There’s quite a bit of misunderstanding about homeowner’s insurance and how much protection it offers you, the homeowner. Depending on the type of loan you have, whether conventional or government funded, you’ll be required to insure your home in case of a disaster.

Before we break down the details of what homeowner’s insurance covers and who it benefits, it may surprise you to know that you’re likely under-insured. Here’s why:

Your Mortgage and Homeowners Insurance

When it comes to insurance requirements, the amount of the needed is determined by how much you own on the mortgage. That way, in case of a total loss, your lender will be able to recoup the remaining balance on your mortgage.

This may seem unfair but remember that one way that

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Our goal is to get your home loan to close as quickly as possible --we know that when it comes to making an offer on your dream home, time is crucial. Did you know that you also play an essential role in making your loan close fast?

Here are the most common causes that delay home loan approval and closing:

#1: Missing Financial Details

We don’t need to know your entire financial history, but we will need to see every detail from the past two years. Don’t worry; we’ll let you know precisely what you need to provide, making sure that everything moves as quickly as possible.

#2: Leaving Out Documentation

The documentation needed for your loan may vary (and we’ll let you know what your loan calls for) but keep in mind that we’ll need the

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There's more than one way to win a bidding war. If you find yourself competing with multiple offers on the same house, know that there are others ways to sway favor in your direction other than offering more money.

The trick is to make your offer stand-out and to encourage the seller to make an emotional connection with it. You can think of it as a way to "sell your offer" to the home seller, and, in our experience, an offer letter is a perfect way to do it.

An offer letter is pretty simple, just like any other letter or email you write, and it accompanies your bid on the home.

Here's a quick overview of key points to include in your offer letter:

 

1. Talk about what you love about the house

The seller likely spent years in the home and

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Making a budget is a lot easier than actually sticking to it--we know. But when you become a homeowner, it’s even more essential that you make an effort to live within your means. Your house is not only your biggest investment, it’s also the place you and your family call home.

One nearly effortless way to live within your means is to make your home more energy effecient and this post will show you how to get started. These ideas will add up to savings little by little but one will add up to BIG savings, fast.

Looking for more ways to save money? Or maybe your ready to invest in property to make you money work for you? Either way, our office is ready with the mortgage answers and the funding you need.

How to Save Money with Energy Efficiency

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Self-employment has its perks, like making your own schedule, negotiating your pay, and maybe even have a little more free time to do the things you love! If you're self-employed or a freelancer, you're not alone -- about a third the U.S. workforce is self-employed, and it's projected to increase to 42% in the next 2 years

Our office has also seen a rise in self-employed home loan applicants --and we’re excited to see the shift. In many ways, self-employment means freedom, and anything that helps our clients gain freedom in their lives and finances is something we want to be a part of.

With that said, there are a few more hoops that self-employed applicants need to jump through when applying for a home loan. It’s nothing too difficult, just a

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This article will answer the most common questions about buyers closing costs, including some ideas for minimizing paying closing costs upfront.

"Will There Always Be Closing Costs?"

Yes, there are always closing costs. Whether you're the buyer or the seller or even refinancing, you're going to have closing costs. If you're the buyer, your mortgage closing costs account for about 2%-5% of the purchase price. If you're the seller, about 6% of the sales price will go toward paying realtor fees.

"Can I Roll Closing Costs into the Loan?"

 Typically, the only loan that allows you to include the closing costs into the mortgage is a USDA loan.

Home loans have a loan-to-value ratio (LTV ratios) that puts a cap on how much you can include

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When you're a first-time homebuyer, the first thing on your mind is probably, "how much homecan I afford?" and rightfully so! Knowing how much you qualify for is the first step to buying a home.

But here's another crucial detail to consider: should you buy a starter home or a forever home? 

STARTER HOME VS FOREVER HOME: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

You can think of a starter home as a jumping off point in homeownership. When you buy a starter home, you probably don't intend to live there for more than a few years. 

However, with a forever home, you'll likely plan on living there for many years --maybe even for the rest of your life! So when comparing the two options, have in mind how time you intend to live in the home and how that fits into your

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Your credit score is one of your most powerful tools for planning your financial future --mostly because it determines the terms of loans like mortgages.

Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misunderstandings about FICO scores, and it can lead you to miss out on the benefits of your credit.

Don’t miss out! Read on to find out the truth about what affects your credit score, and to start reaping the benefits of your credit, contact us!

We’ll match you with the perfect mortgage that will set you up for financial freedom in a place you finally call home.

Myth #1 Checking Your Credit Lowers Your Score

There's a difference between you checking your credit and a creditor checking your credit. When you apply for credit, the creditor conducts "a hard

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As a quick refresher, a HUD home is a foreclosed home that was previously financed by a government-backed home loan. However, most foreclosed homes on the market are bank-owned, not government-owned.

In some ways, the process of buying a foreclosed home is similar to other home purchases. For instance, you’ll want to know a few things before you start home shopping, like where your credit stands and how much home you can afford. Our team can easily help you with those details.

You’ll also want to partner up with a savvy realtor who can negotiate a great deal on your behalf. Call our office for local recommendations.

 

STEPS TO BUYING A FORECLOSED HOME

Step One: Get Pre-Approved

Foreclosed homes, sometimes called REO which is short for

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Saving for making improvements to your home is often the least expensive route, but it’s not always possible. Thankfully, you have other options for financing! Our business is in home loans, so you might already guess, that’s the option we recommend, but you don’t have to take our word for it.

Read about all your home improvement financing options --from traditional home improvement loans to peer-to-peer loans to cash out refinancing --and decide which is best for you!

Traditional Home Improvement Loans

These loans are financed by banks, credit unions, and a few online lenders. You’ll get a lump sum to pay for all the labor and materials for your home improvements, such as replacing your HVAC system or putting in a new pool.

Though the name

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