While the spring and summer are considered peak seasons for home sales, the fall season presents unique opportunities for savvy homebuyers. Consider the following benefits as you shop for a home this fall. Big Savings When you buy a house, you may want to make some enhancements to put your personal touch on it to make it your home. Did you know Consumer Reports recommends homebuyers coordinate their home…
After the housing bubble collapsed in 2008, many older millennials may have seen close friends or family experience financial stress. Therefore, it’s understandable why it may be difficult to make a commitment to homeownership. However, here are three good reasons why it makes sense to own your home rather than keep paying rent. Independence When you own your own home, you make the rules. Pets, parties, guests, no problem. Owning…
According to a recent study, Gen Xers (those born between 1965 – 1983) experienced some of the biggest decreases in home equity during the great recession. However, nearly 10 years later, the median net worth of these same homeowners has risen by 115%. Based on an analysis of Federal Reserve data, the study finds that Gen Xers are the only generation of households to recover the wealth they lost during…
Looking for ways to save this summer? Try these 5 tips: Maintain your central air conditioner on a regular basis and clean or replace filters to ensure optimal efficiency. Set your air conditioner thermostat as high as comfortable when you’re home. Use a smart thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature. Close your blinds and windows during the day and open them at night. This is a no-cost way to keep…
You are living the dream of homeownership, but you want to make sure your home maintains that charm and comfort that attracted you to it in the first place. Well, the “Remodeling Impact Report” from the National Association of REALTORS® includes great information on the upgrades you should consider and what you may expect in return on investment. Here are the top 5 home remodeling projects with building equity in…
Let’s take a closer look at appraisals. When you find the home of your dreams and are ready to make an offer, your mortgage lender needs assurance that the place you are interested in is worth the money you wish to offer for it. This is where an Appraiser, usually a qualified 3rd party contractor, comes in. Style and Selling Points: The appraiser looks at the general design and architectural…
If you’ve been following the housing market, you may be seeing that rates are rising and home inventory is low. This means that fewer homeowners are putting their homes up for sale, making the market more competitive while mortgage rates go up. However, American’s may not realize that while rates are rising they are still at historic lows. This Spring, Trulia released a blog, Not Your Father’s Housing Market, that…
There’s more to home buying than just shopping for a house. Check out our suggested steps to the home buying process:
One of the biggest challenges for first-time home buyers is saving for a down payment. Often, new home buyers mistakenly believe they must save 20% of their home price as a down payment. However, depending on your credit and loan terms, you may be able to put down much less. Another misnomer for first-time home buyers is believing they will never be able to save enough for a down payment….
