article thumbnail

What You Should Know About Closing Costs Before You Refinance

RIS Media

It may also require an appraisal to determine your home’s current market value and an inspection to make sure that the house’s condition meets the lender’s requirements. If you have less than 20% equity, you’ll most likely have to pay for private mortgage insurance. Weigh the Costs and Benefits of Refinancing.

article thumbnail

When borrowers ‘ghost’ their servicers

Housing Wire

To Dana Dillard, principal advisor at Housing Finance Strategies and a 25-year mortgage industry veteran, the ghosting problem happens, among other reasons, because homeowners deny the reality or feel overwhelmed with their debts — especially if they lost a relative or friend due to COVID-19 or are unemployed for a while.

Loans 345
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Should You Consider Refinancing Your Mortgage? Here’s How to Think About It

HomeLight

However, in the years since you’ve had your home, you’ve likely built up equity in the home, meaning that you would take out less money to refinance your house than you did to buy it. On the plus side, you will not have to go through any inspections in the process of your refinance. Source: (Mark Finn / Unsplash). So why refinance?

article thumbnail

8 Common Misconceptions That First-Time Home Buyers Have

Realty Biz

Money spent on a mortgage each month is building equity in something you’ll eventually own, and is a foundational means to growing wealth. PMI can be removed once the homeowner has paid down enough of the loan’s principal. But if you’re planning to rent for several years, you might be better off purchasing a home.

article thumbnail

4 Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Got an FHA Loan

Realtor.com

Now, the twist: It used to be that you had to pay this mortgage insurance on an FHA loan only until you gained 20% equity in your home. To be approved for the loan, the house must pass an inspection conducted by the U.S. But under legislation passed in 2013, you can plan on paying that extra money for the life of the FHA loan.

article thumbnail

Renting vs Buying in Birmingham, AL: Which is Right for You?

Redfin

Building equity Owning a home provides a unique opportunity to build equity over time. Equity represents the difference between the market value of your property and the remaining balance on your mortgage. Maintenance costs With homeownership comes the added responsibility of maintaining your home and property.

Equity 44
article thumbnail

RISMedia’s November 2021 Digital Magazine

McKissock

Revolutionizing Home Inspection. With the goal of offering “more expansive and timely information” to promote “smooth transactions” and “confident homeownership,” the new product offerings from Pillar to Post include: PTP360 – An interactive visual inspection summary with a 360-degree view of every room. Cover Story. Industry News.