Spring and summer are, by far, the most popular seasons for house-hunting. But that shouldn’t stop you from looking for your dream home in the middle of winter. Though icy driveways and snowed-out open houses can be less than thrilling, there are surprising benefits to purchasing a home during the coldest time of year. Let’s
If you’re in the market for a new house, learn all you can about home loans before going too far into the process. Here are some things you may not know about home loans: Rates fluctuateIf you’re looking for a new home, you may be checking mortgage rates as often as some people check their
Quiet. Calm. Clean. And empty. These are just some words that may come to mind when your youngest kiddo leaves the nest. No stray sneakers cluttering up the foyer. No trail of school papers. You may even get the TV remote to yourself! Now that the house has emptied, though, it’s time to sift through
Trends and stats in real estate are constantly changing, especially during the unstable economy of COVID-19. Here’s what you need about the real estate market today. Is it a buyer’s market now? Pickings are slim for homebuyers right now, giving sellers the upper hand and driving up prices for buyers. Low supply also means homes are
When trying to trim a monthly budget, most people don’t even consider their fixed expenses; however, with just a bit of effort and research, most of these costs can be reduced. 1. Consider a refinanceTrim your mortgage payments by refinancing at a lower interest rate. It will cost a bit, but you can roll closing
It’s no secret that the IRS excels at making things complicated. And when you’re busy learning the ropes of a new job, trying to fill out a 4-page W-4 form can be a huge hassle. It’s not a good idea to rush through it, though, because a small mistake now can mean withholding too much
Credit scores can affect you more than you know. Employers look at credit scores. Landlords look at credit scores. Bill providers look at credit scores, and they might decide to charge you if yours gets too low. With all this pressure, you’ve no doubt started working on some good habits for improving your credit score.
Most would agree – home ownership is part of the American Dream. According to Bankrate, a recent “Consumer Mortgage Understanding Study” conducted by Fannie Mae showed that 91% of more than 3,600 respondents prefer owning a home to renting, but are still largely unaware when it comes to home-buying basics. Securing a mortgage is often
It’s normal to feel hesitant about going through with what may be the biggest purchase of your life. To help put you at ease, we’ve compiled a list of questions to ask yourself before buying a new home. Can I afford to buy a house?Before viewing properties, remember that purchasing a home costs more than
