Blog

01
Nov
By Jim Hasek
Housing Market

Case-Shiller: Home Price Growth Near All-Time High in August

Case-Shiller's National Home Price Index rose to a year-over-year home price increase of 6.10 percent as compared to July's reading of 5.90 percent. The 20-City Home Price Index rose to a year-over-year reading of 5.90 percent over July's reading of 5.80 percent. Home Prices Nearing Their Peak?  Some cities that previously had high home price increases saw lower paces of growth. San Francisco, California, which reported double-digit home price growth rates in recent years, reported -0.10 percent growth rate month-to-month and a year-over-year home price growth rate of 6.10 percent. Home prices grew at a faster rate in nine cities…
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31
Oct
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

62 or Older? 3 Reasons Why a Reverse Mortgage Might Be the Perfect Financial Solution for You

Are you and your spouse starting to move into your retirement years? If so, you already know that you are going to need a solid financial plan for when your primary sources of income are no longer bringing money in. If you have invested in your retirement, you might be all set. However, what if your house makes up the majority of your net worth? Let's take a quick look at three reasons why a reverse mortgage might be a great way to unlock the equity you've built up in your home. Reason #1: This Is Your Last Home To…
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30
Oct
By Jim Hasek
Mortgage Rates

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 30, 2017

Last week's economic news included readings on new and pending home sales and weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims. New Home Sales Exceed Expectations; No Growth for Pending Sales September sales of new homes reached a 10-year high with a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 667,000 new homes sold. Analysts said that high demand drove September sales past the expected rate of 555,000 sales and August's reading of 561,000 sales of new homes. September's reading was 19.9 percent higher than for August and was 17 percent higher year-over-year. September's reading was 8.60 percent higher for year-to-date sales of…
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27
Oct
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

Buying an Older Home? Watch Out for These 3 Key Flaws That Could Spell Trouble

Are you a fan of homes with a bit more character than newer, modern designs? Whether in pristine condition or more of a "fixer upper," older homes are incredibly popular in cities across the country. However, there are some key factors to consider if you're thinking about buying a home built decades ago before modern standards were enforced. Let's take a look at three key design issues that you will need to be aware of if you're thinking about buying an older house. Old Electrical Designs Can Be A Significant Fire Hazard No matter when a home was built, it's…
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26
Oct
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Stuck in a Bidding War? 3 Ways to Win Without Busting Through Your Mortgage Approval Amount

Are you making an offer on a new home in a hot housing market? If so, one possibility is that you are going to end up bidding against other buyers who are looking to buy the same home. Unfortunately, in some cases bidding wars are inevitable, and they can be a significant source of stress. Let's take a look at three ways that you can win a bidding war without having to spend more than you can afford. Price Is Important, But It's Not Everything The first consideration to keep in mind is that price is important, but it isn't…
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25
Oct
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

Worried That Your Past Student Loan Debt Might Delay Buying a Home? Here’s What to Do

Whether you are just about to graduate college or you have been out of school for a few years, there's a good chance you're carrying some amount of student loan debt. It seems that news headlines are regularly pointing out that the nation's graduates are suffering from the stress of student debt. Moreover, that pressure can be even worse for those who are looking to buy a home and start putting some roots down in the local community. Are you worried that past student loan debt will affect your chances of buying a home? Let's run through a few tips…
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