Blog

01
Dec
By Jim Hasek
Housing Market

Case-Shiller: Home Price Growth Mixed for September

September's 20-City Housing Market Index from Case-Shiller showed signs that rapidly rising home prices in some metro areas may be losing momentum. San Francisco, California, posted a month-to-month reading of -0.40 percent and a year-over-year reading of 5.70 percent. Home prices stayed flat in Seattle Washington from August to September, but posted the highest home price gain of 11.00 percent year-over-year. Slowing home price growth in high-demand areas suggest that affordability concerns are impacting rapid gains in home prices seen in recent years. Case-Shiller's National Home Price Index achieved its highest gain with a reading of 5.50 percent as compared…
Read More
30
Nov
By Jim Hasek
Around The Home, Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Let’s Talk Basements: How to Finish Your Basement so It Adds Value to Your Home

Are you on the hunt for home renovations that will boost usability and value? Look no further than that unfinished basement. In this article, we'll show you how to turn that dusty cave into an amazing new living space. Note: finishing a basement isn't the easiest job. For most basements, it's a lot more than a weekend do-it-yourself project. If you're not comfortable with construction be sure to enlist the help of a professional. Step 1: Plan Everything Out The first step is to plan out how you're going to use the space. Are you going to make an office?…
Read More
29
Nov
By Jim Hasek
Mortgage Rates

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – November 29, 2016

Last week's economic reports included new and pre-owned home sales, new jobless claims and Freddie Mac's weekly mortgage rates survey. Home Sales Mixed in October According to the National Association of Realtors®, sales of previously owned homes reached a seasonally adjusted annual level of 5.60 million sales, which exceeded expectations and October's reading of 5.49 million sales. Analysts had expected a rate of 5.44 million sales. October sales of preowned homes rose 2 percent over September's reading and were 5.90 percent higher year-over-year. This was the highest reading for sales of pre-owned homes since February 2007. High demand for homes…
Read More
28
Nov
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Did You Know?: 4 Factors That Can Delay Your Mortgage Approval (and How to Avoid Them!)

If you're currently buying a home and are stressing about the kind of home to choose and which lender to go with, it can help to clear up some of the confusion surrounding the mortgage process. While mortgage applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, here are some factors you'll want to avoid so the timeline of your approval isn't negatively impacted. Your Employment Status It goes without saying that the amount you bring in each month is a huge factor towards how much house you can afford, so having a part-time job, being self employed or even being unemployed…
Read More
25
Nov
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Refinancing Your Mortgage? Know These Key Terms Before You Sign Your Paperwork

When it comes to your mortgage, there are a lot of key terms that are important for every homebuyer to know, and this is no less true than when it comes to refinancing your most important investment. Instead of leaving what's unknown up to chance, it's important to be aware of exactly what you're looking at so you can get the best mortgage product available. If you're currently considering refinancing and don't want to get snared by unknown terminology, here are some terms you'll need to watch out for. Cash-Out Refinance This type of refinance is a transaction where the…
Read More
23
Nov
By Jim Hasek
Home Seller Tips, ,

Five Ways to Make Your Home’s ‘Curb Appeal’ Better Than Your Neighbors’

Curb appeal, or how your home looks from the street, is an essential part of preparing to sell your house. It's also where comparison with your neighbors' homes is inescapable which poses a problem if you're both on the market. Read on for five ways to boost your own curb appeal. Open Up: Garage Doors With Impact In most homes, the external facade is taken up largely by the garage door which means it's a big influence on how people see your home. Embrace that. Style your garage door to suit your home, touch up the paint or trim, or…
Read More