U.S. mortgage rates fell for a fifth week, reducing borrowing costs as home-price gains slow. The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 4.12 percent this week, down from 4.14 percent and the lowest since October, Freddie Mac said in a statement on Thursday. The average 15-year rate slipped… read more →
Buying a home with a mortgage comes with plenty of strings attached, aside from just interest and principal. While you’ll have a general sense as to what your monthly mortgage payment will be, this complacency likely prevents you from reading over the specifics of your mortgage statement. By simply writing… read more →
In housing, it takes two to tango. Buyers have known for some time that low prices and low interest rates make it a good time to shop for a home, and now sellers are getting on the bandwagon. That could help solve the low-inventory problem that has dogged the market.… read more →
Homeownership remains cheaper than renting nationally and in all of the 100 largest metro areas according to a recent report. Rising mortgage rates and home prices have narrowed the gap over the past year, though rates have recently dropped and price gains are slowing. Now, at a 30-year fixed rate of… read more →
Banks are getting very cautious about home mortgage loans these days — right up to the closing date. Even consumers with good credit and plenty of cash may find themselves out on the sidewalk if any of these last-minute loan application issues pop up. To make sure you’re on the right end… read more →
They say love is blind. However, when it comes to your home this is not acceptable when trying to sell. Just because you love it, does not mean every potential buyer will too. With that being said, it is crucial to appeal to buyers and start thinking like one. Many… read more →
1. Don’t buy if you can’t stay put. If you can’t commit to remaining in one place for at least a few years, then owning is probably not for you, at least not yet. With the transaction costs of buying and selling a home, you may end up losing… read more →
Smart sellers spend a whole lot of time and energy strategizing about how to sell their homes for top dollar. They factor in buyer demand, the competition, the job market, the mortgage market and their agent’s track record. And that doesn’t even account for all the time spent understand recent… read more →
Spring is prime time selling season for many communities. Keep up with the competition and increase your home’s value by taking on these 5 simple home improvement projects. New Front Door Let your front door be the beacon welcoming prospective home buyers. Walking up to a bright and inviting front entrance will make… read more →
The U.S. economy is off to a bit of a rocky start in 2014, something that might actually benefit homebuyers this busy spring homebuying season. The unsteady – and frankly, at times unpredictable – economy has allowed mortgage rates to hit yearly lows as recently as the first week in… read more →