Blog
13,
2016
It’s the holiday season, and many of us are busy buying gifts for family and friends. But how much you spend on those gifts may have a negative impact on your credit score. If you’re planning on buying a home in 2017, it’s good financial strategy to hold off on buying expensive gifts. It’s also […]
12,
2016
With less than a month until 2017, the mortgage and housing industries are as active as ever. Here are some interesting new articles on industry trends and news: Realtor.com 2017 National Housing Forecast Realtor.com, one of the most popular online real estate websites, has released its 2017 housing forecast. The forecast provides useful predictions and […]
8,
2016
If you’re a veteran, we want to tell you about a loan that helps you take the empowering journey into home ownership—and doesn’t require a down payment. The VA loan helps military members, veterans, and surviving spouses buy homes Established in 1944 to provide home financing to World War II veterans, the VA Loan (originally […]
7,
2016
Water is the foundation of life on earth, and the average household uses a lot! In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the average home of four uses 400 gallons of water per day (and spends $1,100 per year in water costs). With the ongoing drought in much of the United States, it’s […]
6,
2016
Buying your first home is one of your biggest life decisions, and it’s important to be prepared. Here are some things you can do to get ready: Make sure you have good credit To secure a low interest rate on your first mortgage, you’re going to need good credit. This means you should always pay […]
5,
2016
Are you thinking about retirement? Or do you have retired family members? If either answer is yes, then affordable housing and a low cost-of-living are important issues. GoBankingRates.com recently analyzed cost-of-living indexes and consumer expenditure data to rank America’s cheapest cities to retire. Here are the five most affordable cities, in descending order: 5. Mobile, […]
1,
2016
Are you ready to take the next step toward applying for a reverse mortgage? Congratulations! Reverse mortgages let Americans 62-and-up convert part of their home equity (wealth) into cash, a monthly check, or a line of credit. This can provide a financial nest egg for retirees to help meet unexpected costs, such as medical bills […]
30,
2016
Whether you’re selling your home or refinancing your mortgage, your home’s value plays a big part. And in most cases, home values are determined through appraisals from state-licensed appraisers. While some home characteristics assessed by appraisers are out of your control (such as your view, and the price of recently sold similar homes in your […]
29,
2016
Thanksgiving has come and gone, and December is nearly here. As temperatures drop and snow begins falling in many US regions, home utility bills are about to rise. In fact, the U.S. Energy Information Administration is predicting a 22% increase in energy bills this winter. To lower this cost that none of us enjoy paying, […]
23,
2016
It’s been a busy few weeks when it comes to mortgage-related news. Here are some highlights: President-elect Trump vs Mortgage Rates You might have heard, we just had an election! President-elect Trump’s economic policies will have a powerful impact on the mortgage industry. This article analyzes some mortgage industry predictions and scenarios that could happen […]
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