Owning a Home

Borrowing money against your home's equity can pay for the kitchen remodel you've always dreamed of, or it may be used to send your child off to college. Home equity loans have very few limitations on how you utilize the funds. However, because a home equity loan puts up your home as collateral, you'll want to use yours wisely and repay it on time.

Homes are one of the most expensive things that most people will buy in their lives. Because of this, the home buying process isn’t something you want to rush. If you don’t give yourself enough time, you could end up buying a home that doesn’t meet your needs, or you could pay more than the market value.

A home is one of the most expensive things that most people will buy in their lives. It’s not a decision you want to take lightly. Get it wrong, and you could be stuck with an expensive monthly payment for more home than you need. And if you don’t buy a big enough home, you could end up with a place that you quickly outgrow.

The U.S. real estate market continues to reach unprecedented levels of demand, with bidding wars occurring throughout the country and many homes going under contract after just hours on the market. If you're considering a change, it's important to do your research first to ensure that you're ready to jump on your dream home once you find it. Below, we'll discuss seven key things to consider when beginning the home-buying process.

Ready to bring your dream of a home remodel to reality but don’t know where to begin? 

Whether you want to fix up a bathroom or renovate an entire floor, we can help you through your remodel. Despite the size of the project, the general gist of what you will need to do is the same.

Bathroom remodels can transform the way your space looks and feels all while increasing the value of your home. And, if you’re getting ready to renovate your bathroom, you probably want to use the most efficient and most cost-friendly approach.

Each year, many people discover and fall in love with Virginia’s majestic mountains, beautiful farmlands, and stunning beaches. With its rich history, thriving economy, and top-tier colleges and universities, it’s an ideal place to buy a home and raise a family.

Whether you’re in a transition phase of life or just thinking about ways you could use more space, sometimes a bigger house can be exactly what you need. We’ve gathered some of the most common reasons why you may want to size up to a bigger house. Once you read them, you’ll see that you’re not alone in considering the change.

Throughout owning a home, you may find your family’s needs expanding outside of what your current home provides. At that point, you could be looking at ways to transition to a home that better suits your family. With kids, school, sports, and other afterschool activities to juggle already, you’re going to want to make the moving process as straightforward and simple as possible.

Are you considering taking the leap from renting to owning? Depending on how much you’re currently paying for your monthly rent, your monthly mortgage payment might not be that much more expensive.

Remodeling can be a great investment. It can improve your quality of life, your comfort, and increase your home’s value. However, one concern homeowners have is how long it takes to remodel a bathroom.

Deciding to buy a home can be one of the most exciting decisions in your life. Finally having your own space to expand, raise a family, and customize with your dream features is a major life goal for many people!

As your family grows and your lifestyle changes, you may find yourself outgrowing your current space. Deciding whether to move or remodel your home can have a significant impact on your finances. If you’ve decided to remodel, it’s a good idea to start with the room that will add the most to your home’s equity. In most homes, that room is the kitchen.

Owning a home is a huge asset. But, as your family grows, your house does not grow alongside it. Perhaps you are running out of bedrooms, need an extra bath, or valuable square footage has been designated for years as a catch-all storage space, and now you need it back! When your living space no longer works for your family, it may be time to consider a change.

So, you've decided to buy a house. Leaving behind the days of landlords, rent payments, security deposits, and roommates can be an exciting step in your life!

However, there are some benefits, but also disadvantages, to be aware of that come along with being a first-time home buyer. We've compiled some helpful information to guide you along in your journey and know what potential pitfalls to watch out for.

Purchasing a home as a first time home buyer is a new and exciting experience. However, it can also come with its concerns. One primary concern is how to come up with the money for a down payment.

Thankfully, there are various options available to help you get the funding for your down payment, so don't let this one piece of the puzzle stop you from achieving your goal of purchasing your own home.

The process of buying a home can be overwhelming—especially if it’s your first time. You want to make sure you’re getting the right house for you at the best value, but without prior experience, how can you really know?

Buying a home for the first time is both thrilling and intimidating. That’s why it’s important to educate yourself as you prepare for homeownership.

When you're ready to buy a house, one of the first questions that often comes to mind is, "how much house can I afford?" This number will help you decide the neighborhood you choose to live in, the size of your home, your down payment, and how quickly you can afford to purchase.

In early 2020, just before the Coronavirus outbreak, the sale of existing homes was the best they'd been since 2007.

Unfortunately, the housing market nor anyone else saw COVID-19 and the impact it would have to come. The virus has changed the way of life for the entire globe, forcing many people to stay in their homes for months on end. Those that didn't lose their jobs began working from home in many cases, and plans for public outings have been put on the backburner indefinitely.

If you’re preparing to get a home loan soon, there are certain things you can do to set yourself up for a successful pre-approval process. Click to read more.

Applying for a home loan is one thing. Getting approved is another entirely. 

Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or you’ve taken out multiple home loans, it’s good to familiarize yourself (or refresh your memory) with the process of how to apply for a home loan and get approved. 

The process to apply for a home loan can be different based on what type of loan you are applying for. Learn what to expect when applying for an FHA loan.

Purchasing your first home is exciting. It's a rite of passage that most adults look forward to at some point in their lives.  

As you're going through the process, there are several variables to consider. Along with picking a great realtor to help you find the ideal house in your price point, you have to make sure to choose a loan that works for your finances.  

If you don’t plan to live in a home for 30 years, why borrow for 30 years to buy it? Oftentimes, the first home you purchase isn’t your “forever home.” If you’re shopping for a home for the first time, you may have heard of an Adjustable Rate Mortgage, or ARM. It’s a type of home loan with an interest rate that changes over time. Here's why you might consider an ARM for your first home.