Buying a home 2018

Aims to limit mortgage insurance premiums for FHA borrowers. The House Financial Services Committee passed a bill Wednesday that will limit mortgage insurance payments on loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration.   FHA loans more affordable   The bill – H.R. 3141, “The FHA Loan Affordability Act of 2019” – would repeal FHA’s policy … » Learn More about FHA loans more affordable

Less homes selling at or over list price is declining, going back to historical norms, as outlined by CoreLogic’s Home Price Index. That may be a relief to home shoppers whose budgets have been squeezed recently as home prices soared.   Less homes selling higher than list price   The share of homes sold at … » Learn More about Less homes selling higher than list price

After Teresa and Mark Taunton short sold their $535,000 four-bedroom dream home in Celebration, Florida, at the conclusion of the real estate meltdown in 2011, buying another house was the last thing on their minds. The American dream makes a comeback   “It makes you feel you could somehow end up in the same position,” … » Learn More about The American dream makes a comeback

Some first-time and low- to middle-income home-buyers will probably be edged out of the housing market under tougher standards recently adopted by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), experts say.   Will new FHA standards affect home-buyers?   The FHA, which insures mortgages for borrowers with spotty credit who can’t afford a higher down payment, said … » Learn More about New FHA standards affect buyers?

The Federal Reserve voted unanimously on Wednesday to leave borrowing costs unchanged and says it’s going to continue being “patient” about making any moves to its benchmark rate. The Fed’s vote came despite increased calls from the White House to reduce rates of interest. However the central bank left rates unchanged on Wednesday, citing the … » Learn More about Fed Agrees to maintain Rates

Maximizing a home down-payment tends to make sense: The larger the down payment, the cheaper the monthly mortgage bill and the better the possibility of building equity quicker.   Home down-payment shouldn’t destroy buyers’ budget   But putting an excessive amount down could render you without enough cash for home maintenance – or anything else. … » Learn More about Down-payment shouldn’t destroy budget

An array of factors play a role in millennial decisions to move to specific areas, and regardless of whether they remain in their home for an extended period or relocate soon after arrival.   Millennial home options determined by affordability & jobs   A location’s job market and affordability are two of the primary reasons … » Learn More about Home options determined by …

If you’re a first-time home-buyer who has succeeded in saving enough for a down payment on your very first home – congratulations! You did your homework prior to starting your home search and realized you don’t need 20% for a down payment on your first home. You’ve tackled one of the hardest elements of the … » Learn More about A Strategy for First-Time Home-buyers

Millennials have waited longer than past generations to leap into home-ownership. And, while they wait, that has apparently ratcheted up their expectations over what that first home may be like for when they finally dive right in. 45% of millennials want to bypass the ‘starter home’   Nearly half the millennials surveyed (45%) say they … » Learn More about Millennials bypass the ‘starter home’

Anyone who has ever saved the cash for a down payment for a home knows it’s tough – specifically for first-time home-buyers. In 2018, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) discovered that for 13% of first-time home-buyers, said the most challenging component of the home-buying process was saving for a down payment. How Cash-Strapped Consumers … » Learn More about Cash-Strapped Consumers