The Real Estate Market: What You Need to Know to Make Informed Decision

With so few houses for sale today and low mortgage rates driving buyer activity, bidding wars are becoming more common. Multiple-offer scenarios are heating up, so it’s important to get pre-approved before you start your search. This way, you can put your best foot forward – quickly and efficiently – if you’re planning to buy […] https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/en/2020/08/31/three-ways-to-win-in-a-bidding-war/?a=492508-5792a6ba3fc4f971e5ea39a74a0ea948&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

From Minor to Major: Roof Damage to Look for After a Bad Storm : One part of the house that takes the brunt of a storm is the roof. Here are different types of roof damage to look out for after a storm.

Moving Tips: How to Ship Boxes for the Lowest Cost : A box containing your belongings could cost you several hundred dollars with the USPS, so they're not the best choice if you're looking to save money.

Some Highlights * The percentage of income needed to afford a median-priced home today is declining, while that for renting is on the rise. * This is making buying a home an increasingly attractive option for many people, especially with low mortgage rates driving purchasing power. * Let’s connect if you’d like expert guidance on exploring your homebuying options while affordability is high. https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/en/2020/08/28/the-cost-of-renting-vs-buying-a-home-infographic-4/?a=492508-5792a6ba3fc4f971e5ea39a74a0ea948&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

You may have heard that pre-approval is a great first step in the homebuying process. But why is it so important? When looking for a home, the temptation to fall in love with a house that’s outside your budget is very real. So, before you start shopping around, it’s helpful to know your price range, […] https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/en/2020/08/27/why-is-it-so-important-to-be-pre-approved-in-the-homebuying-process/?a=492508-5792a6ba3fc4f971e5ea39a74a0ea948&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Finding the right home to purchase today is one of the biggest challenges for potential buyers. With so few homes for sale and construction of newly built homes ramping up, you may be wondering if you should consider new construction in your search process. It’s a great question to ask, and one to look at […] https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/en/2020/08/26/should-you-buy-an-existing-home-or-new-construction/?a=492508-5792a6ba3fc4f971e5ea39a74a0ea948&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Forbearance is a temporary postponement of mortgage payments.   The lender can grant this option to a borrower instead of forcing the property into foreclosure.   The CARES Act provides protections for homeowners with mortgages that are federally or Government Sponsored Enterprise backed or funded such as FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. A mortgage holder should contact the lender to explain the temporary difficulty they are having making payments and ask for relief under forbearance or other options.   Once the lender grants approval, it is important for the borrower to get the terms of the forbearance agreement in writing to be clear about when the payments will resume and how the missed payments will be recovered. Generally speaking, homeowners in a forbearance plan will not incur late fees and it should not adversely affect their credit.   Unfortunately, borrowers must be vigilant to see that the lender is protecting them from delinquent credit marks according to thei

When shelter-in-place orders brought the economy to a screeching halt earlier this year, many believed the residential housing market would follow suit. Countless analysts predicted buyer demand would disappear and home values would depreciate for the first time in almost a decade. That, however, didn’t happen. It appears the opposite is taking place. After the […] https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/en/2020/08/25/builders-realtors-agree-real-estate-is-back/?a=492508-5792a6ba3fc4f971e5ea39a74a0ea948&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Today, Americans are moving for a variety of different reasons. The current health crisis has truly re-shaped our lifestyles and our needs. Spending extra time where we currently live is enabling many families to re-evaluate what homeownership means and what they find most important in a home. According to Zillow: “In 2020, homes went from […] https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/en/2020/08/24/the-top-reasons-people-are-moving-this-year/?a=492508-5792a6ba3fc4f971e5ea39a74a0ea948&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger