By: Jim Gallagher Before getting started with the home-buying process, you should familiarize yourself with the loan application requirements. Our Loan Application Checklist provides the requirements for loan applicants on a broad scale, as well as additional requirements for specific circumstances related to things such as employment, marital status, and purchasing methods (renting versus buying). … Read More
Top Terms Homebuyers Need to Know
By: Dan Kelly When it comes to purchasing a home, buyers are often surprised at the number of terms they do not recognize. It is easy to get overwhelmed with mortgage rates and the different kinds of loans available. We are here to educate you and walk you through the home-buying process so you can … Read More
5 Tips for an Open House
By: Dan Brown Whether using a real estate agent or not, if you’re a homeowner looking to sell your home, you may want to consider having an open house. While some argue that this strategy can be overly time consuming and potentially costly, due to the planning involved, these types of events do actually yield … Read More
Financing a Beach House
Tired of spending your summers commuting back and forth between your full-time residence and your beach rental? Maybe the thought of investing in a second home has crossed your mind. Aside from giving you a vacation destination without the hassle of renting, buying a home at the beach can also deliver a valuable long-term return on investment … Read More
Tips for Couples Considering Merging Their Finances
Regardless of where you are in your relationship with a significant other, merging finances and sharing responsibility for paying bills can be a major adjustment. For those recently engaged and saving for a wedding, to newlyweds who just purchased a home, to those who have simply decided to take their relationship to the next level, … Read More
Credit Scores 101: Part 2
Now that we’ve covered the Credit Score System basics – including what a credit score is and the different categories, let’s review your rights as a consumer, how they are calculated, and tips for getting and keeping the highest credit scores. Consumers Rights Until recently, many people didn’t even know this number existed because it … Read More
Credit Scores 101: Part 1
Ever wonder how you can go online and be approved within 60 seconds? Or get pre-qualified for a car without anyone asking you what you make? Or why you get one rate on your loans and your neighbor gets another? The answer is the Credit Scoring System. What is a Credit Score? It’s a number … Read More
Outdoor Renovations with the Highest Value
With summer quickly approaching, you may be thinking about sprucing up some of the outdoor features of your home. Outdoor renovations can be a great way to add value to your home- not to mention increase family time outside and create new spaces for hanging out and interacting with family and friends. Knowing which renovations … Read More
First Time Homeowners: Tips and Tricks to Get You to Closing
Buying your first house is an exciting time- your first mortgage, your first official signing, and your first home to call “yours.” As exciting as it can be, the home buying process can be filled with unexpected stressors and twists and turns, especially if it’s your first time buying a house. Knowing what to look … Read More
Spring Cleaning: Best Home Improvements Before Putting Your House on the Market
If you are thinking about selling your home, it’s generally a good idea to remove clutter, put away the family pictures and to make sure your house is nice and clean prior to listing it for sale. However, even when your home shows nice, buyers can by tough to figure out as they can fall … Read More