Monthly Archives: September 2022
FAQ Friday – What Is Homeowner Identity Fraud?
Anyone can be a victim of homeowner identity fraud, including wire, mortgage, and title insurance fraud. The financial implications can be damaging and long-lasting. Use these tips to protect yourself from being scammed and defrauded. Wire fraud Wire fraud usually happens during the closing phase of a home purchase. Homebuyers are typically busy with their... Read More
Long Distance Home Buying
People move for a variety of reasons. However, long-distance moves often come during times of life change, like a new marriage, new job, or retirement. If your next move is taking you far away to a new city, you may be struggling with how to ensure you choose the right neighborhood and the right home... Read More
Calculating Square Footage: Which of These ‘Gray’ Areas Should You Count?
There are plenty of reasons you might want to know how to calculate the square feet of a house, whether you’re looking to sell a property, dispute a high tax assessment or renovate to add more space. Square footage also matters in real estate deals that involve a mortgage, for similar reasons. The lender will... Read More
Top Reasons Homeowners Are Selling Their Houses Right Now
Some people believe there’s a group of homeowners who may be reluctant to sell their houses because they don’t want to lose the historically low mortgage rate they have on their current home. You may even have the same hesitation if you’re thinking about selling your house. Data shows 51% of homeowners have a mortgage... Read More
Buyers Are Regaining Some of Their Negotiation Power in Today’s Housing Market
If you’re thinking about buying a home today, there’s welcome news. Even though it’s still a sellers’ market, it’s a more moderate sellers’ market than last year. And the days of feeling like you may need to waive contingencies or pay drastically over asking price to get your offer considered may be coming to a... Read More
Should I Consider Refinancing My Mortgage?
If you own a home, one of the options to help reduce your monthly payments and save money is to refinance your mortgage, and with this ever-changing market, refinancing is certainly something to consider. This process won’t be for everyone, but it’s a good first step to take if you’re looking to save a little... Read More
6 Things You Need to Know Before House-hunting on Zillow
Just as Kleenex has become the name for any brand of facial tissue and “to Xerox” is used as a verb for making copies, Zillow is the first name in online home search with 196 million unique visitors last year. That’s about double the number that Realtor.com enjoyed during the same period, making Zillow the... Read More
The Pros and Cons of Living Near a School
Schools are the center of many communities. Outside of the Monday through Friday school week, there will be sporting events, clubs, dances, local events, and graduations. Some people will embrace the liveliness. Others? Not so much. When you’re on the market for a new home, living near a primary or high school can be an... Read More
Three Things Buyers Can Do in Today’s Housing Market
It’s clear the 2022 housing market has been defined by rising mortgage rates. With rates on the rise, it’s also become more costly to purchase a home. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR): “Compared to one year ago, the monthly mortgage payment rose to $1,944 from $1,265, an increase of 53.7%.” If you’re... Read More
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