Posts in Buying a Home
What is a Freddie Mac Cash Out Refinance?

In this post, we’ll review the terms and eligibility requirements for the Freddie Mac cash-out refinance loan in order to help borrowers determine whether this is a good option for their individual needs.

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FHA 203(K) Loan vs Fannie Mae HomeStyle Renovation Loan

Both the FHA 203(K) loan and the Fannie Mae HomeStyle Renovation loan are top contenders for being the best possible loans for getting work done on a home without having to take out a second mortgage.

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Bad Credit Series: Buying a Home After Bankruptcy

It is possible to buy a home even if you’ve filed for bankruptcy. It may not always be as easy as it would have been without the bankruptcy, but you shouldn’t have to give up your dream of home ownership just because you’ve had financial issues in the past.

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First-Time Home Buyer Grants

Buying a home is a way to put down roots in a neighborhood and start building financial stability. It provides a roof over your head (and your family’s heads) as you pay down your mortgage and build equity for the future. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy for prospective buyers to save the amount of money needed for a down payment and closing costs.

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5 "Haunted" Homes for Sale Right Now

This time of year is just right for a few great scares and, who knew, possibly buying a new home. But ‘tis the season to be scary, so allow us to show you 5 “haunted” houses currently on the market.

Buyers beware, these homes are said to still be occupied - and not by the living. If you’re interested in snagging some prime (and terrifying) real estate, this is the article for you.

Read on, if you dare…

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Everything You Need to Know About Doctor Home Loans

Doctors get all the good stuff: highly communicable diseases, giant student loan debt, and around-the-clock work responsibilities. In seriousness, doctors are heroes -- and mortgage lenders have caught on that student loan debt can be incredibly crippling to doctors when it comes to obtaining a home loan.

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Misleading Mortgages and Predatory Lending

Getting your first (or even your second or third) mortgage can be really stressful and confusing. There’s a lot of technical information to absorb in a very small window of time and sometimes that means you’ll miss some of the details. Most of the time, your banker will be happy to fill in the blanks for you, but what do you do if you have a lender who doesn’t have your best interest in mind?

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Read This Before Hiring a Mortgage Consultant

Let’s be honest: it’s tough going it alone. Especially when you’re a home buyer. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone on your side? Someone to guide you in the right direction when it comes to buying the right house for you — and at the right price, with the right financing and terms?

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Fed Plans to Raise Interest Rates Despite Continued Drop in Home Sales

Well, kids, the numbers are in. According to the National Association of Realtors, existing home sales are still down. So far, we’ve had five months of this type of flailing. Reporting by HousingWire states that it’s the slowest pace since February 2016. February: one of the traditionally worst months of the year for selling a house, that’s where we are now.

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American Homebuyers are Rejecting New Adjustable Rate Mortgages

Even as the housing market starts to sort of get back to normal, there are clear signs that we’re not back to business as usual. Last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association shared their weekly round-up for mortgage news and while people are trying very hard to buy, there’s an elephant in the room: the adjustable rate mortgage.

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15 Things We Wish We’d Checked Before Buying a House

When you’re buying a new house, you’re considering more than just a structure; you’re creating a new lifestyle. You’re choosing the right container — the right foundation — for every moment of your home life moving forward.

Wouldn’t it be great to test drive that foundation? After all, some questions can only be answered by spending more time in the space.

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How Millennials Can Get a Home Loan in 2018

Rather than starting out with some tired joke about Millennials and diamonds, Millennials and Ramen, or Millennials and their useless college degrees -- we’re actually here to give you some good news.

Millennials have a fantastic advantage when it comes to purchasing a home in 2018.

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Weekly Column #3: Is It A Good Time to Buy or Sell? Some Economic Indicators That Can Help

At least once a year, without fail, I’m asked to write a piece about whether or not it’s the right time to buy a home, get a mortgage or sell a home. This is life in the fast lane when you’re a writer with a lending and real estate background. Everybody wants an answer to THE burning question--it appears in search constantly. Site owners want to be able to give readers something that can help them figure out their current financial picture (while encouraging them to click on said site link)

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Why You Should Buy a Home in 2018

While the U.S. financial crisis began over 10 years ago, many Americans are still a little worried about the idea of buying a home. After all, the crisis led to home prices falling more than 40% in some of the country’s top markets -- and no one wants to buy something that will drop significantly in value just a few years later.

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Working with a Mortgage Broker: How Do They Operate?

If you’ve been looking for a home loan, you’ve most likely heard the term mortgage broker on more than one occasion. But what is a mortgage broker? Can they help you get a better home loan than if you simply went to your bank? Let’s take a look!

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The 5 Best FHA Lenders in Texas

If you’re looking for a great home loan in Texas, you’re not alone. Right now, the Lone Star State is home to more than 28 million people. The housing market is relatively hot, with home prices having increased a solid 7 percent between June of 2017 and 2018. In this article, we’ll review the best FHA approved lenders in Texas and how they can help guide you on your quest to homeownership.

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Is a 40-Year Mortgage for Real? How and When You Might Consider One

The most common type of mortgage for first time home buyers and longtime homeowners alike is the U.S. is the classic 30-year fixed-rate home loan. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is another popular home loan option, followed by the somewhat less common 20- and 25-year mortgages.

One of the types of mortgages that’s a lot less talked about is the 40-year mortgage -- and no, it isn’t a fairy tale or myth. 40-year mortgages do exist, but that doesn’t mean that they’re a good choice for everyone.

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All About Home Loans for First-Time Home Buyers

Being a first-time home buyer is a glorious time in your life. You’re on a solid path with your career, you’ve managed to save a little money, and maybe (dare we say it?) you’ve come to enjoy tracking your credit score. As a responsible, independent adult, you’re tired of living under the rule of your landlord -- so now it’s time to get out on your own and buy a home!

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Tiny Home Financing for First-Time Home Buyers

You thought your college apartment was tiny--that is, until you started seeing tiny homes pop up everywhere. They make that apartment look like a mansion by comparison. Financing them, on the other hand, isn’t so attractive all the time. Let us help you make your little dreams come true.

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Renting Vs. Buying a Home: The Pros and Cons of Each

Vanilla or chocolate ice cream? Coke or pepsi? Renting or buying a home? These are some of the world’s biggest debates -- but unlike choosing an ice cream flavor or a brand of soda, the decision of whether to rent or buy could affect your financial future for decades to come.

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The 9 Most Affordable (and Awesome) Cities for Buying a Home

When it comes to buying the perfect home, location is one of the most important variables. And, with home prices across the country on the rise, many people want to look to places where they’ll get the most bang for their buck -- a nice house and a great city to live in, too.

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5 Things First-Time Homebuyers Need to Know

First time home buyers have so much to deal with when they’re starting the process that it’s hard to shortlist the most important things for them to keep in mind. Clearly, it's best if you're as prepared as possible -- and if you're already on the hunt for your dream home, you probably know a bit about what you're doing already.

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Six Myths About Home Financing You Don't Need to Believe

If you're a first-time home buyer, the process of purchasing a house can seem intimidating and complicated. There's a ton of information out there, so it's easy to get overwhelmed. On top of that, a lot of the information is wrong. Below are six myths about financing a home that simply aren't true.

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