A 20% down payment is anything but standard. Making a smaller down payment does involve some form of mortgage insurance (MI). Conventional loans are available with as little as 3% down.
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Saving for a house and other financial considerations
Buying your first house is both exciting and frightening at the same time. When starting to save for your home down payment, consider all the implications that may affect the home financing process as well as your budget after moving in.
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Building vs buying a house : What is right for you?
If you’re stuck between building and buying a house, ensure you have all the information you need before making your decision. Take a look at the pros and cons of both building and buying a house and inspect the price difference between the two.
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Buying a house in winter can have its advantages
With the exception of a few sun belt states, buying a house in the winter just seems off. The traditional time to go from listing to listing is spring and summer. But while things slow down this time of year, there are some hidden advantages to choosing winter as your buying season. In fact, experts…
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What to avoid when buying a home
The average homebuying timeline will vary for everyone, but yours could potentially be delayed if you make a handful of certain financial moves. Learn what to avoid when buying a home.
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Note the Rules of Using Gift Money for a Down Payment
Down payments are challenging for many first-time homebuyers. It seems that the initial financial stab at home ownership is among the greatest roadblocks of owning a home. If you are in the process of buying a home, using a gift can allow you to achieve that 20% down payment. This can help you get…
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What Not To Do Yourself Before Selling Your House
It’s not all that uncommon. You tried to fix something in your house using all the analytic skills you apply to other parts of your life, inspired by how easy it looks on HGTV. With all the best of intentions, however, what seemed simple turned into an obviously less-than-expert job. In fact, even your Realtor…
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Why Should I Use a VA Loan
The VA loan is one of the best mortgage loans there is. Here are some reasons why. First, VA guarantees the loan for 100% of the appraised value of the property (technically, the loan is for the Notice Of Value amount, which in most cases is the same thing). This guarantee means that the lender…
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How does a home appraisal really work?
Home appraisals are typically required during the home buying process in order to determine the current fair market value of the home. The home appraisal process is a combination of science and opinion—but mostly science, even though the value that the appraiser delivers is called an “opinion of value” as of the effective date of…
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First-time homebuyers reality check
Many first-time home buyers have stars in their eyes when they first begin house-hunting. Their ideal is a house that is move-in-ready, offers the number of bedrooms/baths/square footage they’re looking for, is in a great neighborhood and, of course, is within their budget. Matching all that criteria is often a tall order, especially the move-in-ready…
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Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Early?
Paying down your mortgage early may be possible, but is it smart?
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Know your credit score when buying a home
The second step in buying a home is finding out your credit score, and deciding how to proceed based on that.
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The benefits of a 15-year mortgage
As a homebuyer, one of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make revolves around the type of financing you wish to obtain.
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