Is a Bigger Down Payment Always Better?
In the homebuying process, if you find yourself in the enviable position of having more cash than needed for a minimum down payment, it may be difficult to know just how much you should put down. A larger down payment can bring plenty of benefits, but is it always best to contribute the biggest down payment possible? First, remember that every loan program has its own down payment requirements. FHA loans for example require a minimum of 3.5% while jumbo loans will require at least 10%. To get a conventional loan without PMI you’ll need 20%. USDA and VA, by contrast, do not requi...
September 25th, 2019 | Purchasing a Home, Preapproval, Mortgage Advice, Is a Bigger Down Payment Always Better?
What is the CHOICERenovation Mortgage?
Freddie Mac has announced the creation of a new home renovation loan program called the CHOICERenovation Mortgage. This product is replacing Freddie Mac’s previous Renovation Mortgage and is very similar to Fannie Mae’s HomeStyle Renovation and the FHA’s 203k loan. It offers many benefits to borrowers looking to make updates to their properties. How Does It Work? The CHOICERenovation Mortgage breaks from its predecessor by eliminating the need for Interim Construction Finance and allows borrowers to take out one loan at closing to pay for both the home purchase an...
August 28th, 2019 | Home Renovation Loans, What is the CHOICERenovation Mortgage?
What’s More Important: Lower Home Prices or Mortgage Rates?
When buying a home, there are several factors that affect how much mortgage you can afford. Two of the most important are the property prices and current mortgage interest rates. Is it better to search for the absolute lowest rate or is it more helpful to choose a less-expensive home? Here’s how the two factors are related and how to make the right choice. Mortgage Rate/Home Price Relationship Since higher mortgage rates make homebuying more expensive for buyers, you might think that home prices would tend to fall during high rate climates in order to compensate for those costs. Un...
July 31st, 2019 | Purchasing a Home, Interest Rates, What’s More Important: Lower Home Prices or Mortgage Rates?
Happy 4th of July
We want to wish you a Happy Fourth of July! It is because of clients like you who believe in this great country and the dream of homeownership that we have reason to celebrate. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Declaration of Independence - July 4, 1776
July 3rd, 2019 | Mortgages, Happy 4th of July
Benefits to Mortgage Debt
In order to buy a house, most Americans take on a mortgage loan. While debt is usually to be avoided if possible, when it comes to a mortgage there may actually be some financial benefits for borrowers. Liquidity If you dump all your extra funds into paying off your mortgage, you may be in a tight spot if you face a financial emergency. Family deaths, divorce and health traumas are just a few things that can quickly rack up enormous debts. If you do not have a sizable emergency save up and you have been sinking all disposable cash into your home, you may end up selling your home to pay f...
June 5th, 2019 | Debt, Credit, Mortgage, Benefits to Mortgage Debt
What is Mortgage Amortization?
If you have a fixed-rate home mortgage, you pay the exact same amount each month. But did you know that the amount of principal you pay toward the balance of your loan changes from month to month? This is called amortization and it is a method of distributing the interest and principal over the course of a loan so that it is completely paid off by the end of the loan term. Understanding how it works could help save you plenty of interest on your mortgage. How does it work? When you agree to buy a house at a certain price, in reality, you will end up paying way more than that price to you...
May 8th, 2019 | Credit, Interest Rates, What is Mortgage Amortization?