Posts Tagged ‘Mortgage’
Why Pre-Approval Is Your Homebuying Game Changer
Kevin Brierton – 1.4.2024 If you’re thinking about buying a home, pre-approval is a crucial part of the process you don’t want to skip. So, before you start picturing yourself in your new living room or dining on your future all-season patio, be sure you’re working with a trusted lender to prioritize this essential step.…
Read MoreThinking About Buying a Home? Ask Yourself These Questions
Kevin Brierton – 1.3.2024 If you’re thinking of buying a home this year, you’re probably paying closer attention than normal to the housing market. And you’re getting your information from a variety of channels: the news, social media, your real estate agent, conversations with friends and loved ones, the list goes on and on. Most likely, home prices and mortgage…
Read MoreWhat You Need To Know About Saving for a Home in 2024
Kevin Brierton – 12.28.2023 If you’re planning to buy a home, knowing what to budget for and how to save may sound intimidating – but it doesn’t have to be. One way to ease those concerns is to make sure you understand some of the costs you may encounter upfront. And to do that, always turn to…
Read MoreGet Ready To Buy a Home by Improving Your Credit Score
Kevin Brierton – 12.26.2023 As the new year approaches, the idea of buying a home might be on your mind. It’s an exciting goal to set, and it’s never too early to start laying the groundwork. One crucial step to prepare for homeownership is building a solid credit score. Lenders review your credit to assess your ability to make…
Read MoreWhy Mortgage Rates Could Continue To Decline
Kevin Brierton – 12.20.2023 When you read about the housing market, you’ll probably come across some information about inflation or recent decisions made by the Federal Reserve (the Fed). But how do those two things impact you and your homebuying plans? Here’s what you need to know. The Federal Funds Rate Hikes Have Stalled One of the Fed’s primary goals…
Read MoreExpert Quotes on the 2024 Housing Market Forecast
Kevin Brierton – 12.19.2023 If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home soon, you probably want to know what you can expect from the housing market in 2024. In 2023, higher mortgage rates, confusion over home price headlines, and a lack of homes for sale created some challenges for buyers and sellers looking to make a move. But what’s on the horizon…
Read MoreWhy Now Is Still a Great Time To Sell Your House
Kevin Brierton – 12.18.2023 If you were worried buyer demand disappeared when mortgage rates went up, the data shows there are plenty of interested buyers still out there. The housing market isn’t as frenzied as it was during the ‘unicorn’ years when buyer demand was through the roof, mortgage rates were historically low, and home values rose like we’ve never seen before. But…
Read MoreIf Your House Hasn’t Sold Yet, It May Be Overpriced
Kevin Brierton – 12.14.2023 Has your house been sitting on the market for a while without selling? If so, you should know that’s pretty unusual, especially right now. That’s because the supply of homes available for sale is still far lower than what we’d see in a normal year. That means buyers have fewer options than they usually would, so…
Read MoreThe Perfect Home Could Be the One You Perfect After Buying
Kevin Brierton – 12.11.2023 There’s no denying mortgage rates and home prices are higher now than they were last year and that’s impacting what you can afford. At the same time, there are still fewer homes available for sale than the norm. These are two of the biggest hurdles buyers are facing today. But there are ways to overcome these things and…
Read MoreWhy You Should Use a Real Estate Agent When You Buy a Home
Kevin Brierton – 12.7.2023 If you’ve recently decided you’re ready to become a homeowner, chances are you’re trying to figure out what to do first. It can feel a bit overwhelming to know where to start, but the good news is you don’t have to navigate all of that alone. When it comes to buying a…
Read MoreHow To Turn Homeownership into a Side Hustle
Kevin Brierton – 12.6.2023 Does the rising cost of just about everything these days make your dream of owning your own home feel less within reach? According to Bankrate, many people are seeking additional income through side hustles, possibly to cope with those increasing expenses and save for a home. This trend is particularly popular with younger individuals…
Read MoreWhy The No-Cost Refinance Makes Sense – Buy Now, Build Equity, and Save Big in 2024
Owning a home is a crucial part of finding financial freedom, but deciding when to make the move into homeownership is never an easy decision. That decision is especially hard today with home prices and mortgage rates at record highs. Buying a home now would likely come with a housing payment that is significantly higher…
Read MoreIs Owning a Home Still the American Dream for Younger Buyers?
Kevin Brierton – 11.30.2023 Everyone has their idea of the American Dream, and it’s different for each person. But, in a recent survey by Bankrate, people were asked about the achievements they believe represent the American Dream the most. The answers show that owning a home still claims the #1 spot for many Americans today (see graph below):…
Read MoreAre the Top 3 Housing Market Questions on Your Mind?
Kevin Brierton – 11.28.2023 When it comes to what’s happening in the housing market, there’s a lot of confusion going around right now. You may hear one thing in conversation with your friends, see something different on the news, and read something on social media that contradicts both of those thoughts. And, if you’re thinking about making…
Read MorePeople Are Still Moving, Even with Today’s Affordability Challenges
Kevin Brierton – 11.16.2023 If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home, you might have heard that it’s tough right now because mortgage rates are higher than they’ve been over the past few years, and home prices are rising. That much is true. Take a look at the graph below. It breaks down how the current affordability situation stacks up to recent…
Read MoreThe Latest 2024 Housing Market Forecast
Kevin Brierton – 11.15.2023 The new year is right around the corner, and you might be wondering if 2024 will be the right time to buy or sell a home. If you want to make the most informed decision possible, it’s important to know what the experts have to say about what’s ahead for the housing market. Spoiler…
Read MoreDebt-Consolidation Refinance: Use Your Home Equity to Pay Off Debt and Save Money
Kevin Brierton – 11.14.2023 Even if you have a low rate on your mortgage, do you know how much you’re paying in interest each month for your credit cards, vehicles, and other personal debts? Managing debts with high-interest rates can feel like an uphill battle. Monthly debt payments take over a large chunk of your…
Read MoreNo, A ‘Housing Recession’ Does Not Mean Falling Home Prices
Kevin Brierton – 11.13.2023 Last week, an article was posted to fortune.com with this headline: The housing market is headed back to a 1980s-style recession, Wells Fargo says—and it’s all because of ‘higher for longer’ mortgage rates On first read, this clearly sounds like a warning that home prices are going to fall because of…
Read MoreLife-Changing Events That Move the Housing Market
Kevin Brierton – 11.13.2023 Life is a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns, like the excitement of welcoming a new addition, retiring and starting a new adventure, or the bittersweet feeling of an empty nest. If something like this is changing in your own life, you may be considering buying or selling a house. That’s because through all…
Read MoreHomeowner Net Worth Has Skyrocketed
Kevin Brierton – 11.7.2023 If you’re weighing your options to decide whether it makes more sense to rent or buy a home today, here’s one key data point that could help you feel more confident in making your decision. Every three years, the Federal Reserve Board releases the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF). That report covers the difference in net worth…
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