Loan limits for most mortgages are increasing in 2023. While updated FHA and VA loan limits won't be in effect until after the new year, if you're getting a conventional loan from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, you can take advantage of increased buying power now. We’ll go over what the new limits are and what this means for home buyers or those looking to refinance. Understanding The Loan Limit Changes There are three types of
The Best Time of Year to Buy a HomeDoes the time of year actually matter when buying a house, condo or apartment? The short answer: yes and no. Seasonality tends to affect factors such as inventory (the number of homes for sale) and purchase price. During spring, inventory is plentiful, but competition among buyers may cause prices to rise. By contrast, home prices may be lower during winter, but inventory is usually limited – and
Homes for Heroes: Assistance for Home Buyers and SellersHomes for Heroes connects first responders, teachers, health care workers, members of the military and veterans with local real estate and lending professionals. You'll receive a discount — which varies, depending on the service provided and whether you're buying, selling or refinancing — from each service provider you use within the Homes for Heroes network. Here's more about how Homes for Heroes works and how much you
How to Say Goodbye to Renting and Hello to Home OwnershipBecoming a first-time homeowner takes a lot more than a desire to buy a house. It takes a lot of effort on your part to save up a down payment — which is usually a pretty good sized chunk of change — research neighborhoods, get pre-approved for a loan and other steps. Fortunately, it is quite possible to say goodbye to renting and hello to
24 Best Things to Do in Charlotte, North CarolinaFrom beautiful green spaces to a diverse selection of museums, weddings venues, tours, free attractions, parks, and restaurants, Charlotte is a fun city to visit year-round. Discover the Mint Museum, the oldest art museum in North Carolina, tour the 150,000-square-foot NASCAR Hall of Fame, and watch a theater performance. ImaginOn is one of the best things to do in Charlotte, NC with kids. You may also enjoy
Saving for a Down Payment When Living Paycheck-to-PaycheckA down payment is an important component of taking a step toward homeownership. Saving for a down payment is also the biggest obstacle that you probably face when you want to buy a home. A down payment is the cash you pay upfront when you’re going to make a large purchase. If you were going to buy a $350,000 home with a 10% down payment, you’d need to
Interior Design Trends to Love Right NowEven though vaccinations are widespread in the U.S. right now, many people are still spending a lot of time at home. Summer 2021 is likely going to bring some return to normalcy, but it’s probably going to be a slow process. You still want your home to feel like an oasis, and with that goal in mind, the following are some of the biggest interior design trends right now.
5 Things You Didn’t Know a VA Loan Could Do for YouBecause of the bravery and sacrifices of veterans and active military, the rest of the country’s civilians can live the American dream in safety. As one tangible way to say “thank you for your service,” current and former members of the military have access to Veterans Affairs home loans. These unique mortgage options allow veterans and those still serving to own a piece of
9 Surprising Things Home Insurance Doesn’t CoverWhether your home is hit by lightning, hail, or some other calamity, you’ll be awfully glad you have a homeowners insurance policy in place to help foot the cost of repairs. Yet while home insurance typically covers a variety of common hazards that can befall your home, don’t get too confident, because it may not cover every mishap that may come your way. The exact instances that are and
10 Questions to Ask a Mortgage LenderWhat are the best questions to ask a mortgage lender before you lock in a home loan? If you want to find the very best mortgage for your needs, it pays to not automatically go with the very first lender you see. “You need to shop around to make sure you’re getting the best interest rate and loan terms,” says Peggy Yee, supervising broker at Frankly Realtors, in Vienna,
How To Unpack After a Move and Leave Your Home Clutter-FreeMoving is the perfect opportunity to declutter, jettisoning the dead weight of your unneeded stuff before you haul it into your new home. Yet while the very best time to cut your losses is before you pack your things, unpacking is another prime opportunity to edit your belongings, too. It could easily come in handy, especially if you packed in a frenzy, without fully considering