Category: Real Estate News & Tips

First time home buyers can put as little as 3% down and get conventional financing (no longer confined to the FHA only box). And there are no prohibitive restrictions; in fact if two people are buying a home, only one of them need be a first time buyer. Standard FannieMae underwriting guidelines and standard PMI … Read More “3% Down Conventional Mortgage Loans Are For Real” »

The security of a neighborhood should be a high priority when selecting your dream home. It’s imperative that you do the appropriate research to make sure you’ll feel secure in your new neighborhood. You’ll likely want to try to eliminate as many dangers and threats as possible, especially if you have a family or plan on … Read More “How to Determine if the Neighborhood Where You’re Buying a House is Safe” »

The week of Sept. 22, which marks the beginning of fall, is the best time of year to buy a home, according to a new realtor.com® analysis. Buyers tend to find less competition, more inventory, and the biggest reductions on list price during that week, according to the study, which evaluated housing data in 53 … Read More “‘Black Friday’ for Home Buying Is Near” »

President Donald Trump has called on the U.S. Federal Reserve to drop interest rates to zero, or even negative, at its next meeting on Sept. 17. That has sparked several discussions this week on how that could impact the housing market. For one, that could mean cheaper mortgages for home buyers, housing analysts say. While … Read More “Could Mortgage Rates Really Drop to Zero?” »

What’s life without a little risk? That may sound cliché, but in today’s credit-dependent culture, it can be difficult or even unwise to go through life without taking some sort of gamble with your finances. To make a living, you’ll need a job. To get the job you want, you may need formal education. To get … Read More “How are mortgage rates determined?” »

Whether you’re moving on a tight time frame or you need to sell before you can buy, sometimes finding a buyer fast is a top priority. In light of that, I asked agents to share their top tricks for what you can do to sell your home fast. Read on below to see what they … Read More “What Can I Do To Sell My Home Fast?” »

Swimming pools can help to significantly boost a home price. A new study from LendingTree shows that homes with pools are valued 54% higher than those without one. The median home with a pool is valued at $469,187, while the median home without a pool is valued at $305,152, according to the study. The highest … Read More “Pools May Add a Splash to Home Value” »

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” »

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” »