COVID-19 has changed the way we do most things, including buying a house. Sellers are cautious about who they let in their house – reserving times for only serious buyers that already did the preliminary work of viewing the home.
So how can you find a home with little to no contact?
Try these tips.
It’s a debate many people have – should you pay off debt or save money? It’s kind of a case of what came first, the chicken or the egg because paying off debt is important, but so is saving money.
No one likes to stay in debt, but most people don’t like not having a savings account either. It’s a double-edged sword, but we’ve got a few words of advice, especially for those looking to buy a home or refinance.
Some changes to your home value you can’t help. If the market falls, it falls – there’s not much you can do. But, when the market is steady or even increasing, there are ways you can make sure your home keeps the same pace and appreciates like the other homes in the area.
Here’s how.
You’ve likely heard you need a 2-year job history to get a mortgage.
It’s true – but that’s not the whole story. You can get a mortgage if you don’t have a two-year job history. It’s not an automatic reason to decline a loan, so don’t give up until you know the truth.
Lenders want proof of your creditworthiness (good credit) and the ability to repay the loan (income). But many factors make up both situations; it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Let’s look at some scenarios.
Did the pandemic wreak havoc on your credit score? You aren’t alone.
The good news is that credit scores are fluid. Just because your score fell now doesn’t mean it will stay there forever. With a few simple steps, you can bring your credit score back up where you need it.
You want to buy a home but the thought of paying Private Mortgage Insurance doesn’t thrill you. If you don’t have the 20 percent down payment, though, you don’t have much of a choice, unless you use the piggyback loan option.
Did you know there are more reasons to buy a home than just to call a place your own? Of course, that’s one of the largest reasons – who wouldn’t want to own their own home? But there are many other reasons you may want to consider it, whether you currently rent or are thinking of buying another property.
Building equity in your home is like getting a good return on your investment. Even if you don’t cash out the equity and use it while you still own the home, it’s nice to know it’s there should you need it. Some people rely on their home’s equity for an emergency fund and others use it to reinvest in their home, making home renovations.
If you didn’t make a large down payment, how can you build equity faster? Check out the top ways.
Credit cards often destroy credit more than they build it. They are too easy to use and fall under the spell of the ‘minimum required payment.’ If you’re thinking of buying a home soon, you need to maximize your credit score, which in some cases means building a credit score.
Rather than relying on credit cards, try these unconventional methods.
There are a few key players in your home buying process that could make or break your experience. Along with your mortgage broker (who is the key to your financing), your realtor is the next most important player.
Before you choose just any real estate agent to assist you, consider asking these questions to make sure he/she is a good fit.
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