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5 Tips For Prospective Buyers To Submit A Winning Offer

In a hot real estate market, agents often tell buyers they must expect to make multiple offers before one is accepted. Disappointment may be the new normal rather than an exception. The stress of repeated rejections isn't easy, so be prepared. Significant numbers of first-time buyers find the process difficult, and recent research indicates that about 60 percent of Millennials choose to rent rather than own, delaying other important life decisions, including marriage and family.  There are, however, at least 5 ways to strengthen your buyer profile and give yourself an advantage:  Check Your Credit Take advantage of the free credit checks offered by…
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Over 5 Trillion Dollars In Home Equity May Lead To More Cash Out Transactions

US homeowners now have over 5 trillion dollars in home equity which is a very large amount of money! So this year may be the year for a lot of cash out refinances and other home equity mortgage products. Most often, when you are purchasing a home, you are buying at or below the appraised value and you are making a down payment. The good news is this means you have "instant equity" in your home. And over time you build more equity as you make your monthly mortgage payments as well as any potential home price appreciation. This build…
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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – March 26th, 2018

Last week's economic releases included readings on new and pre-owned home sales and the Federal Open Market Committee's customary post meeting statement. Fed Chair Jerome Powell gave his first press conference as Chair of the Federal Reserve and FOMC. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also released. February Sales of Pre-Owned Homes Exceed Expectations, New Home Sales Fall Short Sales of previously-owned homes exceeded expectations at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 5.54 million sales. Analysts expected a rate of 5.40 million sales based on January's reading of 5.38 million sales. Lawrence Yun, National Association of Realtors® Chief…
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6 Top Trending Green Features To Consider When Remodeling

Sustainable materials, energy savings and smart home technology are high on the list of buyer wants in a home. But there are some other architectural and design trends that will change the way Americans live this year and beyond. When planning a remodel, it pays to pay attention to green features, as well as to improved floor plans that will make a home more comfortable, more appealing and more functional.  Here's a list of what's hot right now: Natural and Sustainable Materials Eco-consciousness and concerns about individual health and wellness prompted a return to natural woods and stone, as well as organic forms…
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What Changes Occurred In FHA And FNMA Rules During 2018?

The FNMA HomeReady Program Those who are involved in the mortgage industry must keep updated on changes to FHA, and Fannie Mae (FNMA) loans. Since loan limits and other changes are often made annually, keeping up with these changes helps make sure consumers get the right information at the time of their application. Many of the changes for 2018 are modest, but still impact existing, and new homeowners. Changes To Loan Limit Amounts FHA loan limits change on an annual basis as per the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. Using this, the FHA is required to base the…
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