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Should I Rent or Buy?

While homeownership has long been the American dream, buying a home is not necessarily the best choice for every person or every situation. There are many factors to consider in determining if a home purchase is the right decision for you right now. Can you Afford It? If the cost to own a home – mortgage, homeowners insurance and property taxes included – if less than roughly 28% of your gross income and you have few other debt obligations, you can probably afford to buy. Do not underestimate the additional costs of maintenance though. Replacing appliances or paying for a plu...

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June 14th, 2018 | Purchasing a Home, Should I Rent or Buy?

4 Reasons You Don’t Want to Pay PMI

Years ago, a 20% down payment was a requirement for obtaining a mortgage loan. Putting that much money down made it less likely that borrowers would simply default on their home loans and gave lenders a measure of security and collateral in the case of foreclosure. However, in more recent years, lenders have gotten much more creative in financing to help more Americans become homeowners. There are now mortgage loans that require as little as 3% down up front. In order to compensate for that added risk of loss, lenders require and borrowers with a down payment of less than 20% to pay for pri...

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June 7th, 2018 | First-time Homebuyers, 4 Reasons You Don’t Want to Pay PMI