Home Financing Archives

Home Financing

Home financing is one of the most complicated aspects of buying, building and/or owning a house. There are so many things to consider that it can be overwhelming. We aim to help you navigate your most pressing questions so you can focus on the joy of home ownership. From construction loans and mortgage rates to pricing and hidden costs, we’ll cut through the noise and give you the answers you need from industry experts.

Must Read Articles About Home Financing :

Searching for That Great Rate: How to Find the Best Mortgage Rate

When it comes to mortgages, there is a lot at stake. Especially for first-time homebuyers. Picking the wrong one can cost you thousands of dollars in interest payments, and negatively impact your financial future. In this article, we’re covering the ins-and-outs of finding the best mortgage, so you can rest easy knowing you made the right decision.

Are There Any Hidden Costs with Building?

Think of a new home estimate with a very low price as an iceberg. Like an iceberg, the misleading price is comprised of two parts: the part that’s visible above the surface and the part that’s hidden below the surface. Some home builders minimize the less obvious expenses just to get your business. Hidden costs may not be visible, but they will still impact your plans.

How to Prepare for Property Taxes When Building a New Home

Purchasing an available, pre-owned home from a real estate listing is much different from building a custom house that includes your most desired amenities, especially when it comes to preparing for your property taxes. Without an exact amount based on historical figures, how will you know how much to save up or roll into your mortgage?

Why New Home Costs Vary When Comparing Square Footage

You’re thrilled to be building a home. Finally you’ll be able to live in your dream house, complete with all the comforts and features you want. You’ve done your basic research, and are starting to get bids. That’s when you run into an unexpected, seemingly-unexplainable puzzle: The cost-per-square-foot conundrum.

Recent Home Financing Articles:

What You Should Know Before Pricing a New Home

When purchasing a new computer, you want to confirm some details first. Do I want a desktop or laptop? Is the monitor included in the price and what size is it? What about speakers? I found it very helpful to get a quote not only on the cost of the computer but the options as well so I had confidence in knowing the total cost before buying. When requesting a price on a home from the website, you will receive the base price of the home. Additional costs would include options you want to ... [Read More]

Advice on Financing Your First Home

Buying your first house is very exciting. But financing your home purchase can be a daunting experience. In both cases, do your research and shop carefully to ensure you find exactly what you want and need. Deciding how much to spend on your home and which type of mortgage will work best for you — as well as understanding the settlement process — can be confusing. However, there are many sources that can help you get prepared well before you step foot into a sales office, model home o... [Read More]

Closing On Your Home

Settlement (or closing) is the process that passes ownership of a property from seller to purchaser. Going to settlement on a new home can be bewildering. Home buyers are usually required to sign a seemingly endless pile of documents, most of which are written in terminology not used outside of the housing industry and that can be complicated to understand. Be an informed homebuyer during every step of the settlement process: Before You Go to Settlement Important Settlement Terms ... [Read More]

Tax Tips for Homeowners

As the April 15th deadline to file 2015 taxes quickly approaches. Here are a few tax tip blog articles we shared, in previous years, to help you maximize deductions and save money. Want to rest assured you have all the documents you need when you need them, but not be awash in paper? Tax and Home Records Checklist: What to Keep and For How Long Don’t rouse the IRS or pay more taxes than necessary — know the score on each home tax deduction and credit. 9 Easy M... [Read More]

Don’t Miss These Home Tax Deductions

Dona DeZube has been writing about real estate for more than two decades. She lives in a suburban Baltimore Midcentury modest home on a 3-acre lot shared with possums, raccoons, foxes, a herd of deer, and her blue-tick hound. From mortgage interest to property tax deductions, here are the tax tips you need to get a jump on your returns. Owning a home can pay off at tax time. Take advantage of these home ownership-related tax deductions and strategies to lower your tax bill: ... [Read More]

How Long Does it Take to Get a Price Quote For a Home?

This is a question we are often asked. The answer depends on the desired options and modifications that will need to be made on a home plan. To make the meeting with your Housing Consultant most productive, I would recommend preparing a list of items you would like to add or change on a plan ahead of time. In most cases pricing can be done within a 1 - 2 hour meeting with your Housing Consultant. Our no-hassle base prices and established option pricing at Fine Line Homes makes it easy and ... [Read More]

Can I Refinance and Get Rid of My ARM?

By Dona DeZube, who has been writing about real estate for more than two decades. She lives in a suburban Baltimore Midcentury modest home on a 3-acre lot shared with possums, raccoons, foxes, a herd of deer, and her blue-tick hound. Stuck in an ARM and wish you could refinance into a fixed-rate mortgage? Here are 4 circumstances that could derail your hopes, and how to get back on track. An adjustable-rate mortgage saves you a ton when rates go down, but when rates rise... [Read More]

A Financial Plan for Your Home

By Richard Koreto who is a freelance writer. He's been editor of many financial magazines and is the author of “Run It Like a Business,” a practice management book for financial planners. He and his wife own a pre-Civil War house in New York. Your home is probably your biggest investment. To manage it, create a financial plan that takes into account repairs, upgrades, mortgages, insurance, and taxes. Do you pay each home-related expense as it comes? If so, you’re missing opportunit... [Read More]

How to Use Comparable Sales to Price Your Home

By Carl Vogel a Chicago-based freelance writer and former editor of The Neighborhood Works magazine, has written about public policy and community organizing and development for more than 15 years. He's always willing to sign a good petition. Before you put your home up for sale, understand how the right comparable sales help you and your agent find the perfect price. How much can you sell your home for? Probably about as much as the neighbors got, as long as the neighbors sold the... [Read More]

7 Tips for Improving Your Credit

By: G. M. Filisko who is an attorney and award-winning writer. A frequent contributor to publications including Bankrate, REALTOR Magazine, and the American Bar Association Journal, she specializes in real estate, personal finance, and legal topics. Here’s how to clean up your credit so you get the least-expensive home loan possible: 1. Know your credit score Credit scores range from 300 to 850, and the higher, the better. They’re based on whether you’ve paid pe... [Read More]