Buying a home involves a lot of choices—locations, type of home, type of loan, and more. When it comes to the type of home, remember that a single-family home isn’t the only option. Condos can be great places to live, not to mention solid investment properties. That’s because the condo market continues to expand and may increase your options.
In honor of National Homeownership Month, we wanted to explore the ins and outs of house rules. Do you have house rules? Are they followed? Wondering what the most common rules are—or the biggest faux pas you can commit as a guest in someone else’s home?
Economic Update with APM Consulting Economist Elliot Eisenberg
This month, Elliot talks about housing inventory trends historically, and how that is affecting our current inventory crunch. He also addresses the fears many have about a recession - or even a repeat of the events of 2006-2008 (hint: this is NOT a repeat!). His perspective on the coming months and years includes discussion on rates, rents, and the impending influx of buyers.
Single-family homes aren’t the only game in town when it comes to homeownership, building wealth, or fulfilling the American dream. Condos are another great avenue to achieve all three.
We all know the drill: House-hunting is fun, but a mortgage application … not so much. Collecting tax returns, proof of income, bank statements, credit reports, pay stubs, and other documents just isn’t as exciting as attending an open house and visualizing your family inside those walls.
That’s okay, though: We’ll make applying for a mortgage simple so you can get back to the good stuff—securing your American dream!
Many people think of an existing single-family home when they think about homeownership or buying residential real estate. Purchases of this type of property are common, after all. But there are other residential real estate purchases that might be perfect for your lifestyle and/or financial situation.
You did it: You reviewed your credit report, worked on your credit score, determined how much house you can afford, got pre-approved, and became a first-time homeowner. We’re exhausted just listing all you’ve accomplished! You should be proud of yourself—very proud of yourself.
Let’s be real for a second. Mortgages are not cookie-cutter because borrowers are not all the same. There are, of course, some programs that can serve larger populations—hello, conventional mortgage and FHA loans—but there are plenty of people who aren’t accommodated by these programs for one reason or another.
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time for recognizing their significant contributions to the history, culture, and achievements in the United States. (Go here to learn more.)
At APM, we wanted to take this opportunity to learn more about our APM Family and what their history, culture, and heritage means to them.
It is possible to obtain a conventional mortgage if you have a low down payment, but the trade-off is having to accept private mortgage insurance—also known as PMI. If you’re putting down less than 20% on your home, this article is for you!
Here’s the lowdown on PMI, when you need it, how to pay for it, and some ways you can avoid it altogether.
You’re thinking about selling your home, but you’re stuck on the age-old question: Are you going to list your home yourself, or are you going to use a listing agent?
The mortgage process can be stressful … we know. Bank statements, credit scores, interest rates, loan estimates, closing disclosures, and more can really bog you down during the homebuying journey. That’s why we’re offering you a quick list of do’s and don’ts to help you cut through the noise and create a speedy mortgage process so you can focus on the fun stuff: finding your dream home!
When you own your own home, you want to make sure you take every deduction possible to ensure that you maximize your tax refund. You might be wondering how items like home improvement, the mortgage interest you paid, taxable income, and itemized deductions will impact this year’s tax bill.
This can get complicated, but we’ve got you covered! Here are some of the most important tax deductions that homeowners can take advantage of.
Buying a home is one of the biggest, most important decisions you’ll make. After debating the pros and cons of homeownership—and there are many—you may have a whole new set of questions about hiring a real estate agent.
Real estate agents are a dime a dozen, right? While it’s true that buyer’s agents and seller’s agents are in no short supply, a good real estate agent is something to appreciate. So how do you know if they’re good, and—even better—how do you know if they’re good for you?
Can you buy a home without a buyer’s agent? Of course you can. Just like you can sell a home without a seller’s agent. Here’s the deal, though: Those decisions tend to cost you time, energy and, most of all, money!
Naturally, having a good credit score and making a down payment of 20% or more can help you secure the best interest rate, but there’s something else you can do to lower that rate even further. It’s called a mortgage rate buydown.
It’s an age-old question, at least when it comes to mortgage interest rates: Is it better to float your rate or lock in your mortgage? There are pros and cons to each, which can vary based on the overall economy, as well as unpredictable factors that can cause rates to go up or down.
