Chris Farrell

What Credit Score is Required to Buy a House?

October 12, 2021 apply for a mortgage, buy a home, buy a house, conventional loan, Credit History, credit reports, credit scores, debt to income ratio, fha loan, good credit score, higher credit score, improve your credit score, insured by the federal housing administration, loan types, mortgage loan, mortgage rates, qualifying for a mortgage, usda loan, va loan

When you’re getting ready to buy a house, your lender will want to see your credit score, a three-digit number that represents how well you pay back debt. Before you apply for a mortgage, keep in mind that your credit score represents one of the most important aspects of qualifying for a mortgage, but it’s […]

What is an FHA Loan? Everything You Need to Know

October 8, 2021 closing costs, conventional loans, conventional mortgage, department of housing and urban development, fha approved lender, fha lenders, fha loan limits, fha loans require, good credit, home loans, interest rate, life of the loan, loan programs, loan terms, payments as low as 3.5, purchase price, qualify for an fha, student loans, type of mortgage

As you read through our homebuyer’s guide, you may wonder which home loans could work best for you. A conventional loan, the most common type of non-government backed loan, requires you to have a minimum credit score of 620. Your credit score is a three-digit number that comes from your credit reports and creditors (such […]

How to Calculate Your Mortgage Payment

October 7, 2021 20 down payment, buying a home, closing costs, credit cards, credit score, debt to income ratio, fixed rate mortgage, home loan, home price, loan amount, loan term, monthly mortgage payment, mortgage calculator, mortgage lender, mortgage loan, number of years, payment calculator, principal and interest, real estate

When shopping for your mortgage or refinancing your mortgage, one of your top-of-mind questions probably sounds a lot like: “What will my monthly mortgage payment be, and how will it fit into my budget?” Your loan amount, principal, interest, term and more play into your monthly payment amount. You will want to feel comfortable making […]

How Much Are Closing Costs?

October 6, 2021 average closing costs, buy a home, discount points, escrow account, home loans, home sale, homeowners insurance, lenders charge, loan amount, loan estimate, origination fees, pays closing costs, property taxes, purchase price, recording fee, title insurance, title searches, transfer tax, vary widely

As a potential brand-new homeowner, your first thoughts might turn toward the amount you’ll pay for your monthly mortgage payments. But have you considered how much you’ll have to pay for the down payment or closing costs for your home loan? Generally, you’ll have to pay closing costs when you purchase a home — no […]

What is a Mortgage? A Guide for Beginners in 2022

September 29, 2021 adjustable rate mortgage arm, adjustable rate mortgages, adjustable rates, borrow money, buy a home, credit report, credit score, fha loans, fixed rate mortgages, home loan, homeowner insurance, monthly mortgage payment, mortgage is a loan, mortgage rates, private mortgage insurance, purchase a home, purchase price, real estate, repay the loan

Getting a mortgage may seem like a complex task with many layers and steps involved. However, the first step to breaking down the process involves answering the most basic question: “What is a mortgage?” Understanding the very basics of mortgages may help you gain more confidence as you search for your dream home. We’ll walk […]

How Much Is My House Worth?

September 28, 2021 accurate estimate, automated valuation models, buys a home, comparative market analysis cma, enter your address, feedback and accommodation requests, home is worth, home valuation, home value estimator, local market, market trends, multiple listing service, professional appraiser, public trends, real estate agent, real estate professionals, sale price, Sell your home, starting point

“How much is my house worth?” It’s a major question on sellers’ minds, though current homeowners may wonder the same thing, especially if they’re curious about their home’s assessed value for tax purposes. Do you remember plunking down money for closing costs when closing on your mortgage? Back then, you might not have had a […]

What is Escrow and Why Do You Need It?

September 27, 2021 buyers and sellers, closing costs, escrow accounts, escrow agent, escrow company, escrow payments, escrow service, escrow work, held by a third party, home purchase, monthly mortgage payment, neutral third party, paid on time, property taxes and homeowners, purchase agreement, real estate agent, real estate transaction, require escrow, tax or insurance

When you first go through the home buying process, you may have lots of questions about down payments, closing your mortgage and interest rates. You may wonder about the key steps to get a mortgage. You will need to learn about a concept called escrow as well. Many buyers and sellers don’t spend too much […]

How Much House Can I Afford?

September 14, 2021 30 years, buying a home, car loans, closing costs, credit cards, credit score, debt to income ratio, fha loans, gross monthly income, home affordability calculator, housing budget, how much house can i afford, monthly mortgage payments, mortgage loans, mortgage payment, mortgage rates, purchase price, real estate, total monthly debts, va loans

When buying a home, one of your first thoughts probably turns to the following question: “How much house can I afford?” You may wonder how large of a house you should and can purchase (especially when buying your first home). It’s one of the most important questions you can ask, because you want to feel […]

How Soon Can You Refinance Your Mortgage?

September 13, 2021

The question “how soon can you refinance a mortgage?” depends on the type of mortgage you have. If you’ve only recently joined the ranks of mortgage-paying homeowners, you might be curious about a few things: Exactly how soon after your first mortgage can you refinance? How long do you need to wait if you want […]

Chris Farrell

Your homebuying journey starts here.