You probably already know that qualifying for a mortgage can be the biggest hurdle -- aside from actually finding that dream property -- along the path to home ownership. Rather than agonizing about it, however, there are some positive actions you can take in advance to help you realize your dream. Take A Close Look At Your Budget If you don't currently operate with a comprehensive household budget, get started now to analyze your income and monitor your spending habits. There's no better way to prepare for home ownership than by being realistic about how you spend your money. If you don't … [Read more...]
Mistakes Seasoned Home Buyers Often Make
It's not uncommon today to move several times during adulthood, whether across town or across the country. Seasoned home buyers have been through the real estate process, often more than once. However, even if the home purchase has become routine, there are mistakes that can be avoided. Stuck In The Past The real estate market doesn't stand still. It cycles and shifts, which is why it's often recommended to rely on a real estate professional for an understanding of the current market. Home buyers with property purchased ten years ago, likely won't have the same experience buying today. Don't … [Read more...]
Clever Tips for Paying Off Your Home Mortgage Faster
Paying off the mortgage on your Phoenix home faster not only means that you’ll be able to enjoy the peace of mind that comes with completely owning your property earlier, but you may also save thousands of dollars in interest payments. Below are seven clever tips to help you get your mortgage payments on the fast track. 1. Save for a large down payment Pay as large a down payment as you can reasonably afford. The more you can put down, then the less you’ll have to borrow from the bank. 2. Read the fine print When you are choosing a mortgage, look at the fine print to find out if … [Read more...]
The Importance of Paying Yourself First
If you are like most other average Americans you will have a list of bills that you have to pay every month, such as rent, cable, internet, cell phone, water, electricity and much more. If you were to list each of these monthly expenses in order of importance, which would be number one? The answer is none, because there is one payment you need to make which is even more important than all of these and that is to yourself. The bill of “You” should be the first payment you make before you make any of your other payments. You can pay this bill by contributing a certain amount of your … [Read more...]
More Money Than Month? How to Stick to Your Budget
So you’ve gone through the hard work of making a budget, written down your expenses and your income and made a plan for your spending. However, sometimes the hardest part of budgeting is sticking to your plan. You might have the intention of cutting down your spending and putting money in your savings, but if you don’t stick to this plan it will not happen. Here are a few tips that will help you stick to your budget and meet your goals: Have a Reason to Save Saving money just for the sake of saving it is very difficult, because it requires you to sacrifice your happiness in the … [Read more...]