Blog
22,
2016
Thanksgiving is upon us (and Christmas is a month away), bringing us into America’s busiest travel season. With AAA predicting 43.5 million Americans will travel over 50 miles to celebrate Thanksgiving (the highest amount since 2007), many Americans will be leaving their homes unoccupied. Here are some tips to help secure your most valuable possession […]
21,
2016
Thanksgiving is about giving thanks for what we have. And it’s wonderful showing loved ones how much we appreciate them. But if you’re like most Americans, you’re trying to to get through the end of the year with your pocketbook intact! For Americans wanting to buy a house in 2017, it’s even more important to […]
17,
2016
Before the mortgage bubble burst in 2008, there was a saying in the industry: “All you need to get a mortgage is a pulse.” Sounds suspect, no? The mortgage industry pre-2008 was the wild west of the lending frontier. Credit scores and debt-to-income minimums might as well have been suggestions, rather than guidelines. Even worse, […]
16,
2016
Do reverse mortgages have an undeserved bad rap? One of America’s leading retirement planning experts believes so. Wade Pfau, professor of retirement income at The American College and Director of Retirement Research at McLean Asset Management and inStream Solutions, says Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (also known as reverse mortgages) can improve retirees’ financial sustainability and […]
15,
2016
Thinking about moving? Realtor.com recently ranked America’s hottest housing market ZIP codes for 2016. Their rankings are based on the most viewed ZIP codes on its website, and the time it takes properties to sell. For the top 20 housing market ZIP codes on Realtor.com, homes sell in an average of 25 days—or 53 days […]
14,
2016
Selling your home can be stressful and rewarding. Your home’s location, its condition, and your reasons for moving all factor into your experience. But regardless of why you’re selling, here are some tips to make the process easier: Price your home right Your selling price strongly impacts the amount of offers you receive, and their […]
10,
2016
So you’ve spent time researching reverse mortgages and want to speak with a loan officer. Congratulations! For Americans aged 62 and up, reverse mortgages can provide benefits in a variety of situations. When you meet with your loan officer, it’s best to come prepared. Here are some questions you’ll want to ask them: Why do […]
9,
2016
One of the most important factors of your mortgage is the interest rate. It is absolutely necessary to secure the lowest possible interest rate to save money over the life of the loan. For example, imagine you want to secure a mortgage for $150,000 and choose the 30-year, fixed rate term. This means you will […]
7,
2016
As we move through November, winter is almost on our doorstep. As a companion to our post on winterizing your home’s outdoors, here are tips for preparing your home’s indoors for winter. Change your smoke alarm batteries It’s important to change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors at least once a […]
3,
2016
For some retirees, a reverse mortgage can be an effective retirement tool. Reverse mortgages allow Americans aged 62 and older to convert part of their home equity (wealth) into cash without selling their home. This can help retirees supplement their monthly expenses or prepare for unexpected costs. In a reverse mortgage: The lender pays you […]
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