Understanding Jumbo Loans

When You Can’t Get a Conforming Loan, You Get a Jumbo Loan Imagine you’ve found the house of your dreams. After years of work, maybe even decades, you’re ready for this place that you love. Maybe it’s in an expensive area of town, or maybe it’s particularly big. Whatever the reason, you’ve found a home […]

Should You Buy a Home or Rent a House?

When you’re trying to decide whether you should buy or rent a property, there’s one simple question you need to consider. Do you want a house or a home? Why You Might Want to Rent If you’re young — coming straight out of college or from a family member’s place — you might just need […]

Rates Are Low – It’s Time To Refinance Your Mortgage

Wondering if now’s the time to refinance your mortgage? You’re not alone. Things have been a little crazy recently, with Janet Yellen promising interest rate hikes. The situation isn’t helped by low oil prices and an increasingly volatile Chinese market. Sure, the Fed hasn’t increased interest rates yet, but who’s to say they won’t do […]

Understanding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

After the release of The Big Short, there seems to be renewed interest in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The subject, unfortunately, can be very difficult to parse. Therefore, I hope to clear up some of the confusion with a post that covers the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac basics. What are Fannie Mae and […]

The Bidding Wars: How to Make Sure You Win

As some housing markets are stronger than ever—the high-end market, especially—bidding wars are still happening. In fact, in some markets, as many as 15 offers can be placed on a home on the very first day that home is listed. So how will you make your offer stand out from the rest on a home […]

Three Steps to Take in Finding the Perfect Mortgage

When looking to buy a new home, most prospective homebuyers look to a mortgage broker or loan originator to make it happen. However, the mistake that’s often made is depending on a mortgage broker or loan originator to do all the work for you. Buying a home is a decision that will affect your family […]

The Summer Housing Trends Roundup

House hunters are often warned not to chase deals – the perfect house might slip through their fingers because they don’t like the paint color. It’s a good idea to stay focused on your long-term happiness and not small details, or even a slightly lower price. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t approach the house-hunting […]

Avoid the Most Common Mistakes House Hunters Make

Buying a house should be a simple process. But when dealing with what is usually the largest asset in most people’s lives, both the seller and the buyer often complicate the process unnecessarily. When you’re the buyer, you can avoid making costly mistakes by keeping these five tips in mind. Don’t Hold Out for Perfection […]

Top Four Things That Will Drive Your Real Estate Agents Crazy

Buying a home is an exciting decision – but also a little scary, and one of the larger financial decisions that most people will make in their lives. The advice and guidance of an experienced and plugged-in Realtor is vital when house-hunting – and that relationship must be protected. Yet a lot of house-hunters manage […]

Can I claim interest on my mortgage on my federal taxes?

Making Closing Make More Sense

It’s no secret that closing on a property is a chaotic, confusing experience for most home buyers. Even experienced buyers purchasing their second or third home find the process intimidating: From last-minute changes in the money they must bring to the table to the mountain of confusing documents they must sign and supposedly review. Stories […]

The Four Secrets that Could Save You Big Bucks on Your Mortgage

In the mortgage industry, the landscape of lending has changed significantly over the past decade.   Getting a mortgage today isn’t the same process it was 10 years ago. That’s why you should know these four secret tips for saving big on your mortgage in today’s current market. Secret #1: Apply with the bank you already […]