Blog

12
Jan
By Jim Hasek
Real Estate Tips, ,

Real Estate Terms: The ‘Debt to Income’ Ratio and How It Affects Your Home Purchase

The real estate market is rife with terminology that can make a home purchase seem more than a little complicated. If you're currently looking for a home and are considering your loan options, you may have even heard the term 'Debt to Income' ratio. In the interest of simplifying things, here are some insights on what this term means and how it can impact your home investment. Determining Your 'Debt to Income' Ratio It's important to consider what exactly your DTI ratio is before your home purchase as this will quickly determine how much home you can actually afford. To…
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11
Jan
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Money Matters: Understanding How a Mortgage Loan Can Be a Productive Investment

Most people tend to think of a mortgage loan as a necessary evil, an expense that has to be managed. But under the right circumstances, your mortgage can become a smart investment - something that makes you money instead of costing you money. With a little bit of ingenuity and a lot of hard work, you can turn your mortgage into a money-making investment that will pay dividends for years to come. So how do you turn your mortgage loan into a productive investment? Here's what you need to know. A Mortgage Can Help You Buy A New Rental Property…
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10
Jan
By Jim Hasek
Market Outlook, , ,

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – January 11, 2016

The first week of 2016 was quiet concerning housing and mortgage related news, but reports on construction spending and several labor-related reports were released. Construction spending is connected to housing markets as it provides evidence of builder confidence and also future housing supply. Labor market trends provide a sense of economic performance in general and can influence potential buyers on decisions about buying or not buying homes. Construction Spending Dips in November According to the Commerce Department, construction spending dropped by 0.40 percent in November to a seasonally adjusted annual reading of $1.12 trillion. November's reading was short of the…
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07
Jan
By Jim Hasek
Around The Home, ,

Dealing with an Empty Nest? 5 Great Reasons to Downsize into a New Condo

There's a good chance if your children have recently moved out that your home is feeling a lot larger than it used to, and perhaps you're re-considering the extra space. If downsizing to a condo is on your mind and you're weighing the benefits of this kind of move, here are some that might make it worth the switch in size. A Little Extra Money With the additional money you should be making off the sale of your home, there's a good chance that downsizing may provide you with extra assets to sock away for retirement, travel or whatever your…
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06
Jan
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

5, 10, 20 Percent or More? How to Determine How Big of a Down Payment You Need

Whether or not you're new to real estate, there's little doubt that you've heard the term down payment as it relates to purchasing a home. There's a lot of different information out there in regards to how much this figure should be and it can be hard to determine exactly what the importance of this payment is. If you're trying to determine the ideal amount to put down, here are some things to consider. Explaining Down Payments And Why They're Important The down payment is probably one of the largest single payments you'll make for anything, and this is why…
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06
Jan
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Have You Been Denied for a Mortgage? Here Are 3 Reasons Why You’ll Want to Keep Trying

If you're in the market for a new home, you'll most likely need a mortgage in order to afford it. But for some home buyers, getting a mortgage isn't easy. Banks and other lenders are often hesitant to lend money to certain consumers, often for good reason. But sometimes, lenders' reasons for declining you aren't entirely valid. That's why, if you've been denied for a mortgage, you'll want to keep trying to get mortgage funds. Here are three factors that can influence the likelihood of approval on the second try. A Second Appraisal Might Change Your Circumstances Sometimes, a mortgage…
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