Category: Buying a Home

Not only has the housing market made a strong economic recovery, but also in consumer and expert confidence in home-ownership as an investment. Not Because of a Difference in Lifestyle In the New York Times, an editorial entitled, “Homeownership and Wealth Creation” explains: “Homeownership long has been central to Americans’ ability to amass wealth; even with the substantial decline in wealth […]

The post Homeowner Average Net Worth 3,600% Higher Than Renter appeared first on Benchmark Mortgage.

Find A Great Real Estate Agent The Easy Way

by I Am Benchmark

August 21, 2015

Looking to buy or sell your home? You may have noticed the vast amount of information available in the news and on the internet about real estate. When trying to make sense of it all, one can easily get overwhelmed or confused. You need an agent who can help navigate the current housing market. If you are looking to sell, you […]

The post Find A Great Real Estate Agent The Easy Way appeared first on Benchmark Mortgage Blog.

Renting vs Buying a Home and Accumulating Wealth

by I Am Benchmark

July 1, 2015

Does it make more financial sense to buy or to rent? Is the American dream of home ownership still alive? That depends. Let’s explore renting vs buying a home and the effects on family wealth. Recently, the BH&J Buy vs. Rent Index seems to conclude that renting is surpassing buying as the better choice. Is […]

The post Renting vs Buying a Home and Accumulating Wealth appeared first on Benchmark Mortgage Blog.

What Every First Time Home Buyer Should Know

by Benchmark

June 18, 2014

If you’re planning on buying your very first home, chances are you are not taking the decision lightly, and for good reason. You should conduct as much research as possible about the process before you commit to your first home. Here are some things that every first time home buyer should know before purchasing a […]

Lesson: Home Insurance 101

by Benchmark

June 10, 2014

One aspect of buying a home that people don’t pay enough attention to is homeowner’s insurance. Although lenders require everyone buying a house to get some insurance covering basic risks like theft and vandalism, fire and smoke and other common forms of unintentional damage, such insurance is usually inadequate for your long term needs. Adequate […]

Top 10 Mortgage Tips

by Benchmark

March 31, 2014

When getting a mortgage, you should do your research and know how to proceed wisely. For most inexperienced buyers, this is hard. However, if you can follow these top 10 mortgage tips for borrowers, you will land the best mortgage at the lowest APR. 1. Document Above all else, when you want to borrow a […]

Top 10 Tips When Building A New Home

by Benchmark

March 5, 2014

Top 10 Tips When Building A New Home A lot of people don’t want to buy a house that’s on the market. They want their house to truly be their own. In some of these cases, these people will probably look into building their own home. This is an option that some people may not […]

How much cash do I need to buy a house?

by Benchmark

February 20, 2014

One of the first questions potential home buyers ask is “how much cash do I need to buy a house?” Most of the time, some cash will be needed for a down payment and closing costs. The exact amount of cash will depend on several factors, including the type of loan. Conventional loans A conventional […]

First Time Homebuyer Tips from 7 Top Mortgage Professionals

by Benchmark

January 6, 2014

Purchasing your first home will be one of the most exciting times of your life. It will most likely be the largest investment that you ever make. It is where you will entertain friends and family, and it is where you will go to rest and relax each evening. With so much at stake, it […]

What Is An Escrow Account?

by Benchmark

January 2, 2014

Often you will hear the term “escrow account” when applying for a mortgage. Often the criteria for whether or not an account is required is tied to the percentage of down payment made for the mortgage. What is an escrow account? Your lender will add on an amount to your monthly mortgage payment which flows […]