Blog

10
Sep
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

The Pros and Cons of Paying Cash When You Buy Your Next Home

With mortgage bubbles and real estate issues still in recent memory, one might feel that their best option is to buy their next home using cash instead of borrowing the necessary funds. In today's article we'll explore the pros and cons of paying cash for that next house or condo. The Pros Include A Feeling of Complete Ownership There's a feeling of pride and joy that comes with owning a home outright. There are several other reasons for paying cash instead of signing on the dotted line and getting and being strapped to a 30-year mortgage. Perhaps the best reason…
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09
Sep
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

A Step-by-step Guide to Preparing Your Finances for the Mortgage Pre-approval Process

Being pre-approved for a mortgage isn't just a way to get a step ahead, in many cases it's a necessity to buying a home. Many sellers don't want to go through the negotiation process of selling their home only to have the buyer drop out when they can't get approval for the mortgage they were relying on. The Difference Between Pre-Qualification And Pre-Approval Pre-qualification is a faster process than pre-approval and is usually a best estimate based on how the borrower answers certain questions about their financial history and status. Pre-approval is way more valuable to a borrower than pre-qualification…
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08
Sep
By Jim Hasek
Market Outlook, ,

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – September 8, 2015

Last week's economic news included reports on construction spending, private and public sector employment data and a report from the Fed indicating that any move to raise interest rates may be delayed. The details: Construction Spending Meets Expectations, Beige Book Indicates Wage Pressures Analysts said that construction is gaining strength and could soon be the strongest sector of the economy. Construction spending for July met growth expectations of 0.70 percent as compared to June's reading of 0.10 percent. The Commerce Department reported that this reading translated to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.98 trillion, which was the highest rate…
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04
Sep
By Jim Hasek
Real Estate Tips, ,

From Big to Small: How to Downsize from a Large House to a Smaller, More Efficient Home

If you're moving from a large home into a smaller house or condo, you're probably looking forward to enjoying lower mortgage payments, a lower utility bill and not having to do as much cleaning. But before you move, you'll want to take certain precautions to ensure that you're not overwhelmed. A smaller home won't have as much room for your belongings, which means you may need to get creative. Here's how you can downsize without losing your mind. Decide What You're Going To Keep Before you do anything else, choose which of your belongings are coming with you. Unless you've…
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04
Sep
By Jim Hasek
Real Estate Tips, ,

From Big to Small: How to Downsize from a Large House to a Smaller, More Efficient Home

If you're moving from a large home into a smaller house or condo, you're probably looking forward to enjoying a lower utility bill and not having to do as much cleaning. But before you move, you'll want to take certain precautions to ensure that you're not overwhelmed. A smaller home won't have as much room for your belongings, which means you may need to get creative. Here's how you can downsize without losing your mind. Decide What You're Going To Keep Before you do anything else, choose which of your belongings are coming with you. Unless you've habitually been getting…
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03
Sep
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

How to Submit an Offer Below the Asking Price Without Spooking the Seller

You've found it: A large new home for your family. It's in the area of the city that you love, with the perfect architectural style and lots of room for entertaining guests. It would have been perfect for you, but there's only one problem - you're not quite ready to pay the price the seller is asking for. You'll have to put in an offer below the seller's asking price - a risky move. Although you will be rolling the dice with an offer below asking price, there are ways that you can increase the likelihood that your offer will…
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