Rookie Mistakes: Learn From First-Time Home Buyers’ Biggest Regrets
Monday, 20 July 2015 by Mercer Savings Bank
Homeownership comes with many benefits - and also many regrets. 81% of young homeowners between 18 and 34 had at least one regret about their home purchase. What were their biggest regrets? Let’s break it down.
- Published in First-Time Homebuyer, Mortgages
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Ready, Set, Sell: 3 Strategies for Getting Your Home off the Market Fast
Monday, 22 June 2015 by Mercer Savings Bank
Most sellers have a specific goal when it comes to their transaction: a quick sale and top dollar. But sometimes fast action doesn’t align with achieving the highest and best value. There are multiple schools of thought on this subject, and the perspective varies not only with where you are in the country, but also by price point,
- Published in First-Time Homebuyer, News & Events
3 Ways To Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster – And Save Money
Monday, 18 May 2015 by Mercer Savings Bank
If paying off your mortgage early is your aim, always ask if your lender allows prepayments, without penalty. You don’t want to pay toward the principal and get penalized for it. Also be sure your extra money is being put toward the principal, rather next month’s mortgage payment. That won’t reduce your interest payments. Starting to pay off
- Published in First-Time Homebuyer
5 Hacks to Cut Down on Moving Costs
Monday, 04 May 2015 by Mercer Savings Bank
No one ever said moving was cheap — between security deposits (for renters), down payments (for buyers), and insurance for the move and your new place (for both), costs can stack up before you even make your first monthly payment. One more item on your budget? The move itself. According to the American Moving & Storage Association,
- Published in First-Time Homebuyer
8 Tips to Find the Best Home Inspector
Monday, 23 March 2015 by Mercer Savings Bank
Before you buy a home, it’s always a good idea to get a professional home inspection. In most cases, you can make your purchase contract contingent on a satisfactory inspection. That means if you don’t like the inspection results, you can cancel the contract, get your deposit back and walk away from the deal. Or
- Published in First-Time Homebuyer, News & Events
Selling Your Home? 6 Ways to Win When Haggling With Buyers
Monday, 02 March 2015 by Mercer Savings Bank
When my husband and I were buying our first house in Georgia, I cringed at the tough negotiating he was doing, as did our agent. “You sound like a fast-talking big city businessman,” she said to him in her smooth drawl. But as cringe-worthy as it seemed at the time, he was just engaging in some tried-and-true
- Published in First-Time Homebuyer, News & Events
Use Your Refund to Increase Your Home’s Value
Monday, 23 February 2015 by Mercer Savings Bank
Sitting by the mailbox, waiting for your tax refund? Stop waiting and start thinking about the best ways to invest that money in your home. At the end of last tax season, the average tax refund was $2,847. Your home is likely one of your biggest assets, so it makes good financial sense to take
- Published in First-Time Homebuyer, News & Events
3 Ways to Help Your Spouse Build Credit
Thursday, 19 February 2015 by Mercer Savings Bank
You can share many things as a married couple, but one thing you won’t share is your credit profile. This doesn’t mean you should disregard your partner’s credit, though. While your credit reports and scores aren’t merged in marriage, when the two of you apply for a joint credit card or loan, both of your
- Published in First-Time Homebuyer, News & Events
New Year, New Home: Why 2015 Is Poised to Attract First-Time Buyers
Monday, 02 February 2015 by Mercer Savings Bank
For years, we’ve been hearing about the marked absence of first-time homebuyers from the market. Millennials, in particular, have faced significant barriers to homeownership, including strict lending requirements and unaffordable prices. But experts point to a number of economic factors that suggest 2015 could be the year first-time buyers re-enter the housing scene. 1. Getting
- Published in First-Time Homebuyer
Hot Staging Ideas for a Winter Home Sale
Wednesday, 19 November 2014 by Mercer Savings Bank
It may not be your first impulse to list your home in winter, but life events can sometimes dictate timing on when moves must happen. Knowing how to best show off your home to its full advantage can pay even bigger dividends in the winter, when daylight hours run short, temperatures drop, and the usual
- Published in First-Time Homebuyer, News & Events