Being Pre-Approved Should Always Be Your First Step

  In many markets across the country, the number of buyers searching for their dream homes greatly outnumbers the amount of homes for sale, yet few are pre-approved when they start their search. This has led to a competitive marketplace where buyers often need to stand out. One way to show you are serious about buying […]

5 (Totally Legal) Tricks to Boost Your Credit Score Fast

So, you’ve decided next year is the year you’re finally going to buy a house, but now you’re a little panicked because your credit score isn’t exactly going to make lenders swoon. You’re not alone. The national average credit score is 695, while only half of consumers fall in the desired 700-plus range. Although you certainly can get […]

What Is a Home Equity Line of Credit? The HELOC Explained

If you’ve been looking for a way to get a little money out of your home without actually selling it, you’ve probably come across something called a Home Equity Line of Credit, or HELOC for short (pronounced “heelock”). Clear as mud, right? Now that you’re no doubt wondering what a Home Equity Line of Credit […]

Do You Know the Cost of NOT Owning Your Home?

Not owning your home has great financial downfalls, yet many continue renting! Today, let’s look at the financial reasons why owning a home of your own has been a part of the American Dream for as long as America has existed. Zillow recently reported that: “With Rents continuing to climb and interest rates staying low, […]

4 Tips for Effectively Making an Offer

So, you’ve been searching for that perfect house to call a ‘home,’ and you’re finally making an offer! The price is right, and in such a competitive market, you want to make sure that you make a good offer.  This will hopefully guarantee that your dream of making this house yours comes true! Freddie Mac covered “4 […]

3 Reasons the Housing Market is NOT in a Bubble

With housing prices appreciating at levels that far exceed historical norms, there is a general fear that the housing market is heading for another bubble. To alleviate that fear, we should just look back at the reasons that caused the bubble ten years ago.   Last decade, demand for housing was artificially propped up because mortgage lending […]

Real Estate: Best Long-Term Investment

Every year, Gallup surveys Americans to determine their choice for the best long-term investment. Respondents are given a choice between real estate, stocks/mutual funds, gold, savings accounts/CDs, or bonds.   For the fourth year in a row, Real Estate has come out on top as the best long-term investment! This year’s results showed that 34% […]