Latest Articles

How Can FHA Help Me Buy A Home?

What is a FHA Loan? Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans are designed for people who don’t qualify for a conventional loan, generally due to lower credit scores or limited funds for a down payment. These loans are federally backed mortgages that are issued by FHA-approved lenders. The FHA does not lend the money. They do […]

New Conforming Loan Limits for 2022

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced this week that they are increasing the baseline conforming loan limit for 2022 from $548,250 to $647,200 for 95% of U.S. counties. This is an 18% increase. For the nearly 100 counties that are categorized as high-cost areas, that limit is even higher with some counties going as […]

Buy vs. Build: Pros and Cons

With low inventory of houses, you might be considering building rather than buying. It is a very attractive option in the current housing market. Let’s break down the pros can cons (and costs) of building vs. buying. Buying an Existing Home: Pros The biggest positive of buying an existing home is timing. The home is […]

The 90 Day Rule for Cash Buyers

How to buy your house with cash and still get the mortgage interest tax deduction. Buying homes with cash has increased drastically as buyers seek a competitive edge in the tight housing market. The percentage of cash buyers hit 23% in July 2021. If you have the means to purchase without taking out a mortgage […]

New VA Appraisal Fees and Timeliness Guidelines

Busy Market Causes Appraisal Cost and Timing Increases In response to the increase in home purchases and the subsequent need for home appraisals, appraisers are in high demand this year. While the appraisal environment may calm down in the future, the cost and waiting time for appraisals is increasing. In response, VA has updated their […]

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

As the weather starts to cool and the leaves begin to change colors, it is time to start thinking about fall home maintenance. From lawncare to reviewing your roof, we have you covered with this fall maintenance checklist. #1 Protect your plants. Trimming back plants. If you’re starting this list early enough and temperatures haven’t […]

Home Maintenance Costs and Budgeting

The current #1 regret for homebuyers is being underprepared for maintenance costs. Based on a recent BankRate survey, 21% of homebuyers cited high maintenance costs as their greatest regret. Homeownership is an amazing way to build wealth and security. It is important to be prepared to make that big financial step. So, let’s take a […]

Closing Costs

Closing Costs Closing costs are the fees charged for the various services needed to obtain a mortgage. Both purchase and refinance mortgages come with closing costs. These costs average 2% to 5% of the total loan cost. An estimate of these fees will be included in your Loan Estimate. The final list of closing costs […]

VA Appraisal Process

U.S. Veterans have access to exclusive home loan options with a variety of perks including $0 down payment, no PMI, and no prepayment penalties just to name a few. One VA home loan perk that is particularly useful in today’s hot housing market is the unique appraisal process. For details on what an appraisal is […]