Home price growth fueled by high demand for single-family homes was higher in July according to Case-Shiller’s National Home Price Index. Analysts said that millennials seeking to purchase homes and the continued exodus from large urban areas propelled rising home prices. Home prices grew fastest in the West and Southeastern regions. While home prices grew moderately before the pandemic, high unemployment has not impeded rapid home price growth since the pandemic. Low mortgage rates and more demand for homes overcame consumers’ concerns about jobs and the economy. Analysts said … [Read More...]
Those who are in the process of buying a new home need to be aware of some of the factors that might influence their ability to do so. Even though credit score, income, and assets will play major roles in whether or not someone might be approved for a loan, there are other factors that will play a role as well. Buying a new car might even have an impact on the homebuying process. Why is this the case? The Debt Payments On The Car Will Play A Role There are multiple ways to buy a car. Some people elect to pay cash for the entire vehicle. While this is a challenge for most families, this will … [Read More...]
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted everyone. For homeowners, they might be wondering how they are able to keep up with their mortgage in light of shelter in place orders, financial difficulties, and unemployment problems. Federal agencies and regulatory authorities are putting relief measures in place during the pandemic to help people who might have trouble keeping up with their mortgage. When it comes to coronavirus mortgage relief, there are a few tips that everyone should keep in mind. Talk To The Lender First The first step is always to talk to the lender directly and see if … [Read More...]
Last week’s economic news included readings on new and existing home sales and Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s testimony on changing the Fed’s business loan policy. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. Sales of New and Pre-Owned Homes Rise In August New homes sold at a seasonally-adjusted annual pace of 1.01 million sales; analysts expected the sales pace to fall to 900,000 sales from July’s reading of 965,000 new home sales. Homebuyers turned to new homes as the supply of pre-owned homes dwindled. Homeowners stayed put as fears over … [Read More...]
You've found the perfect new house or condo, and you are now preparing an offer that you believe the seller will find tempting enough to accept. However, you know that there are going to be thousands of dollars in closing costs that need to be paid before the sale is completed and you become the home's new owner. The question is, should you ask the seller to pay some or all of the closing costs? In today's blog post we'll address this question and list a few scenarios in which you may want to consider having the seller pick up the tab. Ask if You're Offering the Full Listing Price If you're … [Read More...]
Most people have heard the saying that it might be a good idea to refinance if mortgage rates drop. For those who might not know, refinancing is essentially taking out a new loan to replace the old one because the new loan has a lower interest rate. This could shorten the time span of a long time and reduce monthly payments, or save money on the total cost of the home. At the same time, refinancing is not right for everyone. How can homeowners determine if refinancing is right for them? Do They Qualify? Just because there are lower interest rates available does not mean that homeowners … [Read More...]
