buying
Pre-Approval vs. Pre-Qualification: How Are They Different?
If you’ve done even the smallest amount of research on buying a home, then you’ve likely seen the words “pre-qualified” or “pre-approved” thrown around — especially if you’ve started vetting lenders. Though the two terms might sound quite similar, pre-qualification…
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How to Win a Bidding War on a House
You’ve done your homework and identified the area that you’d like to live, so now comes the fun part — finding your dream home. Attending an open house is a great way to view a home in a casual, low-pressure…
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Inventory Shortage? How to Find a House When Listings are Scarce
A shortage of housing inventory made it difficult for many homebuyers to find a house this year. And according to many experts, next year may be much of the same. As more and more Baby Boomers age in place and…
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Is This the Year You Stop Renting and Become a Homeowner?
Homeownership comes with lots of perks. You can build wealth, put down roots, and, most importantly, stop throwing cash down the proverbial hole (i.e., your landlord’s pockets!) Unfortunately, there’s a lot that needs to fall in place in order to…
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The Pros and Cons of Buying a New Construction Home
Home construction has picked up steam in recent months, and experts largely expect that continue. Fannie Mae, for example, predicts that housing starts will jump by 6.7% in 2021. The Mortgage Bankers Associations also sees strong single-family construction numbers for…
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Shopping for a Home in One of These Hot Markets? Get Ready for Competition
The hottest housing markets probably aren’t where you think they are. According to the latest data from Realtor.com, America’s home buying hotspots aren’t major metros or huge, urban cities like most of us would assume. For the most part? They’re…
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4 Reasons Fall May Be the Best Time To Buy a House
Fall’s certainly the season for pumpkin-carving, hayrides, and apple cider tasting, but more importantly? It’s also a great time to buy a house. Both the current market and historical trends point to good home-buying conditions for Americans this fall. From…
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9 Tips for Single Parents Who Want to Buy a Home
As a single mom or dad, it’s easy to think homeownership is out of reach. To buy a house, you’d need to scrimp and save for that down payment (plus closing costs) — but most of the time, you’re just…
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Homes Are Selling Like Hotcakes; Here’s How to Not Lose Out on That Dream Home
Houses are selling at their fastest pace in two years, according to Zillow, with the average home going under contract in just 19 days. The speed is thanks largely to a shortage of housing inventory across the country — one…
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How to Negotiate Inspection Repairs Like a Pro
When you’re in the process of buying a house, negotiating after you’ve completed your inspections is a big deal. After all, it’s only natural that you would want your new home to be in the best shape possible once you…
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