Saturday Strategy
Mortgage FAQ's, did you knows and much more...
How to drop your Mortgage Insurance
I just dropped MI off my house and I thought it might be helpful for you too.
First, you'll need to determine if your loan is eligible for mortgage insurance removal. Generally, if you have reached at least 20% equity in your home, you're eligible.
Link to HomeBot for your home valuation
Once you've confirmed your home has roughly 20% equity, you'll need to request a mortgage insurance cancellation. They will review your request and let you know if you meet the criteria or if they need a property review.If everything checks out. Your lender should remove the mortgage insurance requirement, which will result in a decrease in your monthly payments.
However, it's worth noting that some loans, like FHA loans, require mortgage insurance for a specific duration, regardless of your equity. In such cases, you may need to refinance your loan to eliminate the mortgage insurance requirement.
P.S. Can I count on you to call us when any friends, family or coworkers are looking to buy, sell or refinance a home? We'd love to help! You can just text/call me at 480.553.8770.
* Did you know we can finance in 45 states?
Where Are People Moving Today and Why?
Kevin Brierton – 8.14.2023 Plenty of people are still moving these days. And if you’re thinking of making a move yourself, you may be considering the inventory and affordability challenges in the housing market and wondering what you can do to help offset those. A new report from Gravy Analytics provides insight into where people are searching for homes and what they’re prioritizing most right…
About 11,000 Houses Will Sell Today
Kevin Brierton – 8.10.2023 Some homeowners have been waiting for months to put their house on the market because they don’t think people are buying homes right now. If that’s you, know that even though the housing market has slowed compared to the frenzy of a couple of years ago, it isn’t at a standstill. Contrary to what you may believe,…
The Value of an Agent When Buying Your New Construction Home
Kevin Brierton – 8.9.2023 Buying a new construction home can be an exciting experience. From being the very first owner, to customizing your home’s features, there are a lot of benefits. But navigating the complexities of buying a home that’s under construction can also be a bit overwhelming. This is where a skilled real estate agent can…
There’s Only Half the Inventory of a Normal Housing Market Today
Kevin Brierton – 8.8.2023 Wondering if it still makes sense to sell your house right now? The short answer is, yes. Especially if you consider how few homes there are for sale today. You may have heard inventory is low right now, but you may not fully realize just how low or why that’s a perk when you go…
Four Ways You Can Use Your Home Equity
Kevin Brierton – 8.7.2023 If you’re a homeowner, odds are your equity has grown significantly over the last few years. Equity builds over time as home values grow and as you pay down your home loan. And, since home prices skyrocketed during the ‘unicorn’ years, you’ve likely gained more than you think. According to the latest Equity Insights Report from CoreLogic, the average homeowner…
How Inflation Affects Mortgage Rates
Kevin Brierton – 8.3.2023 When you read about the housing market in the news, you might see something about a recent decision made by the Federal Reserve (the Fed). But how does this decision affect you and your plans to buy a home? Here’s what you need to know. The Fed is trying hard to reduce inflation. And even…
How To Know If You’re Ready to Buy a Home
Kevin Brierton – 8.2.2023 If you’re trying to decide if you’re ready to buy a home, there’s probably a lot on your mind. You’re thinking about your finances, today’s mortgage rates and home prices, the limited supply of homes for sale, and more. And, you’re juggling how all of those things will impact the choice you’ll make. While housing…
Sellers: Don’t Let These Two Things Hold You Back
Kevin Brierton – 8.1.2023 Many homeowners thinking about selling have two key things holding them back. That’s feeling locked in by today’s higher mortgage rates and worrying they won’t be able to find something to buy while supply is so low. Let’s dive into each challenge and give you some helpful advice on how to overcome these…
Pricing Your House Right Still Matters Today
Kevin Brierton – 7.31.2023 While this isn’t the frenzied market we saw during the ‘unicorn’ years, homes that are priced right are still selling quickly and seeing multiple offers right now. That’s because the number of homes for sale is still so low. Data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows 76% of homes sold within a month and the average…
Homebuyers Are Still More Active Than Usual
Kevin Brierton – 7.27.2023 Even though the housing market is no longer experiencing the frenzy that was so characteristic of the last couple of years, it doesn’t mean today’s market is at a standstill. In actuality, buyer traffic is still strong today. The ShowingTime Showing Index is a measure of how much buyers are touring homes. The graph…
P.S. Can I count on you to contact me if you hear that a friend, family or coworker is looking to buy, sell or refinance? Call/Text 480.553.8770 - We'd be honored to help them too!