Youve likely heard the term homesteading. Its something thats growing in popularity not only among normal people but there are plenty of social media influencers touting their off-the-grid life>So what does it mean, and how does one become a homesteader?The Homesteading PhilosophyWhile everyone might vary in how they approach homesteading, the g...
When someone is buying a home and theyre going to use financing in the form of a mortgage, they need an appraisal to cement the deal. Before a bank is going to extend credit, they want to make sure theyre not giving someone a loan thats more than the fair market value of the house.Thats where an appraiser will enter the scene. An appraiser will ...
Question: Our property manager does not do his job. He frantically sends violation letters and discusses the repair progress with the maintenance committee just prior to the monthly meeting. He claims to visit the property two or three times per week, however, no one seems to see him there. We are entertaining ideas of a new management company o...
Earnest money is just one of the many terms to know when it comes to buying a home. Its something you might initially overlook, but not understanding earnest money can create roadblocks in your process to buy a home once youre ready to make an offer.The Basics of Earnest MoneyIn simple terms, the earnest money is a deposit that you put down to s...
Freddie Macs results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows that "The combination of swift home price growth and the fastest mortgage rate increase in over forty years is finally affecting purchase demand. homebuyers navigating the current environment are coping in a variety of ways, including switching to adjustable-rate mortgages, moving ...
A down payment is an important component of taking a step toward homeownership. Saving for a down payment is also the biggest obstacle that you probably face when you want to buy a home.A down payment is the cash you pay upfront when youre going to make a large purchase. If you were going to buy a 350,000 home with a 10 down payment, youd need t...
A lot of people are thinking about home renovations right now. You have different options to pay for these projects if youre not going to pay in cash. One option is a Home Equity Line of Credit or HELOC.A HELOC is a way to borrow against your homes equity, and it provides flexibility. With that being said, because of that flexibility, you need t...
Are you thinking about putting your home on the market for sale? It doesnt matter if youve been living there for 50 years or five. You want to do everything you can to get the most from your initial investment. Find out why a residential roof replacement is one thing to consider to help get the most out of your house thats for sale.New roof inst...
When your lender sends you what the industry refers to as a good-bye letter, it means your loan is being sold. More specifically, the servicing rights are being sold. Servicing rights simply means who collects your mortgage payment on behalf of the owner of your home loan. Lenders need to be able to sell loans so they can regenerate cash in orde...
One of the biggest trends in home design right now are painted or colored cabinets. Typically, kitchen cabinets are white or natural wood color. Now, however, a lot of designers and homeowners are moving out of the confines of these traditional cabinet color palettes.If youre considering painting your cabinets, the following are some things to k...
The starter home. It was so cute and quaint and sweet when you bought it, right? But, that was before kids and dogs and overnight quests and holiday dinners that require mathematician-level logistics to finding everyone a seat in a dining room that bursts at six people.Lets face it: Its probably time to move up. Lack of space is the No. 1 reason...
Question: I am a real estate agent who represents condo buyers. As part of an offer, we negotiated with a seller to pay an outstanding special assessment to repair the decks. After my client closed the deal and moved in she was told the repair was only for the penthouse decks and not for her unit. Should I have gotten a copy of the special asses...
When youre ready to buy a home, pre-approval is an important part of the process. You talk to a lender who will go over your situation and then give you a pre-approval letter. The letter helps determine your budget and how much of a monthly payment you can afford.Lenders will look at some major factors before giving you a mortgage pre-approval, ...
If youve ever gone online to check out the value of your home or to make comparisons, you arent alone. Online home value estimators can be a handy tool in some cases, but you have to understand their limitations.Zillows Zestimate is perhaps the most well-known estimator, but Redfin has one too.Below, we talk about what you should know about home...
With so many people working from home and spending their free time there as well, its no surprise that home improvement numbers are up. Do it Yourself renovations are more popular than ever, as homeowners look to make updates for their personal enjoyment and/or to improve the value of their home.But while many of these homeowners had DIY skills ...
When it comes to home staging, there are typically two buyer camps: The first thinks its a waste of money and doesnt want to pay more to potentially make their home more attractive to buyerseven if their real estate agent says theyll make it up and then some; The second realizes the value and is willing to make that smart investment.But just how...
When youre buying something major with a loan, namely a house, you likely need a down payment. A down payment covers part of the purchase price.Your down payment plays a role in whether you are approved for a mortgage at all. Down payments also impact your interest rate and the borrowing costs throughout the life of your loan.Your down payment u...
When youre shopping for a new home, there are a lot of steps in what can be an overwhelming and frustrating process.Much of that frustration comes from getting mortgage financing.Before you start to look for a home, you might decide to get pre-qualified or pre-approved. Theres also the option to go through pre-underwriting. When the housing mark...
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