For the third year in a row, the Federal Housing Agency has announced an increase in the maximum conforming loan limits for mortgages eligible to be purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. For 2019, the maximum conforming loan amount
Inflationary pressures in the economy have moderated as a result of lower oil prices (which lower transportation costs) and slowed wage growth. As a result, interest rates stabilized this past week. Here is a link to the current Freddie
A year ago, with rates around 4% and with a limited supply of homes on the market, buyers often found themselves in bidding wars, paying more than they had intended for their new home. But the national housing market has
Last week showed the lowest level of mortgage application activity by U.S. consumers in the past 4 years. There are a lot of factors at play here – low national housing inventory, rising rates, and multiple bid situations on many
Gift funds allow family members to help other family members buy a home and begin to build wealth. This is something we see most often when young buyers are purchasing their first home. If you are uncomfortable with the idea
Imagine you are interested in purchasing a home that needs structural work, foundation work, mold remediation, lead-based paint stabilization or other repairs in order to satisfy appraisal requirements – and the sellers are not able or willing to make these
For every residential mortgage, the borrower’s creditworthiness and ability to repay must be underwritten and approved, and the appraisal must support the purchase price and be accepted by the underwriter. When you are purchasing a condo, there is an additional
Here in the Triangle area of North Carolina, we are far from the ocean and safe from the storm surge that causes so much devastation at the coast during a hurricane. But we can still expect high winds, heavy
I was recently asked by a client about the potential costs of waiting until she could make a 20% down payment – since she only had enough for a 10% down payment when we spoke. Let’s take a look at
The lack of homes for sale is driving prices higher, just as millennials are getting ready to buy their first homes. Stagnated earning power is a further complication, as wage growth continues at a snails pace. These are more good