From our friends at the kcm blog
There’s no denying it’s gotten more challenging to buy a home, especially with today’s mortgage rates and home price appreciation. And that may be one of the big reasons you’re eager to look into grants and assistance programs to see if there’s anything you qualify for that can help. But unfortunately, many homebuyers feel like they don’t know where to start.
A recent Bank of America Institute study asked prospective buyers where they lack confidence in the process and need more information. And this is what topped the list:
53% said they need help understanding homebuying grant programs.
So, here’s some information that can help you close that gap.
What Is Down Payment Assistance?
As the Mortgage Reports explains:
“Down...
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From our friends at the kcm blog
Chances are you’re hearing a lot about mortgage rates right now. You may even see some headlines talking about last week’s Federal Reserve (the Fed) meeting and what it means for rates. But the Fed doesn’t determine mortgage rates, even if the headlines make it sound like they do.
The truth is, mortgage rates are impacted by a lot of factors: geo-political uncertainty, inflation and the economy, and more. And trying to pin down when all those factors will line up enough for rates to come down is tricky.
That’s why it’s generally not worth it to try to time the market. There’s...
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From our friends at the kcm blog
If you’ve seen the news lately about home sellers slashing prices, it’s a great example of how headlines do more to terrify than clarify. Here’s what’s really happening with prices.
The bottom line is home prices are higher than they were a year ago at this time, and they’re expected to keep rising, just at a slower pace.
But a recent article from Redfin notes,
“Price Drops Hit Highest Level in 18 Months As High Rates Dampen Buyer Demand.”
And that might make you think prices are declining.
Now, while it’s true the latest report from Realtor.com also shows 16.6% of homes on the market had price reductions in May, which is up from...
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From our friends at the kcm blog
If homeownership is on your goal sheet for your future, you’re probably working on your savings. And a big priority is making sure you’ve got a plan in place for things like your closing costs, down payment, and more.
Here are a few strategies that can help speed up that process.
Budget and Track Your Expenses: To start, create a detailed budget that tracks the money you’ve got coming in and the money going out. This’ll give you a better look at your finances as a whole.
Cut Down on Unnecessary Spending: Now that you have your budget sheet done and you know how you’re spending your money, look for...
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From our friends at the kcm blog
If you’re considering selling your house on your own as a “For Sale by Owner” (FSBO), you want to think about if it’s really worth the extra stress. Going this route means shouldering a lot of responsibilities by yourself – and, if you’re not an expert, that opens the door for mistakes to happen and can quickly become overwhelming.
A report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows two key areas where people who sold their own house struggled the most: pricing and paperwork.
Here are just a few of the ways an agent makes those tasks a whole lot easier.
Getting the Price Right
Setting the right price for your house is...
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By Barbara Marquand | NerdWallet
After starting a career in engineering in Boynton Beach, Florida, Moisey Abdurakhmanov was renting a home with friends when he decided he wanted his own place.
“I realized I was basically paying somebody else’s mortgage every month,” he recalls.
So when the lease was up, he moved back home with his parents, saved every dime he could and bought a house five months later in January 2021 — “easily one of the best decisions I’ve made.”
Many millennials are taking a similar path to homeownership. About a quarter (24%) of people ages 25 to 33 who bought a home between July 2022 and June 2023 said...
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From our friends at the KCM blog
Many homeowners looking to sell feel like they’re stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. Today’s mortgage rates are higher than the one they currently have on their home, and that’s making it harder to want to sell and make a move. Maybe you’re in the same boat.
But what if there was a way to offset these higher borrowing costs? There is. And the money you need probably already exists in your current home in the form of equity.
What Is Equity?
Think of equity as a simple math equation. Freddie Mac explains:
“. . . your home’s equity is the difference between how much your home is worth and...
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From our friends at the kcm blog
If you’ve been looking for a home at the high end of your market, but haven’t found the right one, you may have put your search on hold. But according to recent data, now may be the time to jump back in. Here’s why.
There Are More Luxury Homes To Choose From
What’s considered the top-end of the market, or a luxury home, will always vary by location. But generally speaking, they’re homes that are valued in the top 5% of any given market. According to a recent report from the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, the selection of luxury homes is increasing (see graph below):As the graph shows,...
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From our friends from the KCM blog
June is a busy month in the housing market because a lot of people buy and sell this time of year. So, if you’ve got a move on your mind and you’re looking to make it happen this month, here’s a snapshot of what you need to know to make sure you’re ready.
If You’re Buying This June
A lot of homebuyers with children like to move after one school year ends and before the next one begins. That’s one reason why late spring into summer is a popular time for homes to change hands. And whether that’s a motivator for you or not, it’s important to realize more buyers are going to be looking...
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From our friends at the kcm blog
With all the headlines and talk about housing affordability, it can be tempting to get lost in the financial side of buying a home. That’s only natural as you think about the dollars and cents of it all.
And while you ultimately need to be able to afford a home you buy, don’t lose sight of why homeownership was so important to you in the first place. That’s because buying a home is so much more than just a financial transaction. As the National Association of Realtors (NAR) says:
“The benefits of purchasing and owning your place of residence are both financial and emotional – pride in homeownership and the feeling of security are...
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