Finding the right property is particularly stressful for families with children under the age of 18, and choosing the neighborhood carefully is critical to their home search, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2019 Moving With Kids survey, based on responses from more than 7,000 consumers. The two characteristics that buyers say they weigh the most … Read More “What Families With Young Kids Need in Their Next Home” »
Category: Blog
Seller didn’t disclose water damage, now what? These homeowners moved in and found themselves with flooded basements from cracks, leaks and clogged drains. From time to time, we get a series of questions on the same topic. This week, everyone seems to have water on the brain. Literally. We’re running some of the questions and … Read More “Seller Didn’t Disclose Water Damage, Now What?” »
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates Wednesday, its first reduction since December 2008. For most Americans, the cut could mean a reprieve in escalating borrowing costs. At the same time, savings account rates may fall. The Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates 25 basis points for the first time in over a decade marked a … Read More “Here’s what that Fed rate cut means for you” »
After a slight uptick last week, mortgage rates fell back to what’s become a more regular pattern this summer of hovering near three-year lows. Home buyers are responding to the lower rates, and mortgage applications for home purchases have continued to rise steadily the last two months to the highest year-over-year change since the fall of … Read More “Mortgage Rates Are Back to Near 3-Year Lows” »
Millennials this year are less likely to be taking creative measures like co-ownership or renting out rooms to afford a mortgage, according to a Redfin survey. Millennial homebuyers in 2019 are less likely to take extraordinary measures to afford their mortgage payments, such as getting help from their parents or co-ownership with someone other than … Read More “Millennial Homebuyers say they’ll Rely on Parents Less” »
Buying a home is a major financial step and long-term commitment. Owning a home is the quintessential American Dream, but aside from the feeling of pride it brings, there are plenty of practical reasons to purchase a home. Consistent Housing Payment The biggest cost to budget for in your personal life is likely your housing … Read More “Why Renters Should Get Serious About Owning Their Homes” »
We should all make sure we look after our finances, especially when a home purchase is on the horizon. Your financial well-being can have a huge impact on the interest rate you’ll end up paying on your mortgage. Most lenders, whether U.S.-based or not, are going to check your financial status before they even start … Read More “How Credit Scores Impact Your Interest Rate” »
For the seventh time in the last nine weeks, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped, reaching the lowest average since November 2016, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey. “While the industrial- and trade-related economic data continues to dominate the news, the drop in mortgage rates over the last two months is already being … Read More “Mortgage Rates Haven’t Been This Low Since 2016” »
As homes age, more homeowners are looking to remodeling to spruce up their properties. Of the nation’s stock of 137 million units, nearly 80% are at least 20 years old, and 40% are at least 50 years old. Freddie Mac says its new mortgage product is to help home buyers finance or refinance fixer-uppers. Eligible … Read More “Freddie Debuts Remodeling Loan for Fixer-Upper Buyers” »
About 19% of U.S. households say they expect to move over the next year—the highest reading for May in two years, according to the Survey of Consumer Expectations report, released from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The trend of more homeowners showing an openness to move has been on the rise ever since … Read More “What’s Convincing More Owners to Move?” »