Your credit score is a testament to your creditworthiness. Decades ago, there was a time when people in small towns knew each other and could get loans and credit based on simple understandings and the fact that people knew and trusted one another. For most of western civilization, those days are long gone. Credit scores have been implemented to give lenders and banks an idea of who you are as a person and how likely you are to keep your financial promises. So, when you walk into a financial institution to get a mortgage rate, it doesn't matter how you dress, what you say, or how friendly you are. Your credit score is going to tell the lender everything he or she needs to know to qualify or deny you for a loan.

Your credit score is going to be…

1269 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

 

When you are in the market to purchase a home, the many different things that warrant consideration can be staggering. In addition to finding the home that will best suit your needs, you need to choose the mortgage that is best for your situation — narrow down which mortgages to research further with the following list of mortgage types and brief descriptions. 

Fixed-Rate - These loans will have an interest rate that stays the same over the entire course of your loan. Fixed rates mean you can expect to pay the same payment month after month, even if your loan is as long as 30 years. The interest rate of a fixed-rate loan will often be higher than the starting point of an adjustable rate.

Adjustable-Rate - When an interest rate can be changed,…

1281 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

 

With the economy rebounding, it may be a good time for those who are ready to think about buying their first home. For many people, owning a home would be a dream come true. There are many factors that should be taken into consideration to figure out if you are ready to take out a mortgage. Buying your first home can come with a lot of anxiety when you don't know for sure if you are ready. Below are some top signs that may assure you you are more than ready to start the process of buying a house.

You Have A Down Payment Saved

When you go to purchase your first home, it will come with a few upfront costs such as a down payment. The amount for the down payment will vary between mortgage types. Typically, a down payment can be anywhere between 5%…

1265 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

 

Before you move to a new home, you might look at the shopping centers, schools, and neighborhoods to make sure the area has the things that your family needs and desires. One of the things that you might not think about doing is getting to know your neighbors. Consider spending a day talking to the people who will live beside you and in your community to find out what they think about the area. The details that they reveal could make it easier to make a final decision about buying a home in the neighborhood or not. 

Safety

One of the reasons why you might want to talk to your future neighbors is to learn about the safety of the area. Find out if there are a lot of break-ins reported or other issues involving crimes that are committed. Ask about…

1275 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

 

 

Finding the right home to meet you and your family's need can be difficult. You have to find the right neighborhood, schools, and a home close to work, all on budget. You need somewhere where you can find the best houses in the area. One new method home buyers are using in their home search is social media. Today, we're going to look at how social media can help you find the home of your dreams. Let's get right in!

How Can Facebook Help You Find The Right Home?

With social media becoming increasingly popular, many home buyers are using Facebook in their home search. Additionally, real estate agents are becoming more aware of the impact that social media can have on the home search. According to a recent study, around 70% of real estate…

1387 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

 

 

Most individuals in the United States have the lion's share of their entire net worth wrapped up in the home that they purchase. Years of savings have gone into the purchase, and mortgages can be as long as 12 or 30 years. When it comes to checking out the home before purchasing, you might think that home inspections and noting all the pros and cons of the floor plan would be sufficient. As it turns out, other factors like schools, parks and other amenities in the area can matter a lot as well. 

Talk to the Neighbors 

Take a stroll around the neighborhood before you commit to purchase your new home. Ask people you find outside doing yard work whether they've had any problems with noise on the weekends and how loud traffic gets on the…

1164 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Local governments instituted eminent domain, which is the practice of converting private property into public land in exchange for fair market compensation, as a way to add necessary infrastructure to growing towns. During the past century, the use of eminent domain has often caused rifts in the communities in which it has been employed. In South Carolina specifically, the addition of highways, airports, and service roads has uprooted homeowners whose families had often occupied the land for decades.

These seized properties are usually located close to the center of downtown or between urban hubs. Relative urban density is also often a predictor of which homes may be subject to eminent domain. A row of single-family homes located near a zoning district…

1429 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Living near a business can be a polarizing experience depending on where you are located. While you will get a first-hand view of many of the organizations around you, some of the downsides can become very irritating. First, here are some of the positive aspects of living in a highly commercialized area.

Accessibility

Whether it is a restaurant or insurance companies, living near businesses means that you will not have a long journey ahead of you in terms of getting what you need. Compared to the distance that those who live in a residential neighborhood, those who have businesses overlooking their house can practically walk to their destination. This can prove to be very convenient, especially if you are in need of something urgently. There is no…

4561 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Buying real estate involves more than just finding an available house or plot of land. Most buyers simply find what they want, make an offer, and go from there. But it’s wise to do a land survey first before buying a plot of land with or without a house on it. The land survey will reveal important things about the property you need to know.

The Importance of a Land Survey

A land survey tells you exactly what you’re getting. The surveyor will measure property boundaries to make sure they’re correct. Otherwise, you could actually get less than what you’re expecting. The surveyor can also determine if nearby driveways, sidewalks, fences, or other structures are on the property.

The survey is also important because someone might have a building or…

1436 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Before a buyer chooses a home, there are certain conditions that they should be aware of. Most real estate agents can guide a buyer to a better selection, but if the buyer wants to look for their own home, they should read about the statistics within the neighborhood before moving into a home. Since a buyer is looking to purchase a home, there are additional facts to consider. Some of those facts are:

  • deteriorating houses in the neighborhood
  •  no street lights
  •  no caution lights
  •  no traffic lights
  •  drugs in the neighborhood
  •  no friendly neighbors
  •  increased crime rates
  •  people speeding through the neighborhood
  •   poor lawn service
  •   loud noises

A buyer can usually find statistics about a neighborhood in the local…

1372 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post