mortgage: 5 Creative Ways To Buy A Foreclosure - 11/15/18 08:15 AM
Buying a foreclosed home is easy, right? After all, they sell for pennies on the dollar, right? Well, that could be a false assumption. Buying a foreclosed property appears easy on TV, but in reality, it can be overwhelming. 
Foreclosure sales continue to decline in the market from 38.6 percent in 2011 to 14 percent in 2017 but ticking up a bit in 2018 according to Attom Data Solutions, a national property data company. As foreclosure sales drop, competition for these properties become stiffer and more complex. And as home prices increase in most cities, buyers often turn to foreclosures as affordable alternatives … (1 comments)

mortgage: 5 Things To Do This Fall To Get Ready For Winter - 09/26/18 12:23 PM
Simple home and yard tips don’t have to take a lot of time, but can save a lot of headaches if that first winter storm catches you unaware.
Here’s a checklist to help you prepare:
Assess Your Windows And Doors
Take a walk around your interior, preferably on a windy day. Check for drafts and air leaks; replace weatherstripping, align door thresholds. and repair window frames and sills if they’re damaged. If you have storm windows, make sure they’re ready to install. Replace the screens in a storm door with glass panels. Also check your garage door to make sure that it operates properly.
According … (0 comments)

mortgage: Buying A Home? Take Stock Of These Things - 08/31/18 06:13 AM
What are some of the most important factors that buyers take into consideration when looking for a new home? There are the obvious things like price, square footage, location and lot size. Those are the basics. Other things that are often weighed are garage size, how updated the kitchen and baths are and whether or not the basement is finished.
All of these are very important to consider, but there are other more “hidden” aspects of a home that many prospective buyers may not take into account. And it’s these aspects that could really come to bite them where it hurts if … (0 comments)

mortgage: Working From Home: 5 Best Tips To Make It Work - 07/10/18 12:48 PM
Carving out space for a home office isn’t always easy, but if you have the option to work from home even part of the time, it’s essential to have a space that works for you.
Here are 5 great ways to meet those needs:
Adapt A Closet
A guest room closet with bi-fold doors can become a perfect workspace with the addition of a shelf at the proper height to hold a computer or calculator and proper task lighting. Hang a bulletin board or add open shelving on the back wall. Multiply the functionality with a small cabinet or a portable file rack. The … (1 comments)

mortgage: 3 Reasons You Might Consider Refinancing Your Mortgage in Early 2018 - 01/26/18 09:03 AM
If you are a homeowner who has had their mortgage for a few years, you may be starting to wonder about refinancing. In essence, this is the process of retiring your current mortgage and taking out a new one because the terms are more favorable to you. Below we will share three reasons why you might want to look at refinancing your mortgage this year. Let’s get started.
Can You Use Some Extra Cash?
Ask yourself: if you had some extra money on hand, how would you use it? Many homeowners refinance to pull out some of the equity value that they have … (2 comments)

mortgage: 3 Reasons to Use an Experienced Mortgage Pro for Your Next Mortgage - 01/12/18 07:43 AM
Are you thinking about buying a new home in 2018? Whether you are a first-time home buyer or you’re downsizing now that the kids have moved out, you are likely considering whether or not you will need a mortgage. Even if you can afford to buy a home in cash, taking out a mortgage can help you maintain your liquidity for other spending purposes.
No matter what the case, you will want to work with someone who can help you understand your options and what the right decision might be. Let’s explore three excellent reasons why you should work with an experienced … (1 comments)

mortgage: Here's How to Buy a Piece of Land and Build a House on It With a Mortgage - 01/04/18 12:11 PM
Have you been hunting for a new house without finding one that suits your needs? If so, one option that you may want to consider is building a new construction home on a choice piece of land. In today’s blog post we will explore a few different mortgage options for those who are looking to build a brand-new home.
Qualifying For A Construction Mortgage
As with any mortgage product, the first step you will want to take is to begin the qualification process. As your lender does not have a completed house to use as collateral for your loan, qualifying can take a … (1 comments)

mortgage: Buying a Rental Property? 4 Key Tips to Buy One That Turns a Profit - 01/03/18 11:16 AM
Are you starting to grow bored of watching your money go nowhere sitting in a bank account? With today’s interest rates doing little to encourage saving, many individuals are looking elsewhere for new investment opportunities. In today’s blog post we’ll share four essential tips for buying a profitable rental property. Let’s get started.
Buy A Property With Year-Round Potential
Many real estate investors agree that the best rental properties are those that generate income every day of the year. The most straightforward situation to manage is one where you have stable, long-term tenants in place that aren’t going to move or change often. … (2 comments)

mortgage: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 30, 2017 - 10/30/17 02:32 PM
Last week’s economic news included readings on new and pending home sales and weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims.
New Home Sales Exceed Expectations; No Growth for Pending Sales
September sales of new homes reached a 10-year high with a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 667,000 new homes sold. Analysts said that high demand drove September sales past the expected rate of 555,000 sales and August’s reading of 561,000 sales of new homes. September’s reading was 19.9 percent higher than for August and was 17 percent higher year-over-year. September’s reading was 8.60 percent higher for year-to-date sales of new homes. This … (0 comments)

mortgage: 3 Ways to Win a Bidding War Without Busting Your Approval Amount - 10/26/17 07:14 AM
Are you making an offer on a new home in a hot housing market? If so, one possibility is that you are going to end up bidding against other buyers who are looking to buy the same home. Unfortunately, in some cases bidding wars are inevitable, and they can be a significant source of stress. Let’s take a look at three ways that you can win a bidding war without having to spend more than you can afford.
Price Is Important, But It’s Not Everything
The first consideration to keep in mind is that price is important, but it isn’t the sole consideration … (0 comments)

mortgage: Buying a New Home? Four Key Questions to Ask Your Mortgage Advisor - 10/19/17 06:55 PM
Are you in the market for a new home? If you are planning on borrowing some or most of the home’s purchase price, you’ll want to prepare yourself for the mortgage process. Let’s take a look at four key questions that you will want to ask your mortgage professional when you first meet to discuss your home loan.
What’s The Best Mortgage Option For Me?
As you probably know, there is a wide variety of mortgage loan options and programs on the market today. You may qualify for a number of mortgage loans along with certain government programs or specialty mortgages. Your mortgage … (0 comments)

mortgage: Three Reasons Why Your First Home Should Be a Spacious One - 10/13/17 12:00 PM
Buying a home for the first time? One of the key considerations you’ll need to make is just how much ‘house’ you want to buy. While going minimal might seem like a good idea to save on costs, having a smaller living space can end up cramping your lifestyle in many ways. Let’s take a look at three great reasons why your first home should be roomy, spacious and luxurious.
You Might End Up With More Family Than You Think
Have you considered whether or not you want to have a family? Whether you’re a single young professional or part of a newlywed … (2 comments)

mortgage: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 9, 2017 - 10/09/17 08:33 AM
Fixed mortgage rates rose by two basis points last week as the average rate for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage dropped by two basis points.  Construction spending returned to positive territory, but job growth dropped in public and private sectors. National unemployment was lower.
Construction Spending Rises in August
Builders increased construction spending in August after July’s reading dipped lower than June’s reading. Construction spending rose by 0.50 percent in August, which exceeded expectations of a 0.40 percent increase and July’s reading of -1.20 percent. Higher construction spending in August was driven by higher spending on public sector building projects.
Analysts said that public … (0 comments)

mortgage: Your Choice of Community Will Impact Your Mortgage – Here’s How - 09/26/17 01:12 PM
If you are in the market for a new home, you’ve probably begun the process of choosing the neighborhood or community in which you want to live. The perfect spot to call home will depend on your age, the size and composition of your family, your working life and other factors. However, one thing you may not know is that the community you choose to live in can also impact your mortgage. In today’s post, we’ll explore how the local area in which you live can affect your mortgage financing and interest rate.
Lender Pricing Varies By State
As you might imagine, the … (0 comments)

mortgage: How to Get Your Finances in Order for Your Mortgage Approval - 09/22/17 11:20 AM
Buying a new home is one of the most exciting experiences a person or family can have. Of course, before you can step foot into your new dream home you will need to get prepared financially, especially if you are taking out a mortgage to cover some of the purchase price. Let’s take a look at a few key steps that will help you to prepare for the financial background checks that are part of the mortgage process.
Square Up With The Government
The first place you’ll want to start is making sure that you are fully caught up on any income or … (0 comments)

mortgage: Speed up Your Mortgage Closing Process With This Handy Four-step Guide - 09/14/17 12:03 PM
Are you in the market for a new house or apartment? If you are financing the purchase by taking out a mortgage, you’ll want to know how to make this transaction run as smooth as possible. In today’s article, we’ll share a quick four-step guide to speeding up the mortgage closing process.
Step #1: Check In On Your Credit Score
The first step before applying for your mortgage is to check in on your credit. Request a copy of your credit score and history from one of the major reporting firms. Go over this report, paying close attention to any old or outstanding … (0 comments)

mortgage: Worried About Rates Rising? Here’s How to Prepare for an Upward Trend - 09/13/17 01:07 PM
Whether you are just starting to shop for a new home or you’ve been paying off your mortgage for years, the news of potential interest rate increases may be worrying. Of course, interest rates naturally cycle higher and lower over time, so is there anything to be genuinely concerned about? In today’s article, we’ll explore interest rates and how you can prepare for an upward trend in rates if and when the time comes.
Speak With Your Mortgage Advisor First
If you already have a mortgage, the first step would be to speak with your lender to discuss what’s coming in regards to … (0 comments)

mortgage: What Are the Fees and Costs That Come Along With a Mortgage? - 09/08/17 10:25 AM
Have you been considering a mortgage for your next home purchase? As with any loan or financial product, there are a variety of fees and costs you may incur in the process of closing your mortgage. In today’s post, we’ll explore a few of these potential fees and the situations in which you may encounter them. Let’s get started!
Title Insurance Costs
You’re almost certainly going to incur insurance fees and charges. In most cases, you’ll need to pay for title insurance for the lender, which is based on the purchase price of the home but varies from state to state. This protects … (0 comments)

mortgage: Understanding the Differences Between ‘Prequalified’ & ‘Preapproved’ - 09/07/17 12:08 PM
Are you in the market for a new home? If you are going to rely on mortgage financing to cover some of the purchase cost, you will need to start the application process as soon as possible. However, what if you just need to know how much you will be able to borrow so you can start finding homes in your price range?
Let’s take a quick look at the difference between being ‘prequalified’ and ‘preapproved’ for mortgage financing.
The Process Starts With Prequalification
The first step in obtaining mortgage financing is to speak with a mortgage professional to get prequalified. After sharing some … (0 comments)

mortgage: 4 Smart Money Habits That Will Help You Save up a Down Payment Faster - 08/31/17 04:13 PM
Are you ready for home ownership? The prospect of owning your own house or apartment is an exciting one, but with any financial transaction this large there are some things to consider. The first is your down payment – that is, the initial payment you’ll put against the cost of the house to reduce the amount that you’re borrowing in a mortgage. Let’s have a look at four habits that will help you to get your down payment saved up faster.
Build (And Stick To!) A Reasonable Budget
The first and most obvious tip is to stick to a reasonable budget. Determine how … (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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