Category: News

For many homebuyers, student loans are a big part of their financial picture. The good news is that having student loan debt doesn’t automatically prevent you from getting a mortgage. Lenders look at how your student loan payments impact your overall debt-to-income ratio, rather than the total balance you owe. This means that managing your payments wisely can still make homeownership possible. Your debt-to-income ratio, or DTI, is the percentage of your income that goes toward paying debt each month. Even if you have a significant student loan balance, keeping your monthly payments low compared to your income can improve your chances of qualifying for a mortgage. In some cases, lenders may use income-driven repayment plans when calculating your DTI, which can work in your favor. It’s also important to…

Many homeowners consider paying extra on their mortgage as a way to get ahead financially. While this strategy can be smart for some, it’s important to weigh both the advantages and the potential drawbacks before committing. The Pros: Making additional payments can dramatically reduce the total interest you’ll pay over the life of your loan. It also helps you build equity faster, which could give you more flexibility for refinancing or borrowing against your home in the future. Beyond the financial side, paying down your mortgage early can provide peace of mind and a sense of financial freedom. The Cons: On the flip side, tying extra money into your mortgage can limit liquidity. Those funds may be harder to access if you need them for emergencies, investments, or higher-yield opportunities.…

Buying a home isn’t just about finding the right property—it’s also about timing. Different seasons bring unique opportunities and challenges for homebuyers, and understanding these can help you make smarter decisions. For example, spring is often known as the busiest time of year, with more homes hitting the market. That means more choices, but also more competition. In summer, families often rush to buy and settle before the school year begins, which can drive up demand. However, summer can also bring more open houses and flexibility with showings, making it easier to explore neighborhoods and find a fit that works for your lifestyle. Fall tends to bring a slight slowdown, which can benefit buyers looking for less competition and possibly better deals. Sellers who keep their homes on the market…

Today’s buyers aren’t just looking for location and square footage—they’re also looking for convenience, efficiency, and technology. Smart home upgrades like video doorbells, smart thermostats, and app-controlled lighting are becoming increasingly popular, and they can even add value to your home when it’s time to sell. The appeal of these features is simple: they make daily life easier. Imagine being able to adjust the temperature before you get home, or checking security cameras while on vacation. For many homeowners, these upgrades provide both peace of mind and energy savings, making them a win-win investment. From a mortgage perspective, improving your home’s value through smart upgrades can pay off down the road. Higher value means more equity, and more equity can open up opportunities for refinancing, future upgrades, or even funding…

August has brought new dynamics to the U.S. housing market, with signs of cooling after years of runaway price growth. On a national level, home price appreciation is slowing: the median existing home price in June 2025 was up just 2% year-over-year, a stark contrast to double-digit increases during 2021-22. In fact, experts are forecasting more modest gains moving forward, and several major forecasters expect some markets to experience outright price declines. Notably, nearly half of the country’s largest metro areas—including Austin, Los Angeles, and Miami—are seeing year-over-year price drops, with the sharpest declines concentrated in the South and West Rising inventory is reshaping buyer and seller behavior across the country. There are now over 1.1 million active listings nationwide, the highest level since before the pandemic. This uptick is…