24
Aug
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

Expecting Children: How to Quickly Move into a Larger Home Before a Baby Arrives

Starter homes are incredibly popular for young couples who plan to have a family in the future but don't need a large place yet. Life moves pretty fast sometimes and many couples find themselves expecting children before they have begun to look for the next home. This shouldn't be a problem, as moving into a larger home before the baby arrives can be a lot easier than it appears. Always Move Before The Baby Is Born There is a choice when upgrading a home for children: moving beforehand and settling down in advance of having kids or waiting until after…
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23
Aug
By Jim Hasek
Mortagage Tips, ,

Assessing Your ‘Debt-to-Income Ratio’ and Why This Number Matters When Getting a Mortgage

If you are looking to buy a home, you may want to consider shopping for a loan first. Having your financing squared away ahead of time can make it easier to be taken seriously by buyers and help move along the closing process. For those who are looking to get a mortgage soon, keep in mind that the Debt-to-Income ratio of the borrower plays a huge role in the approval of your mortgage application. What is a Debt-to-Income Ratio? A debt-to-income ratio is the percentage of monthly debt payments compared to the amount of gross income that a person earns…
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22
Aug
By Jim Hasek
Financial Reports, ,

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – August 22, 2022

Last week’s economic reporting included readings on home builder confidence in housing market conditions, Commerce Department readings on building permits issued, and housing starts along with readings on retail sales. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also published. NAHB: Home Builder Confidence Falls for 8th Consecutive Month in August  The National Association of Home Builders reported an index reading of 49 for home builder confidence in August. Analysts expected a reading of 54 and July’s index reading was 55. Readings over 50 indicate that a majority of home builders surveyed viewed current housing market conditions as positive. Builders…
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19
Aug
By Jim Hasek
Home Maintenance, ,

The Top Home Maintenance Mistake’s You Must Avoid

If you own a home, you understand just how important it is to take care of it. Even though a lot of people think that if it isn't broken you should not fix it, that doesn't mean you should not take care of it. Take a look at a few of the top home maintenance mistakes you need to avoid, and do not let your home fall into a state of disrepair. Allowing The Dyer Lint To Build Up Do not allow the dryer lint to build up. Allowing the dryer lint to build up can dramatically increase your chances…
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18
Aug
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Understanding the Principal Limit on a Reverse Mortgage and What Happens if You Reach It

If you're considering applying for a reverse mortgage, you'll want to ensure you understand certain critical factors. One such factor is the principal limit. The principal limit will have a strong influence on your finances, which is why you'll need to ensure you know – before applying for your reverse mortgage – what your principal limit is. So how does a principal limit work, and how can you find out what yours is? Here's what you need to know. Principal Limit: The Maximum Amount You Can Borrow Simply put, the principal limit is the maximum amount of money that you…
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17
Aug
By Jim Hasek
Mortgage, ,

Mortgage Shopping And Your Credit Score

The vast majority of people have to take out a home loan to purchase a house. This means applying for a mortgage. Unfortunately, shopping for a mortgage can actually hurt your credit score. Any potential lender will probably have to do a hard pull on your credit. This could temporarily reduce your credit score by a few points. Those few points could make the difference between qualifying for a mortgage and getting denied one. Fortunately, there are ways for you to shop for a mortgage without hurting your credit. Check Your Credit Score First First, you need to check your credit…
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