Ok, today we are going to talk about basic home maintenance you should be doing yearly, every 5-10 years and onward… Ongoing expenses like mortgage payments, property taxes and insurance are an expected part of homeownership. But there’s an additional ongoing expense you also need to budget for… And that is regular homeownership maintenance expenditures. On average, annual maintenance will cost 1% - 3% of your home’s purchase price. However, this can be reduced by maintaining regular preventative maintenance. Here’s your complete maintenance checklist… If you are looking for a top-notch loan officer in Duluth call us at, 770-633-6617

Ok, today we are going to talk about rent to own deals… If you can’t qualify for a mortgage, or maybe don’t have funds for a down payment, there’s another way to achieve home ownership. Instead of buying, consider renting to own. Before entering into a rent to own deal, here are some questions to ask… If you are looking for a top-notch loan officer in Duluth call us at, 770-633-6617

Ok, today we are going to talk about 10 factors that determine your home’s value… Coming up with the right price for your home is a science. It’s not based on how much you love your home or how much money you need to get out of it. It’s based on what a potential buyer is willing to pay for a home like yours in the current market. Here are 10 factors that determine your home’s worth… If you are looking for a top-notch loan officer in Duluth call us at, 770-633-6617

Ok, today we are going to talk about what a stratified market is and what it means to you… If you’re planning to buy or sell a house, you’re probably already familiar with the terms “buyer’s market” and “seller’s market.” In a buyer’s market, there are more homes than buyers, so prices drop and buyers get better deals. In a seller’s market there are more buyers than homes, so prices rise and sellers make more money. But there’s a third type of market, and it’s called a stratified market. Here’s what you need to know… If you are looking for a top-notch loan officer in Duluth call us at, 770-633-6617

Ok, today we are going to talk about when the best time to do certain updates on your home is… Timing renovations can be tricky. The sooner you remodel, the longer you have to enjoy your beautiful new home. But if you remodel too far in advance of selling, everything’s going to look outdated by the time you list your home. Here’s a yearly schedule broken down that will help you know when to update what… If you are looking for a top-notch loan officer in Duluth call us at, 770-633-6617

Ok, today we are going to talk about how to make a long-distance move stress free… Major life changes are always stressful. And moving from one city or region to another is definitely a major change. Here are 5 steps you can take to help eliminate the stress of moving…

Ok, today we are going to talk about how you can save time and money paying your utility bills on your home… Monthly bills are inevitable and predictable. But for some people, bills come as a surprise just when they can least afford them. Here’s 6 tips to save you time and money paying your utility bills… If you are looking for a top-notch loan officer in Duluth call us at, 770-633-6617

Ok, today we are going to review everything you need to know about second mortgages… What is a second mortgage? A second mortgage is an additional loan taken out on a property that’s already mortgaged. Second mortgages are riskier for lenders than first mortgages because they’re in second position on your property's title. As a result, the interest rate on second mortgages is higher. Here’s what you need to know about second mortgages… If you are looking for a top-notch loan officer in Duluth call us at, 770-633-6617

Ok, today we are going to talk about 4 risks of home equity loans… A home equity loan lets you borrow some of the equity you’ve built up in your home. For most people home equity loans are a convenient, affordable way to access extra cash. But they’re not without risk. Here are 4 things to consider before applying for a home equity loan… If you are looking for a top-notch loan officer in Duluth call us at, 770-633-6617

Ok, today we are going to talk about how to prepare your finances for a natural disaster or pandemic… The thing about crisis situations is that you never know when to expect them. The only way to cope is by being prepared. Here are 4 ways to prepare your finances to help you make it through challenging times… If you are looking for a top-notch loan officer in Duluth call us at, 770-633-6617

Ok, today we are going to talk about a decade-by-decade retirement plan… Saving for retirement is a challenging but essential goal. Government pensions likely won’t be enough to live on, so it’s up to you to provide a comfortable retirement income. Here is a retirement plan broken down for you, decade by decade… If you are looking for a top-notch loan officer in Duluth call us at, 770-633-6617

Ok, today we are going to talk about when it is smart to pay off your mortgage early… Being mortgage-free sounds wonderful. But as with most financial choices, there are pros and cons. Before using an inheritance, a raise or savings to pay off your mortgage early, there are some important things to consider. Here’s 7 things to consider if you want to pay your mortgage off early… If you are looking for a top-notch loan officer in Duluth call us at, 770-633-6617

Ok, today we are going to talk about how to manage your finances during a recession… Nobody welcomes a recession. But if you’re among the fortunate majority that still has an income and a home, a recession can actually be a time of valuable learning and growth. Here are 5 ways to manage your finances during a recession… If you are looking for a top-notch loan officer in Duluth call us at, 770-633-6617

Ok, today we are going to talk about how much home renovations can cost… Renovations can help make your home more comfortable and easier to sell. But depending on what you’re planning, they can also be expensive. To help you budget for your next project, the HomeAdvisor website has published a list of typical costs for renovation projects. Here’s a list of the most common renos and how much they cost… If you are looking for a top-notch loan officer in Duluth call us at, 770-633-6617

Ok, today we are going to talk about the expense of hiring a real estate agent and if it’s really worth it to you… When you’re selling a home, so much money is at stake, you can’t afford to make a mistake. That’s why over 90% of buyers and sellers work with a Realtor. But let’s face it, Real estate commissions are expensive. Are Realtors really worth it? Here’s what good Realtors do to earn every penny of their commissions… If you are looking for a top-notch loan officer in Duluth call us at, 770-633-6617

Ok, today we are going to talk about how to maximize the sale price of your home… Selling your home isn’t as simple as putting up a For Sale sign. There are many things to do in advance to prepare yourself financially and make sure your home sells for top dollar. Here are 5 ways to maximize the sale price of your home… If you are looking for a top-notch loan officer in Duluth call us at, 770-633-6617

Ok, today we are going to talk about why you need homeowner’s insurance and how it keeps you protected… Homeowner’s insurance is an important and required part of home ownership. Here are the 3 main reasons why you need homeowner’s insurance… If you are looking for a top-notch loan officer in Duluth call us at, 770-633-6617

Ok, today we are going to talk about how to create or update your home office space… The COVID pandemic introduced many of us to working from home. And regardless of being in a pandemic or not, many of us will continue to and have been working from home already. So now’s the time to make your home office as efficient, comfortable and uplifting as possible. Here are 6 ways to make your home office work better… If you are looking for a top-notch loan officer in Duluth call us at, 770-633-6617

Ok, today we are going to talk about 6 things you need to examine closely in a home inspection… Buying a home is a huge investment, and unfortunately, we’re not all qualified to judge whether a home is worth the money. That’s why it’s essential to hire a professional home inspector. Here are 6 things to pay extra attention to in any home inspection… If you are looking for a top-notch loan officer in Duluth call us at, 770-633-6617

Ok, today we are going to talk about how to convert a construction loan into a traditional mortgage… If you’re planning to build a house or do a major renovation, you usually can’t qualify for a traditional mortgage because there’s no existing home to use as collateral. What you need is a construction loan, which is based on the projected future value of the completed property. Generally, construction loans are interest-only while the house is being built. Then when construction is complete, you refinance into a regular mortgage. Here’s how the process works… If you are looking for a top-notch loan officer in Duluth call us at, 770-633-6617