Does a pool add value to your home? Adding an in-ground pool can boost your home’s value, but it isn’t a one-size-fits all solution, and can easily turn into an expensive, time- (and space)-consuming nuisance. A pool can add value if you live in a warmer state, your neighbors have them and you can afford [...]

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How can I use my home's equity? Home equity is the actual financial amount of the home you own, so it can be used like the returns on any other investment. Because it’s not as accessible as your checking account and you worked hard accruing it, it’s best to limit its use to home improvements, [...]

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What are the advantages of buying vs. renting? There are big benefits to homeownership that renting doesn’t provide you with. The top reasons for buying instead of renting a home include building equity, better psychological outcomes, design and lifestyle freedom, payment predictability and tax benefits. If you’re able to afford either option, owning a home [...]

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What’s needed for a pre-approval application? When you want to make an offer on a home, a pre-approval letter backed by a lender like Guild gives sellers confidence that you’ll be able to follow through on the purchase. Pre-approvals evaluate your current and even past financial standing so you can get solid direction to how [...]

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How much can I afford when buying a home? When deciding how much you can afford when buying a home, you’ll have to factor in costs like your income, the sales price, down payment, interest rate, loan term, total monthly debts, closing costs, common expenses and even the state the home is located in. Working [...]

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What can cause your mortgage payment to change? If you’re a new homeowner who worked hard to negotiate the best selling price and rate for your home, you might be alarmed to see your bill suddenly change after paying the same cost for months. While those with an adjustable-rate mortgage or expiring temporary buydown might [...]

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