Most house hunters have a clear vision of their dream home. A gourmet kitchen. A yard for the kids. Lots of natural light. But how often is equal consideration given to the finer details of the location? How do you evaluate a neighborhood to determine if your dream home is truly in your dream location? Here are 5 ways to figure out if a neighborhood matches your lifestyle and investment goals.
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The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bipartisan bill known as the Mortgage Choice Act of 2015. The bill essentially reforms two existing regulations – Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). Will the proposed changes benefit the consumer? Let’s break it down.
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Effective October 3, 2015, (extended from August 1, 2015) the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will implement a rule intended to reconcile inconsistencies between two federal acts that regulate the mortgage qualification process. The new rule, known as TILA RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID), seeks to simplify standard loan documentation, limit fees charged to consumers, make documentation easier to understand, aid consumers in comparison shopping, prevent surprises at the closing table, and clarify timing requirements for disclosure of final loan terms and costs. Here’s what you need to know about the changes put forth by the new “Know Before You Owe Rule.”
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You have served your country and now it’s time to use the benefits you have earned. Here are some simple highlights of the VA Home Loan program.
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Purchasing a home is an overwhelming experience. So many emotions, decisions to make, financial data to gather, papers to sign, and new vocabulary to decipher. Do you ever feel like the home buying process requires fluency in another language or maybe a secret decoder ring?
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It’s smart to begin your search for a new home with a pre-approval letter. The pre-approval is more in-depth then a pre-qualification letter, which does not include a credit analysis. In order to provide a pre-approval, your lender will pull your credit, analyze your income and asset documentation, and calculate your debt-to-income ratio, resulting in a reasonably accurate estimate of your spending limitations. This will give you a good idea of what you can afford and may give you an advantage over the competition.
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Paying off your mortgage is an exciting financial milestone. But, are you prepared to do it properly? Here’s a simple checklist to guide you through the process.
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Recent policy changes from FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are intended to make homeownership a more attainable goal for first-time homebuyers. What are the changes and what difference will they make? For those planning to enter the housing market for the first time, the right opportunity may come sooner than expected due to more favorable guidelines and lower costs.
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As of January 26 Fannie Mae will make their Collateral Underwriting (CU) tool available to lenders during the underwriting process. The announcement has elicited mixed reactions from industry experts. So what does it all really mean?
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Whether you are headed off to college, starting a job, saving for your first home, or a parent preparing a child for life on their own, money management and budgeting can create anxiety. Can I afford college? How do I save for a down payment? How will I pay my bills, save and still be able to have some fun? These three simple steps will help ease the uncertainty and set you on a path toward financial independence.
Read More “Top 3 Money Management Tips for 20-Somethings”