Dora Griffin's Blog

Why a Home Inspection Is a Must for HomebuyersLearn why a home inspection is essential for buyers—even in a competitive market. Discover how it protects your investment and helps avoid costly surprises. In a competitive housing market, many buyers are looking for ways to make their offers more ap...

Selling Your Home? What You Need to Know About Capital Gains Taxes Learn how capital gains taxes work when selling your home and how to reduce what you owe. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice. Mar 12, 2025 If you’re planning to sell your home, you may have heard about capital gai...

 Home Loans 101: What is Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)?What is PMI in home financing?Private mortgage insurance, or PMI, is insurance that buyers may be required to obtain. PMI is usually required on a conventional loan if the down payment is less than 20% of the home's purchase price.PMI serv...

What is your reason for buying a home? I do a homebuying class and I always lead with what are the reasons for buying a home.  Here are a few of the top reasons that come to mind but perhaps not in the same order homebuyers think of it: 1) BUILD WEALTH   I always lead with this one.  Anyone can b...

LET'S GET REAL ABOUT RENTING Renting has it's advantages, namely maintenance for one.   Rent costs have escalated recently due to a shortage of homes for purchase or rent.  Rent costs is one of the two biggest contributors to inflation currently.  Some economists expected to see rents begin to go...

Feds still not budging on the discount rateNot unsurprising, the Feds' Powell announced no change in the discount rate for this month.  For that matter, the projection is for just one reduction in the discount rate for 2024.   According to Powell, whereas there was some news that would be encoura...

HOME PRICES - ECON 101 HOME PRICES - ECON 101 it really is that simple if one grasps the law of supply and demand.  There are several factors that continue to drive up home prices. For those who OWN a home (or have a home and a home mortgage), the market is great. For those in the home buying mar...

 Do's and Don'ts After Applying For A MortgageNavigating the Mortgage Maze: 10 Crucial Do's and Don'ts After ApplyingOnce you've submitted your mortgage application, it's crucial to tread carefully in the financial landscape to ensure a smooth approval process. Here are 10 things you should avoid...

REALTOR ADMIN FEE AT CLOSING A homebuyer has many real estate firms at his/her disposal to select the one that best suits them.  It is important to find an agent who represents the buyer as fully as possible. In selecting an agent to work with as a homebuyer, be sure and discuss the realtor admin...

APPRAISAL WAIVER CONSIDERATIONS What is an appraisal waiver? How can one get an appraisal waiver? What is the benefit of an appraisal waiver? Why would one not want an appraisal waiver?  What is an appraisal waiver?  An appraisal waiver is when the lender approves a home mortgage loan without req...