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
After all the stress, the fighting, the planning, the paperwork and the screaming at the Universe to please, please, just don’t throw one more roadblock up, you’ve almost made it to closing. It’s time for your final walk-through. It feels a little like the kind of event you should be dressed up for — I… Continue Reading
For US military veterans and their spouses, the benefits of being able to use a VA loan program to purchase, refinance, and even streamline refinance their homes are well known. After all, VA financing makes up over 10% of the mortgage market. Since the creation of the VA loan guarantee program, VA loans have paved… Continue Reading
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
When I was in real estate school, one of the concepts we discussed in great depth was the very real way that neighborhoods grow and die — how real estate is more like a living thing than a simple concept. Instead of a straightforward life cycle, neighborhoods go through growth, decline, decay and rebirth as… Continue Reading
Before we jump back into this series, I have to apologize for being away. I got a little wrapped up in writing the first part of this and researching it and sort of decided to go crawling around under my own house to deal with an annoying flaw that had been bugging me since we… Continue Reading
A home is more than brick and stone and wood and nails and cement — there’s a spirit to the place that’s unique to each and every property you’ll visit as you shop for the right one. As I’ve told you many, many times before, buying a home is part brain — planning a purchase… Continue Reading
We had our home inspection a couple of weeks ago, but it’s a process that takes a while to resolve, so I’m just now posting about it. Basically, once you reach the home inspection stage, you’re entering a hurry up and wait situation. In my area, a homebuyer has 10 days to get their inspection… Continue Reading
Last week, I let it slip that I was looking to get back into the housing market. I figured that since the cat’s out of the bag, so to speak, I’d go ahead and take you on a journey with me. As you already know, buying in the current market is a complicated dance between… Continue Reading
You guys are the first to know, besides my Realtor, that I’m on the hunt for a new house. I know, the lady that gives mortgage advice every week is actually going through the process herself — again. Volunteering for this adventure has made me realize something: there’s a lot more to buying a house… Continue Reading