Keeping Current Articles What FICO® Score Do You Need to Qualify for a Mortgage? It’s common knowledge that your FICO® score plays an important role in the homebuying process. However, many buyers have misconceptions regarding what exactly is required to get the loans they need. While a recent announcement from CNBC shares that the average national FICO® score has reached an all-time high of 706, the good news for […]
Keeping Current Articles 62% of Buyers Are Wrong About Down Payment Needs Contrary to common misconception, a down payment is often much less than many believe. According to the ‘2019 Home Buyer Report’ conducted by Nerdwallet, many first-time buyers still believe they need a 20% down payment to buy a home in today’s market: “More than 6 in 10 (62%) Americans believe you must put at least 20% down in […]
Keeping Current Articles 5 Homebuying Acronyms You Need to Know [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights: Learning the lingo of homebuying is an important part of feeling successful when buying a home. From APR to P&I, you need to know the acronyms that will come up along the way, and what they mean when you hear them. Your local professionals are here to help you feel confident and informed […]
Keeping Current Articles 3 Signs the Housing Market Is on the Rebound The residential real estate market has been plodding along for most of the year. However, three recent reports show the market may be on the verge of a rebound. 1. Existing Home Sales (closed sales) are up, marking two consecutive months of growth. 2. Pending Home Sales (contracts signed) are up with each of the […]
Keeping Current Articles 4 Tips to Improve Your Home and Save on Your Energy Bill By making a few key upgrades to your home, you’ll save on your utility bills and improve the energy efficiency of your home. When you’re ready to sell your house, these key features will make it even more attractive to potential buyers. As a homeowner, it’s important to keep your home running efficiently, not only […]
Keeping Current Articles What to Expect from Your Home Inspection You made an offer and it was accepted. Your next task is to have the home inspected prior to closing. Agents often recommend you make your offer contingent upon a clean home inspection. This contingency allows you to renegotiate the price you offered for the home, ask the sellers to cover repairs, or in some […]
Keeping Current Articles How Does the Supply of Homes for Sale Impact Buyer Demand? The latest edition of the Realtors Confidence Index from NAR sheds some light on the relationship between seller traffic (supply) and buyer traffic (demand). Until the supply of homes for sale starts to meet buyer demand, prices will continue to rise. The price of any item is determined by supply, as well as the market’s demand for the item. The National […]
Keeping Current Articles Homeowners Are Happy! Renters? Not So Much. When people talk about homeownership and the American Dream, much of the conversation revolves around the financial benefits of owning a home. However, two recent studies show that the non-financial benefits might be even more valuable. In a recent survey, Bank of America asked homeowners: “Does owning a home make you happier than renting?” 93% […]
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Keeping Current Articles Homeowners Are Happy! Renters? Not So Much. When people talk about homeownership and the American Dream, much of the conversation revolves around the financial benefits of owning a home. However, two recent studies show that the non-financial benefits might be even more valuable. In a recent survey, Bank of America asked homeowners: “Does owning a home make you happier than renting?” 93% […]
Keeping Current Articles Are You Ready for the ‘Black Friday’ of Real Estate? According to a new study from realtor.com, the week of September 22 is the best time of year to buy a home, making it ‘Black Friday’ for homebuyers. Every year, ‘Black Friday’ is a highly anticipated event for eager shoppers. Some people prepare for weeks, crafting and refining a strategic shopping agenda, determining exactly when […]
Keeping Current Articles Are You Ready for the ‘Black Friday’ of Real Estate? According to a new study from realtor.com, the week of September 22 is the best time of year to buy a home, making it ‘Black Friday’ for homebuyers. Every year, ‘Black Friday’ is a highly anticipated event for eager shoppers. Some people prepare for weeks, crafting and refining a strategic shopping agenda, determining exactly when […]
Keeping Current Articles Should You Fix Your House Up or Sell Now? If you’re thinking about remodeling your house before you list it, take a look at these three tips to help you decide if you really need to fix it up before you sell. The answer may surprise you. With the fall season upon us, change is in the air. For many families, children are growing […]
Keeping Current Articles Should You Fix Your House Up or Sell Now? If you’re thinking about remodeling your house before you list it, take a look at these three tips to help you decide if you really need to fix it up before you sell. The answer may surprise you. With the fall season upon us, change is in the air. For many families, children are growing […]
Articles Why All Retirees Should Consider Irvine, CA Gearing up for retirement? This time in your life is a great opportunity to move to a city where you can focus on the things that make you happiest rather than the obligations you planned your life around during your younger years. If you’re looking for a fresh, relaxed city for your Golden Years, you definitely need to consider Irvine, California. 
Keeping Current Articles Is Your House “Priced to Sell Immediately”? In today’s real estate market, more houses are coming to market every day. Eager buyers are searching for their dream homes, so setting the right price for your house is one of the most important things you can do. According to CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Index, home values have risen at over 6% a year […]
Keeping Current Articles Is Your House “Priced to Sell Immediately”? In today’s real estate market, more houses are coming to market every day. Eager buyers are searching for their dream homes, so setting the right price for your house is one of the most important things you can do. According to CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Index, home values have risen at over 6% a year […]
Keeping Current Articles 4 Reasons to Sell This Fall [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights: Buyers are active in the market and often competing with one another for available listings. Housing inventory is still under the 6-month supply found in a normal housing market. Homes are still selling relatively quickly, averaging 31 days on the market.   Content previously posted on Keeping Current Matters
Keeping Current Articles One of the Top Reasons to Own a Home One of the benefits of homeownership is that it is a “forced savings plan.” Here’s how it works: You make a mortgage payment each month. Part of that payment is applied to the principal balance of your mortgage. Each month you owe less on the home. The difference between the value of the home and […]
Keeping Current Articles What Buyers Need to Know About HOAs When searching for a home, you may end up selecting a property in a community with a Homeowners Association (HOA). Before you buy, it’s important to know how an HOA works and what they mean for you. According to a recent article on realtor.com, “In a nutshell, an HOA helps ensure that your community looks […]
Keeping Current Articles Home Prices Increase in Every Price Range Price appreciation can differ depending on your price range. CoreLogic analyzed four individual home prices tiers and shares the increase in each one. CoreLogic’s Home Price Index (HPI) Report revealed, “National home prices increased 3.6% year over year in July 2019 and are forecast to increase 5.4% from July 2019 to July 2020.” They also […]