guaranteed home sale

Mortgage rates are still at historic lows. For many homeowners, it’s a great time to refinance. Refinancing allows you to pay off your current mortgage with a new mortgage at a lower rate. Refinancing means lower monthly payments and more money left in your pocket. But here’s something important that many people don’t know: Refinancing can affect your credit score negatively. You see, when you refinance, the new creditor will do a “hard inquiry” about your credit history. This inquiry can actually lower your credit score. Looking for new credit lines (like a new mortgage) equates with greater credit risk. How much will a hard inquiry actually lower your credit score? This depends on several factors. In some cases, a hard inquiry might not lower your credit score at all. However, if you’ve recently opened up multiple new credit lines (auto loans, credit cards, etc.), then a hard inquiry could decrease your credit score by up to five points. This is true if you only have a short credit h...

Finding and purchasing the right home at the right price means having the right team behind you guiding you through the transaction. On this team, there are a few key roles you need to identify. The first is the  agent you work with.  It’s always important to interview at least a couple of agents to make sure you’re comfortable with the one you choose. Your agent should be knowledgeable and have your best interests at heart, and you should be able to trust their recommendations as they guide you through the process. The second role is that of  the lender.  If you plan on getting financing, it’s important to identify a lender as soon as possible—even before you start looking for homes. As with high end real estate agents , you can interview several lenders—not just to know your financing options, but also to check their availability, their communication, and how they can make the loan process go as smoothly as possible. “Your agent should be knowledgeable and have you...