Maryland Mortgage Loans

  Becoming financially secure is an important goal for many people today, but some don’t realize just how much   homeownership   can help them achieve that dream. A recent report,   The Journey Toward Financial Freedom ,   surveys Americans about their perspective on financial wellness and their goals. It shows there may be a significant misconception about the role owning a home plays in building wealth: “Home ownership is one of the indicators Americans say is  least connected to financial health .” Two major personal wealth goals – homeownership and net worth – work hand-in-hand. Below are just a few reasons why, if you’re looking for financial security, homeownership should be a top priority. Homeownership Is an Important Cornerstone of Building Wealth Every three years, the  Federal Reserve  releases the  Survey of Consumer Finances  which highlights the difference in wealth between homeowners and renters. The graph below shows the findings across the previous surveys including th

  When you hear the phrase   home price appreciation , what does it mean to you? Through context clues alone, chances are you know it has to do with rising home prices. And as a seller, you know rising home prices are good news for your potential sale. But let’s look past the dollar signs and dive deeper into the concept. To truly understand home price appreciation, you need to know how it works and why it matters to you. Investopedia  defines appreciation like this: “ Appreciation, in general terms, is an increase in the value of an asset over time . The increase can occur for a number of reasons, including increased demand or weakening supply, or as a result of changes in inflation or interest rates. This is the opposite of depreciation, which is a decrease in value over time.”   When we consider this definition and how it applies to real estate, a few words stick out:  supply and demand . In today’s real estate market, we’re experiencing high buyer demand and very few sellers listin

If you’re thinking of buying or selling a house, chances are you’re focusing on the many  extraordinary ways  it’ll change your life. What you may not realize is that decision impacts people’s lives far beyond your own. Home purchases and sales are significant drivers of economic activity. They have a major impact on your community and the entire U.S. economy via the multiple industries and professionals that take part in the process. The  National Association of Realtors  (NAR) releases a  report  each year that highlights just how much economic activity a home sale generates. The chart below shows how the sale of both a newly built home and an existing home impact the economy: To dive a level deeper, NAR also provides a detailed look at how that varies  state-by-state  for newly-built homes ( see map below ): As you can see, a single home sale can have a massive effect on the overall economy. Ali Wolf, Chief Economist for  Zonda , talks about this in a  recent article , noting there’

  HUGE Home Buying MYTH that you must have 20% down payment to buy! Most borrowers average LESS than 20% down payment. Did you know that we offer up to $10,000 in Down Payment Assistance to eligible applicants? Is the idea of saving for a down payment holding you back from buying a home right now? You may be eager to take advantage of today’s low mortgage rates, but the thought of needing a large down payment might make you want to pump the brakes. Today, there’s still a common myth that you have to come up with 20% of the total sale price for your down payment. This means people who could buy a home may be putting their plans on hold because they don’t have that much saved yet. The reality is, whether you’re looking for your first home or you’ve purchased one before, you most likely don’t need to put 20% down.  Here’s why. According to Freddie Mac: “The most damaging down payment myth—since it stops the homebuying process before it can start—is the belief that 20% is necessary.” If sa

  Traditionally speaking, the holiday season is not when homebuyers flock to sign on the dotted line. But 2020 was a different animal, and the numbers are in. Pending home sales reached a record high for December as the unseasonable housing surge continued in markets across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Realtor Magazine, pending sales were up 21.4% year over year in December, reaching the highest reading for a December on the National Association of REALTORS®’ Pending Home Sales Index. All major regions of the U.S. recorded double-digit increases annually. While housing shortages continue the upward pressure, National Association of Realtor’s chief economist Lawrence Yun says,“Pending home sales contracts have dipped during recent months, but I would attribute that to having too few homes for sale.” “There is a high demand for housing and a great number of would-be buyers, and therefore sales should rise with more new listings. This elevated demand without a si

  MARKET FOCUS: STIMULUS, SERVICE SECTOR, AND BLOCKBUSTER HOME SALES Stocks opened lower this morning after generally unchanged yesterday.  Investors are pausing to get more specifics from the Biden administration. Equity markets will love the increased spending, but how much love is where markets are today. Biden wants a $1.9 trillion stimulus package to shorten the economic decline.  Most world leaders are taking a more conservative outlook. Hopes that activity can return to normal in the hardest-hit economies are becoming increasingly distant despite the progress being made on vaccinations. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson signaled that the country's current lockdown could last until the summer while officials there have suggested paying people who test positive for the virus to stay at home. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it would be late September before everyone who wants to get vaccinated can get a shot. Anger is rising across Europe as the supply of Pfizer vaccines s