NOT Owning Your Home Can Cost You a Lot of Money!

Amanda RobinsBuying Myths, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Move-Up Buyers, Rent vs. Buy

Owning a home has great financial benefits, yet many continue to rent! Today, let’s look at the financial reasons why owning a home of your own has been a part of the American Dream for as long as America has existed. Realtor.com recently reported that: “Buying remains the more attractive option in the long term – that remains the American dream, and it’s … Read More

The Cost of Renting vs. Buying Today [INFOGRAPHIC]

Amanda RobinsBuying Myths, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Infographics, Rent vs. Buy

Some Highlights: Historically, the choice between renting or buying a home has been a tough decision. Looking at the percentage of income needed to rent a median-priced home today (28.9%) vs. the percentage needed to buy a median-priced home (15.7%), the choice becomes obvious. Every market is different. Before you renew your lease again, find out if you can put … Read More

Be Thankful You Don’t Have to Pay Your Parents’ Interest Rate!

Amanda RobinsFirst Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Interest Rates, Move-Up Buyers

Interest rates hovered around 4% for the majority of 2017, which gave many buyers relief from rising home prices and helped with affordability. In the first quarter of 2018, rates have increased from 3.95% up to 4.45% and experts predict that rates will increase even more by the end of the year. The rate you secure greatly impacts your monthly … Read More

Freddie Mac: Rising Mortgage Rates DO NOT Lead to Falling Home Prices

Amanda RobinsBuying Myths, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Move-Up Buyers, Pricing

Recently, Freddie Mac published an Insight Report titled Nowhere to go but up? How increasing mortgage rates could affect housing. The report focused on the impact the projected rise in mortgage rates might have on the housing market this year. Many believe that an increase in mortgage rates will cause a slowdown in purchases which would, in turn, lead to … Read More

The Cost of Waiting: Interest Rates Edition [INFOGRAPHIC]

Amanda RobinsFirst Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Infographics, Interest Rates, Move-Up Buyers

Some Highlights: Interest rates are projected to increase steadily heading into 2019. The higher your interest rate, the more money you end up paying for your home and the higher your monthly payment will be. Rates are still low right now. Don’t wait until rates hit 5% to start searching for your dream home! Source: Amanda Robins

4 Reasons Spring is a Great Time to Buy a Home!

Amanda RobinsFirst Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Move-Up Buyers

Here are four great reasons to consider buying a home today instead of waiting. Prices Will Continue to Rise CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Index reports that home prices have appreciated by 6.6% over the last 12 months. The same report predicts that prices will continue to increase at a rate of 4.3% over the next year. The bottom in home prices has come … Read More

Are Home Values Really Overinflated?

Amanda RobinsFirst Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Pricing

Last week, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) released their most recent Existing Home Sales Report. According to the report: “The median existing-home price for all housing types in January was $240,500, up 5.8 percent from January 2017 ($227,300). January’s price increase marks the 71st straight month of year-over-year gains.” Seventy-one consecutive months of price increases may have some concerned … Read More

It’s Tax Season… Use Your Refund to Jump Start Your Down Payment Savings!

Amanda RobinsDown Payments, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers

According to data released by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Americans can expect an estimated average refund of $2,840 this year when filing their taxes. This is down slightly from the average refund of $2,895, last year. Tax refunds are often thought of as ‘extra money’ that can be used toward larger goals; for anyone looking to buy a home … Read More

Is Now a Good Time to Rent?

Amanda RobinsFirst Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Move-Up Buyers, Rent vs. Buy

People often ask if now is a good time to buy a home, but nobody ever asks when it’s a good time to rent. Regardless, we want to make certain that everyone understands that today is NOT a good time to rent. The Census Bureau recently released their 2017 fourth quarter median rent numbers. Here is a graph showing rent increases from 1988 … Read More