According to Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, interest rates for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage are currently at 4.09%, which is still very low in comparison to recent history! The interest rate you secure when buying a home not only greatly impacts your monthly housing costs, but also impacts your purchasing power. Purchasing…
In many markets across the country, the number of buyers searching for their dream homes greatly outnumbers the amount of homes for sale. This has led to a competitive marketplace where buyers often need to stand out. One way to show you are serious about buying your dream home is to get pre-qualified or pre-approved…
It appears that Americans are regaining faith in the U.S. economy. The following indexes have each shown a dramatic jump in consumer confidence in their latest surveys: The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index National Federation of Independent Businesses’ Small Business Optimism Index CNBC All-America Economic Survey The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Survey It usually…
The National Association of Realtors’ most recent Existing Home Sales Report revealed that, compared to last year, home sales are up dramatically in five of the six price ranges they measure. Homes priced between $100-250K showed a 20.7% increase year-over-year. This is an impressive increase, showing that November was an excellent month for home sales…
The price of any item (including residential real estate) is determined by ‘supply and demand’. If many people are looking to buy an item and the supply of that item is limited, the price of that item increases. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the supply of homes for sale dramatically increases every…
Points, also known as discount points, are a one time fee a buyer can pay a lender to lower the interest rate on a loan (or just to procure a loan). Points are paid at closing, and equal 1% of the loan amount of a real estate property (for example, one point on a $100,000…
There are many different types of loans available to assist people in buying homes. The following information is included for general informational purposes only. Much loan information is regional specific, varying from location to location. Ask your lender about specific information as it applies to your situation. If you have yet to select a lender,…
Funding home improvement and remodeling projects can be quite daunting. Surely smaller projects can be budgeted for, but what about the larger ones? This is a financing guide for those of us who are not independently wealthy. If you participate in a 401k plan through your employer, you may be able to procure a short-term…
Determining your wants and needs is the first step to identifying the right loan for you. Is it important to you to have your payments remain the same every month, or are you more concerned with having a lower initial interest rate? There are pros and cons to each of these types of loans. Fixed…
Property Ownership – How Secure Are You? Real estate is traditionally a family’s most valuable asset, and many laws have been passed to protect it. While most of these laws are set up to protect the owner, their family and heirs, others may have claim on the property. In certain situations, governmental bodies, contractors, lenders,…