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Monthly Archives: October 2019

    How to Determine if You Can Afford to Buy a Home

    By Trey Willard | October 30, 2019

    How to Determine If You Can Afford to Buy a Home The gap between the increase in personal income and residential real estate prices has been used to defend the concept that we are experiencing an affordability crisis in housing today. It is true that home prices and wages are two key elements in any... Read More

    5 Tips for Starting Your Home Search

    By Trey Willard | October 21, 2019

    5 Tips for Starting Your Home Search In today’s market, low inventory dominates the conversation in many areas of the country. It can often be frustrating to be a first-time homebuyer if you aren’t prepared. Here are five tips from realtor.com’s article, “How to Find Your Dream Home—Without Losing Your Mind.” 1. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage Before... Read More

    What You Need to Know About the Mortgage Process

    By Trey Willard | October 16, 2019

    What You Need to Know About the Mortgage Process [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights: Many buyers are purchasing homes with down payments as little as 3%. You may already qualify for a loan, even if you don’t have perfect credit. Your local professionals are here to help you determine how much you can afford, so take advantage... Read More

    What FICO® Score Do You Need to Qualify for a Mortgage?

    By Trey Willard | October 15, 2019

    What FICO® Score Do You Need to Qualify for a Mortgage? While a recent announcement from CNBC shares that the average national FICO® score has reached an all-time high of 706, the good news for potential buyers is that you don’t need a score that high to qualify for a mortgage. Let’s unpack the credit score myth so... Read More

    Homeownership is the Top Contributor to Your Net Worth

    By Trey Willard | October 9, 2019

    Many people plan to build their net worth by buying CDs or stocks, or just having a savings account. Recently, however, Economist Jonathan Eggleston and Survey Statistician Donald Hays, both of the U.S. Census Bureau, shared the biggest determinants of wealth, “The biggest determinants of household wealth [are] owning a home and having a retirement account.” (Shown in the graph below): This does... Read More

    62% of Buyers Are Wrong About Down Payment Needs

    By Trey Willard | October 7, 2019

    62% of Buyers Are Wrong About Down Payment Needs According to the ‘2019 Home Buyer Report’ conducted by Nerdwallet, many first-time buyers still believe they need a 20% down payment to buy a home in today’s market: “More than 6 in 10 (62%) Americans believe you must put at least 20% down in order to purchase a home.”... Read More

    What to Expect from Your Home Inspection

    By Trey Willard | October 7, 2019

    What to Expect from Your Home Inspection You made an offer and it was accepted. Your next task is to have the home inspected prior to closing. Agents often recommend you make your offer contingent upon a clean home inspection. This contingency allows you to renegotiate the price you offered for the home, ask the... Read More