During the past year, the housing market has been on fire. There are not a lot of houses for sale, many people are interested in moving, and there is a rising demand from the people who put off moving during the coronavirus pandemic. Furthermore, Millennial demand is picking up, which will only make the housing market even hotter. Recently, a survey found that approximately two-thirds of people who qualify for Generation Y are thinking about buying a home in the near future. Many of them have improving financial circumstances, and they are looking for a way to build wealth and settle down. A Majority Of Millennials Are Now Homeowners Millennials make up approximately 43 percent of … [Continue Reading...]
If you are looking for a way to diversify your investments while also making it easier to go on vacation, you may have thought about purchasing a vacation home. Saving up enough money for one house was already hard enough, so how are you going to save up money for a second house? If you have owned your primary residence for a while, you might be able to take out a home equity loan. Then, you could use this to purchase a vacation house. How Does A Home Equity Loan Work? A home equity loan allows you to borrow against the equity you have already accrued in your house. A home equity loan typically has a lower interest rate when compared to a personal loan because you use your house as … [Continue Reading...]
If you're in the market for a new home, you're probably trying to budget for all of the expenses that come with a home purchase. After all, the asking price isn't necessarily the entire amount that you'll pay - there are other expenses that will factor in to the final price. One such expense is your closing costs. Closing costs are the miscellaneous fees you'll pay when you sign the deal to buy your home. But how much do you need to save up for closing costs? Here's what you need to know. The General Guideline for What to Expect Most mortgage advisors will tell you that you should expect to pay about 3 to 5 percent of your mortgage in closing costs. By law, your mortgage provider is … [Continue Reading...]
There are a lot of people who would like to remain in their homes for as long as possible. Unfortunately, a traditional home may have a few features that can make it difficult for people to stay in their homes as they get older. There are some modifications that can be done relatively easily to reduce the risk of falls. This includes adding handrails, improving the lighting, and even adding seats in the shower. Unfortunately, some modifications, such as making a home wheelchair accessible, can cost thousands of dollars. A home equity loan can make this process much more affordable. How Does A Home Equity Loan Work? If you have been in your house for a long time, you probably have a … [Continue Reading...]
Last week’s economic reporting included readings on new and pending home sales, minutes from the Federal Reserve's recent Federal Open Market Committee meeting, and data on inflation. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released.
New and Pending Home Sales Fall
The annual pace of new home sales fell in April according to the Commerce Department. Year-over-year sales of new homes fell to a pace of 591,000 sales as compared to the March reading of 709,000 sales of new homes. Analysts expected a year-over-year pace of 750,000 new home sales in April. Rising home prices and mortgage rates challenged first-time and moderate-income home buyers, which caused … [Continue Reading...]
Are you applying for a mortgage on your home? Keep in mind that a mortgage is a major financial decision and choosing one will have a significant impact on the rest of your life. Many people go into this decision without understanding all of the essential mortgage information they need to know, which means that they are likely to make poor choices that will result in paying much more than they need to. If you want to save yourself from throwing away your hard earned money, here are a few common mistakes to avoid: Trying To Bottom Out the Market Many people will wait too long to make a decision to lock in their mortgage rate, trying to wait until they think that the rates have hit bottom. … [Continue Reading...]