Tuesday, June 17, 2025 / by Joyce Dungca
What You Really Need To Know About Down Payments
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First Time Buyers | Blog
Monday, June 9, 2025 / by Joyce Dungca
Buying Your First Home? FHA Loans Can Help
If you’re a first-time homebuyer, you might feel like the odds are stacked against you in today’s market. But there are resources and programs out there that can help – if you know where to look. And one thing that can make homeownership easier to achieve? An FHA home loan.
They’re designed to help you overcome some of the biggest financial hurdles in the homebuying process – and that’s why so many first-timers are using them to make their purchase.
Whether you’re dreaming of ditching rent, planting roots, or just wanting a place that’s truly yours, an FHA home loan could be the path that gets you there sooner than you think.
Buying Your First Home Probably Doesn’t Feel Easy Right Now
While the motivation to buy a home is still there for many people, affordability is a real challenge today. According to a survey from 1000WATT, potential first-time buyers say their top two concerns are saving enough for their d ...
They’re designed to help you overcome some of the biggest financial hurdles in the homebuying process – and that’s why so many first-timers are using them to make their purchase.
Whether you’re dreaming of ditching rent, planting roots, or just wanting a place that’s truly yours, an FHA home loan could be the path that gets you there sooner than you think.
Buying Your First Home Probably Doesn’t Feel Easy Right Now
While the motivation to buy a home is still there for many people, affordability is a real challenge today. According to a survey from 1000WATT, potential first-time buyers say their top two concerns are saving enough for their d ...
Wednesday, December 18, 2024 / by Joyce Dungca
The Biggest Perks of Buying a Home This Winter
Waiting for perfect market conditions often means missing out. Because what you may not realize is, if you’re ready and able to buy, this time of year could actually give you an edge. Here’s why. As the weather cools down, the housing market can too – and that works in your favor.
You Likely Won’t Feel as Rushed
Homes tend to take a little longer to sell during this time of year. Data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows the average time a house sits on the market jumps up during the winter months (see the green bars in the graph below):
This is partly because fewer buyers are active at this time of year – and that decrease in buyer competition means the houses that are on the market aren’t going to be snatched up as quickly. So, if you decide to buy a home in the next couple of months, you’ll likely have more time to consider your options and negotiate a deal without feeling as pressured.
Sellers . ...
You Likely Won’t Feel as Rushed
Homes tend to take a little longer to sell during this time of year. Data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows the average time a house sits on the market jumps up during the winter months (see the green bars in the graph below):
This is partly because fewer buyers are active at this time of year – and that decrease in buyer competition means the houses that are on the market aren’t going to be snatched up as quickly. So, if you decide to buy a home in the next couple of months, you’ll likely have more time to consider your options and negotiate a deal without feeling as pressured.
Sellers . ...
Tuesday, September 24, 2024 / by Joyce Dungca
The Down Payment Assistance You Didn’t Know About
Believe it or not, almost 80% of first-time homebuyers qualify for down payment assistance, but only 13% actually use it. And if you’re hoping to buy a home, this is a mission-critical gap to close – fast (see graph below):
Here’s what you need to know to make the most of your down payment in today’s housing market.
Amplify Your Down Payment Potential
For first-time buyers, the name of the game with down payments is making sure you’re taking advantage of all the resources out there designed to help you. And a bunch of them can get you to your goal faster than you may have thought possible.
For example, there are loan options that require as little as 3% down, or even 0% for certain qualified borrowers, like Veterans. And let’s not forget down payment assistance, like grants and other opportunities, that help you cover the upfront cost of your down payment.
If you’re interested in exploring those options and what you. ...
Here’s what you need to know to make the most of your down payment in today’s housing market.
Amplify Your Down Payment Potential
For first-time buyers, the name of the game with down payments is making sure you’re taking advantage of all the resources out there designed to help you. And a bunch of them can get you to your goal faster than you may have thought possible.
For example, there are loan options that require as little as 3% down, or even 0% for certain qualified borrowers, like Veterans. And let’s not forget down payment assistance, like grants and other opportunities, that help you cover the upfront cost of your down payment.
If you’re interested in exploring those options and what you. ...
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 / by Joyce Dungca
Savings Strategies Every First-Time Homebuyer Needs To Know
If homeownership is on your goal sheet for your future, you’re probably working on your savings. And a big priority is making sure you’ve got a plan in place for things like your closing costs, down payment, and more.
Here are a few strategies that can help speed up that process.
Budget and Track Your Expenses: To start, create a detailed budget that tracks the money you’ve got coming in and the money going out. This’ll give you a better look at your finances as a whole.
Cut Down on Unnecessary Spending: Now that you have your budget sheet done and you know how you’re spending your money, look for any line items that aren’t absolutely essential. If you cut down on those, you can re-allocate that cash toward buying a home. Even the little things can add up. As the National Association of Realtors (NAR) says:
“The majority of first-time buyers did make financial sacrifices to purchase a ho. ...
Here are a few strategies that can help speed up that process.
Budget and Track Your Expenses: To start, create a detailed budget that tracks the money you’ve got coming in and the money going out. This’ll give you a better look at your finances as a whole.
Cut Down on Unnecessary Spending: Now that you have your budget sheet done and you know how you’re spending your money, look for any line items that aren’t absolutely essential. If you cut down on those, you can re-allocate that cash toward buying a home. Even the little things can add up. As the National Association of Realtors (NAR) says:
“The majority of first-time buyers did make financial sacrifices to purchase a ho. ...
