Category: Buying a Home

Could you save money using an automated appraisal?

Much of our world is becoming automated. It should be no surprise that this is also true of the housing and mortgage industry. While some automation changes are feared, this change will be good for the mortgage lender and the mortgage seeker alike. The Rules Have Changed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have revised their… Read more »

Can I get a co-signer for a home loan?

Things to avoid when buying a home in Michigan.

If you want to buy a house, you have to meet certain requirements in order to secure a mortgage. What if you do not meet the requirements for income and credit history? The good news is you can ask someone to cosign on your loan, even if they won’t live at your house. Here’s what… Read more »

How High Will Interest Rates Go This Year?

Mortgage interest rates have been slowly increasing since they plummeted following the 2008 financial crisis. Twice this year already, the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates, which, in turn, raises the rate at which banks loan out money for mortgages. But are they done raising rates this year, or could more hikes be on the… Read more »

How to Prevent Buyer’s Remorse

Forty-four percent of homebuyers end up regretting their purchase, according to a recent study by Trulia, a residential real estate website. The biggest regret? Not buying a larger home. If you’re entering into the home-buying process, you may be tempted to settle for less, especially if your budget doesn’t allow for a larger place. But… Read more »

Why You Shouldn’t Buy The Cheapest Home

If you don’t have a lot of money and you’re in the market for a new house, you may be tempted to buy the cheapest home you find with the intention of fixing it up. However, just because a house is cheap doesn’t mean it’s a wise investment. Here are a few things to watch… Read more »

5 Mortgage Myths that are no Longer True

While it can be useful to listen to the advice from others who have gotten a mortgage, you might have heard some wrong information. Or, at the very least, dated information. Here are 5 rules that no longer are true for getting a mortgage: 1. You need a 20% down payment. I recently spoke to… Read more »

Are Adjustable Rate Mortgages Still Too Risky?

I know what you’re thinking: Why would I ever want to get an Adjustable Rate Mortgage? Isn’t it too risky? Sure, it could be. But there are actually some circumstances in which it might be the best option. Let’s look at the pros and cons of ARMs, and you can decide whether it’s too risky… Read more »

15 vs. 30-Year Loan: Which is right for me?

What’s the deal with 15 and 30-year mortgage loan rates? If you’ve ever shopped around for a new mortgage, you’ve seen lenders advertising rates for both. There are pros and cons to both, depending on what you want to do with the mortgage. But there’s also the unknown fact that “15 to 30” aren’t the… Read more »