If you’ve ever purchased a home, you know how stressful the process can be. What should be an exciting experience can quickly turn to panic, as the target closing date approaches. So, what can be done to prevent delays along your path to homeownership? Check out our list of tips and tricks below to meet (or beat!) your closing date. Get… Read more »
Category: Refinance
How to Get Rid of Mortgage Insurance
How to Get Rid of Mortgage Insurance So you want to break up with your monthly mortgage insurance—we don’t blame you! When you purchased your home, there’s a good chance you didn’t have 20% to put down, right? Mortgage insurance is a great option, in that it allows buyers to increase their purchasing power, but… Read more »
Conforming Loan Limits Increased
As home prices across the country continue to rise, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) have announced increases in conforming loan limits for 2017. For the first time since 2006, the FHFA has increased the maximum loan limit for conventional loans through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from $417,000… Read more »
Refinance Your Home Without an Appraisal
Refinance Your Home Without an Appraisal Soon, homeowners will be able to refinance their homes without an appraisal! Beginning December 10th 2016, Fannie Mae will offer an Enhanced Property Inspection Waiver (PIW) for ONE-IN-FOUR transactions. What is a Property Inspection Waiver? A Property Inspection Waiver is Fannie Mae’s offer to waive the requirement for an… Read more »
Home Improvements and How to Finance Them
Home Improvements and How to Finance Them I don’t know what it is about the fall, but it seems to bring out the DIY-er in all of us. Instead of flocking to the beach or heading north for a quick getaway, everyone is spending their weekends at home improvement stores. If you’ve been contemplating a remodel of your… Read more »
What is a Loan-to-Value (LTV) Ratio?
If you’ve ever been in the market for a mortgage, you’ve probably heard the phrase ‘loan-to-value ratio’ or ‘LTV’ for short. Obtaining a new mortgage can be nerve-wracking, even without the financial jargon and acronyms—so let’s talk about LTV, what it means, and how it affects you and your mortgage. How are Loan-to-Value ratios calculated?… Read more »
Brexit gives mortgage seekers the gift of low mortgage rates!
Mortgage rates have dropped yet again in the wake of the Brexit (Britain voting to leave the European Union). The world markets have been very volatile since the news broke early Friday morning. Financial instability brings lower mortgage rates. Now is the best time to buy a home or refinance your mortgage to a lower… Read more »
Mortgage Rates have Dropped to Recent Lows
Mortgage rates have dropped again officially hitting the lowest levels in one year which is near historic lows. According to the Freddie Mac weekly mortgage survey, rates are as low as 3.72% for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage and as low as 3.01% for a 15 year fixed rate mortgage. If you have been considering… Read more »