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Use Your Tax Refund Toward Home Buying Costs

Blog posted On January 23, 2025

Tax season is right around the corner! If you’re expecting a sizeable tax refund on the horizon and want to invest in your homeownership future, here’s something you might not have considered: using your tax refund to buy your home. You’d be surprised at the ways you can utilize your tax refund for home buying success, so let’s tackle a few of those options right now.

The Perks of Home Buying in the Winter Season

Blog posted On January 16, 2025

When most people think of the best season to buy a home, summer comes to mind. Likely, there’s an understandable reluctance to moving when there’s snow on the ground. However, is it not worse to move in 80-90 degree heat, with the sun beating down relentlessly while moving heavy boxes and furniture? In the colder season, moving will keep you warm, and you likely won’t be affected by the cold as much as you’d think. There’s also less competition to contend with and more time to work with your agent. And best of all, your negotiation power has much more weight in the winter. Still not convinced? Let’s walk through some of the perks of home buying this winter.

Exploring Space Efficiency in New Construction Homes

Blog posted On January 10, 2025

According to a new report from Realtor.com, the number of bedrooms in homes has reached a new high. This is a notable statistic since the number of people in any given household has declined over the past 40 years, meaning that American homeowners are dealing with an excess of space. The boom in housing space (bedrooms specifically) began decades ago, when “McMansions” started cropping up everywhere. CNBC reported that the Census data quoted just 7 million extra bedrooms in 1980; today, it’s reached 31.9 million! How should this impact the future of new construction homes going forward? Let’s explore space efficiency in new homes, specifically examining sensible designs over the excessive, wasteful constructions from the last few decades.

Real Estate Lessons From It’s a Wonderful Life

Blog posted On January 02, 2025

Considered one of the greatest films of all time and certainly amongst the best holiday movies, It’s a Wonderful Life released in 1946 and despite nearing its 80^th anniversary, its themes of family and friendship have resounded powerfully throughout each ensuing decade. The film is especially relevant to today’s housing market; much of the movie’s plot revolves around affordable homes, ditching landlords like Mr. Potter, and in George and Mary Bailey’s case, taking on a fixer-upper home. The real estate market has fluctuated plenty since Frank Capra’s beloved picture dropped in theaters, but the dream of homeownership is ever-present in the film, one that George Bailey believes everyone deserves, regardless of their situation.

2025 Housing Trends: How to Financially Prepare for the Market Shifts Ahead

Blog posted On December 20, 2024

Now that 2025 is nearly upon us, it’s time to take a look at predictions for the next year, especially concerning the housing market and how it affects buyers. We’d also like to share some financial tips on how best to prepare for potential market shifts on the horizon. We want to help set you up for home buying success in the new year!

What the Rising Age of First-Time Home Buyers Means for the Real Estate Market

Blog posted On December 13, 2024

According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2024 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers report, the average age of first-time home buyers has reached 38 years old, a jump from the year prior (35 last year). Let’s decode some of the reasons the median age has jumped up and how this statistic affects the current state of the real estate market.

The Importance of an Emergency Fund When Planning on Buying a Home

Blog posted On December 05, 2024

If you’re looking to buy a home, do you have an emergency fund? And if you’re like many prospective first-time home buyers, this question may have sent a chill of anxiety down your spine. You’re not alone. This is a big financial regret for Gen Zers and Millennials; according to CNBC, “not saving enough for emergencies ranks at the top of their lists.” But don’t worry! We’re here to provide you with helpful information about emergency funds and calm any homeowning anxieties you may have, ensuring that your homeownership journey is a successful one.

How Falling Interest Rates Could Reignite the Housing Market

Blog posted On September 20, 2024

With mortgage rates tumbling to their lowest levels in recent times, priced-out potential home buyers may start to hope again. Due to the recent lower-trending rates, refinance applications jumped starting in August. Now, with the Fed beginning its long-awaited rate cuts, home buyers could be in luck in the coming months.

Down Payment Costs Rise by 15% Annually: Here’s How to Keep Yours Low

Blog posted On September 06, 2024

According to Redfin, home buyers are now putting down an average of $67,000, which marks a nearly 15% increase compared to a year ago. This put the typical home buyer’s down payment at a whopping 18.6% of the purchase price, the highest level in over ten years. With this recent surge, prospective homeowners, realtors, and lenders alike are all wondering what this means for the future. And how can we still succeed in the home buying market despite record highs?

How to Spot and Avoid Real Estate Scams as a Home Buyer

Blog posted On August 29, 2024

Buying a home is probably one of the biggest financial investments you’ll make in your life, making you an appealing target for hackers and fraudsters. From wire fraud to email fraud to solicitation calls, there are several ways people might try to get your personal information and/or money. So in this blog, we’ll explore some of the most common real estate scams and how to avoid them.

The Importance of a Real Estate Agent in Today's Market

Blog posted On August 22, 2024

A staple of the mortgage industry is the need for a REALTOR® during your home buying (or selling!) process. Many potential homeowners are questioning whether utilizing a real estate agent is even needed these days, believing they can just save the money and do the legwork themselves. Fortunately, there are still a multitude of reasons to work with a REALTOR® — why don’t we tackle a few of them?

Key Things Buyers Should Consider When Purchasing a Home

Blog posted On August 08, 2024

After years of saving bit by bit, chipping away at debt, and boosting your credit score in preparation for buying a home, you’ve finally gotten to a good place. It’s time to wave goodbye to landlords and purchase your new home! Where do you even begin? It’s such a big life decision, and you want to make sure you find a home that checks your most important boxes while avoiding money-draining surprises. To help you determine your future home with confidence and clarity, let’s look through home buying green and red flags.

5 Strategies for Navigating a Low Affordability Housing Market

Blog posted On August 02, 2024

What are some of the biggest homeownership hurdles holding you back? Well, high interest rates and historically high home prices to start! It’s understandable to ask, “WHY are people buying now, and HOW are people affording homes?” Instead of holding off and continuing to wait for rates to drop, this may be the best time to buy, especially with the help of loan programs like Rate Rebound. According to MarketWatch, buying now is key—once the Fed finally starts cutting interest rates, the lack of home supply will remain, meaning that “high home prices today could soar.” Let’s tackle five strategies that can put you ahead of the game in this low affordability market.

5 Tips on How to Financially Prepare for a Home Loan

Blog posted On June 28, 2024

Are you ready to purchase your first home, but overwhelmed with where to begin? The way to set yourself up for success for the home buying process is to consider preparing your finances and getting into the best financial shape possible before applying for a home loan. Let’s walk through some helpful tips to help the process go as smoothly and stress-free as possible.

Glimmers of Hope for Home Buyers Arise as Inventory Inches Up

Blog posted On June 21, 2024

Higher-trending mortgage rates getting you down? Here’s something you can get excited about: according to Realtor.com, there are 35.3% more homes on the market than this time last year. Even more exciting news: there is a rising number of affordable homes hitting the market.

Is it time to break up with your landlord? 5 ways to know if you are ready to buy a home.

Blog posted On March 06, 2024

Buying a home is a significant milestone for many people and it has several financial, emotional, and social benefits. However, determining whether you're truly ready to take this huge step involves more than just a desire for homeownership. It requires careful consideration of various factors that can significantly impact your financial well-being.

In this blog post, we'll explore five key indicators that can help you determine if you're truly prepared to break up with your landlord and buy a home.

What Is Home Equity?

Blog posted On February 29, 2024

Being a homeowner comes with a number of perks and financial benefits; one of which is home equity. Homeowners looking to maximize the value of their investment would be wise to understand their home equity, how it works, and what they can use it for. In this blog post, we'll answer all your burning questions about home equity, and hopefully you’ll leave with a few ideas on making the most out of your investment.

Struggling to Sell Your Home? DON’T Make This Costly Mistake

Blog posted On October 19, 2023

“I’ll wait until next year...” “Maybe when rates fall…” “I can’t afford to buy right now…” High mortgage rates are pushing many people out of the home buying market. With fewer interested buyers, selling a home has become significantly harder than a couple of years ago. If you’re trying to sell now, don’t give up hope. We have ways that can help you save money and still sell your home at top price.

The Best Time of Year to Buy A Home: Insights And Tips

Blog posted On June 02, 2023

As you start shopping for a home, timing can play a crucial role in securing a deal or getting the location you want. While the real estate market fluctuates throughout the year, certain periods offer definite advantages for potential home buyers.

Legislative Proposal to Ban Trigger Leads Offers Consumers Hope of Long-Needed Relief

Blog posted On April 27, 2023

Last week, Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York introduced bill H.R. 2656 in hopes of ending the sale of trigger leads, which could greatly reduce the number of unsolicited calls a consumer receives after applying for a mortgage. Oftentimes, trigger leads cause confusion for buyers because they can come from competing lenders who are asking for personal information. Although this bill is still in the early stages, it’s a good (and far overdue) step in the right direction.

5 Things to Negotiate When You Buy Your First House

Blog posted On November 30, 2022

Buying your first house is an exciting move, especially in the current market. More and more sellers are offering consessions to buyers like closing costs, points, etc. But there might be more conessions that your real estate agent could negotiate. It's always useful to work with a real estate agent, especially when buying your first house. They have the ability to potentially save you hundreds or thousands. 

5 Tips to Help You Choose a Mortgage Lender

Blog posted On September 28, 2022

When shopping around for a mortgage lender, it's important to investigate more than who has the lowest rates. While most mortgage lenders have a lot of the same processes, other factors that can set them apart include the service you receive and the fees they charge.  

Closing Day Checklist for Home Buyers

Blog posted On September 14, 2022

You are finally about to close on your dream home! As closing day gets closer you may be stressed that you may be forgetting something important for the big day. By making a closing day checklist, you can eliminate the stress and prepare for a smooth day.

Here is a checklist of closing day must-haves.

How Your Rent Payments Can Help You Qualify for a Mortgage

Blog posted On July 21, 2022

One of the biggest obstacles for first-time home buyers is their limited credit history. Credit history is a big factor in the mortgage application process. However, we’re now offering an alternative solution for first-time buyers. With positive rent payment history, we can include your completed rent payments in the application process, which may help boost your overall credit assessment and allow you to qualify for a mortgage more easily.

5 Ways to Decorate Your New Home on a Budget

Blog posted On July 20, 2022

Moving into a new home is an exciting process, but sometimes decorating it can be an extremely daunting and expensive task. This can be especially true if this is your first home, or if you are moving into a bigger place and you need to buy additional furniture to fill the home.

Below are five things you can do to help decorate your new home on a budget.