Top 7 tips for 1st time Homebuyers
September 15, 2023
Here are some tips to prepare yourself in order to purchase your first home!Maintain your credit – pull your credit report and review for accuracy. If you see any errors or areas you need to work on, do that first before getting pre-approved with a lender.Nail down your budget – Beyond just what you can afford ...
Down Payment Assistance Programs of Michigan
August 09, 2023
Buying a home is a significant investment that requires a lot of financial planning and preparation. One of the major obstacles that potential homebuyers face is saving up for a down payment. Fortunately, there are several down payment assistance programs in Michigan that aim to make homeownership more accessible for everyone.Down payment assistance programs provide financial support to ...
Everything a First Time Buyer Should Know
July 06, 2023
Buying your first home can be an exciting and intimidating experience all at the same time. It’s a major milestone in anyone’s life, but it can be daunting to navigate the complex world of real estate and mortgages. Fear not, though! With a little bit of knowledge, you can confidently navigate the home buying process and make ...
Challenges of Selling and Buying at the same time
June 09, 2023
Selling your home and buying a new one at the same time can be an exciting and stressful experience. While it's possible to sell your home and use that sale to purchase another house, it's also a challenging task that requires careful planning and execution. In this blog, we'll explore the challenges of selling and buying ...
BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION’S PAVE TASK FORCE ANNOUNCES NEW ACTIONS TO ADDRESS APPRAISAL BIAS
June 06, 2023
HUD No. 23-107HUD Public Affairs(202) 708-0685FOR RELEASEThursdayJune 1, 2023WASHINGTON - Today, the Interagency Task Force on Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity (PAVE), co-chaired by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia L. Fudge and White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden, announced a set of meaningful actions to deliver on the PAVE Action Plan and ...
Don’t Have Much Saved for a Down Payment? These Options May Help You Buy a Home No Matter What Your Savings Account Looks Like
May 10, 2023
In a perfect world, as a homebuyer, you would have 20 percent of the purchase price of your home set aside for a down payment. But we don’t live in a perfect world, and while it’s certainly nice to have a sizable down payment at the start of your home search, it’s by no means a ...
In Case You Missed It: Forbes Magazine Highlights the Four Women Leading HUD, the FHA, Ginnie Mae, and FHFA
May 05, 2023
HUD No. 23-090HUD Public Affairs(202) 708-0685FOR RELEASEWednesdayMay 3, 2023Last week, Forbes Magazine highlighted that for the first time in history, four women are at the mantle of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Ginnie Mae, and Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).In their Cover Story, linked and pasted below, the leading ...
There’s Good News and Bad News for Single Women Who Buy a House (But the Bad News Can Be Avoided…)
April 12, 2023
The good news for single women is that they outpace single men in terms of homeownership. According to the National Association of Realtors, as of February 2023, single women were 17% of all homeowners, while only 9% of single men own a home.The bad news is that single women don’t get as good of a return ...
Why You Need A True Expert In Today's Housing Market
March 15, 2023
The housing market continues to shift and change, and in a fast-moving landscape like we’re in right now, it’s more important than ever to have a trusted real estate agent on your side. Whether you’re buying your first home or selling once again, it’s mission critical to work with an expert who can guide you ...
Thinking About Selling Your Home? These Kitchen Improvements Might Be Worth Doing
March 13, 2023
When you sell your home, you want to sell it as quickly and profitably as possible. And sometimes, that means making some improvements before you start showing it to buyers—including improvements in the kitchen.But what kitchen improvements might make sense to do before listing your home?A recent article from realtor.com outlined the kitchen improvements you ...
Avoid These Common Home Buying Regrets
February 10, 2023
Buying a home is a big decision. And for some recent homeowners, that decision has led to some real regrets—aka “buyer’s remorse.”But what, exactly, is driving that remorse?A recent article from realtor.com outlined some of the most common regrets recent buyers have experienced after purchasing their homes, including:Unexpected repairs. Many recent ...
U.S. mortgage rates decline to 6.42%, first drop in three weeks
January 12, 2023
(Bloomberg) — US mortgage rates retreated for the first time in three weeks, helping provide a modest lift to refinancing activity.The contract rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage decreased 16 basis points to 6.42% in the week ended Jan. 6, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data released Wednesday. That helped boost applications for refinancing, which rose 5....
2022 Lenawee County, Michigan, Year End Review
January 09, 2023
We are excited to begin 2023 with a year end review of 2022 of home sales in Lenawee County, Michigan. Through a hot market, covid precautions, and many new challenges presented last year, we managed to thrive! We are looking forward to 2023 and what it may bring, but let's take time to reflect on last year'...
How to Prepare Your Home for the Season
December 09, 2022
If you're preparing your home for fall and winter, you're probably looking forward to family gatherings and other holiday fun. However, you may run into seasonal challenges if you also plan on selling your home during this busy time. Distracted buyers, home staging issues, and the end of daylight savings time offer prime examples.Are you preparing ...
Here's What Experts Have to Say About the Fall Real Estate Market
November 08, 2022
Leaves are not the only thing falling as we enter the autumn season. So are home prices. But just like the leaves take their time to transition from one color to the next, home prices are also falling slowly. This slow transition means that if you're in the market to sell your home, it's still a good ...
When Will Home Prices Come Down?
August 09, 2022
As the market continues to shift, more and more questions are being asked about how home prices will behave in the coming months. Will home prices continue to rise, or will they finally start to come down? If you’ve been interested in selling your home and/or buying a new one but have been intimidated by the fast-moving market, ...
Mortgage applications inch up for the first time in five weeks
August 04, 2022
Mortgage applications inched up last week for the first time since June 24. Total mortgage demand increased 1.2% as the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate made the largest weekly drop since 2020.Applications to refinance a home rose 2%, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, but the annual drop was still huge, down 82% since last year.Applications ...
Do you have a Preapproval or Prequalification?
June 07, 2022
PREAPPROVAL LETTER OR PREQUALIFICATION LETTER?In a time where there are multiple offers, and our market is extremely competitive, it is important to have a good Preapproval letter when you submit an offer. Is the letter that you are working with a Preapproval Letter or a Prequalification Letter? Always read the letter that you are provided with, ...
7 Things Every Buyer Should Know in This Market
May 09, 2022
The real estate market is on fire right now. More than 80% of Americans ages 18–34 said now was a bad time to buy a home, and the median home-sale price reached a record high of $365,000 in January. That’s a 28% increase from January 2019! The inventory simply hasn’t kept up with buyer demand. ...
What are the risks of waiving a home inspection?
March 15, 2022
What are the risks of waiving a home inspection?A home inspection is a standard part of the homebuying process. After a buyer’s offer is accepted, the buyer hires a licensed professional who checks the wiring, flushes the toilets, peers into the attic and tests the heating and air conditioning systems.In a buyer’s market or a ...
What Buyers Are Looking For In 2022
March 09, 2022
Selling your home in 2022 is an excellent idea as property values are expected to continue to increase after a record 2021. If you’ve been thinking to yourself, “I should sell my home,” but you’re not entirely sure what buyers are looking for in 2022, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’...
Characteristics of Home Buyers
February 15, 2022
Characteristics of Home Buyers— First-time buyers made up 31 percent of all home buyers, the same as last year. Eighty-two percent of buyers 22 to 30 years and 48 percent of buyers 31 to 40 years were first-time home buyers. Behind these groups, 22 percent of buyers 40 to ...
Michigan First Time Home Buyers Savings Program
February 11, 2022
Michigan Whitmer Signs Bills into Law The new laws create savings for first-time homebuyers and adds judges to areas with high caseloads LANSING, Mich. - Governor Gretchen Whitmer today signed House Bill 4290 and Senate Bill 145 to lower costs for first-time home buyers by creating tax-exempt saving accounts and allow Michiganders to deduct contributions from their taxes. The ...
After a frenzied 2021, the coming year could bring stability to the housing market. But don’t expect prices to go down.
January 14, 2022
After a frenzied 2021 housing market, the coming year could bring a small measure of relief for prospective homebuyers.But the market won’t go cold, real estate industry professionals predict.Rather, changes in home price growth, the supply of homes for sale and upticks in rock-bottom interest rates are more likely to stabilize the market after an unpredictable ...
Rent or Buy a Home getting complicated
January 10, 2022
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/06/should-you-rent-or-buy-a-home-the-answer-is-getting-more-complicated.html...
