home buying advice and tips: Your Savings & Down Payment Secret Weapon: Your Tax Refund
- 03/20/20 01:08 PM
Your Savings & Down Payment Secret Weapon:Your Tax Refund Socking away money for any reason is no small fete these days ... But when the savings are for the purchase of a home, especially if your first home, the act of saving money can seem even more challenging ... and take on an even higher importance. The act of obtaining the "golden carrot" of homeownership can become all-consuming and almost a life-altering spiritual journey. As a result, the journey can seem overwhelming at times and become even a bit frustrating for some. As a Loan Originator, I know I can sound a bit like a … (8 comments)
home buying advice and tips: Solutions Exist for the Home Buying Challenges Millennials Face
- 10/07/19 07:42 AM
Are You a Millennial Hoping to Buy a Home?Solutions Exist to Address the Challenges You Face It's no secret ... Today's younger generation is finding it much more challenging to buy a home than their parents did. That's troubling and sad, as 9 out of 10 millennials report they want to buy a home. A recent revealing survey released by Apartment List shows that:
1. Only 4.9% of those millennials (those born 1981-1996 (22 to 37 years old) that want to buy a home say they will achieve their homeownership goal within the coming year 2. Around 34% of those hoping to buy a home believe they'll have to wait over 5 years to do so
The culprits robbing these young people of … (30 comments)
Below you'll find a weather report shared for the Chicagoland area just recently ...
Rain and thunderstorms are expected today before Chicago temperatures plunge from the mid-40's to single digits ...
It's well known that Chicagoland weather is notoriously fickle, but our area residents are a hardy bunch. Most won't even blink upon reading a weather prediction like the above. We're pretty used to the craziness ... The recent polar vortex freeze that descended upon the Chicagoland area is a good example of this. After suffering sub-zero winter temps for days, the local weather quickly changed to an upper 40's … (8 comments)
Retirement Funds, 401K, & IRA Accounts: Their Use in Real Estate Purchases
There are several ways buyers can "fund" their home or investment property purchase beyond those funds they've built up via their savings accounts ...
As a potential home buyer, it's always important to discover and thoroughly investigate all options at your disposal. Finding and working with a good loan officer makes a big difference in this regard.
An experienced knowledgeable LO will do their homework and then present you with a menu of available options. Then they'll help you weigh the pros and cons of each as they pertain to you and your future … (20 comments)
home buying advice and tips: What You Need to Know About Credit Freezes When Buying a Home
- 01/07/19 03:10 PM
What You Need to Know About Credit FreezesWhen Buying a Home Currently, I'm working with clients that had chosen ... prior to their mortgage application ... to place a Credit Freeze on their credit file and credit accounts ... They had decided to take that action after the discovery of 2017's major Equifax Credit Breach. In that breach, hackers gained access to consumer's Social Security numbers, names, addresses, and birth dates. In a number of cases, these hackers also stole driver's license numbers, as well. And in a much smaller number (but still sizeable), other varying identity info was also stolen during that breach. Pretty scary stuff when you consider the huge … (28 comments)
The topic of "borrowing power" and questions surrounding "how much home I can buy" are raised almost immediately by prospective mortgage clients during our first conversation together ... It's understandable and natural. They're excited and anxious. That's especially true when the client is a first-time home buyer.
Most are laser-focused. Their ultimate goal is to find out:
"What's the maximum amount of money I can borrow?" Or when purchasing, the question is often simply, "What price of home can I view?" Again, that's understandable.
But while that information is certainly a portion of what must be discovered and … (19 comments)
Ready ... Set ... GO! "Get Organized" and Ready to Buy a Home
Did you know that January is "Get Organized" (GO) month?
Every January, since the inception of "Get Organized" Month in 2005, the National Association of Professional Organizers has highlighted and promoted the many benefits that can be realized through the advancement of or organization and efficiency. Seeing to the elimination of chaos, clutter, and disorganization improves lives and mental health too.
Suggestions and even printables for organization and de-cluttering are everywhere. Pinterest is a great place to find multitudes of choices and guidance on each. (I provide a link to just one of … (18 comments)
It's that time of the year again ... And that means the Holidays are here! Decorations, holiday songs, family gatherings, eggnog, parties ... And Shopping! Like the majority of Americans, you've probably found yourself ... or will find yourself ... doing one or both of the following during the Holiday Shopping Season:
Standing at a register in a store paying for a holiday purchase Making a holiday purchase online And inevitably, you'll find yourself being asked at the time of check-out ... or at some later date via an email or text ... if … (11 comments)
“Plan for what it is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.” - Sun Tzu Who doesn't like looking at beautiful homes? Who can resist the temptation of imagining themselves living in those homes? I certainly don't know anyone ... While it's great fun to view and dream about home after beautiful home, it's no secret. Today's hopeful Buyers face some challenges when it comes to buy. Low home inventories have proven to be an issue in many housing markets. Credit, … (7 comments)
Your Savings & Down Payment Secret Weapon:Your Tax Refund Socking away money for any reason is no small fete these days ... But when the savings are for the purchase of a home, especially if your first home, the act of saving money can seem even more challenging ... and take on an even higher importance. 
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