Buying a home is one of the greatest investments you’ll likely make in your life, so it’s important to be prepared prior to jumping into the housing market. In fact, according to various industry experts, understanding even the most basic mortgage terms can save you tons of time in the long-run as you move through the stages of the home buying process.

Last month, housing starts dramatically rebounded from perpetually lower rates. In fact, according to the latest housing report from the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, housing starts in June were recorded at 1.22 million. That’s an 8.3 percent increase since May and 1.2 percent increase since June of last year. As a result of this significant jump, industry experts have introduced the idea that this will be the biggest year for homebuilders in 10 years.

Every day, over 3.5 billion Google searches are processed—and last week, an in-depth Google study determined the most common mortgage-related searches. The report was based solely on Google search data from the past few years and focuses on what today’s buyers are looking for online.

Earlier this month, we reported the top five reasons why your home could be spending too much time on the market. The first and most common reason was listing a home price significantly more expensive than its worth. Now, with homeowners better than ever at predicting home prices, it’s even more important to list an accurate home price to make a speedy sale.

Last month, employment gains were stronger than expected. In fact, with an increase of 222,000 hires in June experts now say the economy is at full employment. According to Zillow, this sudden jump may be due to the high number of recent graduates.

Since the Federal Housing Administration first accepted 30-year fixed-rate mortgages in 1954, this loan option has remained a staple for homebuyers throughout the country. While it has proven to be an affordable mortgage for most, as monthly payments remain low over a longer period of time, it has not proven to be the best option for all. So is a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage right for you? Here are the questions you should ask yourself:

Two weeks ago, the Fed outlined its plan to reduce holdings in Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Typically, this would mean the Fed is simply shrinking its balance sheet; however, this time the new monetary policy is much more complex. In addition to reducing its holdings, the Fed plans to raise interest rates. 

According to the latest Housing Opportunities and Market Experience Survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), homeowners agree that it’s a great time to sell a house. More specifically, 71 percent of respondents agree that it’s a good time to sell, which is a significant increase from last quarter’s 69 percent and last year’s 61 percent.

Each year, Eustis Mortgage awards the top mortgage producers with a seat on the President’s Council. The rankings are based on their total yearly mortgage volume, which determines whether a mortgage producer will be recognized as a member.