Blog

11
Aug
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

The Quick and Easy Guide to Determining How Big of a Mortgage Your Family Can Afford

Are you shopping around for a new house or apartment? One of the key considerations you will need to make is figuring out how much you want to invest in your new home. Below you'll find our quick and easy guide to determining just how much "house" you can afford. Let's get started! Start By Making A Proper Budget The first thing you'll want to do is sit down and get a full budget put together. The easiest way to get the process started is to begin with two lists: income and expenses. For the income list, write down the…
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10
Aug
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

Getting Tired of Renting? Here Are the Top 5 Reasons Why Young People Prefer Owning a Home

At some point in their lives, every renter thinks about home ownership and whether or not it's worth it. Let's explore the top 5 reasons why young individuals prefer the idea of owning a home over renting. It's All About Control It's unlikely to come as a surprise that having control over their living space is the number one reason that younger buyers prefer owning over renting. Living in a home owned by someone else limits your ability to customize your home. Want to expand a room or rip out the kitchen cabinets? Good luck with getting your landlord to…
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09
Aug
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

3 Reasons to Hit the Accelerator on Your Mortgage Payments – If You Can Afford It

Does the thought of repaying your mortgage for the next twenty-plus years leave you feeling a little down? Whether you've had your mortgage for weeks or years, accelerating your payments is an excellent option that can help get your mortgage fully paid off in a shorter time frame. Let's explore three great reasons to accelerate your payments so that your mortgage debt is paid down faster. You'll Be Debt-Free That Much Faster It may seem obvious, but it's worth stating that you'll be debt-free that much quicker if you accelerate your repayment schedule. Every extra payment you make against your…
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08
Aug
By Jim Hasek
Around The Home, ,

Community Living: The Quick and Easy Guide to Starting a Community Garden

Ah, the city. With so many people living in an urban landscape these days, it can be hard to find anything more than a planter on the balcony for your herbs. And good luck finding space for vegetables or large flowering plants! Fortunately, coming up with a community garden can be a great way to get the locals together. If you're wondering how to get started with this fun project, begin with the following guide. Find The Right People Organizing your own community garden can seem overwhelming at first, so it's important to gather a group of like-minded people that…
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07
Aug
By Jim Hasek
Mortgage Rates

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – August 7, 2017

Last week's economic news included readings on pending home sales, construction spending. Several reports related to employment were also posted along with weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims. Pending Home Sales Rise as Construction Spending Lags Pending home sales rose by 1.50 percent to an index reading of 110.2 in June according to the National Association of Realtors®. Sales of homes under contract that have not yet closed regained positive territory after May's negative reading of -0.70 percent. Pending sales were in negative territory for the past three months. Regional results for pending sales were mixed. The…
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04
Aug
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

5 Things That First-time Home Buyers Wish They Knew Before They Signed

Without a doubt, it can be both overwhelming and exciting to find your dream home and be able to put the money down for it. However, there are a lot of things to know before signing on the dotted line so you can avoid buyer's remorse. Instead of going it alone, here are a few tips to keep in mind before you decide to commit to your new home. A Good Agent Is Important Many homeowners want to find the right place on their own, but having an agent along to assist you in the process can go a long…
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