Looking for a new place? Will it cost a little more than what you’re paying now? Chances are that you need to take your new payment for a test drive, especially if you’re a first time home buyer. Even if you look at your financial situation, and you think that — on paper — you’ll be able to handle a bigger monthly payment, the truth is that the reality of a higher payment is usually more complicated. Read More
Before potential homeowners apply for a mortgage, they may ask themselves the all important variable, “How much home can I afford?” It’s always a good idea to ponder affordability in advance because it means you can look for houses that fall exactly within the your price range. Read More
Conventional loans have been considered the garden variety mortgage program for over 80 years. The term ‘conventional loan’ is defined as any mortgage that isn’t guaranteed or insured by a government agency. Today’s conventional loans may be either “conforming” or “non-conforming”, although ‘conforming loan’ programs are often loosely referred to as ‘conventional loans’. Conventional conforming loans are conventional programs that meet or ‘conform’ to guidelines set forth by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), as well as the funding criteria for either Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Even though we’re well into a new year, it’s not too late to think about your situation and set new financial goals for the coming year. If you own a home, there are quite a few things you might consider doing to improve your situation. Read More
Recently, my family moved across the country. We moved from a house to an apartment. Our home was rather modest to begin with, so the move to the apartment represents downsizing by about 250 square feet. Read More
Even though the real estate market seems to be picking up, there are some good deals to be had. Indeed, there are still some distressed properties on the market, and that can allow you to pick up a home for much less. Read More
For many of us, a home will be the largest asset we ever own. If you plan to stay in your home long-term — perhaps even to retirement and beyond — it can provide you with help for your finances. Read More
While many date the recent financial crisis from 2008, the reality is that there was a build up to that crisis. Prior to the events that took place in the fall of 2008, a mortgage market crisis was building in the form of increasing foreclosures. Read More
Getting a home appraisal is always an important part of buying a home and a requirement for getting a mortgage. Major changes have taken place during the last decade to the way appraisals are ordered and performed. Read More
One of the phrases that you might have heard at one point is “house poor.” This term can seem like a contradiction in some cases, since it’s hard to envision some people actually being poor, based on the homes that they have. Read More
