Wednesday, May 14, 2025 / by Joyce Dungca
Did you know? According to a recent study, 72% of people with student loans think their debt will delay their ability to buy a home. Maybe you’re one of them and you're wondering:
Do you have to wait until you’ve paid off those loans before you can buy your first home?
Or is it possible you could still qualify for a home loan even with that debt?
Having questions like these is normal, especially when you’re thinking about making such a big purchase. But you should know, you may be putting your homeownership goals on the backburner unnecessarily.
Can You Qualify for a Home Loan if You Have Student Loans?
In the simplest sense, what you want to know is can you still buy your first home if you have student debt. Here’s what Yahoo Finance says:
" . . . student loans don’t have to get in your way when it comes to becoming a homeowner. With the right approach and an understanding of how debt impacts your home-buying options, bu ...
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team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, homeownership, mortgage, student loan
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 / by Joyce Dungca
Especially in areas where inventory is rising, both homebuilders and sellers are sweetening the deal for buyers with things like paid closing costs, mortgage rate buy-downs, and more. In the industry, it’s called a concession or an incentive.
What Are Concessions and Incentives?
When a seller or builder gives you something extra to help with your purchase, that’s called either a concession or an incentive.
A concession is something a seller gives up or agrees to in order to reach a compromise and close a deal.
An incentive, on the other hand, is a benefit a builder or seller advertises and offers up front to attract and encourage buyers.
Today, some of the most common ones are:
Help with closing costs
Mortgage rate buy-downs (to temporarily lower your rate)
Discounts or price reductions
Upgrades or appliances
Home warranties
Minor repairs
For buyers, getting any of these things thrown in can be a big deal – esp ...
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team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, homebuilders, concessions, incentives
Monday, May 12, 2025 / by Joyce Dungca
Whether you’re planning to move soon or not, it’s smart to be strategic about which home projects you take on. Your time, energy, and money matter – and not all upgrades offer the payoff you might expect. As U.S. News Real Estate explains:
". . . not every home renovation project will increase the resale value of a home. Before you invest in a swimming pool or new addition, you should consider whether the project will pay itself off by getting prospective buyers in the door when it’s time to sell."
That’s why, before you pick up a power tool or call a contractor, your first step should be talking to a local agent.
Planning Ahead Pays Off
If you plan to move relatively soon, you’ll want to get a jump start on your to-do list. And even if moving isn’t on your radar yet, life can change quickly – and a new job, a growing family, or shifting priorities can fast-track your plans. You don’t want to be scramblin ...
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team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, real estate agents, home projects
Thursday, May 8, 2025 / by Joyce Dungca
From rising home prices to mortgage rate swings, the housing market has left a lot of people wondering what’s next – and whether now is really the right time to move. There is one place you can turn to for answers you want the most. And that’s the experts.
Leading housing experts are starting to release their projections for the rest of the year. These insights will give you clarity – and a little more optimism than you might expect. Business Insider sums up the forecasts (and why they’re good news for you):
“As mortgage rates go down this year, affordability may improve slightly for homebuyers. Inventory is also expected to grow, which should help moderate price growth and make finding a home easier.”
Let’s break it down.
1. Mortgage Rates Should Come Down (Slightly)
While a major drop isn’t on the table, forecasters are calling for a modest decline in rates in the months ahead as the economic outlook b ...
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team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, home prices
