Some owners hesitate to market their homes between Halloween and New Year’s Day, believing the holiday season to be an off-peak time to sell. But the idea that houses don’t sell in November and December comes from outdated historical trends. In fact, several studies show that, on average, homes listed during this time are more likely to

Maybe you’ve decided to take the plunge and buy your first home, or you’re already a homeowner and are ready to move into a new place. Whatever reason prompted the move, here are seven things you need to do before buying a home. 1. Clean up your credit score. Your credit score will be reviewed

Community bankers serve as an excellent resource for consumers looking to purchase a home and plan for a mortgage  With the summer real estate season upon us, many Americans are considering purchasing a home over the next few months. The total mortgage originations market is estimated to be around $1 trillion in 2014. With that

If small businesses are the motor of the economy, small banks are providing much of the gas. According to Inc.com, in March, small bank lending to small businesses went up, as loans from big banks and alternative lenders dipped. This is good news for entrepreneurs still trying to dig out from the recession, or looking for cash to

Most people know about the many benefits and rewards of becoming a homeowner. The challenging part is knowing what it takes to qualify for a mortgage loan. There is a lot of different information that is taken into consideration to determine whether you’ll qualify for a mortgage.  Ultimately, it comes down to four things: credit, down

RATES Ask for a list of current mortgage interest rates and whether the rates being quoted are the lowest for that day or week.  Ask whether the rate is fixed or adjustable. Keep in mind that when interest rates for adjustable-rate loans go up, generally so does the monthly payment.  If the rate quoted is