buying process

When should I apply for a mortgage pre-approval?

Mortgage pre-approval is needed in order to make an Offer in our area. Anyone without a pre-approval appears disorganized, at best, and is likely to be written off by a seller as not worthy of consideration, at worst. The first question from a seller or seller’s agent about an offer is “How much?” The second

By |2024-02-20T08:31:56-05:00February 21st, 2024|Categories: buying process, Mortgage matters|Tags: , , , |

What can ruin your credit score

There is a logic to the way the lenders choose who can borrow for a mortgage. Since 2014, mortgage loans have had standard guidelines that require that any mortgage borrower be able to prove that they can repay their loan. Lenders document income, but also debt. How you have been handling debt will affect your

By |2024-02-11T10:16:11-05:00February 14th, 2024|Categories: buying process, Money and finance, Mortgage matters|Tags: , , , , |

Winter house hunting starts after Thanksgiving

Even though it isn’t winter yet, housing prices begin to drop this time of year. Winter is a bargain-hunter’s paradise, but it is also house-hunting hell. Between Thanksgiving and Martin Luther King Day, demand dries up, but so does inventory. The drain on demand is usually higher than the drain on supply. Sellers who can

By |2023-11-21T12:58:50-05:00November 29th, 2023|Categories: buying process|Tags: , , , |

Creating a household, buying a home, with less stress

As buyer’s agents, we work with a lot of household formation. We also find ownership opportunities for new households, and established ones. Household formation is the term for the point in life when a person leaves one household and sets up their own household. Happy Mother’s Day! The biggest reason that households change their living

By |2023-05-09T10:55:06-04:00May 10th, 2023|Categories: buying process, Exclusive Buyer's Agents|Tags: , , |

What is a Mortgage Discharge and Why Do You Need One?

A mortgage is a debt, and an old debt can delay a closing. It almost never happens when there are professionals representing the seller. Once in a while, a seller doesn’t have a thorough attorney or broker. Then a title search will find out that their property still has an open mortgage without a recorded

The Right to a Home Inspection

Why we insist on home inspection: Since 2020, our company has been swimming against the current when we insist that all our clients get home inspections. We are fiduciary agents; that means we need to give sound financial advice. It is not sound financial advice for a buyer’s agent to suggest that a buyer forego

By |2023-03-14T17:05:42-04:00March 1st, 2023|Categories: buying process, Legal questions|Tags: , , , |

Use and Occupancy

Recently, during the most competitive times in the seller-favoring real estate market, more sellers were asking for the right to stay in the home after the closing. This makes life much easier for the seller. Under typical circumstances, the seller and all their possessions must be out of the house before closing. The buyer walks

By |2022-08-18T07:37:43-04:00August 24th, 2022|Categories: buying process, Legal questions|Tags: , , |

Applying for a mortgage pre-approval and your credit score

Mortgage pre-approval is needed in order to make an Offer in our area. Anyone without one appears disorganized, at best, and is likely to be written off by a seller as not worthy of consideration, at worst. The first question from a seller or seller’s agent about an offer is “How much?” The second is

By |2022-07-06T10:10:44-04:00July 13th, 2022|Categories: buying process, Mortgage matters|Tags: , |