he most recent Housing Pulse Survey released by the National Association of Realtors revealed that the two major reasons Americans prefer owning their own home instead of renting are: They want the opportunity to build equity. They want a stable and safe environment. Building Equity In a recent article by The Mortgage Reports, they report that “buying and […]
3 Questions to Ask If You Want to Buy Your Dream Home
May 5, 2017 by ·
If you are debating purchasing a home right now, you are probably getting a lot of advice. Though your friends and family will have your best interest at heart, they may not be fully aware of your needs and what is currently happening in the real estate market. Ask yourself the following 3 questions to […]
Do You Know the Real Cost of Renting vs. Buying? [INFOGRAPHIC]
April 23, 2017 by ·
![Do You Know the Real Cost of Renting vs. Buying? [INFOGRAPHIC]](https://i1.wp.com/homeloansbykarenjones.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/rent-or-own.png?resize=273%2C176)
Some Highlights: Historically, the choice between renting or buying a home has been a close decision. Looking at the percentage of income needed to rent a median-priced home today (30%), vs. the percentage needed to buy a median-priced home (15%), the choice becomes obvious. Every market is different. Before you renew your lease again, […]
![Why Millennials Choose to Buy [INFOGRAPHIC]](https://i0.wp.com/homeloansbykarenjones.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Millennials-Choose-to-Buy.jpg?resize=850%2C250)
The Connection Between Home Prices & Family Wealth
April 6, 2017 by ·
Over the next five years, home prices are expected to appreciate 3.22% per year on average and to grow by 17.3% cumulatively, according to Pulsenomics’ most recent Home Price Expectation Survey. So, what does this mean for homeowners and their equity position? As an example, let’s assume a young couple purchased and closed on a $250,000 home in […]
Mortgage Interest Rates Went Up Again… Should I Wait to Buy?
March 23, 2017 by ·
Mortgage interest rates, as reported by Freddie Mac, have increased over the last several weeks. Freddie Mac, along with Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association and the National Association of Realtors, is calling for mortgage rates to continue to rise over the next four quarters. This has caused some purchasers to lament the fact they may no longer be able to get […]
Over Half of All Buyers Are Surprised by Closing Costs
March 17, 2017 by ·
According to a recent survey conducted by ClosingCorp, over half of all homebuyers are surprised by the closing costs required to obtain their mortgage. After surveying 1,000 first-time and repeat homebuyers, the results revealed that 17% of homebuyers were surprised that closing costs were required at all, while another 35% were stunned by how much […]
What to Expect From Your Home Inspection
March 12, 2017 by ·
So you made an offer, it was accepted, and now your next task is to have the home inspected prior to closing. More often than not, your agent may have made your offer contingent on a clean home inspection. This contingency allows you to renegotiate the price paid for the home, ask the sellers to […]
Why Pre-Approval Should Be Your First Step
March 6, 2017 by ·
In many markets across the country, the number of buyers searching for their dream homes greatly out numbers the amount of homes for sale. This has led to a competitive marketplace where buyers often need to stand out. One way to show you are serious about buying your dream home is to get pre-qualified […]
3 Tips for Making Your Dream of Buying a Home Come True [INFOGRAPHIC]
February 27, 2017 by ·
![3 Tips for Making Your Dream of Buying a Home Come True [INFOGRAPHIC]](https://i1.wp.com/homeloansbykarenjones.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/3-tips-to-buy-a-home.png?resize=527%2C116)
Some Highlights: Realtor.com recently shared “5 Habits to Start Now If You Hope to Buy a Home in 2017.” Setting up an automatic savings plan that saves a small amount of every check is one of the best ways to save without thinking a lot about it. Living within a budget now will help you […]
