(TNS)—Let’s be real: Shopping around for a mortgage is about as enjoyable as applying for multiple jobs. Both involve a lot of paperwork, time and back-and-forth communication. You may never hear back from all (or any) of those job prospects, but you’re likely to reap rewards by shopping for mortgage rates with a handful of…
(TNS)—Buying your first home comes with many big decisions and can be as scary as it is exciting. It’s easy to get swept up in the whirlwind of home-shopping and make mistakes that could leave you with buyer’s remorse later. If this is your first rodeo as a homebuyer or it’s been many years since…
(TNS)—Swings in mortgage rates can sometimes make or break your home-buying prospects. When rates rise, it can squeeze your house budget to its limit and force you to reevaluate your plans. And when rates fall, you’re in a better position to qualify for loan amount that gets you the dream house. An unexpected drop in…
(TNS)—The last thing consumers should have to worry about is being scammed when they buy or rent a home, or consider refinancing options. Unfortunately, criminals are getting more creative in how they target their victims, leading to major financial headaches for their unsuspecting victims. In 2017 alone, 9,645 victims reported real estate fraud, resulting in…
(TNS)—As the government shutdown grinds into its third week, more than 800,000 federal employees and 4.1 million federal contractors are caught in the crosshairs. Federal workers will go without paychecks beginning January 11. Some of these unpaid employees are nervous about their finances, particularly being able to make their monthly rent or mortgage payment on…
(TNS)—Clearing the hurdles to qualify for a mortgage used to be much harder. House hunters with too much debt had their home-buying hopes dashed after being denied a mortgage. That’s changing as mortgage lenders ease lending guidelines to expand mortgage credit to more people. Borrowers with a high debt-to-income ratio now have more leeway than…
(TNS)—Buying a home is a major life milestone, right up there with snagging a dream job or finding true love. Your heart might be set on becoming a homeowner, but red flags might indicate you’re not yet ready to make the leap. For many, particularly millennials, homeownership represents much more than a financial investment. In…
(TNS)—First-time homebuyers might well wonder: Where are all the starter houses? They’re right to ask, because starter homes are becoming increasingly scarce in many housing markets. Housing inventory is low and home prices are soaring. What’s a first-time buyer to do? Here are five tips for finding a starter home: Be realistic about today’s market.…
Editor’s Note: What follows is the cover story in the January issue of RISMedia’s Real Estate magazine. Real estate moves fast, and how quickly you respond to prospective clients can make or break your chances of getting their business. Mortgage lenders, on the other hand, have a captive audience and don’t always feel the same…
How Homes.com Keeps Agents at the Center of the Real Estate Transaction Editor’s Note: The following is the cover story in the November issue of RISMedia’s real estate magazine. As other real estate portals focus on scaling and capturing more consumer traffic, Homes.com is focused on meeting the needs of the industry. The company isn’t…
Brokers and agents have always held the role of trusted advisors and experts, and this is even truer now. These realities are underscoring just how important better lead strategies are, so that teams can increase their lead flows over time, whether the market is up or down. Read More
