Category: Financing & insuring
Affording a home is all in the numbers! Get mortgage information, plus discover everything you need to think about to get your new home insured the right way.
The Truth About Mortgage Rates
Read more: The Truth About Mortgage RatesAfraid you’ve missed the best rates? Good news: They’re still great! See how this year’s mortgage trends stack up against historical averages. The takeaway: Rates may fluctuate from week to week, but in general, it’s a great time to buy a new home. Concentrating on factors you can control (your savings, your credit score, your…
Can My Family Help Me Finance a New Home?
Read more: Can My Family Help Me Finance a New Home?Homeownership is a very exciting prospect, but paying for a new house can be daunting. In this article, we share how your family can contribute funds to help you take this important step! Being able to purchase a new home with financial assistance from your family is a wonderful opportunity. To help cultivate a positive…
New Home Loan Limits for 2020
Read more: New Home Loan Limits for 2020Curious how new loan limits may affect your homebuying journey? Good news! Home loan limits have increased in the new year in several areas across the country. That means more homes may qualify for a greater variety of loans—potentially offering more ways to finance your dream home! While not all areas experienced increases, it’s definitely worth…
What Does Home Insurance Cover?
Read more: What Does Home Insurance Cover?Insurance is a crucial part of being a homeowner. In fact, most mortgage lenders require that buyers carry a homeowner’s insurance policy. While policies may vary, there are certain items and events that are typically covered in many policies. Typically covered: Dwelling Coverage Dwelling coverage includes the actual structure of the home. This means walls,…
How Does PMI Help Homebuyers?
Read more: How Does PMI Help Homebuyers?If you’re familiar with private mortgage insurance (PMI), your gut reaction to that question is probably: it doesn’t. After all, the insurance is paid for by the homebuyer and it only protects the lender. Most articles about PMI focus on how to avoid paying it (have a 20% down payment ready!) or how to stop…
Lock in a Mortgage Rate Through Late 2020
Read more: Lock in a Mortgage Rate Through Late 2020Planning to buy a home this year? If you’ve been keeping a nervous eye on news from the Federal Reserve, wondering if you’re missing out on your best mortgage rate because you’re not ready to close, an extended rate lock might be just the thing you need to move forward with confidence. What is an…
Happy National Insurance Awareness Day!
Read more: Happy National Insurance Awareness Day!With so much going on in life, it can be easy to overlook your insurance policies. National Insurance Awareness Day is celebrated annually on June 28, to serve as a reminder to take stock of your current insurance coverage and make any necessary adjustments. From auto and life insurance to homeowner’s Insurance and more, these…
Choosing a Mortgage Lender
Read more: Choosing a Mortgage LenderAside from finding a good real estate agent, choosing a mortgage lender is a key step before actively hitting the market in search of a new home—unless you’re paying all cash, that is. Equipped with a mortgage loan preapproval, you’ll have a much better chance of a streamlined experience when you contract on a home.…
Student Debt and Buying a Home
Read more: Student Debt and Buying a HomeStudent debt is a hot topic these days, and little wonder: approximately 44.7 million Americans were paying back student loans as of 2017, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (spreadsheet). If you’re one of them and have hopes of purchasing a home, the good news is that buying a home with student…
5 Ways to Help Maintain (or Improve) Your Credit Score
Read more: 5 Ways to Help Maintain (or Improve) Your Credit ScoreKeeping a spotless credit history can be tough, but if you’re hoping to buy a home, maintaining or improving your credit score is well worth the effort. Factors like your FICO® score help lenders determine your creditworthiness, which in turn affects what mortgage rates, loan amounts and terms they can offer you. Luckily, there are some…
Home Buying Infographic: The Mortgage Process
Read more: Home Buying Infographic: The Mortgage ProcessWhether you’re a first-time home buyer or it’s just been a few years since you last looked into home financing, this infographic is for you! It gives a very simple overview of the mortgage process from start to finish and, if you want to dive deeper, a link to get our Mortgage Quick-reference Guide. Knowing what…
Online Tools to Improve Credit
Read more: Online Tools to Improve CreditAn acceptable credit score is one of the keys to getting your home loan application approved. Mortgage lenders have historically used FICO® scores—derived from data collected by one or more of the three major credit bureaus—as a major factor in determining whether you qualify for a mortgage. Different mortgage lenders can approve or deny loans based…
