Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

Buying a home can be SCARY…Until you know the FACTS Some Highlights: Many potential homebuyers believe they need a 20% down payment and a 780 FICO® score to qualify to buy a home. This stops many people from even trying to jump into homeownership! Here are some facts to help take the fear out of the process: 71% of buyers who purchased homes have put down less than 20%. 78.1% of loan applications were approved last month. In September, the average credit score for approved loans was 737.

5 Tips for Starting Your Home Search In today’s market, low inventory dominates the conversation in many areas of the country. It can often be frustrating to be a first-time homebuyer if you aren’t prepared. Here are five tips from realtor.com ’s article , “How to Find Your Dream Home—Without Losing Your Mind.” 1. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage Before You Start Your Search One way to show you’re serious about buying your dream home is to get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage. Even if you’re in a market that is not as competitive, understanding your budget will give you the confidence of knowing whether or not your dream home is within your reach. This will help you avoid the disappointment of falling in love with a home well outside your price range. 2. Know the Difference Between Your ‘Must-Haves’ and ‘Would-Like-To-Haves’ Do you really need that farmhouse sink in the kitchen to be happy with your home choice? Would a two-car garage be a con

3 Reasons This is NOT the 2008 Real Estate Market No one knows for sure when the next recession will occur. What is known, however, is that the upcoming economic slowdown will not be caused by a housing market crash, as was the case in 2008. There are those who disagree and are comparing today’s real estate market to the market in 2005-2006, which preceded the crash. In many ways, however, the market is very different now. Here are three suppositions being put forward by some, and why they don’t hold up. SUPPOSITION #1 A critical warning sign last time was the surging gap between the growth in home prices and household income. Today, home values have also outpaced wage gains. As in 2006, a lack of affordability will kill the market. Counterpoint The “gap” between wages and home price growth has existed since 2012. If that is a sign of a recession, why didn’t we have one sometime in the last seven years? Also, a buyer’s purchasing power is MUCH GREATER

3 Reasons to Use a Real Estate Pro in a Complex Digital World If you’re searching for a home online, you’re not alone; lots of people are doing it. The question is, are you using all of your available resources, and are you using them wisely? Here’s why the Internet is a great place to start the home-buying process, and the truth on why it should never be your only go-to resource when it comes to making such an important decision. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the three most popular information sources home buyers use in the home search are: Online website (93%) Real estate agent (86%) Mobile/tablet website or app (73%) Clearly, you’re not alone if you’re starting your search online; 93% of home buyers are right there with you. The even better news: 86% of buyers are also getting their information from a real estate agent at the same time. Here are 3 top reasons why using a real estate professional in addition to a digital s

Whether it is a cosmetic or a mechanical reason for upgrading a toilet, you may not know all the choices that are involved to choose the right one for your home.   The current toilet may have cracks or leaks in the bowl or tank.   It could be the aggravation of constant clogging or inefficient flushing.   Maybe there is damage in the porcelain bowl or built-up mineral deposits that are clogging the inlet holes or syphon tube. If frequent repairs have you on a first name basis with the plumber, it may be time to consider replacing the toilet.   There are a lot of things to consider and the following list may help you sort through the choices. Round, oval or compact oval ... There are two basic shapes of toilets: round and oval.   The round bowl requires less space and are less expensive.   The oval or elongated tend to be more comfortable but require more space from the wall than round ones.    Most manufacturers produce a compact oval model also. One-piece, two-piece a

What FICO® Score Do You Need to Qualify for a Mortgage? While a recent announcement from  CNBC  shares that the average national FICO ®  score has reached an all-time high of 706, the good news for potential buyers is that you don’t need a score that high to qualify for a mortgage. Let’s unpack the credit score myth so you can to become a homeowner sooner than you may think. With today’s  low interest rates , many believe now is a great time to buy – and rightfully so!  Fannie Mae  recently noted that 58% of Americans surveyed say it is a good time to buy. Similarly, the  Q3 2019 HOME Survey  by the  National Association of Realtors  said 63% of people believe now is a good time to buy a home. Unfortunately, fear and misinformation often hold qualified and motivated buyers back from taking the leap into homeownership. According to the same  CNBC  article, “For the first time, the average national credit score has reached 706, according to FICO ® , the developer of one of th