Credit Scoring Is Changing: 3 Things Homebuyers Should Know

Quick, what credit score do you need to buy a home? If a number pops into your head, there’s a pretty good chance it’s wrong. And the right answer is getting harder to pin down, because the way credit scores are determined and delivered is changing – for the better. Here’s what you need to.. read more →

Don’t Let the Fear of a Buyer Backing Out Scare You Away from Selling

There’s nothing quite like the excitement of getting an offer on your house. You’re one step closer to moving on to what’s next. But what happens if that buyer backs out or ghosts you before closing? If you’ve been seeing headlines about more home sales falling through lately, that possibility may be keeping you up.. read more →

Who’s Buying Homes with Cash Right Now?

Ryan Serhant, CEO of SERHANT, says there isn’t just 1 housing market right now. There are really 4: cash buyers, buyers who need a mortgage, homeowners with low mortgage rates, and builders. Today, let’s zoom in on the 1st group – cash buyers. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 27% of homes sold.. read more →

Why Builders May Be More Motivated To Sell Than Homeowners

Here’s something most homebuyers don’t think about. When the housing market slows down, homeowners and builders don’t always respond the same way. Think about it. If you’re selling your house and aren’t getting the offers you want, you could make the choice to take it off the market and stay put, and wait for things.. read more →

Why More Buyers Are Turning To Adjustable-Rate Mortgages Today

When mortgage rates climb, buying a home can start to feel like trying to hit a moving target. Every jump in rates makes monthly payments bigger, and that pushes a lot of buyers to look for another way in. More and more of them are finding it in the adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM. The ARM.. read more →

To Sell or Rent? How To Choose the Best Path for Your House.

Selling your house is a big step, and you want it to go smoothly. And with houses taking a little longer to sell these days, renting it out might start to sound like a nice backup plan. But the reality is, while renting can work well for some people, it’s also a big commitment. So.. read more →

Love That Cozy Rural Home? Picture an Ordinary Winter Wednesday

A country home can look especially inviting in the fall.There is a little smoke above the chimney, gold and red among the trees, and a quiet that makes you want to stay awhile. I understand the appeal. I lived off-grid for about ten years, and I have personally built nine homes. Rural living is something.. read more →

Confused by Home Price Headlines? Here’s Why.

Whether you own a house already or you’re looking to buy one, you probably care about home prices. But it’s not always easy to figure out what’s really happening right now, especially if you look at the headlines. One says home prices are falling. The next says they’re still climbing. So, which one’s right? It.. read more →

Selling a North Idaho Home This Fall? Start at the Front Door

Before a buyer notices your kitchen countertops, they have to get through the front door.On a fall day, that first few minutes can tell a story. There may be leaves on the walk, a dim porch, wet shoes, and nowhere to put a coat. Or there can be a clear path, a welcoming entrance, and.. read more →

When a Smaller Home Makes Room for More Life

Sometimes the warmest room in a house is the one everyone ends up in.It might be the kitchen, even when there is a perfectly good living room nearby. It might be a little den with the comfortable chairs. Meanwhile, other rooms sit quiet, waiting for visitors or holding things we have not used in years.That.. read more →