Blog – Page 436 of 623

30 Apr 2020

Case-Shiller: February Home Prices Gained Before Coronavirus Outbreak

Market OutlookCase Shiller, Market Conditions, Market Trends

Home prices continued to grow in February according to the Case-Shiller Home Price Indices. National home prices grew at a seasonally-adjusted annual pace of 4.20 percent as compared to national home price growth of 3.90 percent in January. Case-Shiller's 20-City Home Price Index showed higher home price growth rates in February with average annual home price growth of 3.50 percent. January home prices grew by 3.10 percent for cities included in the 20-City Index. The lowest year-over-year home price growth rates were posted by Chicago, Illinois with 0.70 percent; New York City posted 1.50 percent growth, and Dallas, Texas with…

How Does A Home Appraisal Work?

MortgageAppraisals, Evaluations, Mortgage

Whether you're a buyer or a seller, a home appraisal is a critical component of the home selling process. An appraisal is also required in situations where a home is gifted to a family member, so it's important to have a clear understanding of what it entails. What Is A Home Appraisal? A home appraisal is an unbiased estimate of a home's fair market value conducted by a professional appraiser. All 50 states require that appraisers be licensed and/or certified and demonstrate knowledge of the specified area. The purpose of a home appraisal is to determine whether the home's asking…

How Do Mortgage Points Cut Your Interest Costs?

MortgageFinancing Options, Interest Rates, Mortgage

Those who are involved in the real estate industry likely know that mortgage rates are at an all-time low. At the same time, nobody wants to pay more for a house than they have to. Some of the most important factors that dictate how much someone is going to pay for a house include points and interest rates. While interest rates are incredibly low, there is a way to make them lower. This comes in the form of points. This is additional money that is paid upfront to get a better deal over the life of the loan. Even though…