Author Archives: Sabrina Mapes

We’ve asked both to share the pros and cons of talking to one before the other. As you begin your home search, you may ask yourself: should I talk to an agent, or a lender first? The truth is there’s not really a right or a wrong answer. We spoke to some agents and lenders […]

If you’re thinking about moving, maybe one of these spots will fetch your attention. When people are looking to move, they tend to look at local schools, good restaurants, and accessible entertainment. If a beloved dog is a part of the family, that changes things. Those people may be looking for good dog parks, friendly […]

Saving more for a down payment can open up more affordable options for home buyers, especially if interest rates stay above 7%. Down payments have always been important when it comes to home buying. In the current market — where interest rates are high and unpredictable, and home values are mostly stable or rising — […]

Ready to start touring homes? Save yourself time by using our house hunting checklist and document your visits in your Touring Hub on the Zillow app. You may have been pre-approved and know what you can afford, so it’s time to take your home search to the next phase. But the hunt for your home will stall rapidly […]

When you visit a lender online or in person, you’ll see some advertised mortgage interest rates. But will you qualify for those rates? Why or why not? It’s all about risk. The higher the repayment risk, the higher the interest rate the lender will charge. Lenders will determine your loan interest rate based on several […]

You may have been pre-approved and know what you can afford, so it’s time to take your home search to the next phase. But the hunt for your home will stall rapidly if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for — or perhaps more importantly, what your non-negotiables are. It’s easy to talk in generalities about wanting […]

Even seemingly small changes in mortgage rates, like 1% or 0.5%, can make a big difference in what you pay over the life of your loan. When you’re sizing up a home to buy, it’s tempting to focus only on the price to decide whether it fits your budget. But current mortgage rates are an […]

Some improvements have limited appeal to home buyers, and may even affect your sale price when you go to sell. One of the best things about owning a home is the ability to change things up, whether it’s knocking down a kitchen wall to open up space or filling your backyard with your favorite fruit […]

Wondering if home solar is right for you, but don’t know where to start? This guide can help. Solar power can be an attractive prospect for homeowners and shoppers. Home solar technology offers electricity bill savings, more energy independence, and resilience in the face of an increasing rate of power outages. For the environmentally conscious, […]

Plus six things to do every month. Tackling a seasonal home maintenance to-do list is not the way most of us want to spend a Saturday. “I can’t wait to flush out the hot water heater today,”‘” said no one, ever. But for most of us, our home is our biggest investment. Maintaining it is a […]