What is a FICO Score?

A FICO score is not the same as a credit score.  The Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) created FICO Scores about thirty years ago in order to provide an industry-standard for scoring creditworthiness that was fair to both lenders and consumers.  A FICO Score ...

Are you confused over all the mortgage options and lender lingo?  Here's a quick "cheat sheet" to get you started.  Once you're ready to take the mortgage plunge and find your dream home, let us know!  Not only will we happily guide you through your ...

I was showing a lovely older home the other day when the prospective buyers asked a common question.  “How can this be called a bedroom, it’s so tiny!”  It turns out the space was large enough to be called a bedroom, along with some other requirements that ...

Are you nearing retirement age?  Or are you thinking about purchasing a second home with the ultimate aim of it becoming your full-time home when you retire?  Here are some tips to keep in mind when searching for that home.

Look for a Single-Story Property

Having everything ...

Are you trying to decide if buying a home is right for you? Are you agonizing over whether this is the time or not to buy?  The answers are a resounding Yes, and Yes!

In some cases renting may be the right choice, but in the long run, there’s ...

A high credit score can help you qualify for lower mortgage interest rates, so it is important to know what affects your score. Credit scores are calculated based on information from one or more of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Lenders also often use scores from ...

One of the biggest questions when buying a home is “how much can I afford?”  Once this question is answered, it’s much easier to narrow down your home shopping wish list to fit your budget.  There are several factors that go into determining how much mortgage you can afford ...

Are you thinking about buying a vacation home rather than spending money on annual vacations in other parts of the country or the world?  Are you worrying that vacation plans may continue to be interrupted for the foreseeable future? While it may sound like a great idea, purchasing a ...

What the heck is going on in this current real estate market?  I’m fielding multiple offers on every listing.  Properties generally have an accepted offer within 3 days of putting a property into MLS.  Excellent, well-structured, appealing offers are being submitted with all the required paperwork.  ...

Why is a mortgage Pre-approval so important?  And just what is the difference between a mortgage Pre-Qualification and a mortgage Pre-Approval?

Pre-Qualification

To get pre-qualified, a lender evaluates your debt, income and assets to give you a loan estimate for how much you’re likely to be approved. This quick ...