Condominiums, townhomes, and properties located within a homeowner association offer certain perks, but it’s important to consider them in your decision process. How much storage is available? Some properties include…
Where you live should reflect your lifestyle. These questions will help you find the best community for you. Is it close to my favorite spots? Make a list of activities…
Write in your preferences and rate them: 3 = Vital, 2 = Very Important, 1 = Neutral, 0 = Not important LOCATION PREFERENCES RATE Neighborhood School district Near public transportation…
Investigate local, state, and national down payment assistance programs. These programs give qualified applicants loans or grants to cover all or part of your required down payment. National programs include…
Loan terms, rates, and products can vary significantly from one company to the next. When shopping around, these are a few things you should ask about. General questions: What are…
Term. Mortgages are generally available at 15-, 20-, or 30-year terms. In general, the longer the term, the lower the monthly payment. However, shorter terms mean you pay less interest…
Develop a budget: Use receipts and your banking transaction history to create a budget that reflects your actual habits over the last several months. This approach will better factor in…
Credit scores play a big role in determining whether you’ll qualify for a loan and what your loan terms will be. So, keep your credit score high by doing the…
Credit scores range between 200 and 850, with scores above 620 considered desirable for obtaining a mortgage. The following factors affect your score: Your payment history. Did you pay your…
The first step in getting yourself in financial shape to buy a home is to know exactly how much money comes in and how much goes out. Use this worksheet…
