25
Oct
By Todd Grey
Mortgage, ,

3 Ways To Avoid Mortgage Insurance

When you are buying a home, you may run into a number of hurdles to complete the purchase. One of the items that you may be asked to purchase is called private mortgage insurance, often shortened to PMI. This is a unique insurance policy that your lender, such as the credit union or bank, may ask you to buy in order to protect themselves. In this insurance policy, the bank protects themselves against losing money if you end up defaulting on your loan. Unfortunately, if you are asked to purchase PMI, this will increase your monthly mortgage payment. Therefore, most…
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24
Oct
By Todd Grey
Real Estate, ,

Ways to Stay Safe During the Holidays

The arrival of fall, with cooler temperatures followed by a season of holiday celebrations, means getting cozy at home, spending more time cooking and enjoying friends and family in front of a blazing fire, and lighting up your home for a series of holidays. Sadly, though, it is also a time that carries a higher risk of property losses due to fire and accidental injuries. Here are some guidelines about how to reduce those risks and stay safe this winter: Keep The Kitchen Safe Serious burns and kitchen fires can dampen any holiday celebration. Statistics show that Thanksgiving and Christmas…
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23
Oct
By Todd Grey
Real Estate, ,

Real Estate Tips for a First-Time Home Seller

Many homeowners don't think about what it takes to successfully sell a home until they make the decision to purchase a new home. It makes sense to consider the best ways to improve your home sales appeal early if you think you might consider selling at any time in the future. Some reasons for buying a new house are to accommodate a growing family or a transfer to a new job. No matter the reason you want to buy a new home, it is important that you take the right steps to ensure you sell your home on terms that…
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22
Oct
By Todd Grey
Real Estate, ,

4 Easy Ways to Make the Most of Your Outdoor Living Space

If you want to maximize your outdoor living areas, the ideas below will help you do so. Backyards are seldom used to their full potential. No matter how large or small your yard is, a makeover can create cozy sitting areas and larger spaces that are perfect for entertaining. Here are four ideas to transform how you use your yard: 1. Move Your Kitchen Outside Outdoor kitchens let you enjoy fine weather while you cook. It also makes feeding a large gathering easier since there's probably a lot of room to expand. Setting up a fully stocked outdoor kitchen gives…
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21
Oct
By Todd Grey
Financial Reports, ,

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 21st, 2019

Last week’s economic reports included readings from the National Association of Home Builders on builder confidence in housing market conditions, Commerce Department readings on housing starts and building permits issued. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also reported. Builder Confidence in Housing Markets Rises The NAHB Housing Market Index rose in October from September’s index reading of 68 to 71.Home builders were confident in market conditions due to strong demand for homes caused by low mortgage rates and slower growth in home prices. Obstacles including tariffs on building materials did not deter builder confidence; any reading…
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