Last Updated: November 21, 2022   If you're like many first-time buyers, saving up the chunk of money you’ll need to buy a home can be a real challenge.

You've seen the headlines and heard the chatter - mortgage interest rates have gone up. How long will this last? Will this be a return to renting for people who were thinking of buying a home? Or is it just a small adjustment in the overall scheme of things? 

Is there a gap between the home you want and the home you can afford? If so, you might consider buying a home that needs some love with a renovation loan. These loans allow you to buy a home and get the funds you need to cover the costs of repairs, remodeling or renovations to the property - all with one loan. 

Adding value to your home can be a great thing. You don’t need to completely renovate your property to improve your return on investment (ROI). In many cases, smaller upgrades can increase the value of a home by thousands of dollars! Let's take a look at a few of the home improvements you can make to add instant equity to your home.

Everyone knows that moving to a new home or apartment is an aggravating, tedious chore, but once you have a family, moving can become a truly daunting task. Obviously, there is a lot to be excited about with any move – more space in a new neighborhood, a new job or just a change of scenery. For young children, however, it can be a serious disruption.

If you’re getting ready to buy a home, you’ve probably heard someone talking about closing costs. But do you know what they are, when they’re due, how much you’ll have to pay, and most importantly, where the money will come from? There’s a lot to learn, but you’ve come to the right place for all the answers!

If you’re getting ready to apply for a mortgage, you’re probably looking for ways to improve your credit score. It might seem like paying off your debts and any collections you may have would be a common-sense move, but some experts advise that you shouldn’t pay off your debts until you talk to an experienced loan advisor.

Congratulations, you’ve been pre-approved for a mortgage! At this point, you may be tempted to relax after all the hard work you’ve done pumping up your savings account and raising your credit score. But don’t go on a spending spree just yet.

Daunted by high home prices and fierce competition for prime-condition houses? An FHA 203(k) Renovation Loan could be the answer for you. It provides a simple way to bundle a home’s selling price and the cost of renovations, repairs, and improvements in one single loan.

  If you’re thinking about buying a house, you’ve probably heard the term “credit score.” This 3-digit number tells a bank how likely it is that you can pay back your loans, and it’s based on things like the amount of debt you have, loans you’ve had in the past, and your repayment history. The higher your score, the more likely it is that a bank will lend you money.   You’ve earned your score by taking good care of your finances, so you want to be careful about anything that might take away from it. And one thing that can subtract points from your score is a credit inquiry.   “But wait!” you say. “Aren’t I supposed to get pre-approved for my mortgage before I start looking at houses? And doesn’t a pre-approval count as a credit inquiry?”   Good question, but when it comes to pre-approval, your credit score is safe. Here’s why.