Tag: buying a home
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Waiting for Home Prices to Drop? Don’t Count on It.
Some hopeful deed holders have waited a long time for property values to fall. Home prices remain high. Interest rates, too. It’s a time of war and simmering inflation. Generally, mortgage rates go up when inflation goes up—and when our federal treasury prints money. Which it’s doing now. As inflation rises, so do borrowing rates.…
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Real Estate Is Still Key to Wealth—But It’s Taking Longer.
This year, the National Association of REALTORS® came out with an article titled The 5-Year Rule Is No More. It was all about how long a buyer needs to stay in a home to “truly break even.” That old drop of wisdom about holding onto a home five years to recoup the cost of closing…
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How to Use Mapping to Buy a Home
Thinking about buying a home? Online maps can offer plenty of details about the major investment you’re about to make. Let’s get started, because there’s much to map.
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Live and Learn! What I Wish I Knew as a Real Estate Buyer
It’s always nice to learn from others’ mistakes and revelations, before we’re in the position to deal with similar situations ourselves. In this spirit, here are a few things first-time deed holders say they wish they knew before buying.
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Ready to Close—But the Home Isn’t Empty
You’re ready to close on your new home. There’s just one issue. On what you thought was your final walk-through, the home still has an occupant. Or, surprise! It’s still cluttered with the seller’s rugs and lamps. Let’s talk about how to avert this scenario — and how to deal with it if and when…
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Still on the Fence About Selling or Buying This Summer? Consider This.
On the fence about selling your home? Or maybe you’d love to be a buyer, but wonder whether to watch and see if mortgage rates drop… And why not wait for better rates, if you have time to spare? Then again, summer is a traditionally popular time to move. Did you know most deeds change…
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Buying a Home While Interest Rates Are Still High? The Case for “Yes”
For too many years, the U.S. housing market has been out of reach for too many people. But giving up might not be an option. Those able to get a foothold in this market often do it to attain a viable financial future. A homeowner’s wealth goes up along with home values. So, owners accumulate…
