How Do Your Pets Factor Into Your Home Search?

by | Mar 5, 2018 | Home Features and Pets, Home Ownership and Pets, Homes and Pets, Pet Amenties

68% of American households have a pet, according to the most recent APPA Pet Ownership Survey. If you’re a pet owner, you likely treat your furry, feathered, or scaly friend as a member of your family. With our pets being such a big part of our lives, it’s important that our home search include amenities and features that support a pet-friendly lifestyle.

Close proximity to amenities can save you time. Such amenities may include a good veterinarian for routine care or emergencies, a pet store carrying favorite supplies, dog-friendly parks, and a groomer for toe nail trims and styling.

Home features promoting pet safety and comfort can reduce stress for them and you. Features to keep in mind when searching for your new home may include a fenced yard, a cat/dog door or place to install one, a cozy fireplace for cooler months, wide window seals for cat perching and a closet for a cat litter box.

Most importantly, check local ordinances and regulations for your chosen neighborhood that might affect their activities.

Get In The Game!

by | Feb 1, 2018 | Home Search, Video

Right now, it’s a seller’s market and there are many buyers competing for the few homes listed. Buyers need a competitive edge more than ever. Buyers who get pre-qualified are one step ahead, but getting pre-approved demonstrates to sellers that you’re in the game and serious about your offer.

Buyer’s Down Payment Myth

by | Jan 13, 2018 | Uncategorized, Video

How much do you think is required for a down payment? The vast majority of young renters surveyed said they plan to buy a home at some future point. So, what is preventing them from taking the plunge? A big part of it is the perception that they can’t.

Millennials consider down payment a top obstacle in getting a mortgage. Three-quarters of consumers are not aware of low down payment programs (3% to 5%), which means that many potential homebuyers are taking themselves out of the market – not because they can’t get a mortgage to buy a home, but because they believe they can’t.

It’s no surprise, in that survey, that lenders and real estate agents were the two most influential sources of information on getting a mortgage. So, together let’s tackle the information gap that is preventing Millennials from participating in homeownership.

Worried About Your Credit Score?

by | Jan 1, 2018 | Credit Scores, Financing, Video

Many potential homeowners don’t look at purchasing a home because they have incorrect information about credit scores which keep them from enjoying homeownership today. Did you know that:

Over 80% of consumers say they’ve seen their credit score, but when asked what their score is, almost half of them either say they ‘don’t know’ or they provide a number that is outside of the 300–850 score range.

Over 50% of consumers either didn’t know or got wrong the minimum credit score required for a home loan (Fannie Mae’s minimum requirement is 620; the average consumer response was 652).