Thinking about investing in residential real estate while prices and mortgage rates are still low? Here are four things you may want to consider doing in 2013:
Make a purchase. The powerful combination of prices and interest rates won't last... (Read More)
Are you thinking of buying a home sometime in the future? Here are the most important things you can do now to prepare for the big event, whether it's six months or a year down the road:
Order a copy of your credit report and your credit score... (Read More)
A pre-purchase home inspection is a recommended part of the home buying process. An investment of about $300 to $500 can help you avoid an unexpected defect that could cost thousands of dollars, even tens of thousands, after you sign on the... (Read More)
Ready to buy your first home? Your first step is to visit a mortgage lender to see how much house you can afford. But be prepared for the paperwork that comes with it. Here are the documents you'll be asked to provide as part of the loan application... (Read More)
Buying your first home? Here are three real estate professionals you'll come in contact with during the weeks ahead as you make the leap from renting to owning your own home:
Mortgage loan officer. Before you look at a single home, you should get... (Read More)
Whether you're trying to buy, sell or refinance a home, an appraisal has a big impact on you. An appraisal is designed to provide you - and the lender - with an unbiased professional opinion of a home's value.
Appraisals are almost always used in... (Read More)
If you're a homeowner thinking about refinancing, you have two options for covering your closing costs if you're not paying for them with cash. They are:
Taking a higher mortgage rate. In this scenario, often called a no-cost refinance, you avoid... (Read More)
Every wonder which things can affect your credit score the most when you're applying for a mortgage loan? Here are some of the top factors that can dramatically lower anyone's score:
You're 30 days late (or more) paying a bill. You could see a... (Read More)
Think you need a huge down payment in order to buy a home ? Then you're in for some good news.
The "need" for big down payments is a myth in today's lending environment. Truth is, programs offered by three federal agencies are helping borrowers... (Read More)