Home Costs

When it comes to standard home insurance policies, the coverage when you’re going away for a few days isn’t the same level of coverage you’ll need if your house is empty for an extended period of time. Whether you’re waiting for your house to sell or looking for the right tenant, a vacant property generally...

A deck is one of those home improvements that keeps on giving. While you’re living in your home, it expands your living space and makes it more comfortable to enjoy the great outdoors. When you’re ready to sell, a deck can increase your home’s property value and bring in a bigger profit. If you’re thinking...

If you’re faced with the prospect of having to pay private mortgage insurance, it’s natural to feel hesitant about an extra cost on top of your monthly mortgage payment, but PMI isn’t good or bad – it’s a tool. For home buyers, particularly first-time buyers, PMI can be the tool that gets you into a...

You’re here to answer the million-dollar question: What is mortgage insurance? Or maybe you’re here to learn the difference between mortgage insurance premiums (MIPs) and private mortgage insurance (PMI). Either way, you’ve come to the right place.  Rule number one: To differentiate between MIP and PMI, you’ll need to know the different types of mortgage...

House hunting can be both exhilarating and exhausting – you’re all swept up looking at other people’s interpretation of a dream home.  While there might be that one property that could tick all your boxes, it’s not a guarantee. So, what if you had the opportunity to build your own dream house?  A construction loan...

Traditionally, a lot of home buyers have seen building a brand new home as the ultimate homeowner experience to aspire to. That’s still true, but nowadays, older homes are gaining a lot more interest (just ask the producers over at HGTV). And despite the renewed interest in historic homes and remodels, building a house from...

If you’re planning on becoming a homeowner right now, you may be feeling frustrated. Home prices are on the rise and available housing stock is getting snatched up every day. That may leave you wondering if you’ll end up paying more for a house that isn’t even the home of your dreams. What if –...

It would be a major bummer if the interest rates set by the Federal Reserve shot up during closing and your payments for your dream home became unaffordable. With interest rates being very unpredictable, even the slightest bump in rates could impact your final purchase price, even if you started the home buying process a...

A mortgage is a big commitment. When you’re buying a home, your lender wants to know you’re in it for the long haul, and capable of paying for it. For the mortgage lender, a client can show that by making a 20% down payment on the home. Even when 20% down isn’t possible, lenders are...