Be honest. Have you started looking at homes online yet? If you have, it’s already time to get pre-approved. Because here’s what not enough people know.
If buying a home is on your radar – even if it’s more of a someday plan than a right now plan – you don’t want to wait until later on in the process to tackle this step.
No matter what you’ve heard, pre-approval isn’t about commitment. It’s about clarity.
And here are the two big ways pre-approval sets you up for success. 
You Know Your Numbers Up Front 
During the pre-approval process, a lender will walk through your finances and tell you what you can borrow based on your income, debts, credit score, and more. And once you have that number, your search becomes a lot more focused.
With a mortgage pre-approval, you know what you can borrow, so it’s easier to figure out your ideal price point, and what you can actuall ...

 


While the Spring season consistently offers up some of the best conditions for home sellers, Realtor.com says there’s one window where the stars really seem to align year after year. And it’s coming up fast.
Based on their analysis of historical trends, the ideal week to put your house on the market this year is: April 12–18.
And here’s why this window stands out as being particularly seller-friendly:

Buyers Are More Active. According to the research coming out of Realtor.com, homes listed during this week typically get about 16.7% more views than in a normal week. And in a market where buyers have options, getting that extra attention can set the tone for your entire sale.
Sales Happen Faster. Realtor.com also explains the added demand from buyers sets you up for a faster process. While homes have been taking longer to sell lately, homes up for sale thi ...

Mortgage rates have been volatile lately. And if you’re thinking about buying a home, that can make it harder to plan. But there are still things you can do to get the best rate possible in today’s market. It starts with having the right information.
So, what’s causing the bumps in rates? And what can you do about it? Let’s break it down.
Mortgage Rate Volatility Is Normal
Data from Freddie Mac shows the recent volatility. After trending down for well over a year, there was a rise this month (see graph below): 

While it’s easy to be distracted by the changes, here’s what you need to remember.
It’s normal for rates to bounce around a bit here and there. For example, if you look back at the graph, you’ll see that even within the past year there have been times like this when rates inched up. We’re in one of those moments right now and you need to be aware of that.
Especially when there’s economi ...

That kitchen you’ve been mentally redesigning...
The bathroom that really needs a refresh...
Or the outdoor space you keep saying you’ll get to someday...
What if you already have what you need to finally make it happen? Because a growing number of homeowners are realizing just that.
Homeowners are expected to spend over $522 billion on home improvements by the end of 2026 – and they’re not draining their savings accounts to get it done. Many are using their home equity.
And if you’ve owned your home for 10+ years, there’s a chance you could use your equity to fund some home upgrades too. Let’s break down what you need to know first.
What Is Equity? And How Does It Help?
Equity is the difference between what your house is worth and what you owe on your mortgage.
And according to Cotality, the average homeowner has about $313,000 worth of equity today. That’s more than enough to finally knock som ...

Foreclosures are ticking up. And that may make your mind jump straight to thoughts of 2008 – specifically to what happened to the market during the housing crash. So, let’s do exactly what your brain already wants to do, and see if there’s any connection there.
The simple truth is foreclosure filings are rising. But they’re nowhere near crisis levels. And that’s not where they’re headed either. Here’s why.
Take a look at serious delinquencies – loans where the homeowner is more than 90 days late on their mortgage payments.
While those have increased slightly, data from the New York Fed shows they still remain low. And they aren’t anywhere close to levels seen when the market crashed (see graph below):

Right now, about 1% of mortgages are seriously delinquent. That’s only 1 in 100.
In the years around the crash, they were up around 9%. That’s ...