Blog – Page 675 of 763

27 Jun 2014

A Guide to Selecting a Home and Property That Will Suit Your Growing Family

Real Estate Tips

Both seasoned homeowners and first-time buyers know making the decision to purchase a new home is not one that is taken lightly. There are so many things to consider, from choosing a home with growth potential to finding a community to support a family's interests and lifestyle. While the decisions may seem endless, don't be discouraged. Develop a strategic approach to buying a home with our definitive guide to selecting a home and property that will suit a growing family's needs. Use this guide, along with advice from a trusted real estate professional in your area, to get started on…

26 Jun 2014

By Mark Feder

Case-Shiller: Home Price Growth Slows in April

Mortgage Rates

The S&P Case-Shiller Index for April shows that while home prices continue to grow, they are doing so at a slower pace as compared to April 2013. The Case-Shiller 20 city index reports that home prices expanded at a year-over-year annual rate of 10.80 percent as compared to 12.40 percent in April 2013. Month-to-month data showed that home prices rose for the second consecutive month. The seasonally- adjusted month-to-month growth rate for the 20 city home price index was 0.20 percent against March's month-to-month home price growth rate of 1.20 percent. Slower Home Price Growth: A Silver Lining? According to…

25 Jun 2014

By Mark Feder

Starting to Shop for a Mortgage? How to Assess Your ‘Debt-to-Income Ratio’ and Why This Number Matters

Home Mortgage Tips

Those who are looking to buy a home may want to start by shopping for a loan first. Having financing ahead of time may make it easier to get sellers to take a buyer seriously and help move along the closing process. For those who are looking to get a mortgage, the most important factor for having a mortgage application approved is the debt-to-income ratio of the borrower. What Is a Debt-to-Income Ratio? A debt-to-income ratio is simply the percentage of debt compared to the amount of income that a person brings in. If a person brought home $1,000 a…

24 Jun 2014

By Mark Feder

The FHA Hawk Program for New Homebuyers is Coming: Here’s How It Affects Your Mortgage Insurance Premiums

Home Mortgage Tips

The FHA offers many new programs and incentives for new homebuyers to take advantage of so that they can be part of the effort to ease the credit crisis. If you are in the process of shopping for a mortgage prior to shopping for your new home, it can benefit you to learn about programs that you may qualify for that are being created by the Federal Housing Administration and piloted. One such plan, which is has been approved as a four-year pilot program, is referred to as the FHA HAWK Program. Read on to learn how this program works…