19
May
By Jim Hasek
Mortgage, ,

How Does A Change In Mortgage Rates Impact A Family’s Housing Budget?

The housing market is extremely competitive right now because mortgage rates are still near record lows. While mortgage rates are rising this year, the rates are still attractive to many individuals and families who are looking to buy a home. At the same time, when mortgage rates change, families need to re-evaluate their budgets. A change in mortgage rates will impact the monthly mortgage payment, so families need to know what they can afford. Furthermore, because the market is so competitive, sale prices are going up as well. As mortgage rates and home prices rise, families need to determine what…
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13
May
By Jim Hasek
Mortgage, ,

Top 8 Things New Homeowners Need

Moving into your first home is an exciting experience, but it can also be overwhelming. To manage the move properly, you need a wide variety of tools you may never have considered before. You may not realize you should have purchased a certain item until you need it.  To prepare for the move into your new home, make sure you have all of the items listed below.  Storage For Documents As a homeowner, you will need to keep and organize a variety of documents, including receipts, warranties and even your mortgage papers. Consider buying a fireproof box or cabinet to…
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11
May
By Jim Hasek
Mortgage, ,

How to Become a Homeowner: First Time Home Buyer Guide

Becoming a homeowner for the first time is exciting. However, for many potential buyers, the process can also be confusing. Below is an overview of the steps you need to complete in order to buy your first home.  Work Out The Finances The first step in buying a home is deciding on a price range. This price range will be determined by your income, as well as your own comfort level with home prices and monthly payments. Consider all of these factors to determine the maximum amount you are willing to spend on your new home.  In most cases, you…
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10
May
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

Don’t Miss Out On How To Handle Common Home Buying Pitfalls

The process of buying a home can be riddled with obstacles. However, you can avoid many of the most common home buying pitfalls with some advanced preparation. Below are some of the most frequent problems home buyers face, as well as tips for avoiding them.  You Can't Qualify For A Mortgage  Nothing is more frustrating than learning that, even though you make enough money to afford your dream home, you cannot qualify for the mortgage you need. This may happen because your credit score is low or because you cannot verify your income in a way that satisfies your lender. To…
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06
May
By Jim Hasek
Mortgage, ,

Buying in a Sellers Market

Home buying is often made possible or unreachable due to the local and national economy. Fortunately, what goes up, must come down. So, for buyers who can wait, economic changes in supply and demand can create opportunities. These shifts in real estate are known as buyer’s markets and seller's markets.  The seller's market specifically tends to be the harder one for homebuyers. In short, sellers see a lot of demand, so they can command higher prices for a sale. Things are competitive, sell fast, and inventory is low.  For buyers, it’s a headache, but there are ways of handling the…
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05
May
By Jim Hasek
Mortgage, ,

Why Green Homes Are Gold In Your Pocket

If you’re selling a home today, you know that it’s a seller's market in many areas throughout the country. What you may not know, though, is that there are still things you can do to make your home even more desirable. From adding SMART home features to properly staging a home, there are plenty of things you can do to drive up the price and create a frenzy of bidding activity for your home. One of those things is to add green features to your home. What Are Green Home Features? Adding green features to your home doesn’t mean you’re…
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