Buying a home is a journey. For most people, home represents safety. It’s easy to get caught up in the dream of a life in a home you recently toured. Too often, though, sellers are unwilling to accept VA loan offers. Veterans find their offer for the home of their dreams rejected. Like it or not, certain biases against VA loan offers exist. In this blog, we will cover… Read More
Things You Need to Do After Buying Your First Home
If you just purchased your very first home, you will appreciate this list of essential steps for first time home buyers to tackle immediately after closing. You are probably eager to begin unpacking boxes and to arrange furniture, settling into and enjoying your new space. To get settled, there are several things you must do to stay organized and safe and to keep your new house in excellent condition…. Read More
How to Lower Debt-to-Income Ratio Before Applying for a VA Home Loan
Are you anticipating applying for a VA home loan and need to know how to lower debt-to-income ratio? This is an important topic because your debt-to-income ratio affects the kind of mortgage you will qualify for as a first time home buyer. What is the Debt-to-Income Ratio? Your debt-to-income ratio is a percentage, a number that compares a buyer’s recurring expenses and debt payments to their gross monthly income,… Read More
How Does Credit Affect Your Loan?
A person’s credit score can say a lot about them. The number is based on a person’s creditworthiness. A credit score is a good way for lenders to determine how likely a borrower is to pay back their loan. Credit scores are a useful screening tool for credit card companies, banks and mortgage lenders. All prospective home buyers are subject to credit checks to qualify for home loans. For Veterans… Read More
Five Tips for Buying Your First Home
We all hope to own a place of our own someday. Homeownership shows that you are committed to your goals. A house can also serve as an investment in your future. From a practical point of view, anyone hoping to live in a certain area for the foreseeable future should at least consider homeownership over renting. It just makes sense to build equity while you are paying for housing each… Read More
What Do First-Time Homebuyers Need to Qualify for a Home Loan?
If you have never purchased a house before then, you might be wondering about first-time homebuyer qualifications. You will be relieved to know that there are many mortgage programs available to make it easy for first-time homebuyers to purchase a house. However, if you are a Veteran or qualified active military member, you have one of the best home loan programs right at your fingertips. The VA home loan program… Read More
A Must-Have First-Time Home Buyer Checklist
A first-time home buyer checklist is a must if you want to be fully prepared for the exciting and also daunting journey of purchasing your new house. While it’s much more fun to think about paint colors and what it will feel like to walk into your new home for the first time, there are a few critical steps to take first. Good planning and patience as you go into… Read More
The Affordability of Living in Riverside County
The cost of living in Riverside County makes it an affordable place to relocate to. Median home prices make the biggest difference when comparing the cost of living in Riverside to surrounding counties such as Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego. On average, the median home cost in Riverside County is 40% less than Los Angeles County, for example. The same home that costs approximately $400,000 in Riverside… Read More
Common Mistakes First-Time Homebuyers Make
If you are preparing to invest in your first house, you will want to know about—and avoid–common first-time homebuyer mistakes. Knowing what to expect ahead of time and doing some research will help to guard against avoidable problems down the line. Here is a list of mistakes to avoid when coming up with your home buying game plan. Be Realistic About How Much You Can Afford Don’t make the… Read More
California’s VA Mortgage Loan Limites – What you Should Know
There are few tools as helpful as a mortgage loan calculator as you are starting your homebuying journey. With just a few simple pieces of information, you can quickly see how large a monthly mortgage payment you can afford. A VA mortgage calculator can be especially helpful for Veterans who are unsure how much house they can afford. SoCal VA Homes offers a number of helpful mortgage calculators. Determine how… Read More
