The SCOOP! Blog Read Amazing Insights.

If you want to buy a house in the next year, be prepared to save up and act fast.The housing market has been red hot for the past 18 months, with buyers sometimes opting to skip many of the traditional strappings of the process, such as appraisals, inspections or even seeing the house in-person b...

Whether you are looking to buy or sell your home, the winter season has its advantages.Here are four reasons why you shouldn’t rule out buying or selling a home in the winter.Reason No. 1: Less Inventory, Less CompetitionHistorically, the housing market heats up with the weather. Parents look to ...

Making an offer on a home is a delicate balance. By being prepared, knowing what to expect and working closely with your real estate agent, you can be confident in putting together a strong offer.You have your heart set on buying the home, but you need to also be realistic with your budget — with...

The national median down payment hit its highest level since at least 2005, ATTOM Data Solutions reports. The median down payment on a single-family home purchased with financing in the third quarter was $27,500. That is up 41% from $19,502 in the third quarter of 2020.Overall, the median down pa...

In the course of maintaining your home, you will most likely need repairs or improvements that require professional help, and you’ll need to call in a contractor.These suggestions can help make sure the relationship with your contractor — and the renovation project — goes smoothly.Know What You W...

We’ve all been cautioned by well-meaning friends and family. “It’s hard to qualify these days, even with a good income.” “You’ll need to put 20 percent down and have perfect credit.”While there are plenty of mortgage misconceptions floating around these days — from how hard it may be to qualify t...

Mortgage rates held steady this week as the world awaits more information about the severity of the omicron variant of COVID-19 and ongoing supply chain issues. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.11%, Freddie Mac reports.“Mortgage rates continue to remain stable notwithstanding volatility...

The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced Tuesday that conforming loan limits for mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will jump in most of the country to $647,200, an increase of $98,950 from 2021’s limit of $548,250. The higher levels are in response to rising home prices over the ...

Mortgage rates are still low but creeping up. The median home price is up in Southwest Louisiana, but nothing compared to the national median list price, and government programs could help first-time homebuyers.Mortgage rates have been historically low for quite some time. Some 15-year rates have...

With its record-breaking prices and sharp-elbowed bidding wars, this housing boom poses challenges even for deep-pocketed homebuyers. But for borrowers financing their purchases with mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the hurdles are...