mortgage Blog Articles (page 3)
Congrats, College Grads! Tips for Saving for the Real World of Home Ownership!
Ah, new college grads… sadly, those care-free days of cruising around campus, joining friends for daily social hours and, oh yeah, studying here and there, too, are over. But, as fun as your college experience may have been, there is also a heck of a lot of cool stuff about being a young professional! First of all, employers know that your generation is social media savvy and they need t
Honing in on Home Equity: Five Fast FAQs
Home equity… you’ve probably heard of it; if you own a home, you may even have some; but, do you really know what it is, how you can use it or what you probably shouldn’t do with home equity? Today, we’re delving into the world of home equity to answer some of the most-asked equity questions out there. Let’s start at the beginning: What is home equity? When
10 Easy Steps to Saving Money Every Day!
Since Father’s Day is coming up this weekend, we can’t help but hearken that age-old spending advice that many dear old dads have been giving for years; you know, the “spend less, save more” talk. This Father’s Day, don’t be afraid to show your dad that you were listening while you were growing up; instead of spending more on buying him an expensive tie that he
Five Handy Apps for Managing Home Expenses
OK, homeowners, we know you’ve been spending a lot of time indoors during this icy, cold winter managing your social media accounts. Haven’t we all? But, now that spring is near, the time for spring cleaning and other home renovation and maintenance projects is upon us. So, wouldn’t you say it’s time to start managing some of your common homeowner expenses as well as you ma
Friends, Followers or Foes? Could Social Media Hurt Your Mortgage Approval Odds?
A selfie showing off some wild weekend escapades… a quick comment about an epically bad day at work #worstjobever… even some self-implicating hindsight about a recent impromptu pick-me-up spending spree… Most of us are guilty of hastily posting something on our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram profiles that we wish we never had. Public embarrassment aside, it is fairly easy t
Overlooked Sources of Down Payment Assistance
With interest rates hovering around historic lows, the main barrier to entry into the homeownership market is the cost of making a down payment. While saving for a down payment is still important, there are many sources of assistance that otherwise qualified homebuyers often do not consider. Knowing about these sources may help some buyers to enter the market earlier than they expected or pur
Tips for Happy Home Ownership
The new year is in full swing, but where are your resolutions? Often times, the initial excitement and ambition that we put toward our personal goals each year quickly dwindle once we get back into our typical work and life routines. But, even if your “eat less, get fit, learn more” personal resolutions may not be going as planned or even if they are, it is not too late to be a better
Buyer Help: What Should You Spend on a New Home?
If you’ve decided that 2015 is going to be your year for home ownership, congratulations! Buying a new home is exhilarating! However, at times, it also can be stressful, confusing and frustrating. Preparation is an indisputable key for success in the home-buying process; so, determining how much you should spend before you begin perusing potential dream homes is a certain way to quell fru
Trick or Treat? How to Make Buying a House with a Friend Less Scary
As Halloween quickly approaches and we all prepare for the little ghosts and goblins that will be knocking on our doors in search of spooky holiday treats, we’re taking a minute to examine the tricky situations that can sometimes arise when buyers decide to make a big home purchase with a friend. Dun Dun Duunnn! In theory, it doesn’t sound so scary, right? Obviously, buying a house
How Much Home Can You Afford? A Guide for Understanding Mortgage Affordability
So… you think you’re ready to dive into the housing market and purchase a new home. Congratulations! Now, what? It’s time to start looking at what’s available on the market, right? Actually, wrong. Before you begin to search for homes that are for sale in your desired area, you need to have an accurate grasp on just how much house you can afford. Why should you go th
