Mortgage News, Homebuying Tips and Advice

More and more people are thinking about energy efficiency when shopping for homes these days, and heating and cooling is a major area where energy efficiency matters. Old heating and cooling systems may lack efficiency, so you may spend a ton of money trying to heat or cool your new home. An energy efficient heating and cooling system, on the other hand, can save you hundreds – or thousands – of dollars per year in energy costs, and it’s also good for the environment. What should you look for in an energy efficient heating and cooling system?

Energy efficiency isn’t just about keeping your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. You can make a huge difference in your home’s energy efficiency by selecting the appropriate appliances. Whether you’re selecting large appliances or small household appliances, the Energy Star rating can help you choose the appliances that are going to operate most efficiently and use less energy than non-Energy Star appliances. What do you need to know about selecting energy efficient appliances?

A “fixer upper” may be a great option for buyers with a limited home budget – particularly if one of the buyers is an experienced contractor, or if the buyers don’t mind the work that goes into preparing a “fixer upper” for habitation. But not all handyman special homes are alike – some involve relatively little, primarily cosmetic work to “fix up,” such as removing some old, ratty wallpaper and giving the walls a new finish. But other “fixer upper” homes may involve serious issues, such as structural defects, that could cost you tens of thousands of dollars.

A recently completed study has revealed that investors represent 28% of residential real estate in the single-family residential market. The “2012 Invaluable Investor Study” is a wake-up call for traditional buyers, individuals who want to buy but can’t, and people who have been thinking about buying. With investors in control of over a quarter of the single family home market, traditional buyers have fewer options – but non-traditional buyers have more options than ever. How does this affect you?

Nearly 40% of the new homes sold last year underwent an energy audit at completion, which certified their level of efficiency and confirmed that they would offer savings on utility bills. But many homeowners don’t seem to realize that you can perform an energy audit on an existing home, too, with only a tiny percentage of last year’s resales undergoing such an audit. What’s the value of an energy audit, and how can you get one on a home you’re thinking of buying?

When you’re looking at homes, one of the things you’re evaluating is the outdoor space. Maybe you’ve got pets and you’re looking for a large, fenced-in back yard. Or maybe you have kids and you want enough space to set up a swing set. When you’re shopping for homes, don’t forget to consider this important piece of the puzzle. You may not be able to take the seller’s word for where your property line is located – make sure you follow up and confirm that the property lines are where you think they are.

With mortgage rates at a record low, more and more people who couldn’t afford homes before are thinking about buying. But if you’re a first time buyer, you might not know much about how mortgage rates work. Just because rates are at an all-time low doesn’t mean you’ll get a record-low rate. Many factors go into a mortgage rate, including the type of mortgage, the term of the mortgage, and the borrower’s credit. What do you need to know about mortgage rates?

The spring market is upon us, mortgage rates have reached a record low, and the real estate industry is improving in many parts of the country. For many aspiring homeowners, this confluence of events means that now is the time to buy! If you’re a first time buyer, or if you’re looking to hire a new realtor, a few tips can help you make sure you find the right person for your team:

If you already own a home, you probably already know that having a home mortgage can reduce your tax liability. But first-time buyers or people who have never owned a home typically have no idea that this deduction is available! If you’ve been thinking about buying a home, it’s too late to make an impact on your taxes this year, but you can buy now to see a big reduction in next year’s tax liability. How do you get money back just by owning a home?

When the housing market is having problems and foreclosures are rising, there’s an unintended side effect that many people don’t know about: an increase in demand for rental properties. When home prices are too high, or when the housing market is in turmoil, potential buyers are more inclined to keep renting to avoid any unintended consequences of buying at a bad time. When foreclosures increase, the displaced families need places to live, and typically aren’t buying new homes – so they rent too. This leads to an increase in demand for rental properties – which makes things tougher for renters.