Once a buyer and seller have agreed on the price for a house, they sign a purchase contract that outlines the terms of the deal and includes a closing date. Setting a specific date is intended to motivate all parties involved in the transaction to work expeditiously...
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Which Mortgage Type Is Right for You?
Most people who want to purchase a house cant afford to pay cash and therefore need to take out a mortgage. The type of loan you choose will depend on your financial circumstances and plans and can have a significant impact on your monthly costs, so its essential to...
What Is Escrow?
After a buyer has agreed to purchase a home from a seller, the escrow process begins. This is designed to make sure that all the necessary conditions and obligations are met so the transaction can proceed smoothly.Purpose of EscrowEscrow is designed to protect all the...
How an ‘Attractive Nuisance’ Can Affect Your Homeowners Insurance Rates
Homeowners insurance rates are based on many factors. One of the most important is the likelihood of someone getting injured or killed on a policyholders property. Having an attractive nuisance in your yard could make your insurance rates significantly higher than...
How to Avoid Having to Buy Private Mortgage Insurance
Some mortgage lenders allow homebuyers to put down less than 20 percent of a houses purchase price, but those loans are riskier from a lenders perspective. A lender generally requires a buyer who puts down less than 20 percent to purchase private mortgage insurance...
The Difference Between a Home Equity Loan and Home Equity Line of Credit
If you need money for an important project, you might be able to finance it by accessing the equity you’ve built up by paying your mortgage. A home equity loan and a home equity line of credit (HELOC) are two options. Before you decide to use either, make sure you...
The Ultimate Deal-Breaker Checklist for Homebuyers
How many times have you heard the story about people who move into their dream home only to find out that theres a huge plumbing issue or noisy neighbors next door? Learn from their mistakes, and reconsider certain factors before signing on the dotted line. Heres a...
End of Summer Home Maintenance Checklist
Ahhh, summertime. Cookouts, nature hikes, pool games, outdoor markets, parades and concerts. Home maintenance may have taken a backseat to all this fun. Don't sweat, there's still time to make sure your house stays in tip-top shape. Use this simple checklist to round...
Pros and Cons of Choosing a House on a Cul-de-Sac
Many homebuyers choose to a purchase a house on a cul-de-sac just to avoid a busy street. However, there are pros and cons you should be aware of up front.TrafficSince there’s only one way in and out, a cul-de-sac has less traffic than a typical...
The Difference Between Pre-Qualified and Pre-Approved
Many lenders pre-qualify or pre-approve mortgage applicants, which can help considerably in the buying process. While the terms are often used interchangeably, there are some important differences to note.In general, pre-qualification is considered an initial step in...
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What to Do If Your Closing Is Delayed
Once a buyer and seller have agreed on the price for a house, they sign a purchase contract that outlines the terms of the deal and includes a closing date. Setting a specific date is intended to motivate all parties involved in the transaction to work expeditiously...
Which Mortgage Type Is Right for You?
Most people who want to purchase a house cant afford to pay cash and therefore need to take out a mortgage. The type of loan you choose will depend on your financial circumstances and plans and can have a significant impact on your monthly costs, so its essential to...
What Is Escrow?
After a buyer has agreed to purchase a home from a seller, the escrow process begins. This is designed to make sure that all the necessary conditions and obligations are met so the transaction can proceed smoothly.Purpose of EscrowEscrow is designed to protect all the...
How an ‘Attractive Nuisance’ Can Affect Your Homeowners Insurance Rates
Homeowners insurance rates are based on many factors. One of the most important is the likelihood of someone getting injured or killed on a policyholders property. Having an attractive nuisance in your yard could make your insurance rates significantly higher than...
How to Avoid Having to Buy Private Mortgage Insurance
Some mortgage lenders allow homebuyers to put down less than 20 percent of a houses purchase price, but those loans are riskier from a lenders perspective. A lender generally requires a buyer who puts down less than 20 percent to purchase private mortgage insurance...
The Difference Between a Home Equity Loan and Home Equity Line of Credit
If you need money for an important project, you might be able to finance it by accessing the equity you’ve built up by paying your mortgage. A home equity loan and a home equity line of credit (HELOC) are two options. Before you decide to use either, make sure you...
The Ultimate Deal-Breaker Checklist for Homebuyers
How many times have you heard the story about people who move into their dream home only to find out that theres a huge plumbing issue or noisy neighbors next door? Learn from their mistakes, and reconsider certain factors before signing on the dotted line. Heres a...
End of Summer Home Maintenance Checklist
Ahhh, summertime. Cookouts, nature hikes, pool games, outdoor markets, parades and concerts. Home maintenance may have taken a backseat to all this fun. Don't sweat, there's still time to make sure your house stays in tip-top shape. Use this simple checklist to round...
Pros and Cons of Choosing a House on a Cul-de-Sac
Many homebuyers choose to a purchase a house on a cul-de-sac just to avoid a busy street. However, there are pros and cons you should be aware of up front.TrafficSince there’s only one way in and out, a cul-de-sac has less traffic than a typical...
The Difference Between Pre-Qualified and Pre-Approved
Many lenders pre-qualify or pre-approve mortgage applicants, which can help considerably in the buying process. While the terms are often used interchangeably, there are some important differences to note.In general, pre-qualification is considered an initial step in...