Blog

30
Mar
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips,

Trim Your Mortgage Closing Costs by Following This Easy 3 Step Guide

You may be so busy with determining your debt-to-income ratio and deciding what kind of offer to make that closing costs have gotten lost in the mix, but it's important to remember that finalizing your mortgage will cost you extra. While there's no way to get around paying money to solidify your mortgage, there are a few steps you can take in order to make it more economical for you. Shop Around For A Lender Many people go with the lender that is offered to them, but it's a good idea to do the research so you can find the…
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29
Mar
By Jim Hasek
Around The Home, ,

Worried About Climate Change? Here Are 4 Ways to Make Your Home More Climate Friendly

Many people are concerned with having a negative impact on the environment, but it can be hard to know where to begin when it comes to climate friendly solutions around the home. Whether you're planning for a future investment or are interested in fixing-up the home you're in, here are some solutions for greening up your personal space that won't bust the bank. Evaluate Your Insulation If your insulation is not installed properly or requires more padding, this will have a significant impact on your energy use and your monthly electricity bill. By doing a candle test around the house…
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28
Mar
By Jim Hasek
Around The Home, ,

Renovating on a Budget? Check Out These Equity-boosting Inexpensive Home Upgrades

The idea of embarking on home renovations may strike many homeowners as an expensive one, but there are plenty of ways that you can easily upgrade your home without spending a lot of money. If you're looking for improvements that will truly (and frugally) improve the value of your home, here are a few do-it-yourself options you may want to consider. Change The Lighting There are few small fixes that will improve the look of your home like lighting, so one of the best things you can do for the overall look of your house is change out some of…
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27
Mar
By Jim Hasek
Mortgage Rates

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – March 27, 2017

Last week's economic news included releases on new and pre-owned home sales and weekly readings on average mortgage rates and new unemployment claims. Pre-owned Home Sales Fall, Due to Dwindling Inventory 5.48 million pre-owned homes were sold on a seasonally adjusted annual basis. Analysts expected 5.45 million sales based on January's reading of 5.69 million sales. Lagging supplies of listed homes continue to cause home prices to rise as buyers compete for fewer available homes. First time buyers represented only 32 percent of sales as compared to the normal reading of 40 percent. First-buyers represent new demand for homes and…
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24
Mar
By Jim Hasek
Real Estate Tips, ,

Spring Is Real Estate’s ‘Rush Hour’ — Here’s How to Tell If You’re Prepared

The most popular time of year to buy a home is in the spring, and this means that if you're preparing yourself for getting into the real estate market, you may be experiencing a time crunch. If you're wondering if you'll be ready to put your home up for sale in time to take advantage of the season, here are few things you'll want to think about. Have You Cleaned Up And De-cluttered? Spring is not only an optimal time to put your home up for sale, it's also an ideal time for spring-cleaning! Instead of leaving all of the…
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23
Mar
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Is It Still Possible to Get a Mortgage With Zero Down? Yes – and Here’s How

When it comes to investing in a mortgage, the down payment is key in making your investment a reality and proving to lenders that you're a safe bet. However, while most opportunities for putting zero down on a home have disappeared since the recession, there are still a few ways to buy without putting money down. If you're currently weighing your options, here's what you need to know if you don't have a down payment ready. Loan Programs With No Down Payment There are still a number of zero down loan programs for those who qualify. Veterans and families of…
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