Buying Tips
Thinking About Waiting for Lower Mortgage Rates? Read This First.
Imagine waiting a year to buy a home, only to find mortgage rates haven’t changed much. That may sound frustrating.But it’s a real possibility. A lot of people are putting their plans on hold because they believe much lower mortgage rates are right around the corner. But, based on today’s forecasts, that may not happen.…
Read MoreBuying a Home? Here’s What You Should Know About Home Insurance Costs.
If buying a home is on your radar, you’ve probably been keeping an eye on mortgage rates and home prices. But don’t forget about homeowners insurance. Homeowners insurance has always been part of owning a home. But over the past few years, it’s become a larger expense for many homeowners – something that’s especially frustrating…
Read MoreHome Price Growth Slowed Down. That May Be Changing.
After more than a year of headlines talking about how home prices are going to crash, the latest data shows that price growth may be starting to pick back up again. And depending on whether you’re buying or selling, that shift means something different for you. The Numbers May Be Starting To Turn For the…
Read MorePriced Out? A Condo or Townhome Could Be Your Way In.
Today’s home prices have a lot of buyers – especially first-time buyers – wondering if there’s even anything out there that’s in their budget. But owning a home may be more within reach than you think. Sometimes, it just means considering a different type of home. Condos and townhomes can be a great way to…
Read MoreMore Homes, Better Prices: A Buyer’s Summer
If you’ve thought about buying a home in the past few years, you may have run into two frustrations: asking prices that kept climbing and too few homes to choose from. In many places, both sticking points are letting up this summer, with lower asking prices and more homes for sale. Let’s look at the…
Read MoreThe “Take It or Leave It” Attitude Is Fading from the Market – What That Means for You
Negotiations are back. More buyers are asking for better deals, and more sellers are giving them. Builders are throwing in extras, too. That’s why whether you’re buying or selling today, there are two terms you’ll hear a lot: concession and incentive. A concession is something a seller agrees to during negotiations to get a deal…
Read MoreStudent Loans Are Back in the News. Don’t Let It Put Your Homeownership Plans on Hold.
Student loans are back in the spotlight. And whether you’ve been following the headlines closely or just catching bits and pieces here and there, there’s a good chance they’ve been on your mind lately. And if you’re questioning whether you have to hit pause on your plans to buy a home, here’s the thing you…
Read MoreDown Payments Are Smaller Than They’ve Been Since 2021
Saving for a down payment can feel like the hardest part of buying a home. And with affordability as tight as it’s been lately, it’s fair to wonder how anyone manages it right now. Here’s something you may not have seen coming. Some people are getting their foot in the door with a smaller down…
Read MoreThe 1 Factor That Explains Everything Happening with Home Prices Right Now
You’ve probably heard that home prices are cooling off. And that’s true – nationally. But zoom in on individual markets across the country, and the picture looks completely different depending on where you are. Some areas are still seeing solid price growth. Others have gone flat. A few have actually dipped slightly negative. So, what’s…
Read MoreWhen I think about people saving to buy their first house
When I think about people saving to buy their first house, it brings me back to my early working years. My husband and I used a plain old savings account to accumulate our down payment. Today, young people are devising fresh options, including two ideas that happened to converge in our Tech Tuesday newsletter—an app that incentivizes…
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