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You invest in real estate to make money. The best investments are those that make the greatest amount of money with the least amount of effort. So you want to put a value on the time you spend managing your investment as well as the money you put into it. How do you make more […]

For most home buyers, closing costs are one of the biggest up-front expenses of a new home loan – and sometimes they come as quite a surprise. You’ve saved and saved for your down payment and, now, you have to come up with thousands more to close on your mortgage? Fortunately, we have some simple […]

Whether you’re looking to refinance your current mortgage or you’re looking for a new loan, you need to know about private mortgage insurance (PMI) and how it affects you. PMI is a privately secured insurance that is required on conventional loans with less than 20% equity in the property. This insurance protects the lender against […]

Years of building up equity in your home can work in your favor. Before you get ready to call your broker and get your new home upgrade or refinance started, you want to get the most out of your equity. That means getting the best appraisal. An appraiser is a third party that will give […]

Buying a home can be a complex process, and some homeowners find themselves with a mortgage that doesn’t work for them, or home repair problems that they can’t afford. A little work up-front can save you years of headaches and thousands of dollars. Check Your Credit Score First Home buyers need at least a credit […]

Starting a home loan application means you are on your way to receiving your pre-approval letter. That letter will let you know exactly how much you can borrow. That knowledge will help you save time and money as you search and make an offer on a home. Get a jump on fixing any financial issues […]

You usually don’t get what you don’t ask for when negotiating. So ask responsibly. You want to create a reasonable and fair offer that benefits both parties. In the process, there are some Do’s and Don’ts that can help make sure you are getting a good deal. Do’s: Have your real estate agent negotiate for […]

There are at least 7 things you must do to win in the home buying process. Winning means getting a fair deal and being satisfied with your purchase. These 7 things should happen after you receive your pre-approval letter. Work with a reputable and referred real estate agent. You don’t want to just work with […]

A pre-approval letter is an official document from a lender that lets the borrower know you are serious, you can get the money, and that the closing process should be smooth and fast. This letter can be shown to sellers at the appropriate time to show the specific mortgage amount they are approved for. These […]

Not knowing what you can afford can be a major stumbling block as you try to navigate through the home buying process. Know your credit score Buyers can be best served by finding their current credit score, cleaning up any negatives on their credit report, keeping account balances below 30% of their limits, saving enough […]