Stacy Guttridge

Lenders use your credit score to assess your creditworthiness. A higher credit score indicates to lenders that you are more likely to repay your loan on time. This can improve your chances of getting approved for a mortgage. Generally, borrowers with higher credit scores qualify for lower interest rates, which can save you thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. By understanding the role of your credit score and taking steps to maintain or improve it, you can enhance your ability to qualify for a mortgage with favorable terms when you're ready to buy a home.

Getting final loan approval means you need to keep your finances and credit in line during the underwriting phase. Don’t open new credit lines or make any major purchases until the paperwork is signed, and avoid changing jobs before closing too, if possible.

Viewing listing photos online is helpful, but isn’t a substitute for visiting homes in person and getting to know the area and its amenities. In some cases, the right neighborhood might be even more important than the home itself. Be specific with your agent about exactly what kinds of homes you want to see, so they can more effectively find options that meet your criteria. And keep an open mind: You may not be able to check off everything on your wish list, so prioritize must-haves over things that are nice to have but not crucial.

The down payment is often considered the biggest home-buying expense, since it’s a large amount that the buyer has to actually pay upfront. But homeownership involves plenty of additional costs that you should be ready for. Before you even close on the purchase, you’ll need to make sure you have enough money set aside to cover closing costs. These fees will vary by state and by individual transaction, but they will almost certainly range into the thousands of dollars.

Shopping for a mortgage means finding financing for your home purchase with a lender that may offer the best rate, loan options or customer experience. Often, affordability is a major factor in finding the right lender. Your interest rate, fees, closing costs and down payment influence how expensive your mortgage will be and can be influenced, in part, by the lender you choose.

To calculate how much house you can afford, lenders take into account a few primary items, such as your household income, monthly debts (for example, car loan and student loan payments) and the amount of savings available for a down payment. As a home buyer, you’ll want to have a certain level of comfort in understanding your monthly mortgage payments. Depending on your credit score, you may be qualified for a payment that is greater, but housing expenses exceeding 1/3 of your monthly income should be avoided as a rule of thumb.

Choosing the right agent for you is one of the most important steps of the home buying and selling process. When trying to decide who might be the best choice, you should consider their market experience, previous client experiences, and compatibility with you and your needs. We would love to check those boxes for you - let’s talk today!

We want to hear from you - what perks of homeownership are you looking forward to the most? Whether you are tired of paying off someone else’s mortgage, you’re ready to have more design freedom, or you are ready to start building home equity and personal wealth - there are endless reasons to look forward to owning a home.

More than half of home buyers say finding the right home is the most challenging step of the home-buying process. But don’t let that get you down. If you stay focused, you’ll find the home of your dreams! It’s okay to ask questions, take your time, and not settle too early in your search. We are here to help!

You may be eligible for widely-available first-time homebuyer programs, such as FHA, VA and USDA loans, that can make it more manageable to buy a home even if you don’t have a 20 percent down payment. Government-backed programs like these can also be easier to qualify for than other mortgages, and many mortgage lenders offer them. Some first-time buyer programs might include grants, down payment or closing cost assistance, deferred payments, subsidized interest rates or loan forgiveness after a certain period of time, as well, which can further save you money.

To make the most of your time and increase your chances of finding your dream home at an open house, approach it with a game plan:
1. Research the property ahead of time�
2. Sort out your finances - if you can get pre-approved, that is a great start!
3. Be prepared to make an offer if you love the house�
4. Keep expectations realistic

Digital curb appeal is the first impression a potential homebuyer will have of a property when browsing for homes online. 97% of homebuyers start their search for a new home on the internet. That’s why it’s crucial for sellers to have great digital curb appeal to make their property stand out. There are several ways sellers and agents can use digital curb appeal to help sell a home faster and for top dollar. We would love to help you maximize your digital curb appeal as your agent!

Limewash is making a comeback as natural design continues to maintain popularity in the home trend space. While it looks organic and can even been done as a DIY project, you typically can't wipe it clean like you can with painted walls so it might not be ideal for high-traffic areas in your home. Do you love the limewash look or will you sit this one out?

Getting pre-approved gives you a solid understanding of what you can afford, what you’ll be able to borrow, and your overall budget.
You’ll gain a competitive advantage when making an offer - get a step ahead of other buyers by securing a mortgage pre-approval.
You’ll be alerted to potential financial problems that can all be taken care of before making an offer on a home.
Lastly, you’ll accelerate the home-buying process!

Today is the best day to decide to start saving for a house. Saving for a down payment can take time, depending on how much you’re able to save each month. If you’re not able to save as much, starting sooner will ensure you have enough time to save up for your down payment to buy a house when you want or need to.

Selling a house as-is can come with advantages. When you sell a home in its current condition, you don’t need to make any home improvements. Since you’re not making repairs, you can list your home sooner. An “as-is” property has a greater chance of receiving an all-cash offer. These offers let you skip the mortgage approval process and speed through a closing. Selling a home as-is can reduce contingencies and typically lowers closing costs. With that in mind, you can’t command market value for a home that needs work. You’ll have to reduce your price to compensate for necessary repairs. Not every buyer wants a project. Some want a move-in ready home, but your property may not fit the criteria.

Wondering what your home is worth? An agent can look at the current housing market and use a comparative market analysis to assess your home’s valuation. Having an agent assess your home’s value is less detailed than what you’d receive with a professional appraiser, but it’s still a good option to get an idea of what your home would sell for. Real estate agents can make recommendations, like ways to improve the aesthetic appeal of your house, in order to increase the value of your home.

While sometimes professional staging isn’t needed, it can often make the difference between a fast sale with competitive bids, and stale listings that force price reductions to stimulate action. Realtors and homeowners share a common goal: sell for the highest price, in the shortest time. Staging is one way to stack the odds in your favor, in both seller’s and buyer’s markets.

To calculate your equity at any given time, you’ll need to know the value of your home. Only a home appraisal can determine what your home is worth in today’s market. You can also estimate your home’s value by looking at comparable home sales in your area or by checking with online real estate listings that provide home value estimates.

If there is one thing that is consistent about the housing market, it is that it is constantly changing. If you’re a homeowner, we want to hear from you. When did you buy your home and what was the market like? Are you happy with your purchase?

Return on investment (ROI) is a performance measure used to evaluate the efficiency or profitability of an investment. Ask any real estate expert what the #1 upgrade with the greatest return is, and the answer will be the kitchen. The average recoup? 81-93%!

When applying for a mortgage, the down payment is your contribution toward the purchase and represents your initial ownership stake in the home. The mortgage lender provides the rest of the money to buy the property. Lenders require a down payment for most mortgages. However, some types of loans backed by the federal government, like VA loans, may not require down payments.

Wondering why getting pre-approved is important? You’ll put yourself ahead of the curve by getting pre-approved for a mortgage. Being pre-approved before you step into the housing market not only makes you a better-informed shopper, you’ll also be a more attractive buyer to potential sellers.

Wondering what to avoid when selling your home? Here’s a quick list of 7 common mistakes:
- Not expecting home-selling costs
- Selling without an agent�
- Pricing it wrong�
- Skimping on staging�
- Using bad listing photos�
- Taking a low offer personally
- Limiting showings

Your down payment isn’t all you need to bring to the closing table when you buy a home. Closing costs are expenses beyond the down payment, such as appraisal fees, attorney fees, and escrow funds that you pay on closing day.

There is a reason that a great majority of home sellers choose to use an agent. Having a licensed agent on your side simplifies the buying and selling process. We set up showings and help you with all the minute details of negotiation. Don’t spend any more time than you need to trying to sell your home - leave that to us!

The perks of homeownership are endless. From stable monthly payments provided by a fixed rate mortgage, to the opportunity to build equity, to the freedom to remodel and make changes to your property. If you’re ready to reap the benefits, let’s chat.

Funds or assets held in escrow are temporarily transferred to and held by a third party, usually on behalf of a buyer and seller to facilitate a transaction. It’s used in real estate transactions to protect both the buyer and the seller during the home buying process. Throughout the term of the mortgage, an escrow account can hold funds for taxes and homeowners insurance.

Curb appeal, at its core, is what your home looks like from the outside. That initial glimpse of its exterior is a big deal - it can either catch the eye of potential buyers or immediately stop them from considering your home as an option in their journey. Improving your home’s curb appeal can help you bring in buyers and get top dollar for your sale.

Don’t add another full-time job to your plate when it comes to buying and selling a home. Agents train and invest their time to be a major asset in the home buying and selling processes. With our experience, we know how to find a home you love, how to negotiate for the best deal, and how to make the process seamless. If you’re ready to buy or sell, let’s talk.