Tuesday, April 2, 2019 / by Hunt Brothers Realty
Some Highlights:
If you are thinking of buying a home, you may not know where to start.
Here is a simple list of 10 steps that you will go through to purchase a home.
Make sure to ask your agent for details about each step and what else may be required in your area! ...
Read More
for buyers, move-up buyers, for sellers, first time home buyers, infographics
Thursday, March 28, 2019 / by Hunt Brothers Realty
There has been a lot written about the benefits of homeownership. One benefit that continues to rise to the top is the added wealth homeowners gain simply by paying their mortgage while their home increases in value over time.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently broke down the equity gained from price appreciation and principal payments in their Economists Outlook Blog. Homeowners who purchased their homes five years ago have already gained almost $80,000 in equity over that time with 80% of the gains coming from price appreciation.
For a homeowner who purchased their home 30 years ago, they have gained nearly $250,000 in equity with 70% coming from price increases. The full results can be seen in the chart below.
According to the Home Price Expectation Survey, a family who purchased a median priced home this January can expect to gain more than $42,000 over the next five years simply from price appreciation alone.
Botto. ...
Read More
for buyers, move-up buyers, for sellers, housing market updates
Thursday, March 21, 2019 / by Hunt Brothers Realty
There are many misconceptions about the credit score needed to buy a house. Recently, it was reported that 24% of renters believe they need a 780-800 credit score to be considered for a mortgage. The reality is they are misinformed
Only 25% of the Americans have a FICO® Score between 740 and 800. Here is the breakdown according to Experian:
16% Very Poor (300-579)
18% Fair (580-669)
21% Good (670-739)
25% Very Good (740-799)
20% Exceptional (800-850)
Randy Hopper, Senior Vice President of Mortgage Lending for Navy Federal Credit Union said,
“Just because you have a low credit score doesn’t mean you can’t purchase a home. There are a lot of options out there for consumers with low FICO® scores,”
There are many programs available with low or no credit score requirement. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) now requires a minimum FICO® score of 580 if you want to qua ...
Read More
for buyers, move-up buyers, for sellers, first time home buyers, housing market updates
Thursday, March 7, 2019 / by Hunt Brothers Realty
Every family has a list of important dates. We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, pet adoptions…and the list goes on. For 64.4 percent of households in the United States, this list includes the day they became a homeowner for the first time!
Why is this date important? Homeownership is not just a roof over your head! It represents shelter, stability, wealth, and pride! For decades, homeownership has been an important part of the American Dream!
However, many question if the next generations see the same benefits of homeownership as their predecessors.
In case we have forgotten, some of those benefits are:
Non-Financial Benefits
Educational Achievement: Homeownership has a positive impact on academic achievement, including reading and math performance in children 3-12 years old.
Civic Participation: “Owning a home means owning a part of the neighborhood.” Homeowners have a stronger connection to their neighborhood and are more committed to volu ...
Read More
for buyers, move-up buyers, first time home buyers, rent vs. buy
Tuesday, February 12, 2019 / by Hunt Brothers Realty
One of the biggest challenges sellers face when listing their house is decluttering. Cleaning out some of the more personal decorating choices allows buyers to imagine themselves living in the house.
Those planning to sell soon are in luck! Marie Kondo, the inventor of the KonMari Method of Tidying Up, has gained popularity with her new Netflix series. She gives some great tips for sorting through years of accumulated possessions that we all collect in our homes.
“The KonMari Method™ encourages tidying by category – not by location – beginning with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and, finally, sentimental items. Keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy. Thank them for their service – then let them go.”
When you subjectively look at all of your belongings, you can sort through the ones that mean the most to you. Not only wil ...
Read More
move-up buyers, for sellers
