Posts Tagged ‘Mortgage’
How Homeownership Can Bring You Joy
Kevin Brierton – 5.18.2022 If you’re trying to decide whether to rent or buy a home, you’re probably weighing a few different factors. The financial benefits of homeownership might be one of the reasons you want to make a purchase if you’re a renter, but the decision can also be motivated by having a place that’s uniquely…
Read MoreWhy Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
Kevin Brierton – 5.17.2022 If you’re thinking about buying a home, you’ve probably heard mortgage rates are rising and have wondered what that means for you. Since mortgage rates have increased over two percentage points this year, it’s natural to think about how this will impact your homeownership plans. Today, buyers are reacting in one of two ways: they’re either…
Read MoreIf You’re a Homeowner, You Have Incredible Leverage When You Sell Today
Kevin Brierton – 5.16.2022 In today’s housing market, homeowners have a great opportunity to sell their house and receive the best terms for their personal situation. That’s because there’s a limited number of homes for sale, which is creating competition among buyers. Right now, homebuyers want three things: To be the winning bid on their dream home To buy before mortgage…
Read MoreWhat You Actually Need To Know About the Number of Foreclosures in Today’s Housing Market
Kevin Brierton – 5.12.2022 While you may have seen recent stories about the volume of foreclosures today, context is important. During the pandemic, many homeowners were able to pause their mortgage payments using the forbearance program. The goal was to help homeowners financially during the uncertainty created by the health crisis. When the forbearance program…
Read MoreTWO WAYS THE FEDERAL RESERVE IMPACTS MORTGAGE RATES
TWO WAYS THE FEDERAL RESERVE IMPACTS MORTGAGE RATES – 5.10.2022 1- THE FED IMPACTS FIXED-RATE MORTGAGES BY BUYING AND SELLING MORTGAGE BONDS. Interest rates on fixed-rate mortgages change whenever the Fed buys or sells mortgage bonds, and whenever the Fed makes statements about buying and selling mortgage bonds. Since the pandemic hit the economy in…
Read MoreAre There More Homes Coming to the Market?
Kevin Brierton – 5.11.2022 According to a recent survey from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), one of the top challenges buyers face in today’s housing market is finding a home that meets their needs. That’s largely because the inventory of homes for sale is so low today. If you’re looking to buy a home, you may have noticed this yourself. But there is…
Read MoreWill Home Prices Fall This Year? Here’s What Experts Say.
Kevin Brierton – 5.10.2022 Many people are wondering: will home prices fall this year? Whether you’re a potential homebuyer, seller, or both, the answer to this question matters for you. Let’s break down what’s happening with home prices, where experts say they’re headed, and how this impacts your homeownership goals. What’s Happening with Home Prices? Home prices have seen 121 consecutive months of…
Read MoreHow Today’s Mortgage Rates Impact Your Home Purchase
Kevin Brierton – 5.9.2022 If you’re planning to buy a home, it’s critical to understand the relationship between mortgage rates and your purchasing power. Purchasing power is the amount of home you can afford to buy that’s within your financial reach. Mortgage rates directly impact the monthly payment you’ll have on the home you purchase. So, when…
Read MoreThree Tips for First-Time Homebuyers
Kevin Brierton – 5.5.2022 Buying your first home is a major decision and an exciting milestone. Even though it can feel daunting at times, it has the power to change your life for the better. If you’re looking to purchase your first home, you may be wondering what’s happening in the housing market today, how much you need…
Read MoreYour House Could Be Closer to List-Ready Than You Think
Kevin Brierton – 5.4.2022 One of the biggest concerns for a homeowner looking to sell is the time they’ll have to put in before listing their house. If that’s the case for you, you should know – your home might be closer to list-ready than you think in today’s housing market. A survey of recent sellers from realtor.com finds that…
Read MoreThings That Could Help You Win a Bidding War on a Home
Kevin Brierton – 5.3.2022 With a limited number of homes for sale today and so many buyers looking to make a purchase before mortgage rates rise further, bidding wars are common. According to the latest report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), nationwide, homes are getting an average of 4.8 offers per sale. Here’s a look at how that breaks down state-by-state (see map…
Read MoreToday’s Home Price Appreciation Is Great News for Existing Homeowners
Kevin Brierton – 5.2.2022 If you’re planning to sell your home this season, rising prices are great news for you. But it’s important to understand why prices are rising to begin with. One major factor is supply and demand. In any industry, when there are more buyers for an item than there are of that item available, prices naturally rise. In those situations,…
Read MoreWhat You Need To Know About Selling in a Sellers’ Market
Kevin Brierton – 4.28.2022 Even if you haven’t been following real estate news, you’ve likely heard about the current sellers’ market. That’s because there’s a lot of talk about how strong market conditions are for people who want to sell their houses. But if you’re thinking about listing your house, you probably want to know: what does being in…
Read MoreThe Dream of Homeownership Is Worth the Effort
Kevin Brierton – 4.27.2022 If you’re in the market to buy a home this season, stick with it. Homebuyers face challenges in any market, and today’s is no exception. But if you persevere, your decision to purchase a home will be worth the effort in the end. In fact, a recent survey from Bankrate shows homeownership is so powerful…
Read MoreHow Homeownership Can Help Shield You from Inflation
Kevin Brierton – 4.26.2022 If you’re following along with the news today, you’ve likely heard about rising inflation. You’re also likely feeling the impact in your day-to-day life as prices go up for gas, groceries, and more. These rising consumer costs can put a pinch on your wallet and make you re-evaluate any big purchases…
Read MoreIs It Enough To Offer Asking Price in Today’s Housing Market?
Kevin Brierton – 4.25.2022 If you’re planning to buy a home this season, you’re probably thinking about what you’ll need to do to get your offer accepted. In previous years, it was common for buyers to try and determine how much less than the asking price they could offer to still get the home. The buyer and…
Read MoreWhy This Housing Market Is Not a Bubble Ready To Pop
Kevin Brierton – 4.21.2022 Homeownership has become a major element in achieving the American Dream. A recent report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) finds that over 86% of buyers agree homeownership is still the American Dream. Prior to the 1950s, less than half of the country owned their own home. However, after World War II, many returning veterans used…
Read MoreHow To Approach Rising Mortgage Rates as a Buyer
Kevin Brierton – 4.20.2022 In the last few weeks, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Freddie Mac inched up to 5%. While that news may have you questioning the timing of your home search, the truth is, timing has never been more important. Even though you may be tempted to put your plans on hold in…
Read MoreWhy Pre-Approval Is an Important Step for Today’s Homebuyers
Kevin Brierton – 4.19.2022 Being intentional and competitive are musts when buying a home this season. That’s why pre-approval is so important today. Pre-approval from a lender is the only way to know your true price range and how much money you can borrow for your loan. Peter Warden, Editor of The Mortgage Reports, explains: “The lender will check…
Read MoreIs It Time To Buy a Smaller Home?
Kevin Brierton – 4.18.2022 Life events can have a major impact on what you need from your home, and retirement is one of the biggest changes many of us face. This period of your life can mean doing more of the things you enjoy, like traveling, visiting with loved ones, or taking on new hobbies.…
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