So, you’ve found a house you like, come up with a down payment and gotten preapproved. What could possibly go wrong? Plenty, if you and your agent rush through the deal without doing all the homework. Buying a house is like getting into a marriage: You must make sure there… read more →
Homeowners insurance isn’t a topic that most people like to think about. For first-time homebuyers, the prospect of adding home insurance to the other long list of costs can seem daunting. Yet homeowners’ insurance isn’t just required for your mortgage, it’s an important part of a plan to keep you… read more →
Today is the last day of school for Fairfax County students. Throughout the school year, many books are purchased for reading assignments. After the assignment is completed, most commonly those books are pushed to the back of the locker or the students closet at home. Now is a perfect time… read more →
Ideally, you would sell your current home and buy your new home on the same day, moving from one mortgage to the next. While this seamless transition has worked out for some repeat homebuyers, others have managed to sell their homes and rent them back until they find a new… read more →
If your tenants don’t own pets, they’re in the minority. That’s the finding of a new survey, in which a full 75% of renters said they owned one or more pets. That’s up a staggering 32% since last year. Most of these pets are cats and dogs, with fish trailing… read more →
While the essential elements of shopping for a mortgage are the same for a purchase or refinance, refinancing usually starts with a decision to improve your cash flow or change your debt profile. You should determine your goal for refinancing before you meet with a mortgage professional. Once you’ve… read more →
Finding an apartment to rent has become increasingly competitive as more and more Americans have shifted away from homeownership in favor of rentals after the housing market’s collapse. As a result, today’s apartment hunters may find themselves with a limited supply of rentals and a higher price tag for those… read more →
Frustrated with the lack of housing inventory, homebuyers in many markets are taking matters into their own hands. Sellers are few and far between. Many owners who were once underwater still mistakenly believe that property values are lower than they are. Others have seen the gains and are holding out… read more →
Rolling Thunder is an annual motorcycle rally that is held in Washington, DC during the Memorial Day weekend to call for the government’s recognition and protection of Prisoners of War (POWs) and those Missing in Action (MIAs). The tribute to American war heroes started out in 1988 with 2,500 participants.… read more →
If you’re in the market for a mortgage, chances are you’ve been instructed to shop around for the best rates. But just because you’ve been told to shop around doesn’t mean you know how. After you organized your financial information and decide which loan is best for you, follow these… read more →