home buying: Buying in a Sellers Market - 05/06/21 03:17 PM
Home buying is often made possible or unreachable due to the local and national economy. Fortunately, what goes up, must come down. So, for buyers who can wait, economic changes in supply and demand can create opportunities. These shifts in real estate are known as buyer’s markets and seller’s markets. 
The seller’s market specifically tends to be the harder one for homebuyers. In short, sellers see a lot of demand, so they can command higher prices for a sale. Things are competitive, sell fast, and inventory is low. 
For buyers, it’s a headache, but there are ways of handling the challenge.
Understand Your Local … (1 comments)

home buying: NAHB: Home Builder Confidence Ticks Up in April - 04/16/21 02:35 PM
The national reading for home builder confidence rose one point to an index reading of 83 in April; the National Association of Home Builders predicted a reading of 84. Component readings for April’s national index readings were mixed.  Builder confidence in current market conditions for single-family homes rose one point to 88. Builder confidence in market conditions for single-family homes in the next six months fell two points to 81 but homebuilder confidence in buyer traffic in new home developments rose two points to an index reading of 75.
Readings over 50 indicate a majority of builders are positive about housing market … (1 comments)

home buying: Home Values Are Impacted By School Zones: Is The Move Worth It? - 12/08/20 11:52 AM
If you are looking for a home, then you probably have a budget in mind. You also need to know about the most common factors that influence the price of a home. One factor that always seems to play a role in the price of a home is the quality of the school system. This makes sense. After all, a lot of people who are looking for a home have children (or are planning on having children) and want to make sure they have access to a quality education. At the same time, is it truly worth the price increase to … (1 comments)

home buying: Be Ready for Your Pre-approval Interview by Having These 4 Answers - 12/04/20 10:42 AM
So – you’ve completed an initial mortgage pre-qualification and now you’re ready to take the next step and meet with your lender or mortgage advisor for the pre-approval interview. Are you ready?
At this stage of the application process your lender will dig into your financial background to ensure that you’re fully capable of making your mortgage payments and that you don’t present too high a risk. Let’s take a quick look at a few questions you should know the answers to before you go in for a mortgage pre-approval.
Do You Have a Specific Home in Mind?
If you’ve already picked out the … (1 comments)

home buying: Is Home Insurance Required When You Buy A House? - 11/19/20 11:26 AM
For those who are thinking about buying a house in the near future, they are probably in the process of tabulating up all of their expenses. One of the common expenses is home insurance. Even though home insurance is certainly recommended, is it actually required? There are many situations where it is required. At the same time, even when it is not required, it is still a good idea. When it comes to homeowners’ insurance, there are a few important points to keep in mind. 
Why Home Insurance Is Required By A Lender
For those who are taking out a mortgage to purchase … (0 comments)

home buying: What It Costs to Close on a Home & What You Can Expect to Pay - 10/07/20 03:47 PM
If you’re in the process of buying a new home, you’ve likely heard the term “closing costs” in regards to the many different fees and taxes that you’ll be required to pay during the purchase process.
In this post we’ll look at a number of these closing costs and what you will be expected to pay when you buy that next dream home.
Taking out a Mortgage? There Will Be Fees Attached
If you’re taking out a mortgage to finance the cost of buying your home you’ll end up incurring a variety of fees. Nearly all lenders will charge a mortgage application fee, which … (0 comments)

home buying: Buying A New Car Impacts The Ability To Buy A New Home - 09/17/20 02:35 PM
Those who are in the process of buying a new home need to be aware of some of the factors that might influence their ability to do so. Even though credit score, income, and assets will play major roles in whether or not someone might be approved for a loan, there are other factors that will play a role as well.
Buying a new car might even have an impact on the homebuying process.
Why is this the case?
The Debt Payments On The Car Will Play A Role
There are multiple ways to buy a car. Some people elect to pay cash for the … (8 comments)

home buying: The Pros and Cons of Buying a New Home Versus Buying Pre-owned - 08/20/20 01:42 PM
Are you thinking about buying a new home? Congratulations!
Buying a house, condo or townhouse is an exciting and rewarding time which tends to be a lot of fun. However, along the way you’ll need to make a number of decisions – including whether you want to buy a pre-owned home or one that has been built recently and is brand new.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the pros and cons of buying a new home versus buying pre-owned.
New Homes Tend To Have Fewer Problems
One of the major upsides of buying new is that newly-built homes tend to have very … (2 comments)

home buying: A Bidding War Is Taking Place Among Homebuyers - 08/18/20 01:58 PM
While businesses have fallen on hard times during the past few months, there are signs that the economy is going to start to recover quickly. This could mean that homebuyers are entering the market again as well.
With summer being a historically hot time for homebuyers all over the country, there are a lot of experts saying that buyers need to get ready for a bidding war.
There are not a lot of homes on the market right now, as sellers are still a bit reluctant to put their homes back on the market with the economy just starting its recovery process.
The end … (0 comments)

home buying: Why Now Is A Great Time To Apply For A Home Loan - 07/31/20 08:24 AM
The idea of owning a home is enough to bring joy to nearly anyone’s eyes. The reality is that many people are a bit skeptical about looking for a home in the present climate. While the pandemic can make it hard for people to go outside and explore, now is still a great time to apply for a home loan.
This is a great opportunity for people to fulfill their homeownership dreams. There are a few reasons why now is a great time to look for a home.
The Property Prices Are Low
First, property prices are low right now. There are a lot … (1 comments)

home buying: Some Millennials Are Finding Home Buying Overwhelming - 05/27/20 01:29 PM
Many millennials are reaching the age where they are thinking about buying homes for the first time. It turns out that many members of this generation are finding this process challenging. Even though the housing market is great for those looking to buy, surveys indicate that this generation also finds the process overwhelming.
Reports have been published showing that many millennials are planning to buy their first home in the next year, showing that owning property is still a strong part of the American dream. Furthermore, many millennials also know that this is a great time to buy. Why are millennials finding … (0 comments)

home buying: 4 Things Not To Do When Buying A Home - 05/06/20 10:09 AM
There is a long list of things that people need to do when they are looking to buy a home; however, it is also important for people to know what to avoid as this process unfolds. There is a lot for people to remember and it is easy for people to get carried away when they start looking at their dream homes. Even though it is great to look at a bunch of houses and imagine living there, it is critical for people to stay grounded and know what to avoid.
Do Not Make Any Large Purchases During The Home Buying Process
One … (0 comments)

home buying: The Dept Of Veterans Affairs Is Allowing Drive-by Appraisals - 04/03/20 02:10 PM
The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic has impacted every industry across the country. Many people are being asked to shelter in place and everyone has been asked to practice social distancing to try to curtail the spread of this deadly virus.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has asked both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to make some changes in the manner they conduct property appraisals and employment verification.
Shortly after the move by the FHFA, The Veteran’s Administration (VA) and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) followed suit by relaxing property appraisal requirements. Due to the unusual circumstances that are facing the country right now, these … (1 comments)

home buying: 3 Tips to Find the Best Neighborhood to Live In - 02/25/20 05:50 AM
The vast majority of people are going to move at least once in their life. Moves can vary in distance. Sometimes, these moves are across town. Other times, they might be across the country. Regardless of the distance, is important to find a neighborhood that fits both the budget and lifestyle. There are a few tips to keep in mind.
1. Consider Renting First
Even though there are powerful electronic tools that can help a family narrow down their potential landing spots in a new city, it is impossible to be 100 percent certain that the community is a comfortable fit until actually … (2 comments)

home buying: Big Home Repairs That Can Sink A Budget Quickly - 02/19/20 12:20 PM
For most individuals and families, their home is the most expensive investment they will ever purchase. Therefore, it is important for everyone to take care of their home. Routine maintenance can prevent costly repairs from arising down the road.
It is important for homeowners to make sure they budget for home maintenance and repair costs. Even with a meticulous repair schedule, it is still possible that a major repair might be required. There are a few home repairs that are more expensive than others.
Damage To The Foundation Of The Home
One of the most expensive home repairs that might come up involves damage … (0 comments)

home buying: Eight Signs You’re Ready To Stop Renting And Buy A Home - 01/30/20 02:04 PM
For many people, owning a home is seen as a rite of passage. At the same time, purchasing a home is expensive. As a result, many people end up renting for an extended period of time.
Here are a few signs that someone is ready to stop renting and purchase a home.
1. Rental Prices Keep Going Up
Year after year, rental prices are going to keep going up. While the rental company is going to claim that these increases are consistent with the industry, they tend to be exorbitant. As a result, those who are tired of their rent being increased should think … (0 comments)

home buying: How Long Should I Spend Looking For a New Home? - 09/12/19 08:58 AM
Whether you’ve been looking for a home for a long time now, or you’re just about to get started on the hunt, you’re probably wondering how long should you spend looking for a new home. Does it take weeks to find your forever home, or months or even a year? What’s typical?
There Is No Typical
The reality is, there is no typical amount of time it takes to find your home. There are too many variables, including how actively you’re looking. Maybe you’ve heard horror stories of people who’ve been hunting for a house for a year. But come to find out, … (0 comments)

home buying: Young Home Buyers Are A Growing Trend - 09/04/19 12:39 PM
A new group of young American adults is emerging as home buyers. These are the young adults who were born after 1995 and are part of the demographic group named Generation Z (Gen Z). In 2019, there are 31.5 million Gen Z members who are adult age. This will increase to 44.5 million adults in this demographic group by 2032 as all the younger members become adults.
Right now, there are around 14 million adults in the Gen Z category who are using credit for the first time.
Not Too Young To Buy A Home
Transunion reports that most Gen Z members are getting … (1 comments)

home buying: Tips On Making Friends In Your New Neighborhood - 08/23/19 08:42 AM
It’s often harder to make friends as an adult than it is when you’re a child. It’s even more challenging to make adult friends when you move into a new neighborhood. You may feel like people already have their own group of friends and aren’t looking to include newcomers. Of course, that’s just an illusion.
Here are some easy ways to implement tips for making friends in your new neighborhood.
Put Out The Welcome Mat
Make your front door inviting to the neighbors. Place some cheery flower pots near the porch and buy a nice welcome mat for the front door. Be sure to … (0 comments)

home buying: How Important Is The Land Around A Potential Home? - 08/14/19 11:21 AM
When viewing a potential home, how much consideration should you give to the surrounding land?
In many ways, the land should be carefully regarded, since land is the thing that is hardest to alter. You can rip up carpet, paint walls and even knock down walls, but it takes a lot more effort to change land. 
Mature Landscaping 
Mature landscaping is typically cited as a benefit, but what if you’re the type who enjoys looking out at wide open spaces? It could also be that the mature landscaping – older trees – are situated dangerously near the house.
Weakened trees could lose heavy branches in … (1 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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