Buying your first home is an exciting milestone, and it’s one that takes careful planning and dedication to achieve. But, where do you start? Podcasts! They’re not just for daily news briefs and true crime stories. They can also be a way to dip your toes into a new topic without investing money or even a great deal of time…
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 relationship (and borrowing experience), make sure to set clear expectations about gift funds at the onset and inform relatives that they will be required to share some personal financial information,…
Good news (and we could all use some right about now)! Not everyone can make it out to a sales center at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you have to put your home search on hold. Regardless of current circumstances, you can ramp up your house hunt right now, from the comfort of your couch. And when the dust settles, you’ll be that much closer to closing on your dream home. We’ve mapped out three ways to jumpstart your house hunt online. All pajama…
Wondering what credit score you need to qualify for a mortgage? You’d be wise to ask. Your credit score (also known as a FICO® score) is one of the most important elements of qualifying for a home loan—and helps lenders determine your interest rate in the event you do qualify. While there isn’t a strict credit score standard that applies to all lenders—who have varying requirements for loan origination—there are baseline standards if you’re applying for an FHA loan backed by the US government. To…
Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a repeat buyer who’s a little fuzzy on closing-day details, this infographic could help you prepare for a smoother experience at the closing table. These tips (and more) are included in our Ultimate Moving Pack, a free resource that you can download here. NOTE: Curbside or other limited-contact closing options may be available to address health concerns. Ask your sales associate or loan officer for more information.
