CALL 818-665-4532 • NMLS #237153 • CA DRE #1776057

Blog

03 Sep 2021
By noelkelman

FICO Scores and Your Mortgage: How to Bump Your FICO Score to Secure a Better Mortgage Rate

Mortgage Rates, ,
Is your credit score holding you back from getting the best rate on your next mortgage? The good news is that there are actions that you can take to increase your credit score and improve the interest rate offered on your next home loan. Here are a few easy and effective tips to help you get your credit score to where you want it to be. Increase The Amount Of Credit Available To You The easiest way to increase your credit score is to increase your credit limit, as this reduces your utilization ratio. To do this, you can either…
Read More
02 Sep 2021
By noelkelman

3 Reasons Why the Cost of Title Insurance is Worth the Investment

Home Mortgage Tips, ,
Title insurance is one of the few types of protection policies available to homebuyers and one that is often overlooked because of its optional nature. Because title insurance is purchased simultaneously with the home, it can be very easy to forego when looked at alongside all the additional fees that are associated with purchasing property. This is typicaly not advisable, as title insurance is one of the smartest forms of protection a homeowner can buy. Here are just three reasons why every purchaser should get title insurance. It's The Best Protection Against Fraud Title insurance protects the owner of a…
Read More
01 Sep 2021
By noelkelman

Case-Shiller: June Home Prices Higher

Financial Reports, ,
S&P Case Shiller Home Price Indices reported new record gains for home prices in June. The National Home Price Index rose by a seasonally-adjusted annual pace of 18.60 percent as compared to May’s home price increase rate of 16.80 percent. Home prices were 41 percent higher than they were during the 2006 housing boom; home price growth was driven by high demand for homes coupled with short supplies of homes for sale.   20-City Home Price Index Posts Month-to-Month Home Price Gain of 2 Percent The S&P Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index posted a two percent gain in June as…
Read More
31 Aug 2021
By noelkelman

A Complete Guide: What Is A Credit Freeze And Why Is This Helpful?

Mortgage, ,
Due to recent changes in federal regulations, consumers are now allowed to freeze their credit free of charge. Prior to changes in these regulations, credit bureaus would charge consumers for freezing their credit. What does this mean, and why might someone want to do this? Freezing Credit Restricts Access To Confidential Information There are certain situations where consumers may need to have access to their credit reports. For example, they may be applying for a home loan or a car loan. There are other situations where consumers may not need access to their credit reports for an extended amount of…
Read More
30 Aug 2021
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – August 30, 2021

Financial Reports, ,
Last week’s economic reports included readings on new and existing home sales; the University of Michigan released its monthly Consumer Sentiment Index, and weekly updates on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also published. New Home Sales and Median Home Price Rose in July The Census Bureau reported that new homes sold at a seasonally-adjusted annual pace of 353,000 sales in July; analysts expected a pace of 350,000 new homes sold based on June’s reading of 349,000 sales of new homes. Homebuyers are buying new and existing homes at a faster pace as more homes and wider choices become available…
Read More
27 Aug 2021
By noelkelman

The Process Of Estimating Property Values

Mortgage, ,
Property values are a moving target. They are important to buyers and sellers because everyone wants to get the best deal possible. Sellers want to get as much money for their investment while buyers do not want to overpay for a home. There are a lot of factors that play a role in property values including the economy, the number of people looking for homes, new home construction, schools, the job market, and more. How do real estate agents estimate the value of a home? How Much Will Someone Pay For A Home? The market value of a home is…
Read More
26 Aug 2021
By noelkelman

The Average Length Of Homeownership For Most Families

Mortgage, ,
It is critical for everyone to find a home that is right for them. Given the current lack of inventory, this can be a significant challenge. Fortunately, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) keeps track of numerous market aspects, including how long the average family stays in a home. For the past few decades, the average family has stayed in their home for approximately six years; however, during the past few years, that average has gone up to nine years. This means that the average homeowner is keeping his or her house longer than he or she did in the…
Read More
25 Aug 2021
By noelkelman

A Comprehensive Home Maintenance Checklist For The Homeowner

Mortgage, ,
There are many people who purchase a home with a target monthly payment in mind. This monthly payment usually includes major expenses such as the monthly mortgage payment, real estate taxes, and homeowners’ insurance. At the same time, there are other costs as well, such as home repairs and maintenance. In general, homeowners should budget between one and three percent of the home’s value every year to cover typical maintenance and repairs. This does not include renovation expenses, which might require additional funding. What are a few examples of maintenance expenses homeowners need to consider? Monthly Home Maintenance Tasks There…
Read More
Skip to content