Ask the Expert
I own my house outright, but I am 75. Can I refinance? Age isn’t a barrier to getting a mortgage, thanks to The Equal Credit Opportunity Act that makes it…
Category: Real Estate
Boomers sell; millennials buy
Homeownership is alive and well across all generations, a new reports finds, with trends shaking out as you might expect: More younger people are buying…
Ask the Expert: What does it mean to lock in a rate?
That is a subject you might be hearing more about in coming months, with interest rates rising instead of dropping as they have in the past few years….
Wallpaper is back and better than before
The past few decades have been bleak for the wallpaper business. During the second half of the 20th century, the wallpaper and coverings industry lost…
Ask the Expert: Are there any tax advantages to owning a home?
There can be all sorts of financial advantages to home ownership and some tax advantages, too. The primary financial advantage of homeownership, as…
Good news at tax time on your home sale
Here are three words you don’t hear everyday: Tax-free money. There aren’t too many things you can say that about, but for many homeowners that sell, it…
Escalation clause: This is my offer, but it’s really higher
If you want to buy a house in a very competitive market, an escalation clause might be something to consider. An escalation clause automatically raises…
Ask the Expert: What is a non-conforming loan?
What is a non-conforming loan? A non-conforming loan is different than the conventional loan standards. So, first, let’s talk about conforming loans. A…
Should you offer earnest money in a competitive market?
Mortgage rates are low and financing is readily available, but the number of houses for sale is also low. How do you stand out in the market and buy the…
Ask the Expert
I have never applied for a mortgage. What does a lender look for in an applicant? This is one time in life when your sparkling personality and good…