By Cathie Ericson The home-buying journey can be uncertain, full of twists and turns you don’t see coming. Even if you’re using a Veterans Affairs loan—and taking advantage of the unique benefits that come along with it—you could still run into some big roadblocks along the way. That’s why you need a savvy real estate agent…
The construction of new homes increased in October to meet the rising homebuyer demand, according to the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Privately-owned housing starts increased in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.29 million, up a full 13.7% from September’s revised estimate of 1.14 million. However, it…
by ALY J. YALE Climbing minimum FICOs leave some out in the cold In some parts of the country, it’s harder to rent an apartment than to buy a home – especially if you’ve got a less-than-perfect credit score. According to new data from RENTCafe, renters need FICO scores as high as 737 to secure an apartment…
Mortgage disclosures: new and improved by: GINA POGOL Mortgage disclosures have changed a lot in recent years. While some older ones buried the loan’s most important terms in a sea of small print, that’s not the case today. Some of the most confusing mortgage disclosures are actually the least important ones. Here’s a quick rundown of what…
Courtesy: The Mortgage Reports By:ALY J. YALE A surge in supply New home construction may finally be picking up. And if word from the National Association of Home Builders is any indication, it could alleviate the housing shortage and improve conditions for first-time buyers. Click to see today’s rates (Nov 9th, 2017) The construction cooldown…
Surprisingly affordable housing Though home prices may be up nominally, affordable housing is plentiful – especially by historical standards. According to new data from Black Knight Financial Services, the percentage of income required to buy today’s median-priced home is actually down significantly from decades prior. Click to see today’s rates (Nov 8th, 2017) Payment-to-income ratios Recent…
Buying a duplex: a different animal When it comes to buy a duplex with less than 5 percent down, the strength of your application really counts. The question very often is not what you can afford, but whether you can fit within tight lender guidelines. Click to see today’s rates (Nov 7th, 2017) What exactly…
Courtesy: ALY J. YALE The Mortgage Report Ramping up refinancing Millennials aren’t just buying homes at record rates nowadays. According to new data from Ellie Mae, they’re also refinancing their existing ones. Click to see today’s rates (Nov 6th, 2017) Good rates, great refinance opportunities According to Ellie Mae’s Millennial Tracker, which analyzes monthly closed loan applications…
Home warranty: budgeting lifesaver, home selling tool, or silly gimmick? When it comes time to buy real estate, we all worry about prices and financing. But what about a home warranty? That’s a piece of the puzzle which is often overlooked – much to the buyer’s lament. Click to see today’s rates (Nov 2nd, 2017)…
Consumers are coming to expect a simple, transparent, and pleasant experience in all of their transactions. Businesses are therefore increasingly leveraging digital channels to reduce errors and speed up transactions to deliver a better customer experience. In our prior quarterly Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey® (MLSS), senior mortgage executives reported that investing in consumer-facing technologies is one of…
Alex Sanchez 