04 Nov 2025
By Tawnya King

Steps to Take Now to Build Your Credit for a Home Purchase Next Year

Home Buyer Tips
Buying a home is one of the most exciting goals you can set, but your credit score plays a major role in how easy or challenging the process will be. The good news is that with time and planning, you can strengthen your credit and set yourself up for a smoother approval when you are ready to buy next year. Review Your Credit ReportStart by pulling your credit report from all three major credit bureaus. Review each report carefully to make sure that your personal information and account details are accurate. Dispute any errors right away, since mistakes can bring…
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16 Oct 2025
By Tawnya King

How Changing Jobs Affects Mortgage Approval

Home Buyer Tips
Switching jobs can be an exciting step in your career, but for homebuyers, it can also raise questions about mortgage approval. Lenders evaluate income stability when considering a mortgage application, and a recent job change can influence how they view your ability to repay the loan. Understanding how a new position impacts your application can help you plan strategically and improve your chances of approval. How Lenders Assess Employment StabilityLenders want to ensure that borrowers have a reliable and consistent source of income. They typically look for at least two years of employment in the same field. Frequent job changes,…
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27 Aug 2025
By Tawnya King

Is Homeownership Still the American Dream?

Home Buyer Tips
Buying a home is more than a place to live, it is a path to financial growth, every mortgage payment builds equity, giving homeowners a valuable asset over time, unlike renting where monthly payments go to a landlord, homeowners are investing in their future, with the right mortgage strategy, owning a home can be one of the smartest financial moves you make. Stability and FreedomHomeownership offers stability and freedom to create a space that truly reflects your lifestyle, you can renovate, decorate, and plan for the long term without restrictions, for families, it provides a secure foundation, a community to…
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20 Aug 2025
By Tawnya King

How to Qualify for a Mortgage While Carrying Credit Card Debt

Home Buyer Tips
Many potential homebuyers worry that carrying credit card debt will prevent them from qualifying for a mortgage. While it is true that lenders carefully evaluate your financial profile, having credit card balances does not automatically disqualify you. By understanding how lenders view debt, taking strategic steps to improve your application, and choosing the right mortgage program, you can still achieve your goal of homeownership. Understand Your Debt-to-Income Ratio (DTI)One of the most important factors lenders review is your debt-to-income ratio. This is the percentage of your gross monthly income that goes toward debt payments, including your future mortgage. A lower…
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10 Jul 2025
By Tawnya King

Creative Ways to Use Rent-to-Own Agreements to Buy a Home

Home Buyer Tips
A rent-to-own agreement is a contract that allows a tenant to rent a home with the option to buy it later. Part of the monthly rent payment typically goes toward the future down payment or purchase price. This approach can be ideal for buyers who need more time to improve their credit, save money, or get financially ready for homeownership. It blends the flexibility of renting with the long-term goal of owning. Why Rent-to-Own Appeals to Future BuyersRent-to-own is especially attractive to those who may not yet qualify for a traditional mortgage but are motivated to own a home. It…
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09 Jul 2025
By Tawnya King

The Psychology of Homebuying and Emotions vs. Financial Logic

Home Buyer Tips
Buying a home is not just a financial decision, it is an emotional one too. For many people, homeownership represents stability, success, and personal freedom. Whether it is the excitement of finding your dream kitchen or imagining holidays with family, emotions naturally come into play. These feelings can create a strong connection to a property and often influence the decisions buyers make, sometimes even more than logic does. Why Emotions Often Drive DecisionsWhen touring homes, buyers may be swayed by how a space makes them feel rather than what fits their budget or long-term needs. It is easy to fall…
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18 Jun 2025
By Tawnya King

Celebrating National Homeownership Month and How First-Time Buyer Programs Make It Possible

Home Buyer Tips
June is National Homeownership Month, a time to celebrate the dream of owning a home and spotlight the many programs designed to help first-time buyers turn that dream into reality. For many Americans, the biggest challenge to buying a home is coming up with the funds for a down payment or qualifying for a loan. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of mortgage options and assistance programs available to make homeownership more achievable. FHA Loan One of the most widely used mortgage programs for first-time buyers is the FHA loan, backed by the Federal Housing Administration. FHA loans typically require lower…
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