omaha guaranteed sale: Pre-Approval Should Always Be Your First Step
- 06/27/17 06:42 AM
Pre-Approval Should Always Be Your First Step In many markets across the country, the number of buyers searching for their dream homes greatly outnumbers the amount of homes for sale. This has led to a competitive marketplace where buyers often need to stand out. One way to show you are serious about buying your dream home is to get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage before starting your search.
Even if you are in a market that is not as competitive, knowing your budget will give you the confidence of knowing if your dream home is within your reach.
Freddie Mac lays out … (0 comments)
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omaha guaranteed sale: The Importance of Home Equity in Retirement Planning
- 06/23/17 06:52 AM
The Importance of Home Equity in Retirement Planning We often discuss the difference in family wealth between homeowner households and renter households. Much of that difference is the result of the equity buildup that homeowners experience over the time that they own their Omaha home. In a report recently released by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), they reveal how valuable equity can be in retirement planning.
Craig Copeland, Senior Research Associate at EBRI, recently authored a report, Importance of Individual Account Retirement Plans and Home Equity in Family Total Wealth, in which he reveals:
“Individual account retirement plan assets, … (0 comments)
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omaha guaranteed sale: Buying Is Now 33.1% Cheaper Than Renting in the US
- 06/20/17 06:02 AM
Buying Is Now 33.1% Cheaper Than Renting in the US The results of the latest Rent vs. Buy Report from Trulia show that homeownership remains cheaper than renting with a traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage in the 100 largest metro areas in the United States.
The updated numbers actually show that the range is an average of 3.5% less expensive in San Jose (CA), all the way up to 50.1% less expensive in Baton Rouge (LA), and 33.1% nationwide!
Other interesting findings in the report include: Interest rates have remained low and, even though home prices have appreciated around the country, … (0 comments)
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omaha guaranteed sale: Top Home Renovations for Maximum ROI [INFOGRAPHIC]
- 06/16/17 06:15 AM
Top Home Renovations for Maximum ROI [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights: Whether you are selling your Omaha home, just purchased your first home, or are a homeowner planning to stay put for a while, there is value in knowing which home improvement projects will net you the most Return On Investment (ROI). While big projects like adding a bathroom or a complete kitchen remodel are popular ways to increase a home’s value, something as simple as updating landscaping and curb appeal can have a quick impact on a home’s value. For more information about top renovation projects that net you the most ROI, … (2 comments)
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omaha guaranteed sale: 69% of Buyers are Wrong About Down Payment Needs
- 06/08/17 08:20 AM
69% of Buyers are Wrong About Down Payment Needs According to a recent survey conducted by Genworth Financial Inc. at the Annual Mortgage Bankers’ Association Secondary Market Conference, mortgage professionals say that first-time buyers still believe a 20% down payment is necessary to buy in today’s market.
Nearly 40% of mortgage industry professionals surveyed believe that a lack of knowledge about the home-buying process is keeping potential buyers on the sidelines. Saving for a down payment is often cited as a huge barrier for first-time homebuyers to make the leap into homeownership.
If homeowners believe that they need a 20% down … (2 comments)
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omaha guaranteed sale: 5 Reasons You Should Sell This Summer
- 06/06/17 06:13 AM
5 Reasons You Should Sell This Summer Here are five reasons listing your Omaha home for sale this summer makes sense.
1. Demand Is Strong The latest Buyer Traffic Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that buyer demand remains very strong throughout the vast majority of the country. These buyers are ready, willing and able to purchase… and are in the market right now! More often than not, multiple buyers are competing with each other to buy a home.
Take advantage of the buyer activity currently in the market.
2. There Is Less Competition Now Housing inventory is … (0 comments)
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omaha guaranteed sale: Working with a Local Real Estate Professional Makes All the Difference
- 06/01/17 06:29 AM
Why Working with a Local Real Estate Professional Makes All the Difference If you’ve entered the real estate market, as a buyer or a seller, you’ve inevitably heard the real estate mantra, “location, location, location” in reference to how identical homes can increase or decrease in value due to where they’re located. Well, a new survey shows that when it comes to choosing an Omaha real estate agent, the millennial generation’s mantra is, “local, local, local.”
CentSai, a financial wellness online community, recently surveyed over 2,000 millennials (ages 18-34) and found that 75% of respondents would use a local real estate agent … (1 comments)
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omaha guaranteed sale: More Americans Chose to Own a Home Than Rent in Q1
- 05/25/17 06:12 AM
More Americans Chose to Own a Home Than Rent in Q1 According to the latest report from the US Census Bureau, more Americans chose purchasing a home over signing a lease to rent in the first quarter of 2017. This marks the first time since 2006 that the number of new homeowner households outpaced the number of new renter households.
Of the 1.22 million new households that were formed in the first quarter, 854,000 were new-owner households making the jump straight to homeownership rather than renting first.
That means that the homeownership rate amongst new households was 70%! This is huge … (1 comments)
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omaha guaranteed sale: 5 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Professional When Buying or Selling!
- 05/23/17 06:27 AM
5 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Professional When Buying or Selling! Whether you are buying or selling a home it can be quite an adventurous journey, which is why you need an experienced Omaha real estate professional to guide you on the path to your ultimate goal. In this world of instant gratification and internet searches, many sellers think that they can For Sale by Owner or FSBO.
The 5 reasons you NEED an Omaha real estate professional in your corner haven’t changed, but have rather been strengthened by the projections of higher mortgage interest rates & home prices as … (1 comments)
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omaha guaranteed sale: Selling Your Home? Is Your Listing ‘Pet-Friendly’?
- 05/18/17 08:47 AM
Selling Your Home? Is Your Listing ‘Pet-Friendly’? One of the many benefits of owning your own home is the freedom to find your ‘furever’ friend. By pointing out the aspects of your home that make it ‘pet-friendly’ in your listing, you’ll attract these buyers rather than alienate the 61% of American households that have a pet!
If you are one of the many homeowners looking to list your Omaha home for sale, how do you stand out to the millions of pet parents searching for their dream homes?
Whether a dog person, a cat person, or someone who prefers the company … (0 comments)
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omaha guaranteed sale: Do You Know the Cost of NOT Owning Your Home?
- 05/16/17 07:07 AM
Do You Know the Cost of NOT Owning Your Home?
Owning an Omaha home has great financial benefits, yet many continue renting! Today, let’s look at the financial reasons why owning a home of your own has been a part of the American Dream for as long as America has existed.
Zillow recently reported that:
“With Rents continuing to climb and interest rates staying low, many renters find themselves gazing over the homeownership fence and wondering if the grass really is greener. Leaving aside, for the moment, the difficulties of saving for a down payment, let’s focus on the monthly expenses … (2 comments)
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omaha guaranteed sale: Gallup: Real Estate is Best Long-Term Investment 4 Years Running
- 05/11/17 07:14 AM
Gallup: Real Estate is Best Long-Term Investment 4 Years Running Every year, Gallup surveys Americans to determine their choice for the best long-term investment. Respondents are given a choice between real estate, stocks/mutual funds, gold, savings accounts/CDs, or bonds.
For the fourth year in a row, Real Estate has come out on top as the best long-term investment! This year’s results showed that 34% of Americans chose real estate, followed by stocks at 26%. The full results are shown in the chart below.
The study makes it a point to draw attention to the contrast of the sentiment over the … (1 comments)
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omaha guaranteed sale: Is 2017 the Year to Move Up to Your Dream Home? If So, Do It Early!
- 05/09/17 06:45 AM
Is 2017 the Year to Move Up to Your Dream Home? If So, Do It Early! If you are considering moving up to your dream Omaha home, it may be better to do it earlier in the year than later. The two components of your monthly mortgage payment (home prices and interest rates) are both projected to increase as the year moves forward, and interest rates may increase rather dramatically. Here are some predictions on where rates will be by the end of the year:
Freddie Mac “While full employment and rising inflation are signs of a strong economy, they also … (1 comments)
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omaha guaranteed sale: Financial Planning: 4 Reasons to Buy a House Today
- 05/04/17 07:56 AM
Financial Planning: 4 Reasons to Buy a House Today Homeownership will always be a part of the American Dream. There are advantages to owning your own Omaha home (educational, health, social) that far transcend any economic impact. However, we want to look at several of the financial advantages of homeownership in today’s post.
1. Buying is Cheaper Than Renting The results of the latest Rent vs. Buy Report from Trulia show that homeownership remains cheaper than renting with a traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage in the 100 largest metro areas in the United States. The report reveals that:
“Interest rates have … (1 comments)
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omaha guaranteed sale: Get All the Facts about PMI
- 05/02/17 06:07 AM
Get All the Facts about PMI When it comes to buying an Omaha home, whether it is your first time or your fifth, it is always important to know all the facts. With the large number of mortgage programs available that allow buyers to purchase a home with a down payment below 20%, you can never have too much information about Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).
What is PMI? Freddie Mac defines PMI as:
“An insurance policy that protects the lender if you are unable to pay your mortgage. It's a monthly fee, rolled into your mortgage payment, that is required for all conforming, conventional … (0 comments)
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omaha guaranteed sale: How Fast Can You Save for a Down Payment?
- 04/27/17 06:15 AM
How Fast Can You Save for a Down Payment Saving for a down payment is often the biggest hurdle for a first-time homebuyer. Depending on where you live, median income, median rents, and home prices all vary. So, we set out to find out how long it would take you to save for a down payment in each state.
Using data from the United States Census Bureau and Zillow, we determined how long it would take, nationwide, for a first-time buyer to save enough money for a down payment on their dream home. There is a long-standing ‘rule’ that a household … (2 comments)
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omaha guaranteed sale: Real Estate Mogul: Here’s Why You Should Buy
- 04/26/17 06:11 AM
Real Estate Mogul: Here’s Why You Should Buy Real Estate mogul, Sean Conlon, host of The Deed: Chicago on CNBC, was recently asked the question, should you buy? Or should you rent a house?
Conlon responded:
“I am a true believer that you save every penny and you buy your first house… and that is still the fastest path to wealth in this country.”
Conlon went on to suggest that first-time buyers put down 10-20% “if they can make it work,” and to remain in their home at least 4-5 years to see a return on their investment.
Who is Sean … (0 comments)
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omaha guaranteed sale: Measuring Your Ability to Achieve the American Dream
- 04/20/17 06:58 AM
Measuring Your Ability to Achieve the American Dream Forbes.com recently released the results of their new American Dream Index, in which they measure “the prosperity of the middle class, and…examine which states best support the American Dream.”
The monthly index measures several different economic factors, including goods-producing employment, personal and commercial bankruptcies, building permits, startup activity, unemployment insurance claims, labor force participation, and layoffs.
The national index score was rounded out to 100 in January and saw a modest jump to 100.5 in February.
Alaska represented the lowest score on the index at 80.7, due mostly to the recent collapse in … (0 comments)
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omaha guaranteed sale: Thinking of Selling? Now Is the Time to Act
- 04/18/17 06:20 AM
Thinking of Selling? Now Is the Time to Act If you thought about selling your house this year, now may be the time to do it. The inventory of Omaha homes for sale is well below historic norms and buyer demand is skyrocketing. We were still in high school when we learned the concept of supply and demand: the best time to sell something is when supply of that item is low and demand for that item is high. That defines today’s Omaha real estate market.
Jonathan Smoke, Chief Economist at realtor.com, revealed in a recent article that:
“The biggest challenge to buyers … (2 comments)
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omaha guaranteed sale: Home Mortgages: Rates Up, Requirements Easing
- 04/13/17 06:29 AM
Home Mortgages: Rates Up, Requirements Easing The media has extensively covered the rise in mortgage interest rates since last fall (from 3.42% last September to the current 4.1% according to Freddie Mac). However, a less covered aspect of the mortgage market is that requirements to get a mortgage have eased while rates have risen.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) quantifies the availability of mortgage credit each month with their Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI). According to the MBA, the MCAI is:
“A summary measure which indicates the availability of mortgage credit at a point in time.”
The higher the index, the … (1 comments)
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Pre-Approval Should Always Be Your First Step In many markets across the country, the number of buyers searching for their dream homes greatly outnumbers the amount of homes for sale. This has led to a competitive marketplace where buyers often need to stand out. One way to show you are serious about buying your dream home is to get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage before starting your search.
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