Blog

23
Apr
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Should You Be Worried About Skipping Multiple Mortgage Payments? Yes, and Here’s Why

From time to time, a homeowner may struggle to make a mortgage payment on time. Most will be able to make the missing payment a week or two later when the next paycheck arrives. However, others may find themselves in a situation where they are unable to make multiple payments in a row. If you are skipping multiple mortgage payments, you should be concerned about your financial situation. There are several important reasons why you may want to take action to improve your situation or to work out a payment arrangement with your mortgage company. Falling Too Far Behind To…
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22
Apr
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Thinking About Buying a Rental Property? 3 Reasons You’ll Want to Get a Mortgage Pre-Approval

A rental property is a wonderful investment option to consider, and it can provide you with everything from considerable tax benefits to appreciation and monthly cash flow. While you may be eager to get started searching for a new rental property to invest in, a good idea is to take the initial step to get pre-approved for your mortgage. There are several good reasons why a pre-approval is an important first step to take. Determining What Sales Price to Consider The mortgage rules and guidelines for an investment or non-owner occupied property are different than those for an owner occupied…
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21
Apr
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

The Pros and Cons of Putting in More Than 20 Percent as a Down Payment on Your New Home

One of the most common questions home buyers ask today relates to how much money they need to put down on a home. There are mortgage requirements in place that establish minimum down payment requirements, and some home buyers will barely have enough to pay the minimum down payment as well as closing costs. However, if you have access to more money, you may be wondering if you should make a larger down payment. There are several points to consider to determine if making a larger down payment is right for your financial situation. Having Liquid Assets Available After Closing…
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20
Apr
By Jim Hasek
Market Outlook, ,

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 20, 2015

Last week's economic reports included the NAHB Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, Housing Starts, and Freddie Mac's weekly survey of mortgage rates. Other news included the weekly jobless claims report and consumer sentiment for April. Mortgage Rates, Jobless Claims Rise Mortgage rates moved up according to Freddie Mac. The average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage increased by one basis point to 3.67 percent. The average rate for a 15-year fixed rate mortgage also increased by one basis point to 2.94 percent. The average rate for 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages rose by five basis points to 2.88 percent. Discount…
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17
Apr
By Jim Hasek
Home Seller Tips, ,

Pre-sale Painting: Color Combinations to Use – and Avoid – when Painting Your Home

One of the more common steps that homeowners will take when preparing to list their home for sale involves repainting the walls. Walls can easily give the home a worn, drab look when they have visible signs of dirty, smudgy fingerprints and other unsightly blemishes. While repainting the walls can have a whitewashing effect that instantly makes the home look cleaner, brighter and more appealing, the color combinations that you choose for your home should be considered with care. You have a rainbow of possibilities for your space when preparing your home for sale, but you want to choose colors…
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16
Apr
By Jim Hasek
Market Outlook, ,

Home Builder Confidence Rises in April

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported that April's Housing Market Index rose from a reading of 52 in March to 56 for April. This is in line with warmer weather and the peak home buying season in spring and summer. Readings over 50 indicate that more builders view market conditions as positive as those who do not. NAHB members cited lower mortgage rates and better labor market conditions as reasons they expect more home buyers to enter the market. All Components of Builder Confidence Increase The NAHB Home Builder Index is calculated from three components. The reading for…
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