How Can an Appraisal Make (or Break) Your Loan?

If you’re buying a house, then like most people, you’ll need to get a mortgage. You talk to a few lenders, get some quotes, pick a lender, and apply for your loan. Your lender then starts the process of getting you approved. They ask you for documents, send out disclosures, and order an appraisal. What… Continue Reading

10 Tips for a Successful (and Beneficial) Mortgage Refinance

For most people, undertaking a mortgage refinance isn’t something they look forward to. The prospect of lowering monthly payments and paying less interest over the life of the loan are powerful motivators though, so let’s make sure your next refinance is your best. #1 Start by clearly identifying and defining your goals for refinancing. It’s… Continue Reading

How Much is My House Worth?

In my long career as a Realtor, one of the most common problems I encountered was homeowners who had absolutely no idea what their homes were worth. That was before things like Zillow and Trulia popped up, but it’s not like the Internet has been able to make a huge dent in this problem. The… Continue Reading

Improving Your Chances for a HELOC

As housing values increase across the country, more people are thinking about tapping into that hidden potential in their homes. Home equity is becoming a thing again, guys, and there’s no denying that it’s a great solution for life’s problems, both big and small. If you plan on staying in your home for the long… Continue Reading

What to Do When Your Appraisal Runs Into Problems

Earlier this summer, a friend of mine was looking to buy a house and although their Realtor assured them that it was a slam dunk and everything was fine with their paperwork and they had a legitimately significant down payment, there were complications. In fact, their appraisal came in a little over eight percent short.… Continue Reading