If you want to avoid paying private mortgage insurance or PMI, you’re not alone. Buying a home requires a large wad of cash and saving money where you can makes absolute sense. Unfortunately, having enough funds for the down payment is among the biggest struggles of many first-time home buyers. After all, fifty-seven percent of…
There is more to a home sale than the actual sale itself. Between listing the property and the actual sale, many things do happen. Two of the important yet often overlooked things occurring between the listing and the sale are contingencies and disclosures. While these two terms sound intimidating, they are easier to understand as…
You’re all set on making that big purchase. And it’s most likely the biggest purchase you’ll ever make. We’re talking about buying that dream home. This means more than just providing a roof over your head or a shelter for your family. Buying a home is a reflection of your achievements and that dream…
Am I ready to buy a house? We would like to help more people understand if they should buy a home or not with questions that don’t test your real estate knowledge but really help you reflect on if you should buy a home next or keep on renting instead. This is why we have…
How to qualify first time home buyer: Buying a home can be financially daunting especially if you’re a first time home buyer. But don’t despair—if you think you can’t handle the financial burden alone, there are various assistance programs available for you! In this article, we’ll help you know how to qualify, first time home…
How much house can I afford? That is the million dollar question. Before checking out that dream home, you need to answer one question — how much house can I afford? First Things First Is this the right time to purchase a new house? While there’s no easy way to answer this question, you can…
Finally, it’s the closing day. It’s the most exciting part of your home buying journey. You have everything ready to transfer the property to your name — we know it wasn’t easy. That dream home is one signature away from being yours. At this stage though, the keys are not with you yet. There are still…
While a home inspection isn’t required by law, most home buyers believe that it’s a crucial part of the home buying process. The outcome of home inspection reports has the power to close deals or cancel them. In 2018 alone, some 4,500 realtors admitted that home inspections were the second leading cause of delays or…
You fell in love with a charming two-bedroom and its swanky kitchen. After negotiating with gusto, the seller finally accepted your offer. The seller happens to be a warm fellow who assured you that he has a clean title. You can’t wait to own this home but here’s the thing with buying properties — you…
You have the loan approval and all you need to is close on the property. But before you can proceed, you should wait for the Closing Disclosure. The Closing Disclosure or CD is a notice which details all costs related to your mortgage. Your lender should send it to you for review at least three…
Making an offer on a house means you are almost a homeowner. Sending an offer may sound easy, but figuring out how to make an offer on a house can be complex. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered! While the process can be intimidating, knowing exactly what to do when making an offer can simplify the…
After the seller accepts your offer, it’s time to take care of more paperwork. At this point, you may also receive the real estate purchase agreement. Real estate agents are familiar with real purchase agreements. But it may also be useful to have a real estate attorney you trust to go over the contract. By…
While some are fortunate enough to buy their first (or second) home in cold cash, most Americans fulfill their dream of homeownership through the help of mortgage lenders. And because there are plenty of lenders to choose from, it can be challenging to find the right loan provider. Why You Need to Consider Multiple Mortgage…
Going to an open house and shopping for new properties is the fun part of home shopping. But if you are serious about buying a house, you should talk to a lender first. Even before looking for a new home, you should get a pre-qualification for a mortgage. If pre-qualification sounds foreign to you, here’s…
Hiring a real estate attorney may not be a must in some states but talking to an attorney saves you from unnecessary stress and losses. At some point, it would be easier to talk to a lawyer before purchasing a home to understand the whole process. You may be surprised by all the unfamiliar legalese…
What Does a Financial Advisor Do: 8 Essential Facts About Financial Advisors Buying a home sometimes produces a roller coaster of emotions, from eagerness and excitement to uncertainty and apprehensions. You might be somewhere in between. Researching on the home buying process is a good first step. Next thing you need to do is to…
Before you start looking for your first home, you should sit down with your family members and discuss the most important thing – the budget for buying a house. Yes! You need to know how much you can afford to pay for a new house first! Bring out your trusty pen and house hunting notebook,…
When searching for a new house, going to open houses is an experience that is both fun and enlightening. There is no better way for first time home buyers to immerse themselves in the home-buying journey than going to open houses. Whether you are eager on making that purchase, or just plainly starting out, exploring…
FSBO or For Sale By Owner properties may not be too common but buyers may find these homes to be more affordable than others. While most FSBO sellers make 6% more by selling the property without an agent, buyers can benefit from this too! Most FSBO sellers are amateur realtors. Although some FSBO properties are…
State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) How First Time Home Buyers can get closer to acquiring a property in New York They say that if you want to live a life of excitement, diversity, and creativity then look no further than New York City. This city boasts of a vibrant 24-hour life. Apart from…
First Time Home Buyer New Jersey A step-by-step process to guide you through your home buying journey in New Jersey, the Garden State Before anything else, congratulations! The fact that you’re reading this article means that you are on your way to finding and eventually owning a new home. We know that you seek to…
First time home buyer NY and have no idea where to start? You’re not alone! We know how hard it is to look for a home in the big apple (which is, by the way, the most densely populated area in the US!)—that’s why we have this brief home-buying guide to help you get started…
While thinking whether you are ready to buy a house or if you’ll qualify for a mortgage, you can’t help but think about the cost. Before taking that big leap, it’s always better to use mortgage calculators to figure out the additional expense you’d take on if you buy a new home. When you buy a…
How much does it cost to buy a home in New York? With the median home listing price for the state being $411,000, it pays to know about first time home buyer grants in NY. Here’s a list of grants open to New York resident looking for down payment and closing cost assistance programs. Take…
Buying a home for the first time can be scary. After all, it is a major financial commitment which usually requires a 20% down payment based on the property price. This is why you need to know the top First Time Home Buyer Programs! Unless you have a lot of cash lying around or a…
Can I afford a house? That’s the question millions of people ask themselves every day. The first step shouldn’t be using a mortgage calculator or talking to a mortgage lender. The first step is to talk to a financial planner. These professionals need to understand your situation and goals. After looking into all those things,…
Home Sale Proceeds Calculator Today someone asked me how to make sure buying a property is a good decision for your money. When my husband Josh and I bought a property in Brooklyn, we used this home sale proceeds calculator that a very good friend of mine uses to analyze his property investments. He says…
