In recent years, technological innovations have given consumers access to the unbiased mortgage information that was previously only available to lenders and brokers. With this increased transparency, consumers now have the upper hand, as they are able to make more informed mortgage decisions that best fit their individual needs. Speaking to a lender is still a necessary part of the mortgage process, but these 4 tools are a good place to start, as they can help you verify any information given to you by a mortgage professional.

A home mortgage is likely the largest source of debt most Americans will take on during their lifetime. Naturally, many people hope to complete these payments as early as possible to absolve any debt and avoid higher interest rates. Here are four tips on how to pay off your mortgage within a shorter period of time.

This year, pending home sales have reached their highest level in over a decade. With this increase, however, the housing market has expanded from solely a buyers’ market to include a large number of cash investors. In fact, according to RealtyTrac, about 1 in 3 homes purchased in the US today is an all-cash purchase—meaning investors have become big competitors! Luckily, we have six great strategies for today’s homebuyers to overcome their competition.

According to a recent survey, in which Americans were asked to pick their priority asset from a list of long-term investments, Americans believe that real estate is the best investment for funds they won’t need within the next 10 years. The survey results showed that real estate was regarded more favorably than cash investments (such as CDs and savings accounts), gold or precious metals and even the stock market.

Buying a foreclosed property is a little different from a typical home sale; the bank requires a pre-approval letter from your lender before they will accept your offer. In addition, there is little or no opportunity to negotiate price— meaning the buyer must pay for all necessary repairs out of pocket. This does not, however, mean the property will cost you more money in the long run. In fact, many people prefer to buy a foreclosed home because they can get a low price and are able to move in quickly (typically the property is vacant). Here are four tips to help you purchase a foreclosed home.

As you probably know, mortgage rates are at an all time low. These low rates have caused an influx of mortgage applications, especially from homeowners looking to refinance. In fact, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, refinance applications have increased by an astounding 21 percent, matching levels not seen since January 2015. Financial analysts, however, predict that mortgage rates will increase in the near future, so buyers need to act fast if they want to lock in today’s rates. Here are eight reasons why you should consider refinancing today.

So you’re thinking about buying a new home and need to take out a mortgage. Many homebuyers think their options are limited to banks or more traditional financial institutions; however, there is a third option that has considerable advantages—non-bank mortgage lenders.

With so many of today’s mortgage blogs detailing the process of buying a first home, it’s hard not to understand how you should prepare for your first home buying experience. When it comes to SELLING your first home, however, there is not a lot of information to guide homeowners through the process. In this article, we will explain the most important steps to make your first home selling experience simple and rewarding—we promise it isn’t as scary as it seems!

Buying your first home can be (but shouldn’t be) an intimidating process. Many buyers make mistakes when purchasing their first home because they don’t know enough about the mortgage market or what to expect when applying for a loan; however, there are many resources for first time homebuyers that make the buying process much easier and more affordable. Below we will explain 5 common mistakes made by first time homebuyers as well as how to avoid them.

Since two weeks ago, when the British voted to withdraw from the European Union, every segment of the US economy has drastically changed. Stock values have decreased (even internationally), the pound has dropped well below the value of the dollar, and trade with Great Britain has begun to shift. The housing market is no exception to these substantial changes.