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First-time home buyer guides, helpful mortgage tips, and easy-to-follow articles to make you a better first-time buyer.

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First-Time Home Buyer Tips From a 20-Year Mortgage Professional
Buying Soon
10 min read

First-Time Home Buyer Tips From a 20-Year Mortgage Professional

This article is a collection of real advice I've shared with actual first-time buyers in a 20-plus-year career in mortgage…

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 Fix Your Credit Score To Buy a Home in 6 Months
Buying Soon
5 min read

Fix Your Credit Score To Buy a Home in 6 Months

When buying your first home, you may need to increase your credit score quickly, so here is how to fix your credit score in six…

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 Where To Get A Mortgage Pre-Approval
Buying Soon
8 min read

Where To Get A Mortgage Pre-Approval

Tough market? No problem. Here's what today's home buyers are doing to get a rock-solid mortgage…

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 Breaking a Lease to Buy a House
Buying Soon
7 min read

Breaking a Lease to Buy a House

This guide discusses breaking a lease when you're ready to buy a house to help renters make better home-buying…

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 Is It A Good Time To Buy A House [May 2024]
Buying Soon
4 min read

Is It A Good Time To Buy A House [May 2024]

This unbiased article examines current mortgage rates, recent home values, and market sentiment to show why May 2024 looks like a good time to buy a…

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 What Is the Cheapest Type of House to Build? Alternative Homes and Building Materials
Buying Soon
11 min read

What Is the Cheapest Type of House to Build? Alternative Homes and Building Materials

The cheapest type of house to build is a rectangular tiny home — though your location, materials, and more can impact costs. $287,466 is the…

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 14 Questions to Ask at an Open House
Buying Soon
9 min read

14 Questions to Ask at an Open House

Open houses are a valuable tool for home buyers. You can view a property in a low-pressure environment, and you can usually take as much time as you…

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 How to Make an Offer on a House in 8 Simple Steps
Buying Soon
1 min read

How to Make an Offer on a House in 8 Simple Steps

Making a great offer is essential to buying the home you…

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 How Long is a Mortgage Pre-Approval Good For?
Buying Soon
4 min read

How Long is a Mortgage Pre-Approval Good For?

Most mortgage pre-approvals are good for 90 days, and they’re simple to refresh at any time. The mortgage pre-approval is your first big step…

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 LPMI vs. PMI: Is Lender-Paid Private Mortgage Insurance Right For you?
Buying Soon
1 min read

LPMI vs. PMI: Is Lender-Paid Private Mortgage Insurance Right For you?

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is required with conventional mortgage loans when you put down less than 20 percent on your home purchase. PMI helps…

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 How to Move Out of Your Parents’ House Quickly
Buying Soon
1 min read

How to Move Out of Your Parents’ House Quickly

Moving out of your parents’ home is a major life…

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 26 Architectural House Styles: Homes That Built American Neighborhoods
Buying Soon
13 min read

26 Architectural House Styles: Homes That Built American Neighborhoods

There are 26 popular house styles in the U.S. today. See them in pictures and learn how the experts decorate each type.…

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 14 Energy-Efficient Home Features to Look For When House Hunting
Buying Soon
1 min read

14 Energy-Efficient Home Features to Look For When House Hunting

An energy-efficient home is designed to conserve and reduce energy use. A home’s construction, appliances, and major features can all impact…

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 100 Best Cities For Young Adults and Professionals
Buying Soon
13 min read

100 Best Cities For Young Adults and Professionals

Young professionals can work and live almost anywhere in 2024. We looked at every city in the U.S. to rank the the best cities for young adults.…

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