Year: 2020

Should you refinance for less than half a percent difference on your current loan? You’ve probably heard that interest rate are at record lows and if you’re current rate is one percent higher than today’s rates then we would usually say refinancing is a no-brainer. But what if you already have a low rate and its less than half a percentage point less than your current rate, should you refinance then? There are a few key factors to consider. 1. Do have an Adjust Rate (ARM) Mortgage? Getting into a lower fixed rate mortgage can definitely make sense in this case as you’ll lock in a lower rate, as the ARM rate may rise in the future. 2. Do you have a high loan balance? If your loan balance is…

A good credit score is something we all want and it can help you get a better interest rate as well. Before we get started though, the first thing you should do is get your credit report! You can order it free here - https://www.annualcreditreport.com Now that you have your report lets get to those tips! 🤓 1. Check for Errors! You want the report to be clean and mistake free. Check if there are misspellings of your name or addresses. Other things might be duplicate accounts, incorrect account information, closed accounts that are still listed as open, fraud etc! 2. Clean up the Errors! If you found something wrong the next step is to get the errors fixed. You can contact the major three bureaus directly to fix any…

Here is a top ten list of questions you should ask before buying a home 1. What is my budget? We mean total budget, not just the sales price. Remember to include property taxes, insurance, any HOA fees, renovations costs and ongoing maintenance. 2. Did I get preapproved? Most realtors want to see that your pre-approved (many won’t even talk to you until you are!). So get preapproved to show you mean business. And we can help! Contact us today for a preapproval letter! 3. Why is the seller moving? This can be useful in seeing how motivated the seller is and can help in negotiating the price. 4. What comes with the sale? Make sure you get in writing what is included in advanced – the washing machine, stove,…

If you haven’t heard interest rates are at record lows (I know you probably heard this on the radio the last ten years, but this time its true!). So if you have a mortgage, there’s a good chance you can refinance into a lower rate (generally a good idea :) and may consider getting cash out, so here are five things to consider. First we will start with the pros…. Low Rates and Lower Rates. As we said rates are low now – like really low. And if you’re considering a HELOC or home equity line of credit, rates on a mortgage refi are often lower. So you can lock in a low rate and have lower payments – sounds good right? Debt Consolidation If you have a lot of…

We don't need to tell you that 2020 is presenting new challenges, but some of them can be opportunities. If you are lucky enough to have outdoor space consider making an outdoor room! An outdoor room is a great way to enjoy the summer weather, get fresh air and Vitamin D from the sun (it helps strengthen the immune system 💪). Creating an outdoor room you'll want to consider what its primarily going to be used for: relaxing, dining or maybe working. First, you'll want to make sure it has a ceiling! Ok maybe not an actual ceiling if you have a tree for cover that's great! If you're super ambitious a pergola is awesome but you can always get an umbrella or a trellis and cover that. Next you'll…

The housing marketing is showing signs of rebounding with pent-up demand from the lockdown and tight supplies. Applications for new home loans reached an 11-1/2 year high last week! And there was a 14.4% increase in applications for new home construction in May. Along with historically low interest rates we are seeing signs of the housing market helping to lead the economy back 📈

Many Americans have been hit hard by the pandemic and doing things that were normal a few months ago, like making your monthly mortgage payment are now a struggle for many. If you need to pause your payments there is a government program called the CARES Act which allows you to pause payments for up to 180 days (and there is an option to extend another 180 days). You will need to have a federally backed loan to qualify (FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac backed loan), if you do not have a federally back loan you will need to contact your servicer for assistance, many are offering options. To apply for forbearance you will need to contact your loan servicer and must have been current on payments prior…

A question a lot of potential home sellers are asking is should I put my house on the market now? 🤔 Every situation and location varies of course, but there are some general pros and cons. One pro is rates are historically low right now, so that is a pro. Another reason is well lets be real, there is economic uncertainty so you may want to sell now for that reason. The cons would be that while we are starting to open up again ( 🥳 ), there are still going to be people apprehensive about going house shopping right now. There are great virtual open house tools that will help (but we usually recommend checking out a house in person before actually purchasing. Of course we won't be in…

As we are in unprecedented times, many of us need help. If you are worried about making a payment next month, you maybe able to delay or reduce your mortgage payment. Please check the link for more details https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-forbearance-en-289/

Happy Memorial Day! Wishing you and your family a safe and happy Memorial Day! And an extra special thanks to those who've served and those who are serving us now.