Buying

Buying

What’s a Good Debt-To-Income Ratio?

You’ll see the term debt-to-income ratio a fair amount if you’re applying for a mortgage. Debt-to-income ratio is also known as DTI. This is a measure of your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income. Lenders use DTI and your credit history to determine whether or not you can repay a loan. Every […]
Info about HOA's and CCR's

HOA Covenants: What to Know About CC&Rs

HOA covenants can shape neighborhoods and the lives of residents significantly. Here’s what you should know about HOA CC&Rs. With 75.5 million Americans living in communities governed by homeowners associations (or HOAs) and 3,000 new HOAs expected to form in 2025, community associations are quickly becoming an important aspect of real estate transactions. An HOA […]
Buying

Too Many Homes for Sale, or Not Enough? Making Sense of Recent Headlines for Home Buyers

If you’ve been thinking about buying a house, you’ve probably heard that there aren’t that many homes for sale. And if you’ve been actively looking, chances are you can confirm that firsthand. Browsing listings often feels like looking for a needle in a haystack. You find a home you like, and before you can even […]
Buying, Market Info

Home Appreciation: Your Best Protection Against Inflation

Home Appreciation: Your Best Protection Against Inflation Authored By: The MBS Highway Team The Mortgage Bond market continues to pay close attention to inflation, which is a key driver of mortgage rates. Remember, inflation is the arch enemy of fixed investments like Mortgage Bonds because it erodes the buying power of a Bond’s fixed rate […]

Buying What’s a Good Debt-To-Income Ratio? You’ll see the term debt-to-income ratio a fair amount if you’re applying for a mortgage. Debt-to-income ratio is also known as DTI. This is a measure of your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income. Lenders use DTI and your credit history to determine whether or not you can repay a loan. Every […]

Info about HOA's and CCR's HOA Covenants: What to Know About CC&Rs HOA covenants can shape neighborhoods and the lives of residents significantly. Here’s what you should know about HOA CC&Rs. With 75.5 million Americans living in communities governed by homeowners associations (or HOAs) and 3,000 new HOAs expected to form in 2025, community associations are quickly becoming an important aspect of real estate transactions. An HOA […]

Buying Too Many Homes for Sale, or Not Enough? Making Sense of Recent Headlines for Home Buyers If you’ve been thinking about buying a house, you’ve probably heard that there aren’t that many homes for sale. And if you’ve been actively looking, chances are you can confirm that firsthand. Browsing listings often feels like looking for a needle in a haystack. You find a home you like, and before you can even […]

Buying Home Appreciation: Your Best Protection Against Inflation Home Appreciation: Your Best Protection Against Inflation Authored By: The MBS Highway Team The Mortgage Bond market continues to pay close attention to inflation, which is a key driver of mortgage rates. Remember, inflation is the arch enemy of fixed investments like Mortgage Bonds because it erodes the buying power of a Bond’s fixed rate […]

Buying What Does It Mean to Make a Principal-Only Payment? You’ll hear the terms principal and interest when you get a home loan. Your principal is the amount you borrow for your home loan, and your interest is what you pay monthly to use the loan. To calculate the principal of a mortgage, you would subtract your down payment from the final sales price of […]

Buying Avoid These Top Homebuyer Mistakes in Today’s Market No one likes making mistakes, especially when they happen in what’s likely the biggest transaction of your life – buying a home. That’s why partnering with a trusted agent is so important. Here’s a sneak peek at the most common missteps buyers are making in today’s market and how a great agent will help you steer clear […]

Buying Things To Avoid After Applying for a Mortgage Some Highlights There are a few key things you’ll want to avoid after applying for a mortgage to make sure you’re in the best position when you get to the closing table. Don’t change bank accounts, apply for new credit, make any large purchases or transfers, and don’t co-sign loans for anyone. Here’s a good rule of thumb. Always […]

Buying MUDs, PIDs, PUDs & TIFs: Property Taxes You Should Know Before Buying a Home in Texas Many factors are at play when buying a home, no matter where you live. Potential homeowners need to determine their budget for a down payment, research the best type of mortgage for their needs, and make sure the home will suit all of their lifestyle needs in the long term. Though these considerations are true for home buyers […]

Buying Will 2024 be a better year for homebuyers? Here’s what experts think. Following months of cooling inflation, higher rent and food prices pushed the inflation report to a 3.4% annual rate, according to the latest Consumer Price Index report. The rise indicates the Fed’s ongoing challenge to achieve a 2% target inflation rate may experience some fluctuations along the way. In December, the Fed set the housing market […]

Buying Pre-Qualified vs Pre-Approved: What’s the Difference? Pre-qualification and pre-approval are two terms you may hear used interchangeably when shopping for a mortgage, but they are actually two optional steps you can take to start the loan approval process. A mortgage pre-qualification is usually a much shorter process that requires you to honestly report your own financial information, while a mortgage pre-approval typically requires you to […]

Buying What Are Contingencies in Real Estate? How Contingent Offers Are Used in Real Estate Contingencies offer a way to protect both the buyer and seller in a real estate transaction. The homebuying process requires a series of steps and at any time in that journey, unexpected issues may arise that neither party was prepared for. Contingent offers act as a guide […]

Buying Should You Buy or Rent a Home? In today’s competitive real estate market, you may wonder if it’s better to rent a place or buy a home. Purchasing a residence can provide more privacy and future investment potential, while renting allows for more flexibility and less maintenance. Both options have a myriad of pros and cons, but it ultimately will depend on […]

Buying Important Tip when Applying for a Mortgage Shared by a local lender who takes great care of their clients!! Go to www.optoutprescreen.com before pulling your credit. The reason is so that you might be inundated with phone calls, texts, and emails from every mortgage company on the planet when pulling your credit. If you forget to do this FIRST, it cannot be […]

Buying Do You Need Down Payment Assistance? You may be surprised to know that many of the homes listed in the MLS are eligible for a number of assistance programs to help you get into a home! But if you are not sure on a particular property and just need to know what might be available, you can search on your own […]

Buying Congratulations! You’ve Found a Home Congratulations! You have applied for a mortgage, are pre qualified and found a home to buy ! You’re undoubtedly excited about the opportunity to decorate your new home, but before you make any large purchases, move your money around, or make any big-time life changes, consult your loan officer – someone who will be able […]

Buying 5 Powerful Reasons to Own Instead of Rent 5 Powerful Reasons to Own Instead of Rent Owning a home has great financial benefits. In a recent research paper, Homeownership and the American Dream, Laurie S. Goodman and Christopher Mayer of the Urban Land Institute explained: “Homeownership appears to help borrowers accumulate housing and nonhousing wealth in a variety of ways, with tax advantages, greater […]

Buying Things to Avoid After Applying for a Mortgage Congratulations! You’ve found a home to buy and have applied for a mortgage! You’re undoubtedly excited about the opportunity to decorate your new home, but before you make any large purchases, move your money around, or make any big-time life changes, consult your loan officer – someone who will be able to tell you how […]

Buying Should You Still Buy a Home with the Latest News About Inflation? While the Federal Reserve is working hard to bring down inflation, the latest data shows the inflation rate is still high, remaining around 8%. This news impacted the stock market and added fuel to the fire for conversations about a recession. You’re likely feeling the impact in your day-to-day life as you watch the cost of goods and services climb. […]

Buying Pre-Approval Is a Critical First Step on Your Homebuying Journey If you’re planning to buy a home this year, one of the first steps on your journey is getting pre-approved. Especially in today’s market when mortgage rates are higher than they were just a few months ago, getting a mortgage pre-approval can be a game changer. Here’s why. What Is Pre-Approval? To better understand why pre-approval is key, it’s important to know what […]

Buying Why Now is Still a Great Time to Buy a House With the Federal Reserve having hiked interest rates multiple times this year, resulting in mortgage rates rising as well, there’s an undercurrent that now is not the time to buy a house. But there are savings to be had and other benefits to doing just that. People considering buying a home should not let negative […]