low levels for most of this year. It seems every time the experts think the numbers have gone as low as they can, they push even further down. But exactly what does all that mean and how might it impact you? Whether you’re looking to buy your first home, make a move or try for a better rate on an existing mortgage, this all means it could be the perfect time to get the most favorable rate that will ever be available in your lifetime. Read on →

Common knowledge and hard data tell us spring is the right time to sell a home because everything looks better as the world turns green and blooms. It’s also the time when buyers’ wallets thaw and they start looking to buy after winter hibernations. Still, that does not mean fall is a bad time to sell a home. To be sure, it has its appeal, including that everyone following that spring wisdom means there are fewer homes on the market. Read on →

Renovating a home, whether you’re fixing it up to make it more livable or to increase its value for selling it, can be a big project. Or more often, a series of big projects, each with its own challenges. It helps to come into it all with a leg-up, some insider knowledge that’s likely to help you be successful in all that work. Fortunately for you, we’ve compiled some great reno tips in one place so you have that head-start. Read on →

Foreclosed properties provide plenty of potential benefits for buyers, starting with the possibility they’ll get an incredible deal on a great piece of real estate. The lure of getting a bargain is enough to entice plenty of buyers foreclosed properties, which is great, particularly for those who might otherwise not be able to afford such a home. However, if you’re considering purchasing a foreclosed property, there are a few risks beyond those that are part of the standard homebuying process that you should keep in mind: Read on →

If you’ve spent any time reading or listening to the news, you’ve likely heard mention of “the Fed,” a somewhat ominous and very mysterious organization that seems to have tremendous power. But what exactly is the Fed and what does it have to do with the price of tea? In actuality, the Fed, short for Federal Reserve, has a lot to do with the cost of just about everything, including how much you have to pay for a home. Read on →

If you’ve spent any time looking at pictures of homes for sale, going to open house events or even watching home shows on TV, you’ve seen staging. If it was done well, you didn’t even notice you were looking at it, though. Staging, quite simply, is a bit of marketing used in home sales. It ranges from the simple (putting out some vases of fresh flowers and lighting a candle or two) to the very involved, which might include bringing in a complete house’s worth of brand-new furniture. Read on →