• What Credit Score Do You Need for a Mortgage?

    What Credit Score Do You Need for a Mortgage?,kcm crew

    According to data from the most recent Origination Insight Report by Ellie Mae, the average FICO® score on closed loans reached 753 in February. As lending standards have tightened recently, many are concerned over whether or not their credit score is strong enough to qualify for a mortgage. While stricter lending standards could be a challenge for […]

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  • Americans See Major Home Equity Gains [INFOGRAPHIC]

    Americans See Major Home Equity Gains [INFOGRAPHIC],kcm crew

    Some Highlights Today’s home price appreciation is driving equity higher throughout the country. If your needs are changing and you’re ready for a new home, your equity may be a great asset to power your next move. Now is a great time to put your equity toward a down payment on the home of your […]

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  • To Renovate or Not To Renovate Before You Sell

    To Renovate or Not To Renovate Before You Sell,kcm crew

    When thinking about selling, homeowners often feel they need to get their house ready with some remodeling to make it more appealing to buyers. However, with so many buyers competing for available homes right now, renovations may not be as vital as they would be in a more normal market. Here are two things to […]

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  • What Is the Strongest Tailwind to Today’s Recovering Economy?

    What Is the Strongest Tailwind to Today’s Recovering Economy?,kcm crew

    Last year started off with a bang. Unemployment was under 4%, forecasters were giddy with their projections for the economy, and the residential housing market had the strongest January and February activity in over a decade. Then came the announcement on March 11, 2020, from the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 a worldwide pandemic. Two […]

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  • 5 Reasons to Sell Your House This Spring

    5 Reasons to Sell Your House This Spring,kcm crew

    When selling a house, most homeowners hope for a quick and profitable transaction that puts them in a position to make a great move. If you’re waiting for the best time to win as a seller, the market is calling your name this spring. Here are five reasons why this is the perfect time to […]

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  • How to Prepare Your House for a Winning Sale This Spring [INFOGRAPHIC]

    How to Prepare Your House for a Winning Sale This Spring [INFOGRAPHIC],kcm crew

    Some Highlights With so few homes available to buy today, houses are in high demand, and they’re selling fast. That means it’s a great time to sell if you’re ready to make a move. Let’s connect to make sure your house is ready for a top-dollar sale this spring. It may be closer than you […]

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  • Is It a Good Time to Sell My House?

    Is It a Good Time to Sell My House?,kcm crew

    Last year, many homeowners thought twice about selling their houses due to the onset of the health crisis. This year, however, homeowners are beginning to regain their confidence when it comes to selling safely. The latest Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) by Fannie Mae shows that 57% of consumers believe now is a good time […]

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  • How Smart Is It to Buy a Home Today?

    How Smart Is It to Buy a Home Today?,kcm crew

    Whether you’re buying your first home or selling your current house, if your needs are changing and you think you need to move, the decision can be complicated. You may have to take personal or professional considerations into account, and only you can judge what impact those factors should have on your desire to move. […]

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  • Home Prices: What Happened in 2020? What Will Happen This Year?

    Home Prices: What Happened in 2020? What Will Happen This Year?,kcm crew

    The real estate market was on fire during the second half of 2020. Buyer demand was way up, and the supply of homes available for sale hit record lows. The price of anything is determined by the supply and demand ratio, so home prices skyrocketed last year. Dr. Lynn Fisher, Deputy Director of the Federal […]

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  • What Are the Benefits of a 20% Down Payment?

    What Are the Benefits of a 20% Down Payment?,kcm crew

    If you’re thinking of buying a home this year, you may be wondering how much money you need to come up with for your down payment. Many people may think it’s 20% of the loan to secure a mortgage. While there are plenty of lower down payment options available for qualified buyers who don’t want […]

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  • It’s a Sellers’ Market [INFOGRAPHIC]

    It’s a Sellers’ Market [INFOGRAPHIC],kcm crew

    Some Highlights Over the past year, homeowners have gained an unprecedented opportunity to sell with great success while buyer demand is soaring. With homes selling twice as fast as they did last year at this time, getting multiple offers, and rising in price, homeowners are in the driver’s seat. Let’s connect today if you’re ready […]

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  • Are There Going to Be More Homes to Buy This Year?

    Are There Going to Be More Homes to Buy This Year?,kcm crew

    If you’re looking for a home to purchase right now and having trouble finding one, you’re not alone. At a time like this when there are so few houses for sale, it’s normal to wonder if you’ll actually find one to buy. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), across the country, inventory of […]

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  • How Much Leverage Do Today’s House Sellers Have?

    How Much Leverage Do Today’s House Sellers Have?,kcm crew

    The housing market has been scorching hot over the last twelve months. Buyers and their high demand have far outnumbered sellers and a short supply of houses. According to the latest Existing Home Sales Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), sales are up 23.7% from the same time last year while the inventory […]

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  • The Reason Mortgage Rates Are Projected to Increase and What It Means for You

    The Reason Mortgage Rates Are Projected to Increase and What It Means for You,kcm crew

    We’re currently experiencing historically low mortgage rates. Over the last fifty years, the average on a Freddie Mac 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has been 7.76%. Today, that rate is 2.81%. Flocks of homebuyers have been taking advantage of these remarkably low rates over the last twelve months. However, there’s no guarantee rates will remain this low […]

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  • Where Have All the Houses Gone?

    Where Have All the Houses Gone?,kcm crew

    In today’s housing market, it seems harder than ever to find a home to buy. Before the health crisis hit us a year ago, there was already a shortage of homes for sale. When many homeowners delayed their plans to sell at the same time that more buyers aimed to take advantage of record-low mortgage […]

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  • Home Mortgage Rates by Decade [INFOGRAPHIC]

    Home Mortgage Rates by Decade [INFOGRAPHIC],kcm crew

    Some Highlights Mortgage interest rates have dropped considerably over the past year, and compared to what we’ve seen in recent decades, it’s a great time to buy a home. Locking in a low rate today could save you thousands of dollars over the lifetime of your home loan, but these low rates may not last […]

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  • Will Low Mortgage Rates Continue through 2021?

    Will Low Mortgage Rates Continue through 2021?,kcm crew

    With mortgage interest rates hitting record lows so many times recently, some are wondering if we’ll see low rates continue throughout 2021, or if they’ll start to rise. Recently, Freddie Mac released their quarterly forecast, noting: “The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit a record low over a dozen times in 2020 and the low interest […]

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  • 3 Ways Home Equity Can Have a Major Impact on Your Life

    3 Ways Home Equity Can Have a Major Impact on Your Life,kcm crew

    There have been a lot of headlines reporting on how homeowner equity (the difference between the current market value of your home and the amount you owe on your mortgage) has dramatically increased over the past few years. CoreLogic indicated that equity increased for the average homeowner by $17,000 in the last year alone. ATTOM […]

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  • Millennials: Is It Time to Buy a Bigger Home?

    Millennials: Is It Time to Buy a Bigger Home?,kcm crew

    In today’s housing market, all eyes are on millennials. Not only are millennials the largest generation, but they’re also currently between 25 and 40 years old. These are often considered prime homebuying years when many people begin to form their own households and invest in real estate. If you’re like many millennials who are spending […]

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  • 3 Ways You’ll Win When You Buy a Home This Year

    3 Ways You’ll Win When You Buy a Home This Year,kcm crew

    There are so many great reasons to purchase a home, and over the past year, we’ve realized more of them than we ever thought possible. If you’re a first-time homebuyer, having a home of your own can give you a greater sense of security and accomplishment in a time that’s largely uncertain. If you’re a […]

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