No matter how carefully home buyers do their homework, certain tasks on the home-buying to-do list often fall through the cracks. And not tiny ones, either! We’re talking about oversights that can lead to major … [Read more...]
So You Wanna Buy a House? Pick the Right One
You’ve done your research, saved up for a down payment, and found a Realtor® you adore. Now comes the fifth step in realtor.com's step-by-step 2016 Home-Buying Guide: Find your dream house already! This is the … [Read more...]
So You Wanna Buy a House? Figure Out What You Can Afford
Knowing you want to buy a home is one thing; knowing what you can pay for is quite another. Too often, dreams and reality collide: You’re yearning for a four-bedroom Colonial, but your wallet can handle only a two-bedroom bungalow. So how … [Read more...]
The Worst Mortgage Advice Home Buyers Actually Believe
Getting a mortgage is a daunting prospect, which explains why so many people seem eager to pat your hand and say, “Let me give you a little advice.” Sure, those pearls of wisdom may come from an ocean of good intentions, but the suggestions … [Read more...]
So You Wanna Buy a House? Clean Up Your Credit Score
It’s easy to fall in love with the idea of buying a home. You’ve got it all planned out: a five-bedroom home in your favorite neighborhood with a manicured lawn and—why not?—a nice pool. Realtor.com has kicked off … [Read more...]
Why the Guy Who Paid Off His Mortgage in 3 Years Isn’t as Smart as You Think
You’ve gotta hand it to Sean Cooper: In a mere three years, this Toronto homeowner made epic sacrifices to pay off a $255,000 mortgage on his $425,000 house. His reason: “For a lot of people, their mortgage is like a life sentence,” the … [Read more...]
How Millennials Make the Rent, and the Mortgage, in Denver
There’s a land of jobs and money where the weather is fine, the air is crisp and the views are well above average. It’s Denver, CO, and its recent discovery by millennials and retirees is starting to show in its … [Read more...]
Top 6 Reasons to Not Buy a Home—Debunked
You? Buy a home? If that prospect sounds as unlikely as your becoming the next U.S. president—well, this campaign season has shown us that anything can happen. Sure, amassing the funds and slogging through the … [Read more...]
Are the Obstacles to Homeownership Perceived or Real?
Studies have shown that many of the obstacles to homeownership are perceived, not real. A recent study by Fannie Mae, What Do Consumers Know About The Mortgage Qualification Criteria?, revealed that many consumers … [Read more...]
Resolve to Give Up These 8 Money Wasters for a Down Payment Before 2017
You can make 2016 the year of the down payment. Really. By cutting a few things from your budget this year, you can speed up your progress toward having a down payment by the time those holiday decorations come … [Read more...]