by Marti Reeder | Nov 7, 2016 | Credit, Finance, Home Buying, Home Ownership, Mortgage
A good credit history is needed to buy a home, but what constitutes a “good” credit score varies by lender and loan type. For example, to qualify for an FHA loan with a 3.5% down payment, you need a FICO score of 580 or higher. Conventional loans backed by Freddie Mae...
by Marti Reeder | Oct 17, 2016 | Budgeting, Down Payment, Finance, Home Buying, Home Ownership, Home Value, Making an Offer, Market Conditions, Mortgage, Real Estate
Right now we are in a seller’s real estate market, because the number of homebuyers exceeds the number of homes for sale. This means that, to buy your dream home, you need to stand apart from other home buyers. Not only do you need to have professional...
by Marti Reeder | Aug 15, 2016 | Credit, Down Payment, Finance, Home Buying, Home Ownership, Mortgage, PMI, Reporter
Prospective home buyers have a lot of questions about buying their first – or next – home. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions I hear from home buyers. 1. How do I get started? What’s the first step? Choose a Realtor®, not just a real estate...
by Marti Reeder | Apr 17, 2016 | Closing Costs, Credit, Down Payment, Finance, Interest Rates, Mortgage, Reporter
This is our second blog post to celebrate National Financial Literacy Month and to help put (or keep) you on the road to financial success. Shopping for a new home is such an exciting process – touring other homes, imagining yourself and your family living in them,...
by Marti Reeder | Jun 22, 2015 | Budgeting, Finance, Interest Rates, Mortgage, Reporter, Taxes
If you are a first-time homebuyer, the prospect of buying a home is an exciting one. You are finally ready to say good-bye to your landlord and to have your monthly payment go to something you can call your own. But that monthly check covers more than just paying for...