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Understanding the Factors That Impact Your Credit Score

Most consumers believe if they pay their bills on time, they need not worry about their credit score. Oftentimes, it is a rude awakening when they apply for a mortgage loan, car loan, or any revolving credit to learn they are not going to get the lowest rates available due to their credit score. This is because paying bills on time only accounts for 35 percent of your credit score. The remaining 65 percent is spread out among other factors that impact your credit score. Credit Usage and Impact on Score Nearly one-third, 30 percent, of your credit score is…
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Is It A Good Idea To Buy A Remodeled Home?

Are you considering buying a flipped house? Here are some ways to tell if it is a good idea or not. If you watch popular TV shows like Property Brothers, Flip or Flop and Fixer Upper, you might believe that buying a remodeled home is a great idea. These shows always have happy endings. The process looks fun and easy, and the houses turn out beautiful. However, it is rarely this easy when buying a real-life remodeled home. There are plenty of flipped houses that turn out to have significant problems. Contractors who do remodels sometimes rush through the job.…
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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 25th, 2018

Last week's economic reports included readings from the National Association of Home Builders, Commerce Department reports on housing starts and building permits issued. Sales of pre-owned homes were reported along with weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims. Builder Confidence Slips as Trade Wars Boost Lumber Prices According to the National Association of Home Builders, home builder confidence in current market conditions was down two points to 68 as compared to May's index reading of 70. Analysts said that rising lumber prices impacted builder sentiment and have replaced labor costs as builders' primary expense. Increased building costs were…
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3 Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Time House Hunting

In the ideal home-buying scenario, you'd have plenty of time to find the perfect home. However, this is not always possible. Maybe you are relocating for a job and have to buy a house from across the country. If this is the case, you might have to limit the time that you spend house hunting. Here are some tips to help you make your search as productive as possible.  #1 Get A Mortgage Pre-Approval  Before attending open houses and searching for a home, you should get pre-approved for a mortgage. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage will help you identify the…
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3 Programs That Allow You To Buy A Home With No Money Down In 2018

Home buyers are typically advised to put at least 20% down for a mortgage. Coming up with that amount can seem almost impossible if you have little to no money left over after paying bills each month. Fortunately, if you want to buy a house but are worried about coming up with the 20 percent down needed for a downpayment, you still have plenty of options. There are still plenty of programs that allow you to buy a home with a low down payment or even no money down in 2018.  Here are some of the best programs that designed…
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