According todata from the most recent Origination Insight Report by Ellie Mae, the average FICOscore on closed loans reached 753 in February. As lending standards have tightened recently, many are concerned over whether or not their credit score is strong enough to qualify for a mortgage. While stricter lending standards could be a

Some Highlights

• Todays home price appreciation is driving equity higher throughout the country.
• If your needs are changing and youre ready for a new home, your equity may be a great asset to power your next move.
• Now is a great time to put your equity toward a down payment on the home of your dreams.

When thinking about selling, homeowners often feel they need to get their house ready with some remodeling to make it more appealing to buyers. However, with so many buyers competing for available homes right now, renovations may not be as vital as they would be in a more normal market. Here are two things to keep in mind if youre

Last year started off with a bang. Unemployment was under 4%, forecasters were giddy with their projections for the economy, and the residential housing market had the strongest January and February activity in over a decade.

Then came the announcement on March 11, 2020, from the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 a worldwide

There are many financial and non-financial benefits of homeownership, and the greatest financial one is wealth creation. Homeownership has always been the first rung on the ladder that leads to forming household wealth. As Freddie Mac explains:

Homeownership has cemented its role as part of the American Dream, providing families with a

Todays homebuyers are faced with a strong sellers market, which means there are a lot of active buyers competing for a relatively low number of available homes. As a result, its essential to understand how to make a confident and competitive offer on your dream home. Here are five tips for success in this critical stage of the homebuying

Some Highlights

• With so few houses for sale today, its important to be prepared when youre ready to buy a home.
• Meeting with your lender early, knowing your must-haves and nice-to-haves, preparing for a bidding war, and keeping your emotions in check are all ways to gain confidence in the homebuying

Spring is almost here, and many are wondering what it will bring for the housing market. Even though the pandemic continues on, its certain to be very different from the spring we experienced at this time last year. Heres what a few industry experts have to say about the housing market and how it will bloom this

Last March, many involved in the residential housing industry feared the market would be crushed under the pressure of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. Instead, real estate had one of its best years ever. Home sales and prices were both up substantially over the year before. 2020 was so strong that many now fear the markets exuberance