The current housing shortage has an impact on how you search for a home this spring. With limited options on the market, buyers who consider what’s a necessity versus what’s a nice-to-have will be more successful in their home search. The first step? Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Pre-approval helps you better understand what you can borrow for your home loan, and that plays an important role in...
While the warm summer months are great for family vacations and barbecues, the fall season is the perfect time to take part in some fun and festive local activities. Here are some ideas for fun fall activities for you and your family and friends to enjoy. Go on a Picnic in a Nearby Park Ahh, the crisp fall air! Mild temperatures and colorful scenery make fall the ideal time to go on a picnic in a...
From contract contingencies to encumbrances, the home sale and purchase processes bring with them a new vocabulary. One of the processes that most first-timers find confusing is the title company’s role in a real estate transaction. Let’s try to clear up the confusion. A title company serves two main functions in the real estate transaction. Its first role is that of facilitator for the closing. A...
When you get a copy of your credit report, you'll see more than just your current and historical credit accounts. You'll see your payment history, including any payments made more than 30, 60 and 90 days past the due date, along with your account balances and credit limits. You'll also see credit inquiries. A credit inquiry is simply an instance where you or a third party has looked at your credit...
When decorating your home, saving money is great. Who doesn't love finding a deal on an item and then not-so-subtly bragging about it when guests come over? Bargain-hunting does, however, have its limits, and the impulse to save now might cost you in the long run. Here are a couple places to splurge, and a couple ways to save when decorating your home. Furniture Furniture is a mixed bag. You can get...
In today's real estate market, homes stay on the market for about 25 days on average before going under contract. That's better than back in 2010, when homes were averaging 140 days to sell, but it's still not fast, and there's no guarantee that your home will sell in 25 days. Location, season, and many other factors affect how quickly you can sell a home. If you need to sell your home quickly, those...
The average rate on the popular 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 2.78% for the week ending Nov. 5, down from 2.81% the previous week and 3.69% the same week one year ago, according to Freddie Mac. Other mortgage products, including the 15-year fixed, FHA loans and jumbo mortgages, set new record lows for their average rates last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Volatility...
One of the biggest misconceptions of home buying? The 20% down payment. Here’s how to buy with a lot less down. Buying your first home conjures up all kinds of warm and fuzzy emotions: pride, joy, contentment. But before you get to the good stuff, you've got to cobble together a down payment, a daunting sum if you follow the textbook advice to squirrel away 20% of a home's cost. Here are five...
Re/Max Andrew Realty Services of Medford and Stoneham recently announced the addition of Braintree native Alexa Dealy, an experienced realtor and Medford resident. As a Re/Max Andrew realtor, Dealy offers both seller representation and buyer representation. She specializes in the marketing and sale of residential and commercial properties, as well as land and new developments. Dealy services the Boston,...
WALTHAM, Mass. – The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that the number of single-family homes put under agreement in the month of April went up almost 15 percent and the number of condominiums put under agreement went up almost 12 percent compared to this time last year. This marks 12 straight months of year-over-year increases for single-family homes. The median price for...
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