In a seller’s market, the competition can be fierce when trying to buy a home. But don’t get discouraged: There are plenty of ways for buyers to show sellers they are serious and able to exceed all expectations. If you want to make your purchase offer stand out, we...
Purchasing a Home
5 Questions to Ask Your Mortgage Lender When Buying a Home
Talking with a mortgage lender might seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! You should feel confident when you decide to take the next step and reach out to a loan specialist. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t ask the lender questions you have about...
Understanding the Steps in a Home Appraisal
Once you’ve made an offer on a home and have applied for a mortgage loan, your lender will order a home appraisal. During an appraisal, a trained professional will evaluate the home’s value. This routine step in the homebuying process actually holds a lot of weight:...
What to Do (and Not To Do) Once You Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage
Mortgage pre-approval is an important step of the homebuying process, helping buyers to solidify a budget and establish a relationship with a mortgage lender. But after the relief of pre-approval, you must carefully guard your finances. From the time you get your...
Which room should you remodel first after buying a home?
As you begin to unpack and decide where things go, you'll begin to notice ways to remodel and improve your new place, making it look more like who you are. You start asking yourself questions like, "wouldn't the bathroom, which has seen better days, benefit from an...
5 mistakes to avoid after getting pre-approved
Congratulations! You just received your mortgage pre-approval. Whether you're still looking at homes or you've found the perfect one, your new home is closer than ever before. So it's important that you do everything you can to protect your credit rating between...
How Long Does it Take to Purchase a Home?
Whether you're considering buying your first home, your next home, looking to downsize for retirement, or anywhere in between, you are probably wondering how long it takes to actually buy a home. The truth is that home purchasing will depend on several factors...
10 Steps of Closing on a House
The house closing steps are the final pieces in the process of buying a home. This is an important, exciting time. Closing your home is a big step, one that will end with you holding the keys to your new place. While it might feel daunting, the entire house...
10 Benefits of Homeownership
Buying a home is a big step. But it's more than just a place to live; homeownership is an investment that will help you improve your financial well-being in the long run. While owning a home can have challenges, the homeowner benefits that accompany purchasing...
When to Buy a House? Purchasing a House in Your Twenties
It used to be that home purchasing was something you did later in life after you establish yourself in your chosen career. But Gen Z is challenging that long-held belief by becoming the newest group to get into the home buying club. So how do you know if buying a home...