montgomery county pa: Buying Real Estate vs. Stocks: Why a Home Should Be Your Priority - 02/08/17 10:39 AM
Once you’re done with debt and you’ve started to save, it’s commonly the case that you’ll start hearing about the risks and rewards of investing in stocks or real estate. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for many people to know what type of investment is going to work better for them down the road. If you’re currently considering what you should put your money into, here are some reasons you may want to turn to real estate.
It’s Something You Can See
While investing in the stock market will give you the ability to invest as little or as much as you want, … (1 comments)

montgomery county pa: Struggling to Sell Your Home this Winter? Try these Home Staging Tips - 02/07/17 02:14 PM
With all of the busyness of the winter months and most people settling in for the season, it can be hard to achieve a successful home sale at the end of the year. Fortunately, if you simply can’t wait to put your home on the market, here are some staging tips that will engage potential buyers so you won’t have to wait much longer for an offer.
Add Accents To Your Neutrals
It’s often the case that a home with neutral colors will show better because potential buyers can envision themselves in it, but there are ways to dress up neutral tones that … (2 comments)

montgomery county pa: Give Your Montgomery County Home A Facelift, Wallpaper Is Back! - 04/03/14 11:24 PM
Give Your Montgomery County Home A Facelift, Wallpaper Is Back!  
Though it can be an entirely different story for a trend shift in the opposite direction, which then requires you to get out the soaking bucket and scraping tool, wallpaper coming back into style is a home décor blessing for many.
Wallpaper is back in – in a big way! – and it’s making your dreams of accomplishing a fashionable living space come true much faster and easier than you could have imagined.
Quite frankly, wallpaper can do the “fashionable home” trick to virtually any room in your house, adding … (3 comments)

montgomery county pa: Millenials Have Great Homebuying Tools Available To Them - 04/02/14 11:08 PM
Millenials Have Great Homebuying Tools Available To Them  
The economy seems to be finally turning, and home loan interest rates are still historically low. Real estate values are starting to climb as well, all of which makes for a growing opportunity for new homeowners to get into the market before it gets too expensive again.
Millennials Don’t Seem To Be On Board
They represent the next generation of homebuyers, but a number of barriers can seem to be smack in the way, discouraging many. Yet there are ways around these issues.
According to the Boston Globe, only 32 percent of … (1 comments)

montgomery county pa: Important Legal Tips For Montgomery County Homeowners - 03/31/14 11:12 PM
Important Legal Tips For Montgomery County Homeowners
Being a homeowner is exciting. It can be financially rewarding, too. Unfortunately, it can also put you in a tough legal position. Between the complexities of owning a house, having to deal with lenders and the risk that comes from owning something valuable, keeping yourself legally protected is a good idea.
Here Are Some Risks — And Some Ways To Handle Them.
HOAs. If you own a condo, townhome or other property in an association, the homeowner association is extremely powerful. Not paying their dues, violating their rules, or doing just about anything else to … (0 comments)

montgomery county pa: This Week's Montgomery County Mortgage News - March 31, 2014 - 03/31/14 12:21 AM
This Week's Montgomery County Mortgage News - March 31, 2014
 
Last week's economic news includes several reports about housing markets. The S&P Case-Shiller 10 and 20 city housing market indices, the FHFA House Price Index, New Home Sales and Pending Home sales reports suggest that the national housing market continues to grow, but at lower rates. Regional readings varied and suggested that winter weather was a negative influence on affected markets.
 
In a press conference held on March 19 Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said that severe winter weather had interfered with the Fed's ability to get a … (2 comments)

montgomery county pa: Spring Cleaning Tips for Montgomery County Homeowners - 03/20/14 11:15 PM
Spring is around the corner, and it’s time to get your home in order!
Spring cleaning can be fun and easy if you follow some general guidelines, which are sure to get your home ready for the nice weather and looking as beautiful as the weather is about to. Kick the winter clutter to the curb with these spring cleaning tips.
Start With The Closets
Spring is here, and winter wear is no longer needed! It’s time to box up all of the winter boots, jackets, gloves, and scarfs until next season.
Starting your spring clean with your closets is a … (1 comments)

montgomery county pa: Montgomery County PA Kitchen Remodeling and Decorating Guide for 2014 - 01/23/14 10:49 PM
Montgomery County PA Kitchen Remodeling and Decorating Guide for 2014
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms of your home. It is where you prepare all of your meals and it is often a hub of family activity. When you host a party, the action often ends up in the kitchen.
Where drinks and snacks are enjoyed into the early hours of the morning. It's crucial that your kitchen functions well because you will use it every day, but you also want to make it beautiful and stylish.
Renovating and decorating your kitchen can also be one of the … (0 comments)

montgomery county pa: Improve Your Curb Appeal & King Of Prussia PA This Winter - 01/21/14 10:55 PM
Improve Your Curb Appeal & King Of Prussia PA This Winter
 
After all of the excitement of the holidays, the sparkle of the lights and the over-stimulation of decorations, the rest of winter can seem lackluster. Don't let your home add to the dreariness of the season.
Spruce up your curb appeal with the tips below and inspire your neighbors to create well-groomed street that will make drivers passing through smile.
Tend The Plants
If you're currently located in a winter wonderland, then dig up any dead plants that won't grow back. Replace them with cold-loving flowers, such as snowberry … (0 comments)

montgomery county pa: What are the Pros And Cons Of Adjustable Rate Mortgages? - 01/15/14 10:23 PM
What are the Pros And Cons Of Adjustable Rate Mortgages?
 

When you are in the market for a new home, you may be faced with numerous options for financing your home. One of the choices you will have to make is whether to apply for a fixed or adjustable rate mortgage.
In some cases, an adjustable rate mortgage may be your best option, but keep in mind, they are not the answer for everyone. Adjustable rate mortgages can be risky for some borrowers and it’s important to understand both the pros and cons.
When To Consider An Adjustable Rate … (0 comments)

montgomery county pa: Montgomery County Homeowners Ask: Should I Shorten My Mortgage Term? - 01/13/14 10:56 PM
Montgomery County Homeowners Ask: Should I Shorten My Mortgage Term?
 
When you first bought your home a few years ago, perhaps you started off with a 30 year mortgage. Now, you are considering refinancing and changing it to a 20 year or even a 15 year mortgage.
Shortening your mortgage term and refinancing can be a smart financial move, but before you make this decision there are a number of factors that you should consider.
Switching to a shorter mortgage will mean that your monthly payments will be higher, but you will be 100% paid off much sooner and you … (0 comments)

montgomery county pa: TOP 3 Things To Consider When Making A Down Payment - 01/08/14 10:06 PM
TOP 3 Things To Consider When Making A Down Payment
 
One of the challenges you will face when deciding how much money to put down on your new home is whether to put down a larger down payment or to take a bit of money from your down payment and use it to pay "discount points" to lower your interest rate.
There are pros and cons to doing both and each borrower's situation will be different so it's important to understand which option is best for your individual need.
Some Factors You Should Consider Include:
Cost Of Borrowing - generally speaking, … (1 comments)

montgomery county pa: Mortgage News for Week of January 6th, 2014 - 01/05/14 10:21 PM
Mortgage News for Week of January 6th, 2014
 

The last week of 2013 brought relatively good news in view of the economic roller coaster rides caused by legislative impasse. A brief shutdown of federal government agencies, and nail-biting suspense over if and when the FOMC of the Federal Reserve would taper its quantitative easing program.
Last week's news was not high in volume due to the New Year holiday, but it does suggest that a general economic recovery is progressing and that housing markets are leading the "charge!". Here are the details:
The NAR's data of month-to-month reading of … (0 comments)

montgomery county pa: Market Report - Mortgage Rates & The Housing Market - 12/01/13 10:23 PM
Market Report - Mortgage Rates & The Housing Market
 
The short holiday week brought a flurry of economic reports last week. Highlights included pending home sales, the S&P Case-Shiller Housing Market Indices and the FHFA home price index. No reports were released on Thursday and Friday in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The NAR released its Pending Home Sales report for October. Although pending home sales dropped by -0.60 percent, the decline was less than September’s reading of -4.60 percent.
NAR cited higher home prices and mortgage rates along with concerns over the then-pending government shutdown as factors that contributed … (0 comments)

montgomery county pa: Pending Homes Sales - The Aftermath of the Government Shutdown - 11/25/13 10:20 PM
Pending Homes Sales - The Aftermath of the Government Shutdown
 
The National Association of REALTORS reported Monday that pending home sales dropped by -0.60 percent in October after falling at a revised rate of -4.60 percent in September. According to Lawrence Yun, chief economist for NAR, 17 percent of real estate agents reported delays in loan closings due to the government shutdown in early October.
Lenders were unable to verify borrower income through the IRS, which was closed during the shutdown. October was the fifth consecutive month with fewer pending home sales reported.
Homeowners who owe more on their mortgages … (0 comments)

montgomery county pa: Where Are Mortgage Rates Headed This Week? - November 25th, 2013 - 11/24/13 10:14 PM
Where Are Mortgage Rates Headed This Week? - November 25th, 2013
Last week’s scheduled economic news was varied, but mortgage rates fell and jobless claims were significantly lower than expected. The minutes for last month’s FOMC meeting were released, and confirmed the Federal Reserve’s intention to leave its quantitative easing program unchanged at least for the near term.
The National Association of Homebuilders Wells Fargo Housing Market Index for November indicated that builder confidence, while still positive, dipped by one point to a reading of 54 as compared to an anticipated reading of 55, and October’s revised reading of 54.
Retail … (0 comments)

montgomery county pa: Top 4 Ways to Save For The Down Payment on Your Mortgage - 11/19/13 10:24 PM
Top 4 Ways to Save For The Down Payment on Your Mortgage
 
In order to save up a huge amount of cash for the down payment on your first mortgage, you need a solid savings plan!
When you take out a mortgage on your new home as a first time homebuyer, the more you can pay as a down payment the better. The down payment on a mortgage reduces the principle of the loan and means that you will be paying tens of thousands less in interest payments over the life of the loan.
Most financial experts recommend that you … (0 comments)

montgomery county pa: What You Need to Know About Private Money Loans - 11/11/13 10:37 PM
What You Need to Know About Private Money Loans
 
Private Money financing refers to loans collateralized by real estate, where the source of the funds used to close Real Estate transactions come from private investors.
The decision by the investors to make a loan is based primarily upon plenty of equity in the real property securing the loan thus reducing the risk of loss.
The ability to repay, and the borrower’s character is also considered along with how the borrower will pay the investor back in time.
Private Money loans are needed when a borrower or a property falls outside … (0 comments)

montgomery county pa: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – November 4, 2013 - 11/03/13 10:31 PM
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – November 4, 2013
 
Last week’s economic news came from a variety of sources. Most significant was the Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee statement after its meeting ended Wednesday. The statement indicated that the Fed saw moderate economic growth. FOMC did not taper its purchase of MBS and Treasury securities.
The FOMC statement announced the committee’s intention to closely monitor economic and financial developments ”in the coming months,” which suggested that the FOMC is taking a wait-and-see position on reducing its $85 billion monthly asset purchases.
Mortgage Rates, Jobless Claims Fall
The Fed’s asset purchase program, … (0 comments)

montgomery county pa: Beware Of Zombie Titles! - 10/30/13 12:12 AM
Beware Of Zombie Titles!
 
With the economic downturn, anyone dealing in real estate quickly became familiar with previously little-known terms such as foreclosure and short sale. Now that the housing market is picking back up and people are moving on, a new term is coming to light — zombie titles.
The Zombie Title
This is when a home has been vacated because the owners defaulted on their loan and their bank started the foreclosure process. However, for some reason or another the bank never completed the foreclosure and sold the home.
So, when the city starts fining someone for the … (2 comments)

 
Joe Gonzalez, NMLS# 126036 (610) 739-6563 (CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC NMLS #3029)

Joe Gonzalez

NMLS# 126036 (610) 739-6563

King of Prussia, PA

More about me…

CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC NMLS #3029

Address: 625 W. Ridge Pike, Building C, Suite 100, Conshohocken, PA, 19428

Office: 610.355.8039

Mobile: 610.739.6563

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