There are a number of reasons for wanting to purchase a second home: to have a vacation getaway, as an investment, or even for a place to eventually retire. No matter the motivation, recent years have seen more people buying second homes. In fact, according to Yahoo! Finance, sales of secondary properties have jumped 7% since 2011, with more than 500,000 second home sales per year. So, is buying a second home right for you? Consider these tips as you navigate the second-homebuying process. Determine…
As the title of the popular HGTV show “Love It or List It” suggests, you have two options when your house no longer feels like home: renovate it into a space you can love, or list it for sale and move on. Whether you’ve outgrown your current home or are simply looking to upgrade, consider these four factors before you commit to renovating or selling: Time When considering whether to renovate your home or relocate, remember that renovations generally take months to complete. Renovations will…
Many homebuyers in the Tucson, Arizona area with school-age children are moving south of the city to live within the Vail School District. It’s easy to see why! Exceptional ratings on national school websites and high test scores make the schools in this district a popular choice. The high school experience As of May 2017, Vail Academy & High School and Empire High School are rated 9 and 8 respectively on GreatSchools.org, a website that rates schools on a 10-point scale according to test results in reading,…
What is PMI? PMI stands for private mortgage insurance. It’s an insurance policy that protects a mortgage lender against loss if a borrower defaults on a loan. Who is asked to pay PMI? It varies, but lenders typically require PMI on conventional loans with a less than 20% down payment. How much does PMI cost? PMI cost varies according to many factors, including the amount you’re borrowing, your loan type and term, your credit score and the amount of your down payment. In general, PMI…
Have you seen our latest home buyer guides? These free resources are available to download here (pdf). How to Choose the Right Floor Plan for Your Lifestyle: Would you prefer formal living and dining rooms, or the open layout of a great room and nook? Will your master suite be upstairs or down? Should you finish your basement now, or remodel down the road? With so many floor plans available to today’s home buyers, it can be hard to decide what’s right for you.…
