Team Blog

Are you at the point in life where selling your home seems like the next logical step? One of the first things a potential seller does is try and find out what their home is worth. At Homesale Realty, we provide a unique tool to help you with this search. Our Homesale AVM calculates three estimates based on data pulled from a variety of sources, so you have a better understanding of your home's value. Check it out today on the home page of our Team Website: www.thechrissiebarrickteam.com

It's no secret that the majority of the younger generations are renting for longer than their elder counterparts. With an abundance of student loan debt and soaring home prices, it's no wonder why most people are turning to renting. However, as rent prices steadily increase, is it better to bite the bullet and invest in a home? The decades-long debate about renting versus buying is far from over, but here are a few things to consider to help you make the best decision for you.

Life Situation:

Owning a home not only takes a financial commitment, but a level of maturity to recognize problems, plan for a variety of situations and maintain the household in good order. Being a homeowner is a commitment and if you travel often, work late most nights or don't have the extra savings to properly repair needed fixes, owning a home may no...

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Some Highlights:

• Interest rates are projected to increase steadily heading into 2020.
• The higher your interest rate, the more money you will end up paying for your home and the higher your monthly payment will be.
• Rates are still low right now – don't wait until they hit 5% to start searching for your dream home!

When buying a home today, why is there so much paperwork mandated by the lenders for a mortgage loan application? It seems like they need to know everything about you. Furthermore, it requires three separate sources to validate each and every entry on the application form. Many buyers are being told by friends and family that the process was a hundred times easier when they bought their home ten to twenty years ago.

There are two very good reasons that the loan process is much more onerous on today's buyer than perhaps any other time in history.

1. The government has set new guidelines that now demand that the bank proves beyond any doubt that you are indeed capable of paying the mortgage.

During the run-up to the housing crisis, many pe...

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Freddie Mac recently released a report entitled, "Perceptions of Down Payment Consumer Research." Their research revealed that,

"For many prospective homebuyers, saving for a down payment is the largest barrier to achieving the goal of homeownership. Part of the challenge for those planning to purchase a home is their perception of how much they will need to save for the down payment…

…Based on our recent survey of individuals planning to purchase a home in the next three years, nearly a third think they need to put more than 20% down."

Myth #1: "I Need a 20% Down Payment"

Buyers often overestimate the funds needed...

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