Picture this: you’ve finally found the home of your dreams. It’s got all the features you’ve been searching for, and it’s in the perfect neighborhood. There can’t possibly be anything wrong with it…right? Though technically optional, a home inspection is highly recommended by most realtors, as it can save you thousands of dollars—or even prevent […]
Tag Archives: First Time Home Buyers
Mortgage 101: What To Know Before You Apply
Everybody loves talking about mortgages. They’re fun, easy to understand, and a great icebreaker, right?….Wrong. Thanks to their lengthy process, technical jargon, and confusing options, mortgages have a bit of an intimidating reputation—but it doesn’t have to be that way! If you’re in the process of buying a new home and dreading the mortgage application […]
The Four Most Common Red Flags to Look for During Your Walkthrough
A new home is a big financial investment. Not only will you likely be pouring a lot of your savings into the purchase, but you’ll also be choosing a place to call home for years to come. The last thing you want is to spend all of that time and money only to discover a […]
The Home Buying Debate: 3 Big Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Home
If you’re in the middle of buying a home in the greater Raleigh area, you’ve probably already listened to a lot of unprompted advice. Home-buying, and real estate in general, is one of those topics that elicits some pretty strong opinions. At the end of the day, however, it all boils down to what you […]
The 5 Most Important Things to Do After Buying a Home
So, you bought a house. First of all, congratulations! The search is over, no more weekends filled with open houses and showings, and you can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Phew. But your work isn’t quite done yet. Once you buy a house, there are a few things that need to happen before and […]
The Top Tax Deductions & Credits for Homeowners in 2019
Taxes are confusing, which is why many people in the U.S. choose to hire an expert to do their taxes for them. After all, there are so many numbers to know, forms to have ready, records of income and expenses, W-4s, 1099s, 380-Ts—we could’ve just made that last one up, and there’s no way of […]
Saving up for a New Home? Here Are All the Costs You Need to Know
Once you’ve found the perfect home and secured the loan, all that’s left to do is start chipping away at those mortgage payments…right? In actuality, there are a handful of other, often-overlooked expenses that come with buying a home, but as long as you know what you’re getting into, they’re plenty manageable. Take a look […]
First Comes Love… then Comes Your First Mortgage Payment!
Every year, the National Association of Realtors® conducts a survey to determine the profile of home buyers and sellers across the country. The 2018 profile is interesting because the majority of recent homebuyers (a whopping 63%!) are married couples! The Majority of First-Time Buyers are Married Couples It’s true! According to the NAR, 54% of first-time […]
How Homeownership Makes the Biggest Difference
If you’re looking for the most surefire way to build your wealth, become a homeowner. We’ve blogged about this in the past, but it really is one of the most effective (and simplest) ways to build your wealth for the long term. The majority of homeowners take out a mortgage loan to buy their home. […]
The Pros & Cons of a Buyer’s Letter: Standing Out in a Busy Market
Imagine, after weeks of searching, that you’ve finally found your dream home. It’s in the perfect location with the right features and exactly the amount of space you need. But after requesting more information, your agent informs you that there are already several offers made on the house. How do you stand out in a […]