A seller should never underestimate the importance of making a good first impression on a potential buyer. Here are a few simple tips that can help increase your home’s appeal and value: An Appealing Exterior: Keep the front walkway swept Remove newspapers, bikes and toys from the front walk or yard Park extra cars away [...]

Your first step in the process of buying a home is to determine how much you can afford to borrow. A basic rule of thumb is that a lender will want your monthly mortgage payment to be no more than 29% of your monthly gross income. Mortgages and Home Buying Programs There are many different [...]

Your lender will require you to get an appraisal of the house you want to buy, to make sure it is worth the money that you are borrowing. You may select your own appraiser, or you may ask your real estate broker to help you with this task. Homeowner’s Insurance Lenders require that you have [...]

Once you have made an offer on a home, you will need to schedule a home inspection, conducted by an independent authorized inspector. It is extremely import to hire a reputable inspector so that you know exactly what you are buying. Do not hesitate to ask friends, family, and co-workers for advice. If you are [...]

When it comes time to close on your new Home your lender will require that you have homeowner’s insurance, to protect both your interests and theirs. We encourage you to contact our insurance division for a free no obligation personalized quotation for this very important coverage. The Slocum Insurance Agency is an Independent Insurance Agency [...]

Finally, you are ready for the closing. Be sure to read everything before you sign! You should have both your real estate broker and an attorney present at the closing to ensure that all is in order.

Use our free online mortgage rate tool to find rates at local banks in your area. Today’s Mortgage Rates