The second half of the year is well underway and the housing market, so far, has shown a slight dip in mortgage rates and signs of falling home sales. To us, the future may be uncertain. To experts, the future of the housing market looks somewhat predictable. These experts foresee stabilized and perhaps slightly lower mortgage rates, relatively high home prices, and lingering supply issues despite an uptick in inventory. We’ve all heard that a possible recession is headed our

Today more than ever, retirees are struggling to feel reassured about their retirement savings. In recent years, fixed indexed annuities (FIA) have gained popularity by offering guarantees to income with potential for interest accumulation. And with an FIA you can sleep at night knowing that the next stock market crash won’t force you to alter your lifestyle. With pensions no longer being offered by the majority of employers, fixed indexed annuities are a way to help create

As exciting as retirement is, it can be overwhelming. You are making big changes in your life psychologically, physically, and financially, and that’s not easy! By checking all your bases, educating yourself and creating a plan with a retirement specialist, you can head into retirement with confidence. Here is a short checklist to get you thinking. Get Financial Advice Your financial situation is unique and deserves special attention. While there is a lot of information avai

An appraisal is an unbiased opinion of the value of your property. It is required when you buy, sell, or refinance your home. The appraiser will use “comparables”, or recently sold homes within your direct area, to make an accurate value estimate of your home. First, it is important to understand what the appraiser is looking for. Here is a condensed list to give you an idea. General condition of the home The home's location The age of the home The home's exterior The design

In our last post, we discussed home improvements to make your space feel more like your own. Another way to create flow in your home is to give it a deep clean. Inspire both productivity and relaxation with these spring cleaning ideas. Wash your couch Weeknight Netflix binges or Sunday Night Football on the couch means it can get dirty over time. Add pets and kids to the mix and that couch needs a good clean. First and foremost, use something like a lint roller to remove all

Home loans are heavily dependent on your unique situation. Usually, a broker will base your mortgage program on income type, income amount, property type, credit position, etc. These qualifiers are common with mainstream loan types like Conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA. What if you don’t fit into any of these categories or don’t meet the right criteria? Luckily, there’s hope with Non-QM mortgages, or Non-qualified mortgages. Non-QM home loans are not required to meet agency-st

Now more than ever, there’s information available about personal finance all over the internet. It can be a challenge to find content that is easy to understand, but also helpful for our unique situations. Today, we have five money-focused newsletters and websites for you that are great places to start. NerdWallet, https://www.nerdwallet.com/ You may have heard of NerdWallet, one of the largest and most popular websites about money. Their mission is to “provide the tools, inf

If you didn’t know by now, mortgages in the United States are at an all time high in consumer demand and all time low in interest rates. If you already refinanced, you are probably relaxed knowing you may have the lowest rate you’ll ever get. If you haven’t refinanced, it is smart to pay attention to recent trends, including the fact that rates are indeed rising and will continue to rise. Let’s examine some of the trends that are shaping and reshaping the mortgage industry in

What is a Reverse Mortgage?* A reverse mortgage is a national program available to homeowners age 62 and older providing you access to your home’s equity without having to make monthly mortgage payments. This program is available for your primary residence. You must continue paying your property taxes and homeowners insurance. How much can I qualify for?* The amount of funds available through a reverse mortgage loan is based on the youngest spouses age and the appraised val

It is very important to know your terms before applying for a mortgage . Bookmark this tab on your computer so that you can reference these terms at any time before or during the mortgage process. Appraisal : A rough estimate of how much the home is worth. Appraisals are required by lenders before a home loan can be signed. The appraisal tells the lender how much can be loaned to the borrower. Appraisals come from an independent third party, not the lender. Principal: The s