A home appraisal is a critical step in the buying, selling, or refinancing process, yet many people don’t fully understand how it works or what factors influence it. Whether you're a buyer, seller, or homeowner looking to refinance, here are some key details about home appraisals that you might not know. 1. Appraisals Are Different from Home Inspections Many people confuse appraisals with home inspections. While both assess the condition of a home, an appraisal determines the home's fair … [Read more...]
How Can Home Renovations Protect You from Natural Hazards
Home renovations can be an effective way to protect your home and family from natural hazards. Start by identifying the potential hazards in your area. This can include natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and tornadoes, as well as man-made hazards such as gas leaks and fires. Once you've identified the potential hazards in your area, create a plan for how you will respond to them and prepare your home to take on these natural disasters and keep your home and … [Read more...]
Case-Shiller Home Price Indices: Home Prices Grow at a Near-Record Pace
U.S home prices grew at a near-record pace in January according to the National S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index; year-over-year home prices rose by 19.20 percent in January as compared to December’s reading of 18.90 percent. Home prices rose 1.80 percent on a month-to-month basis from December to January. While home prices continued to grow at near-record rates, home price growth slowed in some areas during December but picked up in January. Craig M. Lazzara, managing director … [Read more...]
Why Did My Application For A Refinance Get Turned Down?
If you want to save money on your home loan, you might want to refinance. During the refinancing process, you could secure a better interest rate on your home loan. You could also withdraw cash from your home’s equity value to cover other expenses. Similar to a regular mortgage application, some refinance applications are denied. Why is this the case, and what should you do next? Your Debt To Income Ratio Is Off One of the most common reasons why an application for a home refinance … [Read more...]
