Credit card companies, auto dealerships and mortgage lenders are just a few of the institutions that will assess your credit score before deciding if and how much they are willing to lend you and at what interest rate. When it comes to getting pre-approved for a mortgage, your credit score is one of the most…
Selling Your Home: 4 Ways to Appeal to Millennial Buyers
If you’re selling your home and want it to sell quickly and for top-dollar (doesn’t everyone?), you need to prepare your home to appeal to the widest group of homebuyers. The 2020 Housing Market Prediction project Millennials to account for over 50% of the mortgages in 2021. This generation has been shaping the market the…
Buying a New Build: Spec Home, Custom or Production – What’s Right for You?
You’ve weighed the pros and cons from pricing and customization to location and home maintenance and decided that a new home is a better fit for you than purchasing an existing home. But what type of new home is the right choice for you? Learn the differences here.
8 Quick & Simple Home Improvements That Do Wonders for Your Curb Appeal
When you think of home renovations, you’re likely dreaming of a kitchen remodel or new flooring. You’re not alone; interior home improvements and renovations are highly coveted but oftentimes, a home’s exterior is put on the backburner. Here are some relatively cheap DIY projects that can transform your curb appeal.
Compass Mortgage Grands for Grads Scholarship Giveaway
At Compass Mortgage, we recognize the invaluable role a quality education can play in a person’s life. Education opens up opportunities, both personally and professionally, it establishes a framework for lifelong learning, and provides access to information and resources that would otherwise be hard to come by. Now, more than ever, the job market requires…
Homeowners Have Missed Out on Billions in Refinance Savings – Is It Too Late for You?
American homeowners could have saved a combined $5.5 billion by refinancing their mortgages in 2010 and 2012, according to a new study published in the Journal of Financial Economics. Despite historically low mortgage rates, homeowners didn’t make refinancing a top priority, which prompts the question: with mortgage rates rising in 2017, is it too late…
Buying vs. Renting: Doing the Math on What’s Best for You
In 2014, 11 million renters were spending at least half of their income on housing, according to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. Another 21.3 million (over 50 percent of renters) were spending 30 percent or more of their income on rent payments. So in an era where rent costs are going up, up, up, how…
Why Location Matters & How to Scout Out the Best Spot When Buying Your First Home
“Location, location, location” wouldn’t be the real estate industry’s catchphrase if it didn’t hold any weight. Nevertheless, the slogan is right. You can change a home but you can’t change its location. Here’s why location matters when it comes to a potential home purchase and how to scout out the best neighborhood to buy in.
How Much Mortgage Can You Afford? 7 Factors That Affect Home Affordability
One of the most common first-time homebuyer questions is how much can I afford to buy? Home affordability weighs on many factors that your lender will analyze to give you an appropriate, pre-approved purchase point.
17 Budget-Friendly DIY Home Improvement & Renovation Projects for First-Time Homeowners
So you just bought a house; congratulations! Making your home yours is where the real fun begins, but it’s also a good idea to adjust to the costs of homeownership before making large scale home improvements and renovations. Here are some cost-effective but aesthetically-pleasing home improvements you can mostly do yourself and complete on a budget.