January is often a time to hit the reset button, to start fresh. Sometimes, it’s a new approach to an ongoing goal. And if buying a home has been an ongoing goal, the start of a new year can feel like a time of optimism. So if 2020 is going to be the year you … Read More “New Year’s Resolutions for Home Buyers in 2020” »
Category: Blog
New year, new home? Whip your financial resume into shape to improve your home-buying odds. Thinking of buying a home this year? We compiled five New Year’s resolutions that can help you keep your financial resume in tiptop shape. 1. Avoid job hopping Employment history and income are two of the biggest factors lenders look … Read More “5 New Year’s Resolutions That Can Help You Buy a Home” »
If homeownership is on your list of goals, there are several tax benefits of buying a home you should know about. Two major incentives are the mortgage interest and property tax deductions, which both help you save on the thousands of dollars paid annually to your lender and local government. Below, we break down what … Read More “7 Tax Benefits of Buying a Home” »
With the housing market stabilizing from the drama of the early years of home price recovery and the subsequent slowdown during 2019’s home shopping season, we have a rare moment of calm to reflect on what housing might look like in the year to come. If current trends hold, then slower means healthier and smaller … Read More “Bold Predictions for 2020: Shrinking Homes and a More Stable Market” »
With all of the decorations, shopping, parties, and fun coming up with the holiday season, it’s important to be safe while also having fun. The best thing SafeWise can suggest for home safety during the holidays, as well as the rest of the year, is to have a monitored security system. But there are several other … Read More “How to Keep Your Home Safe and Secure During the Holidays” »
Many people see the summer as real estate’s prime marketing season. There’s a lot of truth to that, in large measure because parents want their children in place at the start of the new school year. That said, homes sell year-round, and they sell in big numbers. According to the National Association of Realtors, 506,000 existing … Read More “Six Reasons Why You Should Be Selling Your Home During the Holidays” »
Our 2020 real estate outlook forecasts a New Year filled with low mortgage rates, tight inventory, and rising home prices—and the latest data seems to support just that. Freddie Mac’s chief economist Sam Khater sums it up best saying, “The housing market continues to steadily gain momentum with rising homebuyer demand and increased construction due to the … Read More “Mortgage Rates Drop, As Housing Market ‘Gains Momentum’” »
Mortgage rates dropped in the past week after rising in six of the last nine weeks, including most of the month of October. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.69% during the week ending Nov. 7, down three basis points from the previous week, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. The rate on the 30-year mortgage is over a … Read More “Mortgage Rates Fall After Increasing for Three Straight Weeks” »
The holidays have arrived and with them come guests. Many, many guests. Let’s get your home ready for the influx of family, friends, and fantastic food by focusing on a clean house and an organized kitchen. Snow is also on its way, so hunker down and prepare your property for the storm by tackling the … Read More “November Home Maintenance and Safety Checklist” »
Free & Inexpensive Ways to Save Money This Winter! I love the Fall. The leaves change color, the weather turns cool and crisp, and the holidays bring families together. But fall also means that winter is just around the corner – and rising energy costs are sure to make this an expensive winter unless you … Read More “Slash Your Winter Heating Bills” »