The process of buying a home can be a marathon or sometimes a sprint, but it isn’t finished until your keys are in your hand. There are stacks of papers to sign and sometimes it's hard to stay on top of everything. But knowing what to expect while you are closing on a new home can be a big relief and help you get across the finish line. 1. Understand and Prepare for the Process Though you’ll have people to guide you through the closing, Continue Reading
Pros and Cons: FHA versus Conventional Loans
When it comes to financing your new home, there are many different options available. Below I have outlined some of the basic differences in Conventional and FHA loans to show the pros and cons of each. What is an FHA loan? An FHA loan is one that offers mortgage insurance on loans that are made by FHA approved lenders. FHA stands for Federal Housing Administration and was created in 1934 by the US Congress. It is the largest mortgage Continue Reading
How Loan Approval Helps the Buying Process
If you’re just getting into the Dallas-Fort Worth real estate market there are many opportunities for today's buyer, whether you are buying your first home, or you are a home-buying pro with many home purchases under your belt. There are many steps in the home buying process where having a professional real estate agent guiding you through those steps is of immense value. One important step is the loan approval process. Unless you are paying Continue Reading
Improve Your Credit Score Before You Buy
The journey of buying a new home starts long before your physical search begins, and it is just as critical. Finances play a key role in your home search, so understanding what your credit score is and where you stand financially is important, before you even step foot in that new home. If you’re looking to boost your credit score or correct errors to your credit report, following are some ways that will help to improve your score and get you in Continue Reading
How to Find Your Dream Home
Searching for your dream home can be difficult with so many competing choices all vying for your attention, this is especially true across the Dallas - Fort Worth area. Entering the market with an undefined idea of what you want in a home could land you in one that you grow to dislike, or even grow out of too soon if you aren’t careful. But if you employ the right steps and know as much as you can about the house you want to purchase and live Continue Reading
What’s in a Street Name?
Have you ever wondered how your street got its name? Or if the name even matters? Your street name can be as unique as your home. For many it's just an afterthought, and 'Street,' Drive,' or 'Court' all mean the same, it's only the house that matters right? Wrong. Your street name can actually say a lot about the immediate area as well as the homes located on the street. The value of a home is tied to several things, such as the build quality Continue Reading
When Exactly Should I List My Home?
Did you know that according to NTREIS (North Texas Real Estate Information Systems, Inc.), home sales in the DFW area reach their peak in the month of July? For much of the rest of the country that peak occurs in June. According to Zillow Talk, in the last week of June alone, national residential real estate transactions are 40 percent higher than average throughout the year. In colder climates, the peak comes a bit later in the spring. March, Continue Reading
How Big Should My Down Payment Be?
Unless you are paying cash for your new home, the amount of your down payment can be important to the success of your home-buying process and your financial future. There are several approaches to making a down payment, each of which can be discussed with your realtor and loan officer before you begin the home-buying process. Less vs More Making a Minimum Down Payment The down payment you make on a home can range from as little as 3.5% (FHA Continue Reading
Holding the Title of Your Home
Although many people aren’t aware, there are numerous approaches when it comes to titling your home. Each provide unique benefits as well as limitations, and it is beneficial to know which is the best option for you. Below are listed some of the most common ways a home is titled. Title Ownership Options Sole Ownership Single persons have limited options when it comes to holding the title to a home. These options basically consist of holding Continue Reading
Real Estate Tax Breaks Sometimes Overlooked
Whether you’re buying a home in the Garland, Rowlett or Rockwall areas, there are a few, sometimes overlooked tax breaks for homeowners that could help you save some money when filing your income taxes. A tax code of 73,954 pages means that sometimes people miss the important stuff, the items that could save them money. A few of these items are tax breaks related to real estate you own. I’ve listed a few below. Be sure to bring them up to your Continue Reading
What Is A Title Insurance Policy? Is It Important?
When buying that dream home in the Garland, Rowlett, or Rockwall areas, one of the last things you are likely to think about is the title policy. However let’s look at why your lender requires you to purchase a title policy or why it makes sense to purchase a title policy if you are paying cash. What is title insurance and why do you need it? Title insurance is an insurance policy that is designed to protect the lien holder (mortgage company) Continue Reading
Making Your Home-Buying Process Easy
Buying a home in the Garland, Rowlett, or Rockwall area may be intimidating but finding your dream home is well worth the effort. Following are four tips that can make your home-buying process a little easier: 1. Know your expectations It’s important to have reasonable expectations about what you want in a home before you begin the home-buying process. Consider making a list and ranking essential and non-essential aspects of what you are Continue Reading
What’s Worrying Garland and Rockwall Home Buyers?
Finding a great deal for a home in the current economy can prove to be a daunting task, when considering the primary concerns of home buyers in today’s market. However, many signs are pointing to a strong and growing North Texas housing market, and snagging a great deal is possible. With some preparations and professional advice from a real estate professional, you can navigate the market and get the best deal possible for the property you are Continue Reading
The Closing Process Made Simple
Knowing what to expect when you are closing on that Garland, Rowlett, or Rockwall area home can be a breath of fresh air. If you’ve talked to even a few homeowners about their closings, you may have heard tales of anxiety and more questions than answers regarding their closings. Our purpose here is to break down the closing process and help you gain the knowledge of what to expect when you buy and close on a new home. This type of knowledge Continue Reading
What to Evaluate When Making A Purchase Offer
The window of opportunity for purchasing a new home in the Garland, Rowlett, and Rockwall areas is prime. Interest rates are now at 19-month all-time lows. However, area listing inventory and sales trends over the last several months make it more important than ever that you have the best negotiating position with your purchase offer. So if you are considering purchasing that dream home in the Garland, Rowlett, and Rockwall areas, following are Continue Reading