Blog

08
Jun
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Refinancing to Pay for Renovations? Consider the VA’s Energy Efficient Mortgage Program

Making renovations that are energy efficient is not just a great way to reduce energy output, but it's also an effective way of decreasing monthly utility costs. It serves as a one-time investment that will save money in the long run. However, renovations are costly and not everybody has the extra finances required to make energy efficient changes. This is where the VA's energy efficient mortgage (or EEM) program comes into play. The program is designed to allow veterans to apply for a new mortgage or refinance an existing one with extra funds to renovate the home to be up…
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07
Jun
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

How Technology Is Creating an Easier Mortgage Approval Process

From saving up for a down payment to sussing out the ideal lender, there are so many things involved in purchasing a home that can make it seem like a rather complicated undertaking. However, like a lot of things in our lives, technology has streamlined the process in recent years. If you're currently searching for a home on the market, here are some new technological advancements that may make buying a little easier for you. The Smart Phone Advantage The paperwork and requirements associated with a mortgage may not have changed much in recent years, but smart phones have provided…
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06
Jun
By Jim Hasek
Financial Reports, ,

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 6, 2016

Last week's housing related news was limited to Construction Spending and Freddie Mac's mortgage rates survey, but labor reports suggested an economic slowdown may be in the works. Construction Spending Slips in April, Mortgage Rates Mixed According to the Commerce Department, overall construction spending slipped in April to -1.80 percent as compared to March's reading of +1.50 percent and May's expected reading of +0.70 percent. Residential construction spending was 1.50 percent lower, which doesn't help ongoing shortages of available single-family homes. Builders have repeatedly cited labor shortages and lack of developed lots as obstacles to building more homes. Year-over-year construction…
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03
Jun
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips,

4 Financial Benefits of Home Ownership

Home ownership may be one of the most familiar goals of adulthood, but there's more than one reason why so many people flock towards this type of investment and leave the rental market behind. If you're trying to decide if you should make the big plunge towards buying, here are some benefits of saving up for a down payment and finding the right place to settle in. It's More Economical Many people eschew home ownership simply because it can be hard to wrangle together the funds for a down payment. However, while a monthly rental is money you'll never see…
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02
Jun
By Jim Hasek
Financial Reports, ,

Case-Shiller: Home Price Growth Expands to All Metro Areas

March home prices were again dominated by the Northwest with Portland, Oregon posting a year-over-year gain of 12.30 percent followed by Seattle, Washington's year-over-year gain of 10.80 percent. Denver, Colorado rounded out the top three cities with a year-over-year gain of 10.00 percent. San Francisco, California, which consistently posted double-digit gains in recent months slipped to a year-over-year gain of 8.50 percent. This may indicate that prices in high cost metro areas are nearing their peak. S&P Dow Jones Chair David M Blitzer attributed outsized price gains to the shortest supply of available homes since the mid-1980s. Homes for sale…
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01
Jun
By Jim Hasek
Home Seller Tips,

3 Ways to Add Emotional Cues to Make Buyers Feel at Home for a Quicker Sale

There are a lot of ways you can effectively stage your home to snag the attention of potential buyers, but there are often a few extra things you can do to really engage the senses of your guests. If you're hoping for an instant offer and are pulling out all the stops to sell your home, here are some ways you can emotionally engage with visitors to your home. Carefully Choose Your Color Scheme You probably already have a fairly distinct color palette in your home, from the couch you've purchased to the tone of your paint, but that doesn't…
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