If you have equity in your home, you may wonder how you can access it. You don’t want to sell your home, but you know you’ve earned a profit from it. We have many options to secure your home’s equity, one of which is the FHA cash-out refinance. Unlike the FHA streamline refinance, you don’t have to be a current FHA borrower. As long as you meet the requirements below, you can use an FHA loan to cash into your home’s equity. Qualifying for the FHA Cash-Out Refinance Like an FHA purchase loan, the FHA cash-out refinance has simple requirements: Minimum 600 credit score Maximum 43% debt-to-income ratio Proof you’ll occupy the property as your primary … [Continue Reading...]
There are a few parts of American culture that people believe define this country. One element is the dream of homeownership. There is a strong belief that people need a place to call home. Therefore, since the dawn of this country, the government has tried to incentivize people to purchase a home. At the same time, there are some people who are looking at the younger generation, wondering if this American Dream is starting to change. Is homeownership still a part of the American Dream? Americans Still Believe In The Idea Of Homeownership Hard work and owning a home appear to be inseparable. There is still a belief that as long as people work hard and save money, they can fulfill the … [Continue Reading...]
Last week’s economic reporting included readings from the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index, data on sales of new and previously-owned homes, and weekly reports on mortgage rates and jobless claims. NAHB: Affordability, Shortages of Labor and Materials Impacting U.S. Housing Markets Housing market conditions are changing according to July’s Housing Market Index produced by the National Association of Home Builders. Although the HMI reading declined by one point in July, ongoing trends including labor shortages, higher prices for building materials, and affordability impacted builder confidence in overall market conditions. July’s index reading was … [Continue Reading...]
There are many people who are looking at the housing market wondering if now is the time to make the jump from renting to owning. At the same time, is it more affordable to rent a home? Or, is it a smarter move to buy a home? Even though many people like the comfort of renting because it is someone else’s problem if something goes wrong, waiting too long to purchase a home could be costly. Here are a few of the most important points you need to keep in mind when it comes to renting versus buying a home. Renters Spend A Higher Percentage Of Their Income On Housing First, renters usually put a higher percentage of their income toward housing than homeowners. When looking at the numbers, … [Continue Reading...]
With all of the rigmarole that goes into packing up your old home and moving into the new one, there are a lot of details that can get lost in the mix. From cleaning up the old house to handing over the keys, there's no shortage of small tasks that need to be completed. If you'll soon be prepping for the exciting move into your next home, here are some ways to prepare yourself for this busy time. Do A Spring Clean, Even When It's Not Spring! Spring cleaning may be something that people only do once a year, but it's actually a great way to prep for the move you're about to make. Instead of thinking on a smaller-scale though, you'll want to hit every room in your house so there's less to pack … [Continue Reading...]
There’s almost a guarantee that at some point in the future you’re going to face an emergency. Like most things in life, that emergency is going to require money to solve. You can’t assume that you’ll have the funds to face the emergency when it happens. You can’t even assume that you’ll have enough on your credit cards to pay for it. The only safe way to plan is to have an emergency fund. What Is An Emergency Fund? An emergency fund is a reserve of cash set aside for emergencies only. It’s not a savings account, because you’re not saving up for anything in particular like a new sofa or a dining set. It’s strictly money on hand to be used … [Continue Reading...]
