Renting Out Your Property and Becoming a Landlord with a Mortgage
Becoming a landlord can be a profitable undertaking, providing a steady income stream and potential long-term investment growth. It is important to understand the complexities of managing a property while still under a mortgage. We will discuss the key insights into renting out your property and becoming a landlord while maintaining a mortgage.
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Unveiling the Power of VA Loans for Veterans
For the brave men and women who have served in the armed forces, the dream of homeownership becomes more attainable and rewarding through the power of VA loans. We will discuss the unique features that make VA loans a tool for veterans, empowering them to secure homes with financial flexibility and favorable terms.
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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – January 8th, 2024
With the first FOMC minutes of the year, it sets the tone of the potential moves the Federal Reserve will make, with them remaining firm in their current stance of not employing any rate cuts, however given the more recent end of year reports, there is a likelihood that rate cuts will start this year. The last change in rates was in July of last year. The second most important report also being the final PMI (Manufacturing) numbers, which has largely met expectations without any irregularities.
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Understanding, Avoiding, and Mitigating Early Mortgage Repayment Fees
Mortgage prepayment penalties are fees charged by lenders when borrowers pay off their mortgages before the agreed-upon term. These penalties are designed to compensate lenders for potential lost interest income and can significantly impact borrowers who want to pay off their mortgages early.
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15-Year vs. 30-Year Loans Compared
Choosing the right mortgage term is a critical decision when purchasing a home. The two most common options are 15-year and 30-year mortgage terms. Let's compare the advantages and disadvantages of each to help you make an informed decision:
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The Role of Mortgage Escrow Accounts in Property Tax and Insurance Payments
A mortgage escrow account, also known simply as an escrow account, is a financial arrangement set up by a mortgage lender to manage and disburse certain payments related to the property on behalf of the homeowner. The purpose of an escrow account is to ensure that essential expenses, such as property taxes and homeowners' insurance, are paid on time.
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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – January 2nd, 2024
With the New Year, the final week only featured the normal reports of Jobless Claims, S&P Shiller Home Price Index (YoY), and Chicago Business Barometer. All of them will have limited impact compared to the GDP and the Inflation data reports that have already been released.
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Buy Now and Refinance Later Strategy
Yes, it is possible to buy a home now and refinance at a lower rate later. This is called a "buy now, refinance later" strategy. There are a few things to keep in mind if you are considering this strategy: You will need to make sure that you can afford the monthly mortgage payments at the current interest rate. You will need to be prepared to pay closing costs when you refinance. You will need to wait until the interest rates have decreased before you refinance. If you are confident that interest rates will decrease in the future, then the...
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Why more homeowners are choosing to use a mortgage broker vs. a lender.
According to a 2022 survey by the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB), about 57% of homeowners who took out a mortgage in the past year used a mortgage broker, while 43% went directly to a lender. This suggests that more homeowners are choosing to use mortgage brokers than in the past. There are a few reasons why homeowners might choose to use a mortgage broker. First, mortgage brokers have access to a wider range of lenders and loan programs than individual homeowners. This means that they can often find a better deal for their clients. Second, mortgage...
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Looking at a home to purchase that needs repairs or upgrades???
A renovation loan is a type of loan that allows you to borrow money to improve your home. There are many advantages to using a renovation loan, including: You can borrow more money. Renovation loans typically have higher loan limits than other types of loans, such as personal loans or home equity loans. This means you can borrow enough money to complete even large or major renovations. You can get a fixed-rate loan. A fixed-rate loan means that your interest rate will stay the same for the life of the loan. This can give you peace of mind knowing that your monthly...
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13 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers
Here are 13 tips for first-time homebuyers: Be sure you're ready to commit to a loan. Buying a house is a major commitment, so be sure you're ready before you start the process. This means having a stable income, a good credit score, and a down payment saved up. Set a budget and stick to it. It's important to know how much you can afford to spend on a house before you start shopping. Consider your monthly income, debts, and other expenses when setting your budget. Get pre-approved for a mortgage. This will give you an idea of how much you can borrow...
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Buy Now or Buy Later? Here are your advantages vs. disadvantages.
There are both advantages and disadvantages to buying a home now with higher rates vs waiting for lower rates. Advantages of buying now with higher rates You may be able to get a better deal on the home itself, as sellers may be more willing to negotiate in a buyer's market. You can start building equity in your home immediately. You will have more time to save up for a down payment. You will be able to lock in a fixed-rate mortgage, which will protect you from rising interest rates in the future. Disadvantages of buying now with higher rates...
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Cash Out Refinance
A cash-out refinance is a type of mortgage refinance that allows you to borrow more money than you owe on your current mortgage, and use the difference as cash. This can be a great way to access the equity you've built up in your home, and use it for a variety of purposes, such as: Home improvement projects Debt consolidation College tuition Medical expenses Starting a business To qualify for a cash-out refinance, you'll need to have a good credit score and a low debt-to-income ratio. You'll also need to have enough equity in your home to cover the amount...
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The Right (And Wrong) Reasons To Buy A House
There are many people who dream of owning a home, but you need to purchase your home for the right reasons. Simply purchasing a house because other people are doing so is not a strong reason to make such an expensive purchase. What are some of the reasons why you should purchase a house? What are some examples of bad reasons to buy a home? The Right Reasons To Buy A Home There are several strong reasons why you should consider purchasing property. If you have children, you may want them to attend a specific school. Therefore, you might be...
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Finding The Best Mortgage Deal: What To Do
You have worked hard for your money, and you probably want to save as much of it as you possibly can. That means you need to find the best possible mortgage deal you can. What are a few steps you should take if you want to get the best loan terms possible? 1. Get Plenty Of Estimates You need to get a lot of estimates from different types of lenders. Examples include private mortgage companies, commercial banks, and credit unions. If you have a real estate agent, you may want to see if they can refer you to a loan...
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Assessing Your ‘Debt-to-Income Ratio’ and Why This Number Matters When Getting a Mortgage
If you are looking to buy a home, you may want to consider shopping for a loan first. Having your financing squared away ahead of time can make it easier to be taken seriously by buyers and help move along the closing process. For those who are looking to get a mortgage soon, keep in mind that the Debt-to-Income ratio of the borrower plays a huge role in the approval of your mortgage application. What is a Debt-to-Income Ratio? A debt-to-income ratio is the percentage of monthly debt payments compared to the amount of gross income that a person earns...
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First Time Home-buyers: How to Properly Research Your Mortgage Options
For most consumers, buying a house is the largest purchase you’ll make in your life. That’s why it’s important to ensure that you have the best mortgage terms available. With so much at stake, it’s important to have full confidence in both your lender and your mortgage. So how can you ensure that the mortgage you choose is the right one for you? Here’s how you can evaluate your mortgage options and find the best option for your individual circumstances. Make Sure You Actually Do Shop Around According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, half of borrowers consider just one...
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Should You Use A Home Equity Loan To Buy A Vacation Home?
If you are looking for a way to diversify your investments while also making it easier to go on vacation, you may have thought about purchasing a vacation home. Saving up enough money for one house was already hard enough, so how are you going to save up money for a second house? If you have owned your primary residence for a while, you might be able to take out a home equity loan. Then, you could use this to purchase a vacation house. How Does A Home Equity Loan Work? A home equity loan allows you to...
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Tips For Selling A House During The Winter Season
The most popular time of year to sell a home is the summer. There are a lot of families with children who prefer to move during the summer because they do not want to move their children during the school year. In contrast, many people do not like to move during the winter. It can be difficult to request extra time off of work, particularly during the holiday season. At the same time, it is still possible to sell a home during the winter. What are a few tips homeowners need to follow to sell a home during the winter? Maximize...
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What To Know About Property Values and Refinancing
There are many people who are thinking about refinancing their homes. For example, some people may be interested in reducing their monthly payments, while other people may be interested in tapping into the value of the home to fund a home improvement project. What is the relationship between property values and refinancing? There are several important points to keep in mind. Property Values Tend To Rise First, it is important for homeowners to understand that property values tend to rise during the life of a mortgage. For example, someone may purchase a home valued at $250,000. Then, fifteen years later,...
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