Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is an important factor when applying for a mortgage or refinance. Not only does it play a role in your ability to qualify, but it can also influence your interest rate…
Buying a home is a huge life goal for many people — and for good reason. For one, homeownership means putting down roots. You get a place that’s all your own — one that you…
Whether it’s your first time buying a home or it’s just been a while, there’s a chance you might need some help along the way. Fortunately, if you’re a first-timer — or if you haven’t…
For many people, the upfront cost of buying a home feels like the biggest hurdle, and that’s understandable. After all, having a solid down payment is important. Not only can it lower your monthly and…
With home prices skyrocketing, there’s been a lot of speculation lately. Are we in a bubble? Will the housing market crash? Will home values come plummeting to the ground again? Fortunately, those concerns are largely…
Extra rooms can quickly turn into catch-alls. You move in, and suddenly that space ends up full of holiday decorations, old school projects and the extra chair you can’t find anywhere else to place. But…
If you have a mortgage (or are in the process of getting one), then you’ve probably heard the term “amortization” before. Put simply, amortization is the act of spreading your loan balance out into equal…
The homebuying process is complicated — especially for first-time buyers. To make matters worse, there are a ton of misconceptions out there that can throw a homebuyer off even more. A couple of examples?You need…
When you’re applying for a mortgage, you know that your credit score plays a big role in your approval — and it can affect your interest rate too. But do you know how your score…
Down payments can be a big hurdle when buying a home. In fact, nearly a third of first-time buyers received money from friends or relatives to source their down payment. Are you considering a similar…