For buyers35 Blog Posts

What is radon and why should I care?

What is radon and why should I care?  Radon is the by-product of decaying uranium in the soil.  It’s the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, and it’s the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.  How Does Radon Enter The House? Radon gas rises through the crevices, cracks and porous materials […]

WHAT IS THE HOTTEST TOPIC IN REAL ESTATE?

What is the hottest topic in real estate today?  It’s the lack of inventory of homes for sale.  Look at the chart below. The downward trend for inventory began in late 2011 as the housing crisis eased. At that time we had about 12 months of inventory.  It was a buyer’s market in every way.  […]

3 Things To Know About Buying New Construction

Imagine your first weekend in a new home; a home without nasty smells leftover from the previous occupants, no smudged baseboards, and a sparkling clean refrigerator that has never held leftovers. The only thing you need to do this weekend is relax and enjoy your new home. Buying new construction affords you this opportunity. Sure, there are […]

NOVEMBER SALES REPORT

The November new homes sales report for the Lake Norman area was up compared to the same time last year.  The largest gains were found in Davidson, as sales spiked over 200%!  This is largely due to buyers flocking to Westbranch by Lennar Homes.  Looking at the graph below, we see that the largest market for new […]

The Ultimate Guide to Title Insurance

Title insurance can be hard to understand and know why you need it. Private mortgage insurance (PMI) is required by the lender, provided you have less than 20% down, to ensure the loan is repaid if the borrower defaults. Homeowner’s insurance is a necessity to protect the lender’s property interests.   Then there is title insurance, one […]

What to expect from the home inspection.

A home inspection is a thorough check by a professional of the dwelling’s condition, and a report is provided to the buyer.  It may sound simple but it can make or break the sale.  If you know what to expect from your home inspection then you can increase your chance of making sound decisions and […]

What the heck is a HECM?

2019-10-16 09:39:19A HECM, or Home Equity Conversion Mortgage for purchase, may help you buy your next home without required monthly mortgage payments.  Sound too good to be true?  It’s not.  A HECM for purchase is a reverse mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).  That means it’s the only one insured by the U.S. Federal Government. It was […]

7 things to avoid after applying for a mortgage

Congratulations! You’ve found a home to buy and have applied for a mortgage! You are undoubtedly excited about the opportunity to decorate your new home! But before you make any big purchases, move any money around, or make any big-time life changes, consult your loan officer. They will be able to tell you how your […]

Where are mortgage rates headed in 2019?

Where are mortgage rates heading in 2019?  The most likely correct answer is up.  But how high?  Nobody know, but let’s look at what the experts think. The interest rate you pay on your home mortgage has a direct impact on your monthly payment. The higher the rate, the greater the payment will be. That […]

Why buy a new construction home?

Why buy a new construction home?  Consider this:  there is much uncertainty when you search exclusively for resale homes. The baseline price is unknown- meaning what price will the seller take? What will the inspector find? Might the seller fix anything? How about deferred maintenance issues that may surface after you move in? How much […]