Deciding to buy a new home can be very exciting – especially if it’s your first home. Most often, the first question you ask yourself is, “How much can I afford to spend?” While that’s a great question, the answer isn’t always clear-cut when it comes to home loans.
Your home is more than just a house. It’s where you create memories with friends and family. It’s a reflection of you and your personality. It’s a financial investment. And, since the pandemic started, it’s a place where you spend a lot of time!
Many of our credit union members ask us whether they should get renter’s insurance, and rightly so. That’s because if you're renting a home or an apartment, it's important you obtain renter’s insurance to help protect your belongings.
Recently, you may have noticed increased chatter about refinancing your mortgage or buying a new home. But what is all the hype about, and why now? As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and variants unfold, both current homeowners and prospective buyers are benefiting from some of the lowest mortgage rates in our country’s history.
If you’re a homeowner, you’ve probably thought about refinancing your mortgage at some point. After all, home loans are long-term, usually ranging from 10 to 30 years. A great deal can happen in that time, including interest rates dropping, your home value increases, the introduction of new loan types, among other market changes.
One thing many first-time homebuyers are somewhat blindsided by is PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance). You may see it mentioned in some real estate advertisements, but not fully understand what it means.
A HELOC stands for Home Equity Line of Credit. This line of credit loan is based on the equity you have built-in your home. In other words, it’s the difference between what your home is worth and what you have left to pay.
Buying a home is the American dream. And, if you’re like most, you’ll probably have to obtain a home loan to make that dream come true. However, many factors can affect your home loan approval. Here is a list of some of the reasons your loan may not be approved.
When you purchased your home, you probably had a mental list of wants and needs. While most of your ‘needs’ boxes were checked, maybe you sacrificed some of your ‘wants’. Perhaps you settled on a smaller kitchen because you knew there was potential to expand.
Whether it’s your first or forever home, buying a new house is exciting! However, before you start daydreaming about how you’ll decorate and the future memories you’ll create, there is still much to do before you sign on the dotted line.
