Money & You

Money & You What’s Really Happening with Mortgage Rates? What’s Really Happening with Mortgage Rates? Are you feeling a bit unsure about what’s really happening with mortgage rates? That might be because you’ve heard someone say they’re coming down. But then you read somewhere else that they’re up again. And that may leave you scratching your head and wondering what’s true. The simplest answer is: […]
Money & You 2 of the Factors That Impact Mortgage Rates 2 of the Factors That Impact Mortgage Rates If you’re looking to buy a home, you’ve probably been paying close attention to mortgage rates. Over the last couple of years, they hit record lows, rose dramatically, and are now dropping back down a bit. Ever wonder why? The answer is complicated because there’s a lot that can […]
Buyer Advice and Aid 3 Key Factors Affecting Home Affordability 3 Key Factors Affecting Home Affordability Over the past year, a lot of people have been talking about housing affordability and how tight it’s gotten. But just recently, there’s been a little bit of relief on that front. Mortgage rates have gone down since their most recent peak in October. But there’s more to being able to afford […]
Homeowners The Dramatic Impact of Home Ownership on Net Worth The Dramatic Impact of Homeownership on Net Worth If you’re trying to decide whether to rent or buy a home this year, here’s a powerful insight that could give you the clarity and confidence you need to make your decision. Every three years, the Federal Reserve releases the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF), which compares net worth for homeowners and renters. […]
Money & You Home Prices Still Growing-Just at a More Normal Pace Home Prices Still Growing – Just at a More Normal Pace If you’re feeling a bit muddy on what’s happening with home prices, that’s no surprise. Some people are still saying prices are falling, even though data proves otherwise. Part of that misconception is because people are getting their information from unreliable sources. But it’s also coming from […]
Money & You Unmasking Scary Myths about Today’s Housing Market Unmasking Scary Myths about Today’s Housing Market [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights Here’s what you really need to know about a few myths causing fear in today’s housing market. Despite common misconceptions, many people can buy a home even if they have student loans, home prices are rising nationally (not falling), and you usually don’t have to have 20% for a down payment. If you have other fears […]
Money & You Are Higher Mortgage Rates Here To Stay? Are Higher Mortgage Rates Here To Stay? Mortgage rates have been back on the rise recently and that’s getting a lot of attention from the press. If you’ve been following the headlines, you may have even seen rates recently reached their highest level in over two decades (see graph below): That can feel like a little bit of […]
Money & You Growing Your Net Worth with Home Ownership Growing Your Net Worth with Homeownership Take a moment to imagine where you want to be in a few years. You might be thinking about your job, money, wanting more stability, or goals you want to reach soon. Is homeownership a part of that vision? If it is, you should know owning a home has a whole […]
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Money & You Planning to Retire? Your Equity Can Help You Make a Move Planning to Retire? Your Equity Can Help You Make a Move Reaching retirement is a significant milestone in life, bringing with it a lot of change and new opportunities. As the door to this exciting chapter opens, one thing you may be considering is selling your house and finding a home better suited for your evolving needs. Fortunately, […]
Money & You How Inflation Affects the Housing Market How Inflation Affects the Housing Market Have you ever wondered how inflation impacts the housing market? Believe it or not, they’re connected. Whenever there are changes to one, both are affected. Here’s a high-level overview of the connection between the two. The Relationship Between Housing Inflation and Overall Inflation Shelter inflation is the measure of price growth specific […]
Money & You Why You Don’t Need To Fear the Return of Adjustable Rate Mortgages Why You Don’t Need To Fear the Return of Adjustable-Rate Mortgages If you remember the housing crash back in 2008, you may recall just how popular adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) were back then. And after years of being virtually nonexistent, more people are once again using ARMs when buying a home. Let’s break down why that’s […]
Money & You How Inflation Affects Mortgage Rates How Inflation Affects Mortgage Rates When you read about the housing market in the news, you might see something about a recent decision made by the Federal Reserve (the Fed). But how does this decision affect you and your plans to buy a home? Here’s what you need to know. The Fed is trying hard to reduce inflation. And […]
Money & You Real Estate Continues To Be the Best Investment Real Estate Continues To Be the Best Investment [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights According to a recent Gallup poll, real estate has been voted the best long-term investment for 11 years in a row, beating gold, stocks, bonds, and more. Owning real estate means more than just having a home—it’s an investment in your future. That’s because it’s typically a stable and secure asset that tends […]
Money & You Owning Your Home Helps You Build Wealth Owning Your Home Helps You Build Wealth You may have heard some people say it’s better to rent than buy a home right now. But, even today, there are lots of good reasons to become a homeowner. One of them is that owning a home is typically viewed as a good long-term investment that helps your net worth grow over time. Homeownership Builds […]
Money & You Why Home Ownership Wins in the Long Run Why Homeownership Wins in the Long Run Today’s higher mortgage rates, inflationary pressures, and concerns about a potential recession have some people questioning: should I still buy a home this year? While it’s true this year has unique challenges for homebuyers, it’s important to think about the long-term benefits of homeownership when making your decision. […]
Money & You Home Ownership Helps Protect You from Inflation Homeownership Helps Protect You from Inflation [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights Wondering if it makes sense to buy a home today even when inflation is high? When other costs go up due to inflation, buying a home helps you keep your monthly housing expense steady. Rents typically increase with inflation. Maybe that’s why, according to a recent […]
Money & You How Owning a Home Grows Your Wealth with Time How Owning a Home Grows Your Wealth with Time [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights If you’re thinking of buying a home this year, be sure to factor in the long-term benefits of homeownership. Over time, homeownership allows you to build equity. On average, nationwide home prices appreciated by 290.2% over the last 32 years. That means your […]
Money & You Why Buying or Selling a Home Helps the Economy and Your Community Why Buying or Selling a Home Helps the Economy and Your Community If you’re thinking about buying or selling a house, it’s important to know that it doesn’t just affect your life, but also your community. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) releases a report every year to show how much economic activity is generated […]
Money & You A Drop in Equity Doesn’t Mean Low Equity A Drop in Equity Doesn’t Mean Low Equity You may see media coverage talking about a drop in homeowner equity. What’s important to understand is that equity is tied closely to home values. So, when home prices appreciate, you can expect equity to grow. And when home prices decline, equity does too. Here’s how this […]
Money & You Real Estate Is Still Considered the Best Long-Term Investment Real Estate Is Still Considered the Best Long-Term Investment With all the headlines circulating about home prices and rising mortgage rates, you may wonder if it still makes sense to invest in homeownership right now. A recent poll from Gallup shows the answer is yes. In fact, real estate was voted the best long-term investment […]