The US economy has been a rollercoaster ride since the COVID-19 pandemic began. For many, there has been significant hardship due to job loss or illness, which may have caused them to fall behind on mortgage payments. The government instituted programs to help homeowners stay out of foreclosure, but those programs are ending. Unfortunately, the… Continue Reading
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) introduced rate discounts for first-time home buyers using Fannie Mae- or Freddie Mac-backed conventional mortgages, a much-welcomed relief to housing costs in today’s housing market. Economic uncertainty always affects the housing market. And when the housing market is facing challenges, it hits first-time home buyers hard. The FHFA rate… Continue Reading
With many economists predicting the Federal Reserve to continue to rise rates to combat inflation, that spells unwelcome news for many would-be first-time homebuyers looking to purchase a property. The Fed has already raised rates three times this year and most expect that we’ll see two more rate hikes before 2022 comes to a close.… Continue Reading
The Federal Reserve announced last week that it will again raise rates by three-quarters of a point in an effort to combat the highest level of inflation seen in the United States in decades. While the Fed does not control mortgage rates directly, this decision will undoubtedly influence the current mortgage rates available today. First-time… Continue Reading
When trying to purchase your first home, many things can be confusing to borrowers during the mortgage process. From acronyms like DTI, ATR and front-end and back-end ratios, calculating income is an area many first time homebuyers don’t understand. However, a simple review of how lenders will evaluate your income can help you determine if… Continue Reading
It is a widely held belief that you need to put 10-20% down to buy a house. The truth is, you can buy a house with as little as ZERO down payment, and if you have the right programs in place, you can get into your own home with ZERO OUT OF POCKET! If you… Continue Reading