The ironic thing about people who think they can’t afford to buy a home for themselves, end up buying the home for their landlord. There are several facts that support this notion. Weather you rent or buy, you are paying for the house. Only difference is who you are paying. Mortgages, whether held by an… [Read More]
Mortgage Rates – What a Difference 50 years Makes
In 1966, a gallon of gas was $0.32 and today, it is $2.49. A dozen eggs were $0.60 but they’ve only doubled to $1.33. A gallon of milk was $0.99 and today, it costs $3.98. You could send a letter for five cents and now, it costs forty-seven cents. The average cost of a new… [Read More]
Components of a Credit Score
Credit scores are used by lenders to measure the credit worthiness of borrowers. While there are several different companies that offer scores, the FICO, Fair Isaacson Corporation, is the model that is used most often. There are five key components that determine the overall score or rating. The most emphasis, 35% of the overall score,… [Read More]
Temporary Buy Down
There is an infrequently-used mortgage program available that could be the solution to a buyer’s or seller’s problem. A temporary buydown is fixed rate mortgage that the seller has prepaid interest at closing to lower the payments for a number of years. The borrower must qualify at the note rate but gets the benefit of… [Read More]
Early Burnout Could be Good
Most of us understand the expression “burning the candle at both ends” to mean working so hard that you burn yourself out. Normally, that wouldn’t be a good idea unless it is intentional. If the candle is your mortgage and the strategy is to get it paid off early, being “burned out” would be a… [Read More]