Todd Yarbrough, Lenox/WesLend Financial, NMLS 842994

The Zestimate is “really hit and miss.” Sometimes it is spot on with value and others it’s off by hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to Ryan Lundquist, an appraiser in Sacramento, CA. This is a neat tool but I would never recommend...
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After Zillow's Home-Flipping Fiasco, Think Twice About Trusting 'Zestimate' Home Values Zillow's troubles raise a key question: Can buyers and seller's trust its home price estimates?

Consumers love the convenience of instant real-estate sales. Opportunity is there for the iBuyers that can stick it out, but Zillow has recently stopped buying altogether. Why the sudden turnaround, and what does this say about the future of real estate? https://brev.is/j8hf4

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Happy Halloween from all of us at Lenox/WesLend! We hope you have a safe, memorable and fun celebration. Have you ever wondered how black & orange became the official colors of Halloween? Read on to find out, if you dare...
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We Got to the Bottom of Why Black and Orange Are Halloween Colors There's a reason why these colors never go out of style.

Relax — any credit score checks by you or the lenders won't have much of an effect on your scores. But there definitely are things you shouldn't do. https://brev.is/2aQzf

When mortgage shopping, does checking your credit scores lower them? Relax — any credit score checks by you or the lenders won't have much of an effect on your scores. But there definitely are things you shouldn't do.

Overall, the skewing of home purchases to older Americans is a concerning trend, given that homeownership is equated with the American Dream for many. First-time buyers have it tougher than ever now. Here's what the competitive landscape looks like today. https://brev.is/h7pyD

Why Older Buyers Have Such a Big Advantage in Today's Housing Market They're offering cash and beating out first-time buyers.

One of the first financial factors a lender will review is your DTI. To determine your DTI, take your gross monthly income before taxes and divide that by the total amount you pay in recurring monthly debt. Find out what to include and more here...
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How Much Should I Spend on a House? 4 Steps to Follow Know how much you should spend on a house before committing yourself to mortgage payments for the next 15 to 30-years.

FEMA recently introduced Risk Rating 2.0. Find out what Risk Rating 2.0 means for homeowners and the impact it will have on flood insurance rates. https://brev.is/dFcV1

Risk Rating 2.0: What to Know About FEMA’s New Flood Insurance System FEMA recently introduced Risk Rating 2.0. Find out what Risk Rating 2.0 means for homeowners and the impact it will have on flood insurance rates.

More than a quarter of buyers this year blew past their initial home-buying budget. With record-high home prices, it's easy to see why. Before you make an offer on a new home, contact us to get your pre-approval squared away and set a realistic budget. https://brev.is/HEKsV

How much house can you afford? Here’s what first-time homebuyers need to know More than a quarter of buyers this year blew past their initial home-buying budget.

With average mortgage rates below 3%, it’s a great time to reevaluate your home loan and see if a refi is right for you. Find out more here: https://brev.is/Pi445

Is Now A Good Time To Refinance Your Mortgage? With average mortgage rates below 3%, it’s a great time to reevaluate your home loan and see if a refi is right for you.

With mortgage rates near 3%, millions of homeowners can still reduce their interest rates and monthly payments by refinancing. https://brev.is/Gyai3

Want to Refinance Your Mortgage? Do These 7 Things Now With mortgage rates near 3%, millions of homeowners can still reduce their interest rates and monthly payments by refinancing.

Title insurance protects all parties involved in the sale and purchase of a home and is a one-time cost that protects you for the lifetime of your loan. While title insurance can seem like a high cost, it can bring you peace of mind. Find out more here:
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How Much Does Title Insurance Cost and Is It Required? You need a clean title to close the purchase on a house. Title insurance protects you in case there are issues. But, how much does title insurance cost?

Purchasing a new home is an exciting time, but before you fall in love with your dream home, be sure to consider all of your expenses. If you want to pinpoint a comfortable budget and not have any surprise later on, contact us for some budgeting advice.
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How Much Should I Spend on a House? 4 Steps to Follow Know how much you should spend on a house before committing yourself to mortgage payments for the next 15 to 30-years.

Closing on a home or real estate investment property can be a tedious and time-consuming process. How long does it take to buy a house? Find out here. https://brev.is/eEwMe

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A change from Fannie Mae means more mortgage lenders will consider rental payment history when deciding whether to make loan. https://brev.is/93YHi

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Though businesses and people are trying to return to some sort of normalcy, the real estate industry's future is still in flux. https://brev.is/T5AmT

Council Post: 11 Predictions For The Future Of The Real Estate Market Though businesses and people are trying to return to some sort of normalcy, the real estate industry's future is still in flux.

High levels of home equity will keep most borrowers who are behind on their payments due to Covid from going into foreclosure. https://brev.is/atKwz

Covid mortgage bailouts are expiring fast, but here's why a foreclosure crisis is unlikely High levels of home equity will keep most borrowers who are behind on their payments due to Covid from going into foreclosure.

Before applying for a mortgage, check your debt ratio to help you increase your odds of getting approved. How do you do that? Here are some tips. If you need additional guidance, give us a call. We are happy to help!
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Here's how much of your monthly income should go toward debt repayment Select spoke with financial experts for their best advice on how to decide how much to spend on your debt each month.

Are opportunities for buyers finally improving as we near the end of 2021? Have sellers missed the peak in prices? Where is the market going? Find out here...
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Council Post: The 2021 Real Estate Market: Predictions For The Final Quarter Are the nation's sellers and buyers right — is it really a bad time to buy and a great time to sell?

While most of the country experienced a market cool-down in July, the West continued showing strong demand for housing. Fortunately for buyers, inventory is increasing throughout the country making it at least somewhat easier to get an offer accepted now.
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If you are concerned about identity theft and having your hard worked-for credit score destroyed, consider freezing your reports with the three major agencies. However, if you are applying for a loan, lenders will need access to get you approved.
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How to freeze your credit -- and why you might want to It's free and if you're a victim of identity theft, freezing your credit with each credit bureau can prevent further damage.

If you thought there was no end to the relentless increase in home prices, it seems that the tide is finally beginning to turn in favor of buyers. Here is a list of 10 markets that top the list for the highest percentage of homes with price reductions.
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Boon for Buyers: 10 Cities Where Sellers Are Slashing Home Prices Home prices are becoming out of reach for many, and buyers are hitting their limits, so Realtor.com wanted to find the markets with the most price cuts.

If you are bidding in today's crazy housing market, be sure to protect yourself in one or more ways so you can get out of the contract if you change your mind later on. Here are some good ways to do that...
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Can a Buyer Back Out of a Home Purchase Contract? In an intense seller’s market, it’s not unusual to see buyers waive contingencies or place an offer on a house sight unseen — both of which can lead to buyer’s remorse. Once a buyer’s offer is acce…

Find out 7 of the most common home insurance myths. From what your policy may cover to what you need coverage on, we'll separate fact from fiction. https://go.upcontent.com/b3155cfb-769b-44f9-87ed-ce45d7f3113b

7 Home Insurance Myths Debunked Find out 7 of the most common home insurance myths. From what your policy may cover to what you need coverage on, we'll separate fact from fiction.

For all you trying to get an offer accepted on a home, there's finally some good news! The market is starting to turn in your favor.. if only a little, but it's a start! Don't forget to check out your mortgage options with me before making that offer!
https://www.redfin.com/news/housing-market-update-price-drops-on-par-with-2019/

Housing Market Update: Balance is Slowly Returning as Homebuying Demand Moderates Nearly 5% of listings saw price drops, the highest level since 2019.

Living above your means and not living on a budget are just two of several money mistakes you'll want to avoid. Also, if you purchased a home with an interest rate above 4.00% and haven't refinanced yet, now might be a great time to lower your payment. https://go.upcontent.com/1e724ab3-35e5-44b9-94ef-11fd196b0d28

4 Big Money Mistakes to Avoid Living above your means and not living on a budget are just two of several money mistakes you'll want to be sure to avoid.

Whether you are buying or selling, a home appraisal is a critical part of the transaction. Here are some things to know about the appraisal process and how it can affect your loan closing.
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What Do Home Appraisers Look for In a House to Determine Its Value? Home appraisers look at the home's interior and exterior features, square footage, location, and other factors when determining a home’s value

After falling steadily for a month, demand for mortgages to purchase a home rose slightly last week. Are you one of those home shoppers? If so, contact us to get pre-approved. Knowing your budget is the first step in making a successful offer. https://brev.is/cUeMz

Weekly mortgage demand hints at return of the first-time homebuyer After falling steadily for a month, demand for mortgages to purchase a home rose slightly last week.

If you are thinking about buying a new home, make sure to be properly prepared first. Start by discussing your loan needs with us and get pre-approved before making any offers. It's the first step to being taken seriously by the seller. Read more here: https://brev.is/NhckH

How Do You Make an Offer On a House? - Realty Times Deciding to buy a house is huge—it’s one of the most significant investments you’ll ever make, if not the biggest. You search for the perfect home, and when you think you’ve found it, the next step is to make an offer. What exactly does making an offer entail? Before You Make An Offer First,...

Did you know that the 0.5% mortgage refinance fee implemented during the pandemic is now a thing of the past? If you have been waiting to refinance, now might be the time to finally lock your rate! Contact us to get all the details and start saving money!
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The coming mortgage refinance wave Data: Freddie Mac; Chart: Axios Visuals Mortgage rates are falling back to historic lows, which means homeowners are getting another opportunity to refinance their debt at a lower cost.Why it matters: For many Americans, mortgage payments represent their biggest monthly outflow of cash. Refinancing....

The number of homes for sale in the most affordable price tier rose 11.3% year over year during the second quarter. That's good news for first-time home buyers! However, it's important to get pre-approved before making your offer. Call us to get started!
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Prices of the Most and Least Expensive U.S. Homes Are Surging the Fastest Luxury-home prices soared 26% last quarter, while prices of the most affordable homes grew 19%. Both segments outpaced the rest of the market.

Mortgage applications last week jumped overall due to historically low mortgage rates, but sky-high home prices are depressing the purchase market https://brev.is/klE36

Mortgage applications jump as rates plummet - HousingWire Mortgage applications last week jumped overall due to historically low mortgage rates, but sky-high home prices are depressing the purchase market

In a seller's market, it may not be a good idea for buyers to bargain hard on the price of a home—but there are some concessions that might make your life easier and reduce the strain on your bank account. Watch this video for more information.
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Video: 6 Concessions Home Buyers Can Get—Even in a Seller's Market In a seller's market, it may not be a good idea for buyers to bargain hard on the price of a home—but there are some concessions that might make your life easier and reduce the strain on your bank account.

Need extra cash? "Your best bet may be a cash-out refinance", said LendingTree chief economist, Tendayi Kapfidze. "The rates are lower than a home equity loan rate and likely lower than your existing mortgage rate." Contact us to learn more and get started.
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Here's how to tap your house for cash as home prices soar With record amounts of home equity on hand, homeowners may be able to lower their monthly payments, take cash out — or all of the above.

If you are ready to make an offer on a new home, you'll need to include an Earnest Money deposit to be taken seriously. Want to know more about the buying process? Visit my web page to get started. I'm always here to help! https://brev.is/150rZ
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What is Earnest Money and Why Do You Need It? Earnest money is a “good faith” deposit offered to the sellers of a home to show that you’re serious about purchasing the property.

If you are looking for a new home, be sure to align yourself with a knowledgeable Realtor first. They can help you in many ways and cost you nothing then contact me to get your loan preapproved so you are ready to make an offer on that find! Read more here:
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Can You Buy a House Without a Real Estate Agent? - Realty Times If you’re wondering whether or not you can buy a house without a real estate agent, the short answer is that yes, you can. Whether or not that’s a good idea can be a different answer, though. Why Would You Not Use a Real Estate Agent to Buy a Home? The main reason you might be thinking about it ...

Remote work has allowed many homebuyers to leave cities for far-flung suburbs where the "bang for your buck" is simply greater. Do you think these new transplants will stay put permanently or eventually move back to the convenience of large cities?
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Home Prices Rose Twice as Fast in Car-Dependent Neighborhoods as Transit-Accessible Areas During the Pandemic - Realty Times Home prices in car-dependent areas are up 33% since before the pandemic versus 16% for transit-accessible neighborhoods, reflecting the rise in remote work and the declining importance of proximity to public transportation Home prices in car-dependent areas have risen twice as fast as those in trans...

It's been a real rollercoaster year for rates, but right now, rates are once again bottoming out. If you are considering buying or refinancing, this may be a good time to lock in a great rate. Contact me to today to learn more about your loan options.
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Homebuyers are finally catching a break as new listings rise and mortgage rates drop Strong demand and record-low supply in the housing market are starting to ease, which should alleviate the incredibly high competition in the market.

This survey on the real estate landscape for the remainder of 2021 has some interesting findings. Perhaps buying will be somewhat easier soon. If you are shopping, get pre-approved first to help you land that new dream home. Contact me for more information.
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Homes.com Survey: What Can We Expect from 2021 Sellers Moving Forward? In part one of our Sellers Survey series, we uncovered the motivations of recent sellers. But, what can we expect from 2021 sellers moving forward?