Sell Your House During the Winter Sweet Spot
A lot of people assume spring is the ideal time to sell a house. And sure, buyer demand usually picks up at that time of year. But here’s the catch: so does your competition because a lot of people put…
Mortgage Underwriting: How Lenders Assess Your Risk | #CityFirstMortgage
Mortgage underwriting assesses credit, finances, and property value to determine mortgage application approval. Steps – Preapproval: Estimates borrowing capacity – Verification: Confirms income, assets, and credit – Appraisal: Matches property value to loan – Title search: Verifies legal ownership transfer
Saving to buy a house? Here’s where you should park your down payment money.
Saving for a home down payment can be daunting, with the average price of homes at $501,700 and median down payments at $64,000. To effectively save, consider options like high-yield savings accounts for flexibility and competitive interest rates, certificates of…
Should You Sell Your House As-Is or Make Repairs?
A recent study from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows most sellers (61%) completed at least minor repairs when selling their house. But sometimes life gets in the way and that’s just not possible. Maybe that’s why, 39% of…
Rising Mortgage Rates Challenge Homebuyers Now | #CityFirstMortgage
Mortgage rates increased after the Fed’s 50-point interest rate cut in September 2024. Homebuyers hoped for relief, but mortgage rates remain well above pre-pandemic levels.
4 ways to lower your property tax bill
Property taxes are an unavoidable reality for homeowners, often increasing alongside rising home values. Last year's property tax bills surged by up to 30% in some areas. To manage these costs, homeowners can check their property tax card for errors,…
Investors Are Not Buying Up All the Homes
Some HighlightsThere’s a misconception Wall Street is buying all the homes on the market. But data proves that isn’t true.Experts agree the share of homes bought by investors is declining – and most are smaller investors, like your neighbor who owns…
Make Your House the Top Thing on Every Buyer’s Wish List This Season
With the holidays right around the corner, homeowners planning to move have a decision to make: sell now or wait? Some may even consider taking their house off the market until next spring. But is that the best choice? Because…
E-Mortgage Market Transformations Ahead by 2030 | #CityFirstMortgage
The e-Mortgage market is set for significant transformations from 2024 to 2030. Emerging opportunities and evolving trends are critical for competitive advantage in the e-Mortgage sector.
Control the Controllables If You’re Worried About Mortgage Rates
Chances are you’re hearing a lot about mortgage rates right now, and all you really want to hear is that they’re coming back down. And if you’ve seen headlines about the early November Federal Funds Rate cut by the Federal…
