Home Buyer Tips

3 Tips and Tricks to Make Mortgage Pre-Qualification Easy

March 15, 2016 George Duarte Home Buyer Tips Comments Off

If you’re planning to buy a home, you should know that the mortgage pre-qualification process is the first in a series of steps that eventually lead to home ownership. A pre-qualification is different from a pre-approval – the pre-qualification meeting is simply you and your lender hashing out how much you can afford to spend on a property. But once you’ve been pre-qualified, it makes the mortgage process easier.

So how can you make the pre-qualification quick and painless so you can get on with your house hunt? Here’s what you need to know.

Ready to Move in to Your New Home? Not So Fast! Take Care of These 3 Items Before the Big Move

March 11, 2016 George Duarte Home Buyer Tips Comments Off

With the excitement involved in moving into a new home and all of the things that need to be done, it can be easy to forget a few important things before you load up the moving van. If the day of departure is drawing closer and you’re mulling over the final details, here are some items you may want to check off the list first.

Worried about Your FICO Score? 4 Easy Strategies to Fix It Up

March 10, 2016 George Duarte Home Buyer Tips Comments Off

If you’re worried about your bad credit, you’ll want to do everything in your power to improve your rating as quickly as possible – especially if you have a major purchase coming up. Improving your credit rating can give you access to better interest rates on mortgages or even help you to get that job you’re after.

So how can you boost your FICO score quickly and easily? Here’s what you need to know.

It Isn’t Always a Clear Road after Pre-approval: 4 Reasons Why Your Mortgage May Be Denied

March 9, 2016 George Duarte Home Buyer Tips Comments Off

So you’ve been pre-approved for a mortgage – great! You’ve taken the first step toward becoming a homeowner. But before you start picking out china patterns, you’ll want to keep in mind that a pre-approval isn’t the same thing as a mortgage agreement. There’s still no guarantee that you’ll actually get a mortgage.

But why would a lender deny a mortgage after pre-approving a borrower? Here’s what you need to know.

4 Facts You Need to Know Before Setting Up a Mortgage Escrow Account

March 2, 2016 George Duarte Home Mortgage Tips Comments Off

Buying a home involves a variety of nuances and strange-sounding terms, and one of the least understood aspects of the home buying process is the escrow account. Essentially, an escrow account is a third party bank account your lender can require you to pay into in order to cover certain costs related to your home. Your lender uses an escrow account to ensure that property taxes and home insurance fees get paid on time.

Buying a New Home? Learn How the ‘Conforming Loan Limit’ Might Affect Your Purchase

February 24, 2016 George Duarte Home Buyer Tips Comments Off

‘Conforming loan limit’ may be a less familiar real estate term than the rest, but here are some things you’ll need to know about it and what it could mean for your biggest investment.

Understanding How Home Equity Works and Why Buying a Home Can Be Your Best Investment

February 3, 2016 George Duarte Real Estate Tips Comments Off

Whether you’ve never heard the phrase ‘home equity’ before or you have a little familiarity, here are the ins and out of what it means and how this asset can help your financial outlook.

3 ‘Must Know’ Pieces of Advice for First-time Home Buyers

January 22, 2016 George Duarte Home Buyer Tips Comments Off

When delving into the realities of home ownership, there can be many factors involved that make it difficult to determine what you need to know and what can wait until later. If you happen to be a first-time buyer who’s looking for the best tips for purchasing a home, look no further than the following three pointers to set you on the right path.

Real Estate Terms: The ‘Debt to Income’ Ratio and How It Affects Your Home Purchase

January 12, 2016 George Duarte Real Estate Tips Comments Off

The real estate market is rife with terminology that can make a home purchase seem more than a little complicated. If you’re currently looking for a home and are considering your loan options, you may have even heard the term ‘Debt to Income’ ratio. In the interest of simplifying things, here are some insights on what this term means and how it can impact your home investment.

Dealing with an Empty Nest? 5 Great Reasons to Downsize into a New Condo

January 7, 2016 George Duarte Around The Home Comments Off

There’s a good chance if your children have recently moved out that your home is feeling a lot larger than it used to, and perhaps you’re re-considering the extra space. If downsizing to a condo is on your mind and you’re weighing the benefits of this kind of move, here are some that might make it worth the switch in size.

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