What You Should KNow About Your Credit Score

Buying A Home with A Mortgage: What You Should Know About Your Credit Score!

If you are planning on buying a home and and getting a mortgage, knowing your credit score before you start looking is a critical piece of information, particularly in today's low inventory environment. When mortgage lenders review your credit they are focused on a variety of things such as your timeliness in making your payments, have successfully paid your debts, how much credit you are using and more. Your Credit Score Will in Large Part Determine Your Mortgage Rate.

While your credit score isn't the only deciding factor when being considered for a mortgage, it is most definitely a significant one. Your credit score is commonly referred to as a FICO score and can…

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While the promise of profitability beckons, the journey through the maze of purchasing a foreclosed property is filled with uncertainty. We want to outline some of the precautions buyers must take when considering the purchase of a foreclosure. Whether you are looking for an investment property, or you find a home that meets your criteria in distress, foreclosures frequently promise opportunity, but provide headaches instead.  Often the perceived benefits are overshadowed by the realities. Here are some of the reasons why foreclosure sales are rarely, "A Deal."

1. Foundations for Frustration

Foreclosed homes or distressed homes may have signs of distress beyond owners who were delinquent in making payments, there are issues that result from…

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The concept of sharing a home with extended family members has gained a lot of traction post pandemic. From grandparents and parents to other relatives, more and more buyers are considering the benefits of multi-generational homes. If you've ever considered this living arrangement, you're not alone. Costs of childcare are high and so are many retirement communities, making homes with capabilities for many generations under one roof are appealing. Here are some of the top drivers for the trend and considerations if you are considering buying for multiple generations in the Triangle.

Embracing Multi-Generational Living

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), affordability is a key factor influencing the decision to choose a…

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The dream of owning a home is central to the American Dream. Real estate represents much more than an investment, it is also part of our identity. However, in the current market, with inflation, and mortgage rate news, the prospect of homeowning and saving is often accompanied apprehension at figuring out a substantial down payment. It is important to debunk the myth that 20% down payments are the only way to own a home. Our government realizes how central homeowning is to the success of populations and generations and thus have many loan options and assistance programs, to make purchasing a home, easier than you think. Here are some of the ways to rethink downpayments, your first step towards homeowning.

20% Down Myth

20% is what people think…

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The "American Dream" foundation is often, homeownership. It signifies stability, independence, and attainment of a place of ones own. However, for Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, there are significant barriers to homeownership in the present market and making this dream a reality can be quite challenging because of higher mortgage rates and higher home prices than previous generations. This should not deter a whole generation from homebuying, because even outside of the "dream" it is a great way to stabilize your finances and build wealth and owning your first home can be attainable with the right strategic planning and resourcefulness.

Down Payment Assistance Programs

While home prices are not on the meteoric rise that they had been…

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If you are putting off moving because you think that home prices will go down, you may want to rethink this strategy. There are a number of factors that have all experts predicting home prices continuing to rise. While the market may cool, and prices will likely not be going up by the soaring amounts that we saw in 2020 and 2021, {locally upwards of 20%}, make no mistake they are continuing to rise. Let's discuss the factors that come into play, latest data, and what strategies we think will be winners in the last quarter of 2023, and into 2024.

But what if prices drop?

If you put off moving because you're worried home prices might drop, you may want to rethink this strategy. Despite a massive increase in prices and the market correction in…

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If you are like many baby boomers and considering cashing in on equity and favorable conditions for sellers, questions around whether you will move, or age in place, may be top of mind. Many people making this decision are considering whether they should buy a smaller home or if they should rent. While the answer to this question hinges on your individual circumstances, we have compiled some of the most important factors to weigh.

Rising Rents

Utilizing national census data, the trend clearly illustrates a consistent upward trajectory of rents since 1988. While opting to rent may seem like a good option, you could expose yourself to a higher rental payment over time. This is especially problematic if you are on a fixed income.

Conversely,…

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Purchasing a home is one of the most important financial decisions you will ever make. In the current real estate landscape, where we are post pandemic, low inventory, and with fluctuating interest rates, it is imperative that you have an expert guiding your hand in a decision of this magnitude. Whether you're a first-time buyer or a seasoned seller, partnering with an expert who has decades of experience analyzing historical data in addition to block on block local knowledge will be essential to making sound decisions and protecting your investments.

Experience is Key

No one is perfect and no Realtor is a mind reader, however, Realtors with more experience have the ability to put mortgage rates, home negotiation and pricing, and discussions…

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Sell! Buy! Mortgage Rates!Attention grabing headlines can be very destabilizing for buyers and sellers in today's real estate market. One of the biggest concerns for potential homebuyers and sellers is prices; are they going up, coming down' do you see inventory increasing; these are questions we hear almost everyday. Amidst the barrage of news headlines, it's really important to approach reports with the proper context. Let's explore the misconceptions surrounding home prices and why it's crucial to understand the concept of seasonality in real estate. By focusing on the market's normal seasonal trends and avoiding alarm caused by big headlines, we believe you'll be better equipped to navigate the housing market.

The Anomalous Years

Have…

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According to Bankrate analyst, Greg Mcbride, two out of three economists are forecasting a recession in 2023, and many of our buyers are hesitant to make a move towards homeownership within a climate of economic uncertainty. However, the housing market and housing health in the Triangle area are not necessarily related to a recession. In fact, historically, mortgage rates decline during a recession, making it a better time to buy. Let's explore how mortgage rates and the economy have been related and how buyers can benefit from conditions.

Mortgage Rates and Recession

What is a recession? This is a period where the economy contracts, rather than expands. In the last six recorded recessions, 1980, 1981, 1991, 2001, 2008, and 2020, mortgage rates…

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