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Blog, Finance

How to Budget for a New Home So You Don’t End Up House Poor

Andy Hill discovered he was house poor soon after he bought his first home in 2004. When Hill put 10% down on the 1,200-square-foot house in Royal Oak, Michigan, a suburb outside of Detroit, he was surprised to find out he had to pay private mortgage insurance, which initially was $158 a month.
Blog, Buyer and Sellers, Finance

How to Find and Finance Bank-Owned Properties

Home prices are still rising — they’re currently averaging just below all-time highs set in 2006, according to the Case-Shiller Home Price Indices. Combine that with slim housing inventory in many markets, and you may believe you’ve missed the opportunity to buy your first, or your next, home.
Blog, Buyer and Sellers, Finance

5 Ways to Improve Your Change of Mortgage Preapproval

Let’s be real: Rejection hurts. It’s particularly hard if you’re denied for a mortgage preapproval, which is one of the biggest hurdles in the home-buying process.
Finance, Homeowners

Factors that Affect Home Prices

Median home sale prices have risen on a year-over-year basis for 52 consecutive months. In June, they reached yet another all-time high. Sure, from a macro view, we all understand that it’s a matter of supply and demand — not enough homes for sale in the major employment centers.