SIRVA Mortgage Blog

So, you’ve bought a home…now what? It doesn’t come with a manual on how to take care of it. You’ve probably heard your friends complain about unexpected issues and catastrophes that end up costing them an arm and a leg – which they chalk up to “home ownership”. Well, what if you could avoid some of these big issues by staying on top of your home maintenance – would you do it? Of course you would. So, grab your calendar and a pen and write down reminders for yourself.

Congratulations are in order if you’re about to embark on the exciting adventure of homeownership! If you’re trying to figure out where to start, let us help! There are a few things you can do to get yourself organized before you even think about talking to a mortgage consultant or a real estate agent.

Lots of people talk about getting second mortgages. But second mortgages, while they have some attractive features, aren’t always the best option. You and only you can decide whether a second mortgage is right for you. These suggestions may help.

If you’re thinking about going the For Sale by Owner (FSBO) route or you’re trying to prep your home for professional pictures – either way, you’ll need a few photography tips in order to show your home in the best light (literally).

If you’re extra budget conscious, you might be thinking about selling your home on your own. Before you make a final decision on whether you will use a real estate agent or not – you should consider a few things first.

Buying a home can seem mysterious. There’s a whole new lexicon of words that you need to learn in order to make sure you’re making the best decision. Here’s one that people often don’t understand clearly – the difference between APR and loan rate.

If you’re thinking about relocating your family to a new home, you are probably feeling a mix of emotions. Moving can be an exciting time to start fresh, but it can also come with its share of worries and stresses. One of the biggest worries is that you might move into a home and realize that there are big, costly problems with the home (that your inspector didn’t catch).

If you’re going back and forth in your mind on buying a home, here are a few things to consider when weighing the pros and cons. Thank you to National Association of Realtors (NAR) for providing us with these graphics and data.

Juggling between buying and selling a home can get tricky at times. If you need the funds from your home sale to purchase your next house, the timing of your home sale can be critical to meeting deadlines. Here are some creative ways to get to your final destination unscathed.

Getting ready to dive into the world of home ownership? Then you’re probably looking closely at your budget and bank account. One of the best ways to save money, when buying a home is to stash away as much money down as possible, so that you can avoid PMI and reduce your loan amount.

You probably know that your credit score is something that all mortgage companies will look at when you apply for a loan. But, how does your credit score and credit checking actually affect buying a home? Here are a few of the basic things to know before you apply for a mortgage.

During the spring and summer months, you probably plan to spend a lot of time outside. As you move your nighttime hours to the deck, patio or screened in porch, you might be getting motivated to spruce it up a bit. Here are some ways to make something beautiful out of the ordinary.

It’s that time of year again; time to think about spring cleaning. If you have enough to get rid of, you might be considering a garage sale. Before you jump in headfirst, be smart and learn from others’ past mistakes.

The basic requirements for canceling private mortgage insurance (PMI) are these:

The appraisal process can be frustrating. It never seems like your home is valued where you think it should be valued. It’s hard (as a seller) not to feel like the whole thing is “rigged” by the buyer.

You might feel like you’re mentally ready to sell your home, but is your home ready? Look at this quick checklist of things that you shouldn’t forget before you let potential buyers check out your house.

If you’re like most people, you have dreams – whether it’s going to Italy, becoming the CEO of your company, starting a non-profit, sky-diving or just plain old making a difference while you’re here on this Earth. Whatever your aspirations may be — it might require some extra cash.

When selling your home, it’s important to think about your prospective buyers and how you should market differently to each group. Even if you think your home would be better suited for a baby boomer or retiree, you might be surprised to find out your home could be attractive to a single Millennial. Here’s how your Millennial marketing plan might need to be updated.

When determining if you should rent or buy – you’ll need to look at all the expenses associated with homeownership. Once you have the dollars and cents, you can calculate how many years it will take for you to break-even on buying versus renting.

When moving, upgrading, downsizing or remodeling – there’s one question you’re probably asking yourself…can I do this myself or should I hire a professional? Here are some of the questions you should ask yourself when making this important and (possibly) expensive decision.