A home inspector is your best friend during the home buying process. Even if you find a great deal on a house in your ideal neighborhood, you should hire a home inspector to take a second look.
Home Inspection Tips for Buyers
Your Credit Score Unmasked
Your Credit score can seem like a mythical beast that is too complicated to understand. But, it doesn’t have to be. Emily and I have noticed that many people have either no understanding of credit, or very skewed ideas of how it actually works.
April Market Report | OKC Metro Area
Below is the April Market Report for the greater OKC Metro area. Market analysis is one of the strongest tools in a Realtor’s toolbox. As a result, an agent can understand the market’s history and where it might be heading. Furthermore, that knowledge flows into pricing homes and offers to fair market value. OKC is […]
7 Features That May Sell Your Home Faster
If you’re thinking of putting your home on the market this year, you may be wondering how to make your home more attractive to prospective buyers. The following are the most common features buyers want in a home.* 1. Eat-in Kitchen Many buyers (80%) like the appeal of eating their meals in the kitchen, especially […]
Down Payment Assistance – Gateway Mortgage
What is Down Payment Assistance? Down Payment Assistance is, more often than not, a missed opportunity. A lot of homebuyers may not even know that they are eligible for down payment assistance. We live in a recovering economy, and putting together the needed funds for the down payment on a new home can be a […]
FHA To Reduce Mortgage Insurance
FHA To Reduce Mortgage Insurance Written by: Diana Olick | @diana_olick via CNBC In a move designed to bring more first-time homebuyers into the housing market, President Barack Obama said Wednesday the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), the government insurer of home loans, will lower its annual mortgage insurance premiums from 1.35 percent to 0.85 percent. In a […]
Simple Ways to Get Rid of Pests
Pest infestations not only cause damage, they can also take a chunk out of a homeowner’s wallet. here are a few ways to prevent critters from calling your house “home.” Remember, for large infestations, always call a professional. Check our Contractors page for info on companies we use and trust. Ants Ants follow the trails […]
Top Trends in Bathroom Renovations
Bathroom Renovations: The bathroom is the second most popular room in the house to remodel, after kitchens. Statistics: The master bath takes center stage 60% of homeowners who are renovating their bathrooms are renovating their master bathrooms, with 61% choosing to start from scratch after gutting the existing room. Who needs a bathtub? The older […]
New Buyers Beware of Foreclosures
Foreclosures, a Deep Rabbit Hole One of the most common questions I get asked by buyers, especially first-time buyers, is “what about looking at foreclosures?” Flippers and investors are not who this post is for. I want to clarify that I’m directing this toward those people who DO NOT have lengthy experience gutting and renovating homes. […]
10 Tips for Buyers & Sellers
Traditionally, spring has been the time that many buyers and sellers become motivated to enter the real estate market. The warm weather and longer days encourage potential buyers to get out and look for a home that fits their needs and budget. Similarly, sellers can take advantage of the seasonal flowers and favorable weather to […]
How To Assess The Real Cost Of A Fixer-Upper House
When you buy a fixer-upper house, you can save a ton of money, or get yourself in a financial fix. I have seen a lot of young couples get excited about buying a fixer upper, only to discover later that they don’t have the skills or financial resources necessary to repair a run down home. […]
11 Ways To Create a Welcoming Front Entrance For UNDER $100
First Impressions: A Welcoming Front Entrance The spring selling season is nearly upon us and after a record cold Oklahoma winter, now is the time to get your house ready to sell. Here are 11 tips for sprucing up your front entrance on a budget. 1. Clear the way for curb appeal The path to […]
Home Buying Basics With Kenneth Wohl, RCB Bank
Home Buying Basics By Kenneth Wohl Buying a home can be an intimidating process, but with a little knowledge under your belt, you can better understand the process and become a stronger borrower. Here some things you should know before you buy. Obtain a pre-qualification from your lender Before you begin house hunting, identify the […]
Keep Your Home Purchase On Track
You’ve found your dream home. Make sure missteps don’t prevent a successful closing. 1. Be truthful on your mortgage application You may think fudging your income a little or omitting debts when applying for a mortgage will go unnoticed. Not true. Lenders have become more diligent in verifying information on mortgage applications. If you fib, expect […]
4 Tips To Determine How Much Mortgage You Can Afford
By knowing how much mortgage you can handle, you can ensure that home ownership will fit in your budget. 1. The general rule of mortgage affordability As a rule of thumb, you can typically afford a home priced two to three times your gross income. If you earn $100,000, you can typically afford a home […]
10 Credit Score Truths and Myths
If your personal information gets compromised, a thief will open up financial accounts in your name. However, they will not pay the bills, and this will ruin your credit. Whether bad credit results from the legitimate credit holder’s irresponsibility or from identity theft, your ability to buy a car, rent a nice place, purchase a […]
Preparing Your Home For Sale
Marketing Your Home Selling your home is more than just posting your listing to the MLS. It requires active marketing – on web sites, on TV, in newspapers. But there are also many low cost, highly effective ways to market your home, and you can help! Preparing Your Home to Sell Want to sell your […]
Buying As-Is Foreclosure Properties
When I work with first time home buyers, they will often ask to see Foreclosure properties or rehab properties because they “don’t mind doing a little carpet and paint”. Buyers know that they might get more for their money if they buy a home that has been acquired by a bank or simply needs some […]
FICO 8: How It Helps, How It Doesn’t
Written by David Harpster, Rising Point Solutions. Eventually, FICO 8 will be implemented. It is designed to help the mortgage industry, and here are some of the features that will help you, and one that might not. Little Slip-Ups Hurt Less. Debts less than $100 will NOT have as large a negative impact on a consumer’s score. Looking […]
Buy Now Or Pay More Later?
Forbes: Buy Now or Pay More Later? Forbes, in their online edition last week, spoke to the importance of buying a home now rather than waiting. The article, Should You Buy a Home Now or Pay More Later?, explains: “With mortgage rates creeping up toward 5% as 2013 draws to a close, potential home buyers have […]