Credit Scores and Mortgages

January 4th, 2023

To buy a home, you’ll undoubtedly need a mortgage. A big indicator of whether you can qualify for a conventional mortgage will be your credit score. This three-digit number is a representation of your credit report which provides a lender with your history of paying your debts. A perfect credit score is 850, with an excellent score being anywhere from 750 – 850 Read More...

Refinancing Fee Delayed

September 16th, 2020

If you’re considering refinancing your mortgage and taking advantage of the currently low interest rates, here’s good news. A new fee on mortgage refinances that was set to take effect September 1 has been delayed. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) will delay enforcing the fee until Dec Read More...

Which Mortgage is Right for You?

March 24th, 2020

Unless you’re wealthy enough to be a cash buyer, purchasing a home will inevitably require getting a mortgage.  But, there’s  more to mortgages than you might think. Depending on your circumstances and qualifications, there are actually five different types of mortgage financing. They include conventional mortgages, jumbo mortgages, government-insured mortgages, fixed-rate mortgages and adjustable-rate mortgages Read More...

Mortgage Rates are Moving. Is Now the Time to Buy?

March 22nd, 2017

According to U.S. News and World Report, the answer is “yes!” Reporter Theresa Mears notes that analysts expect rates to rise this year, but probably not by more than one-half to three-quarters of a percent, which means rates are predicted to stay below 5 percent for a 30-year, fixed-rate home loan Read More...

How Much House Can You Afford?

June 9th, 2014

If you’re considering buying a home, the first step is to determine exactly how much you can afford. There’s a lot to consider beyond the purchase price. Things like monthly utility bills, homeowner’s insurance, maintenance and other expenses should all be factored in. More importantly, a mortgage lender will want to know your credit score, income, how much you have saved for a downpayment and other facts about your financial picture Read More...