home buying: Should You Buy A Fixer Upper? - 08/01/18 09:37 AM
Popular TV shows like Fixer Upper and Property Brothers have brought the charms of owning a fixer upper to light. A fixer-upper can be a great option if you are prepared for the experience of owning a house that needs work and time.
A house that needs work can be a great investment if you are ready to invest the time and money into it. On the other hand, buying a fixer upper might be a problem if you are not aware of what you are getting into.
Not sure if owning a fixer upper is worth it? Here are some considerations to … (0 comments)

home buying: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – July 31st, 2018 - 07/31/18 01:58 PM
Last week’s economic readings included reports on sales of new and pre-owned homes, mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims.
New Home Sales Slide; Pre-owned Home Sales Meet Expectations
Commerce Department reported lower sales of new homes in June. Sales were expected to reach 666,000 sales on a seasonally adjusted annual basis, but the actual reading slipped by 5.30 percent to a pace of 631,000 new home sales. Analysts cited higher building costs, home prices and mortgage rates sidelined some buyers.
Concerns over inadequate inventories of available homes also impacted sales of newly-built homes. New homes sold at a rate 6.90 percent higher year-over-year, but … (0 comments)

home buying: Top Real Estate Predictions You Should Know About - 07/27/18 11:27 AM
Whether you are a homeowner looking to get the maximum return on investment, a buyer interested in fair market value or an industry insider grappling with the moving parts of the real estate industry, these are some trends and predictions you should know about.
Lower Home Supply Causing Significant Value Growth
Indicators point to a U.S. economy that has settled into a nice growth period. Unemployment rates have touched some record lows, wages appear to be on the rise and Millennials are entering high earning and home-buying years. Couple these factors with the fact that last year’s tax reform laws will likely put … (0 comments)

home buying: Check Out This Great Next Gen Kitchen Technology - 07/25/18 01:08 PM
There’s perhaps no better indicator that we are living in the technology age than Smart gadgets infiltrating the kitchen. Whether they are little conveniences or big-ticket items, the chef in every home can benefit from the devices that help improve cooking, storage and food preparation. These are some of the next generation kitchen items that are making life a little easier and homes a tad more valuable.
Samsung Family Hub Smart Fridge Provides Constant Contact
This big-ticket Samsung line has definitely taken refrigeration to the next level. It features a touchscreen that you can connect to with handheld devices to connect with your … (0 comments)

home buying: 3 Generations Top Housing Market Trends - 07/24/18 12:39 PM
Historians like to say that those who do not learn the lessons of the past are doomed to repeat them. In the real estate industry, the chances of that happening are slim because agents and other professionals follow market trends closely.
That being said, a careful examination of 2017 market trends and other factors can help highlight where the housing market is headed. Consider these top trends when deciding about whether to buy or sell a property.
Millennials Scooping Up Homes
According to resources such as Zillow, the low inventory and emergence of Millennials in the home-buying market helped break records last year. Millennials … (0 comments)

home buying: Home Buying: Repair Requests After A Home Inspection - 07/20/18 02:30 PM
The perfect home has been found, the one in the right neighborhood with the right amount of bedrooms and bathrooms. The home inspection is complete, but a few issues have been found. At this point, a home buyer has decisions to make. 
What Repair Requests Can Be Made After a Home Inspection?
Structural defects found during a home inspection are the responsibility of the seller and must be fixed. In addition, Realtor.com states that the following must also be repaired by the seller:
Water penetration such as mold or wet basement/crawlspace Any code and safety violations like unstable decking or missing handrails Cosmetic … (1 comments)

home buying: Surprising Things That Can Derail A Closing - 07/19/18 12:58 PM
Once you and the seller have negotiated an offer and you’ve been pre-approved for a mortgage, you might think that you are in the clear as far as your closing goes. However, that is not always the case. Many surprising things can put a halt to closing. Some may ultimately stop the closing altogether while others could simply cause a delay.
Here are a few unexpected things that can derail a real estate closing:
A Job Promotion 
While you might know that changing employers is one way to interfere with the closing, another deal-breaker can be switching positions with your current employer. If you … (0 comments)

home buying: Backyard Farming: Fad Or The New Future - 07/18/18 12:31 PM
While a kitchen herb garden or pot-grown tomatoes may be commonplace in both suburban backyards and on urban condo patios, an increasingly large number of homeowners look to backyard farming as a way to relieve some of the stresses of modern life. Other benefits include cutting grocery bills, living a more sustainable life, and teaching children about food.
The New Food Landscape 
Do new trends signal a return to simpler times, or are they a pushback against higher food prices and loss of control over the food supply? Is it a lasting change that will spread across the country or a trendy, elitist … (0 comments)

home buying: 5 Critical Tips For Buying In A Seller’s Market - 07/17/18 10:24 AM
This summer, quality homes are being scooped up almost as fast as they’re being listed – and for top price. Yes, it’s a seller’s market out there, which is great news if you’re planning to list your home. For those looking for a home, the competitiveness can be frustrating and aggravating.
Frustrating as it may be, there’s plenty of reason for buyers to stick it out until their offer is accepted. For starters, interest rates are still fairly low. And secondly, there are great homes out there if you act fast enough.
How can you successfully get that dream home in a seller’s market? … (0 comments)

home buying: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – July 16th, 2018 - 07/16/18 02:01 PM
Last Week’s economic readings included reports on inflation, mortgage rates, new jobless claims and consumer sentiment.
Inflation Slows in June
The Consumer Price Index for June inched down to 0.10 percent growth in June as compared to May’s reading of 0.20 percent. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.20 percent, which matched expectations and May’s reading of 0.20 percent.
Year-over-year inflation rose by 2.90 percent. This was the highest rate of growth in six years. Inflation increased by a year-over-year rate of 1.60 percent in the prior year.
While inflationary growth signals strengthening economic conditions, it can also cause challenges for … (0 comments)

home buying: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – July 9th, 2018 - 07/09/18 08:39 AM
Last week’s economic releases included monthly readings on construction spending, public and private sector job growth and June’s national unemployment rate. Weekly readings included Freddie Mac mortgage rates and new jobless claims.
Construction Spending Rises in May
According to the Commerce, construction spending rose 0.40 percent in May; public sector construction spending rose 0.70 percent and private sector spending rose by 0.30 percent. Residential construction rose by o.80 percent, which analysts regarded as a good sign for the economy. Building more homes has long been identified as the only solution for persistent housing shortages that cause high demand for homes and rapidly rising … (0 comments)

home buying: Top Uses Of A HELOC - 07/05/18 09:20 AM
Homeowners who have equity built up in their homes can tap into that equity using a home equity line of credit, or HELOC. This financial tool can be a great way to accomplish a number of financial goals.
Here are four excellent uses of a HELOC for homeowners to consider.
Consolidating Costly Debts
Credit card debt and other types of consumer loans are costly, unless a debtor is lucky enough to have a no-interest card. Borrowers can consolidate that debt into a HELOC, which is much more affordable because it is a secured debt.
This advantage only works if the borrower stops adding to the … (0 comments)

home buying: Seller-Paid Closing Costs In A Seller’s Market? Yes, It’s Possible - 07/03/18 01:27 PM
For first-time home buyers, closing costs are a major hurdle for home ownership. Coming up with a down payment and several thousand dollars for closing costs can be hard without home equity to tap.
To help, buyers often ask sellers to cover all or some of these costs. In markets favoring buyers, this is a common habit, but when the market switches to favoring sellers it becomes harder. Sellers who know they may get multiple offers are less likely to say “yes” to this request.
Yet even when the market favors sellers, buyers can still ask for this help. It all depends on … (0 comments)

home buying: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – July 2nd, 2018 - 07/02/18 12:10 PM
Last week’s economic reports included readings from Case-Shiller housing market indices and data released on new and pending home sales. Weekly releases on mortgage rates and first-time unemployment claims along with the Consumer Sentiment Index for June were also posted.
Case-Shiller Reports Rapid Home Price Growth in April
April home prices ticked downward by one-tenth percent for the National Home Price Index, which reported 6.40 percent growth year-over-year. Case-Shiller’s 20-City Home Price Index also dipped by one-tenth percent to 6.60 percent year-over-year. Analysts note that home prices continue to outpace wage growth and inflation, which limits affordability for many prospective home buyers.
Seattle, Washington … (0 comments)

home buying: Home Automation Conveniences Attract Buyers - 06/28/18 12:21 PM
The rise in Millennial home buyers will inevitably change the items that promote faster and more lucrative home sales.
Consider trends over the past decades that have included conveniences such as built-in dishwashers, central air, energy efficient appliances and many others. As mechanical and technological advances move into the mainstream, prospective home buyers seek them out and favor properties that come tech ready.
While Millennial buyers have a vastly different world view than previous generations, Baby Boomers and Gen X homeowners are also enjoying the ease of technology. For many homeowners, automation equals convenience and improved quality of life. That’s why having the … (0 comments)

home buying: Understanding the Factors That Impact Your Credit Score - 06/27/18 02:04 PM
Most consumers believe if they pay their bills on time, they need not worry about their credit score. Oftentimes, it is a rude awakening when they apply for a mortgage loan, car loan, or any revolving credit to learn they are not going to get the lowest rates available due to their credit score. This is because paying bills on time only accounts for 35 percent of your credit score. The remaining 65 percent is spread out among other factors that impact your credit score.
Credit Usage and Impact on Score
Nearly one-third, 30 percent, of your credit score is based on how … (1 comments)

home buying: Is It A Good Idea To Buy A Remodeled Home? - 06/26/18 02:31 PM
Are you considering buying a flipped house? Here are some ways to tell if it is a good idea or not.If you watch popular TV shows like Property Brothers, Flip or Flop and Fixer Upper, you might believe that buying a remodeled home is a great idea. These shows always have happy endings. The process looks fun and easy, and the houses turn out beautiful. However, it is rarely this easy when buying a real-life remodeled home.
There are plenty of flipped houses that turn out to have significant problems. Contractors who do remodels sometimes rush through the job. This can lead … (0 comments)

home buying: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 25th, 2018 - 06/25/18 01:16 PM
Last week’s economic reports included readings from the National Association of Home Builders, Commerce Department reports on housing starts and building permits issued. Sales of pre-owned homes were reported along with weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims.
Builder Confidence Slips as Trade Wars Boost Lumber Prices
According to the National Association of Home Builders, home builder confidence in current market conditions was down two points to 68 as compared to May’s index reading of 70. Analysts said that rising lumber prices impacted builder sentiment and have replaced labor costs as builders’ primary expense.
Increased building costs were cited as a concern … (0 comments)

home buying: 3 Programs That Allow You To Buy A Home With No Money Down In 2018 - 06/21/18 06:52 AM
Home buyers are typically advised to put at least 20% down for a mortgage. Coming up with that amount can seem almost impossible if you have little to no money left over after paying bills each month.
Fortunately, if you want to buy a house but are worried about coming up with the 20 percent down needed for a downpayment, you still have plenty of options. There are still plenty of programs that allow you to buy a home with a low down payment or even no money down in 2018. 
Here are some of the best programs that designed for homebuyers who … (0 comments)

home buying: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 18th, 2018 - 06/18/18 09:16 AM
Last week’s economic reports included the post-meeting statement by the Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee along with readings on retail sales and inflation. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released.
Fed Raises Key Interest Rate on Strong Economic Indicators
The post-meeting announcement by the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve indicated that committee members voted to raise the target federal funds rate to 0.175 to 2.00 percent from the prior rate of 1.50 to 1.75 percent.
The post-meeting announcement cited strong economic conditions and stated that FOMC had altered their outlook from three rate increases in 2018 … (0 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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