Ways Your Home Equity Can Help You Reach Your Goals

By |2024-01-15T12:08:33-06:00January 15, 2024|Real Estate|

If you’ve owned your house for at least a couple of years, there’s something you’re going to want to know more about – and that’s home equity. If you’re not familiar with that term, Freddie Mac defines it like this: “. . . your home’s equity is the difference between how much your home is worth and how much you owe on your mortgage.” That means your equity grows as you pay down your home loan over time and as home values climb. While it’s true home prices dipped slightly last year, they rebounded and have been climbing in many areas since then. Here’s why that price growth is good [...]

3 Keys To Hitting Your Homeownership Goals in 2024

By |2024-01-01T12:23:13-06:00January 1, 2024|Real Estate|

If buying or selling a home is your goal for 2024, it’s important to understand today’s housing market, know your why, and work with industry experts to bring your homeownership vision for the new year into focus. Over the last year, the economy had a big impact on the housing market, and likely on your wallet too. That’s why it’s critical to have a clear picture of not just the market today, but also on what you want out of it when you buy or sell a home. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com, explains: “The key to making a good decision in this challenging housing [...]

Thinking About Using Your 401(k) To Buy a Home?

By |2023-11-10T12:38:34-06:00November 10, 2023|Real Estate|

Are you dreaming of buying your own home and wondering about how you’ll save for a down payment? You're not alone. Some people think about tapping into their 401(k) savings to make it happen. But before you decide to dip into your retirement to buy a home, be sure to consider all possible alternatives and talk with a financial expert. Here’s why. The Numbers May Make It Tempting The data shows many Americans have saved a considerable amount for retirement (see chart below): It can be really tempting when you have a lot of money saved up in your 401(k) and you see your dream home on the horizon. [...]

Owning Your Home Helps You Build Wealth

By |2023-07-20T18:44:37-05:00July 20, 2023|Real Estate|

You may have heard some people say it’s better to rent than buy a home right now. But, even today, there are lots of good reasons to become a homeowner. One of them is that owning a home is typically viewed as a good long-term investment that helps your net worth grow over time. Homeownership Builds Wealth Regardless of Income Level You may be surprised to learn homeowners across various income levels have a much higher net worth than renters who make the same amount. Data from First American helps illustrate this point (see graph below): What makes wealth so much higher for homeowners? A recent article from Realtor.com says: “Homeownership has [...]

Go to Top