Imagine this scenario: You have found the home of your dreams and sold your current home way above your asking price. (Hello, pandemic-related seller’s market!) The thought of this sequence probably makes you excited. But what comes next—the moving part—may leave you a little less than thrilled and a little more anxious. There’s no doubt about it. Even when you love the house you’re moving into, the actual moving process can sometimes be filled with challenges. Read on →

Today, we’re thinking about the reverse side of the coin when it comes to buying a new home – selling the home you’re in now. Selling a home comes with a whole process and its own challenges, but it’s a path you can navigate and even use to improve your situation. Among the necessary steps, there is the appraisal, which is when someone hired by the buyer’s lender pokes around the house and the neighborhood to determine how much the property is worth. Read on →

For a good stretch of the last year, it seemed there may be no bottom to the mortgage market as rates broke record lows month after month. That trend may have now reached its end, with rates above 3% for the first time since last summer. And the increases are already outpacing some predictions for 2021. Those low rates are part of the fuel behind a boom in the housing market in 2020, along with a decrease in the number of properties for sale and other factors. Read on →

You’ve found the one—the house with the double vanity, open floor plan and the great back deck for cookouts. The seller accepted your offer and you’re off, but there are still some important steps you’ll cover that are meant to protect you as the buyer. One of the most important of those is the home inspection, which is an invaluable protection before you sign the final paperwork. The home inspection helps you ensure the home isn’t loaded with nasty surprises, such as a leaky roof or hidden fire damage, and lets you know what repairs you might need or want to make. Read on →

You already know homeownership has its perks, from building equity to having the ability to hang pictures on the walls. This time of year, as we get our financial records in order and our tax documents ready, there are some others you need to be sure you’re aware of. The deductions most Americans can claim never add up to more than that standard deduction, which is $12,400 for single filers, $18,650 for heads of households, and $24,800 for those married and filing jointly. Read on →

When you’re considering home loans, one of the first decisions you’ll need to make is whether you want a fixed- or adjustable-rate mortgage. It’s important to understand the options and what advantages and disadvantages each could provide for your situation. While fixed rate loans are easier to understand—after all, they stay at the same rate as long as you have them—adjustable rate mortgages (ARM) can be a bit confusing. So, here’s a little explainer that could help and some of the pluses and minuses you may want to consider. Read on →

Winter can feel like an unproductive time, with us all being cooped up inside and the darker days lending themselves more to sleep than getting work done. Still, there are some things you can do around the house to make good use of all that extra time at home. This winter especially, with social distancing the continued norm, we’re all spending more time at home. Rather than spending that time bemoaning issues with your abode like George Bailey cursing at the broken newel, put your time to use on these projects that are easy enough for almost any homeowner to do: Read on →

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 →