Home buyers who purchase pre-existing homes in Texas will likely have the option to ask the seller to pay a portion of their home warranty. This is quite common in Texas. But are they worth it? Some buyers often wonder if that money won’t be better spent by asking the seller to pay part of [...]
Archive of posts tagged Bankrate.com
Questions About Refinancing a Mortgage
Here’s an article from mortgage expert Holden Lewis that answers some frequently asked questions about refinancing an existing mortgage. Several factors will determine whether or not it makes sense for a home owner to refinance, MAINLY the break-even-point, or how long it will take the homeowner to save the cost of refinancing. This is a [...]
Paperwork Needed to Get A Home Loan
A few years ago, most home buyers with even fair credit weren’t asked to provide many details or documentation. Stated income loans and even no doc (loans with NO documentation required, other than a credit report and identification) were prevalent. In fact, many home buyers with strong credit were automatically approved as stated income loans, [...]
Renter’s Insurance
Many renters neglect to obtain good coverage on their contents. Perhaps some people think that their possessions are covered by the landlord’s insurance. This is almost never the case. Here’s a good article that asks whether or not you need rental insurance and also talks about how much coverage is needed for specific situations: Article [...]
Five Steps to Getting The Best Mortgage Deal
Here’s an article from Bankrate.com that advises borrowers on how to get the best mortgage deal available. Some good advice. Article from Bankrate.com
When Is A Conventional Loan A Better Choice Than An FHA Loan?
Conventional loans have their advantages and disadvantages. Their main advantage is they do not require upfront mortgage insurance like FHA and also do not require monthly PMI if the first lien mortgage amount is less than or equal to 80 percent. Earlier this month, FHA increased the upfront mortgage insurance requirement from 1.75% to 2.25%, [...]
Already Got A Good Mortgage Rate? Probably Not Worth It To Refinance
Just because current mortgage rates available in the market are slightly lower than the rate you have doesn’t mean that refinancing is a good idea. For example, a home owner who has a rate of 5.5% and tries to refinance to 4.875% might be surprised to find out that refinancing may save little or no [...]
Tax Credit Improving Home Sales Nationwide, But What Happens When It’s Over?
The home buyer tax credits are due to expire on April 30, which is now less than one week away. The tax credits and low interest rates have helped spur home sales, especially over the last couple of months, but it’s anyone’s guess as to what will happen once the tax credits expire. The higher [...]
