Buyer Education

Appreciation. Historically, real estate has had a long-term, stable growth in value. According to Census data, the median price of a home jumped from $172,900 in Q4 2000 to $417,700 in Q4 2023. That's greater than 6% appreciation per year on average. Equity. Money paid for rent is money that you’ll never see again, but paying your mortgage month over month and year over year lets you build...

REALTORS® are members of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics. When you're buying a home, here's what an agent who's a REALTOR® can do for you. Act as an expert guide. Buying a home typically requires a variety of forms, reports, disclosures, and other legal and financial documents. A knowledgeable real estate agent will know what's required in your...

Paying bills on time is just one step in maintaining a good credit score. Credit scores play a big role in determining whether you’ll qualify for a loan and what your loan terms will be. So, keep your credit score high by doing the following: Check for errors in your credit report. Thanks to an act of Congress, you can download one free credit report each year at annualcreditreport.com. If you...

Following these 7 principles will improve the homebuying experience. 1. Accept that no house is ever perfect. The yard may be smaller than you had hoped. The kitchen may be imperfect. The roof may need repair. But if the home is in the right location and fulfills your shelter needs, don't immediately discount it. Make a list of your priorities, focusing in on those that are most important to you....

1. Talk to a mortgage broker or lender. Prequalifying for a mortgage should be the first thing on your homebuying to-do list. Talk an agent who's a REALTOR®, a member of the National Association of REALTORS® for lender and mortgage broker recommendations. (Mortgage brokers don't fund loans; instead they offer options from several different lenders.) Shop around to find the best mortgage for your...

10 steps to take before applying for a mortgage loan. 1. Develop a budget. Instead of guessing what you can afford to spend on a house, use bank statements and a spreadsheet to create a budget that reflects your actual spending pattern over the last several months to a year. This approach will help you factor in unexpected expenses alongside more predictable costs such as utility...

Loan Term Mortgages are most commonly available for 15-, 20-, or 30-year terms. In general, the longer the term, the lower the monthly payment. However, shorter terms mean you pay less interest over the life of the loan. Fixed- vs. adjustable-rate mortgages A fixed-rate mortgage is one in which the interest rate stays the same as long as you hold the mortgage. An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)...

A credit score above 620 is generally considered desirable for obtaining a mortgage. An individual's credit score typically ranges from 300 to 850 with scores above 620 considered desirable for obtaining a mortgage. Buyers may qualify for an FHA loan(link is external) with a score of 500–580, depending on the size of their down payment. The following factors affect your score: Your...

Residential property appraisals are conducted by licensed residential or certified residential appraisers to helps the lender ensure the purchase price is in line with the property’s value. Today, an appraisals may or may not require an in-person visit. Appraisers also conduct "desktop appraisals" on homes that don't require an on-site inspection, and hybrid appraisals, in which on-site information is...

Every lender requires documentation as part of the process of approving a mortgage loan. Here are documents you’re generally required to provide to your mortgage lender. W-2 statements and tax returns — business tax returns if you're self-employed — for the last two or three years for every person signing the loan. At least one pay stub for each person signing the loan. Account...