By the end of 2022, 12.8 percent of the U.S. population will own at least one type of cryptocurrency, and it’s expected that number will only continue to rise. Naturally, crypto investors are thinking of ways to legally purchase a home or secure a mortgage using Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital currencies. The price of … Read more
Cash is king in real estate, which is bad news for many first-time home buyers trying to break into this super-competitive market. An all-cash offer — even when it’s lower than asking price — is often more desirable to a seller because it cuts the lender out of the equation for a much faster closing. … Read more
Have you ever heard the expression “house poor” and wondered, “What exactly does that mean?” When someone uses this phrase, it usually suggests that they’re spending a large chunk of their monthly income on their mortgage and accompanying housing costs — things like homeowner’s insurance, property taxes, and HOA dues. While they’re building equity with … Read more
Buying a house is a big investment. It can come with lots of hidden expenses, too, like repairs you didn’t know you’d have to make, higher utility costs, and even homeowner or neighborhood association fees. To soften the blow, you can save some money on your taxes after you buy a home. If you bought … Read more
Lauren Wellbank Contributor Lauren Wellbank is a freelance writer with more than a decade of experience in the mortgage industry. Her writing has also appeared on HuffPost, Washington Post, Martha Stewart Living, and more. When she’s not writing she can be found spending time with her growing family in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania. … Read more
After many months (or, more likely, years), you finally feel like you have enough money stashed away to buy a house within your budget. And while you may have reached your down payment goal amount, based on online mortgage calculators or conversations with a lender, it’s a good idea to keep saving. Saving up just … Read more
Which sounds tastier: Patagonian toothfish or Chilean sea bass? You probably picked the latter, even though both names describe the exact same fish. (It underwent a rebranding effort in the ’70s to sound more appealing.) The words you choose when listing your home matter just as much, and subtle adjustments can heavily influence how much … Read more
Lauren Wellbank Contributor Lauren Wellbank is a freelance writer with more than a decade of experience in the mortgage industry. Her writing has also appeared on HuffPost, Washington Post, Martha Stewart Living, and more. When she’s not writing she can be found spending time with her growing family in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania. … Read more
The housing market in 2021 was a wild ride. Waived inspections, houses going for way over asking price, and the three words all buyers dread: all cash offer. How is it possible to compete in this market in 2022? And is it really as frenetic as it seems? To find out, I asked 14 homebuyers … Read more
After weeks of going through the home transaction process — securing a mortgage pre-approval, making an offer, getting a home inspection and an appraisal — you’re finally sitting at the closing table. But how do you actually hand the funds over to buy a house? Should you take out cash or bring your checkbook? Can … Read more