First Time Real Estate Homebuyers
What Should Buyers Know About Living Under HOAs?
Not all homeowner associations are created equal. Some are well-run by a competent board; others are plagued by infighting and may have costly upcoming repairs. If you’re on a house hunt now, there’s a good …
Garage Organization: Increase the Value of Your Home
Have you ever stepped into your garage, looked around, and walked back inside because it was just too overwhelming? That has happened to me many times when I was given the chore to clean and …
Considering buying your first home or condo? Educate yourself first in the Home Buying Process 101
Helping First Time Home Buyers
For many years you have been renting a place to live and now you have finally made the big decision to buy your first home or condominium. Since you are new to the world of home buying, like many people, you naturally turn to the internet to start browsing for homes, contact a family member/friend that is a Realtor for advice. These are all good starting points for those who know how to utilize these resources. First time home buyers like to be educated so that they can make informed decisions. For those information seekers like you, we have prepared this quick guide on the home buying process.
Welcome to Home Buying Process 101!
Here are 6 key steps that can help you navigate through the home buying process:
Can You Get a Personal Loan for a Down Payment on a House?
When getting a mortgage to buy a house, a homebuyer will need a down payment in most circumstances. And though homebuyers don’t always need 20 percent for a down payment, they will usually be penalized …
Carrington Mortgage offers home loans for consumers with less than perfect credit
Carrington Mortgage Services has expanded its residential mortgage offerings to make access to home loans a greater possibility for the roughly 100 million U.S. consumers who have less than perfect credit. The introduction of its …
Miami’s Brickell Condo Market Q2 – 2017 Update
Miami’s Brickell Condo Market Q2 – 2017 Update The landscape of Miami’s Brickell condo market continues to evolve. Once a very attractive investment opportunity to international buyers, the Miami condo market has stalled, and is …
Rent or Buy? What to consider when looking at homeownership
It’s a modern age-old question: Rent or buy? As an adult, choosing whether to keep renting or to invest in homeownership is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll probably have to make. Unfortunately, it’s …
3 Tips for Rebuilding Your Credit
You’ve just gone through a rough patch in your life and now you want to rebuild a sagging credit history. Or maybe you’re starting over, having given up credit years ago and you now have …
Tools for Buying a House? You May Want to Avoid the 30% Rule
Ask someone the question, “How much should I spend on a house?” and there’s a good chance that they will respond with the 30% rule. The 30% rule, which says not to spend more than …
How Multiple Inquires May Affect Your Credit
Buying a home means dealing a lot with your finances – and one of the most important pieces of that puzzle can be found in your credit report. Having a good score and a healthy …
Other Payments That Can Affect Your Monthly Mortgage Payment
One of the biggest changes in becoming a homeowner has to do with your monthly mortgage payment. Whereas before when you were renting, you could write one check and be done with it, there are …
Miami’s Brickell Condo Market Update – December 2016
Since the last housing crisis, the Miami Brickell condo real estate market had become attractive to domestic and international buyers. Some key contributing factors to this attractiveness is Florida’s favorable tax regulations, the slow global …
Things That Get Overlooked by Home Inspectors
Putting your potential new home through an inspection is an important part of the closing process, as this is when the inspector sifts through your home from top to bottom looking for anything that might …
Condo and HOA Budgeting 101 for Homeowners
Many of us own a home or a condominium governed by a community association, or maybe you are considering buying one that is. Understanding the condo and HOA budgeting process in your community should be …
How to Reduce Mortgage Closing Costs
Once you’ve made it through pre-approval, your house search, making your offer and securing your loan, it’s time to prep for the last step: closing! Unfortunately, closing brings with it another round of costs – …
Preparing Your Home For a Hurricane
Your home is one of your largest investments, so protecting it from natural disasters like hurricanes is probably one of your top priorities. Hurricanes are common occurrences in the Southeastern parts of the United States. …
FICO Credit score 550 or more? No problem with special home loan programs available
HIGHLIGHTS In 2014, consumers with FICO credit scores higher than 660 made up a large portion of mortgage borrowers Home loan program available with a minimum FICO credit score of 550 The home buying process …
Saving for a Down Payment on a House just got easier with new 1% Down Program
HIGHLIGHTS 4 out of 10 people think you need a 20 percent down payment to buy a home Most lenders do not require a 20 percent down payment to buy a home New 1 percent …
How to Navigate Credit Issues That Can Affect Your Mortgage
No doubt about it, applying for a mortgage can be a long and involved process that can leave you feeling drained and financially exposed. But it’s in your best interest to be transparent with your …