Why You Receive So Much Junk Mail After Closing On Your Home

Why You Receive So Much Junk Mail After Closing On Your HomeCongratulations! You have finally closed on your home loan, and you are excited to get moved in. Or, you may have just refinanced your home, and you are excited to enjoy it. Regardless, all of a sudden, you start to get a bunch of junk mail in your mailbox. It can be frustrating to sort through everything, and how did they get your information in the first place? 

Where Junk Mailers Get Your Personal Information

First, there are a few locations where junk mailers may have gotten your personal information. Once your property deed is recorded, it goes into the public record. Anyone who goes into the public record can find your name, the name of your lender, your loan amount, and your address. This is what they use to send you junk mail, and it is why you get flooded with a bunch of mail as soon as you close on a home loan.

Always Check Your Mail Before Shredding It

Even though you are going to receive a lot of junk, some of it is going to have your personal information listed on it. You should always check to see if your personal information is on the mail, and if it is, go ahead and shred it. On the other hand, you must make sure you do not throw out anything important. For example, there might be a note about property taxes, or there might be information related to changes in your loan. Always screen your mail before you shred it.

Can You Stop The Junk Mail?

It is unlikely that you will be able to stop the junk mail completely. On the other hand, there are a few locations where you might be able to opt out of some of this junk mail. If you put yourself on the do not mail registry, you may be able to reduce the amount of junk mail you receive.

Talk To A Professional To Learn More

You need to understand exactly what is happening with your home loan before you close, and that is why you should reach out to an expert who can help you. They might even be able to provide you with some advice regarding how you can stop the junk mail from coming in.

 

Should You Consider Purchasing A Newly Built Home?

Should You Consider Purchasing A Newly Built Home?If you have been in the process of looking for a home for a long time, you understand just how difficult it has been. You may have considered building your own house, but after seeing the bidding wars for land before you even start building, you may have crossed newly built homes off your list. Now, there are a few reasons why you should consider adding new homes back to your search. 

There Is An Elevated Supply Of Newly Built Homes

Right now, there is an elevated supply of newly built homes. Even though the overall inventory of available houses continues to lag behind, new single-family home inventory remains elevated. This means that builders may offer incentives to sell the homes they have already started building. They want to keep building homes, but they cannot do so until they sell the houses they have already constructed. They may even provide you with discounts on special features.

You Have Fewer Repair And Maintenance Expenses

Another benefit of purchasing a new house is that you will have fewer repair and maintenance expenses. Down the road, you may have to replace the hot water heater, the HVAC unit, and even the roof on your house; however, when a house is brand new, there is a much lower chance of something going wrong. That can free up money that you can spend in other areas.

You Customize The House To Meet Your Needs

Finally, if you purchase a new house, you also have the option to customize it to meet your needs. For example, you might want a bonus room that can serve as a separate area in which your kids can play. Or, you might want your kitchen to be laid out in a certain way. You may also want your garage to be large enough to fit multiple cars. Your builder may work with you to provide you with those specific features.

Consider Purchasing A Newly Built House

If you are having a hard time finding a resale home to meet your needs, consider working with a construction company to build your own house. It may be more affordable than you think, as builders may offer incentives if they have an oversupply.

Escrow And Your Mortgage: The Most Important Points To Know

Escrow And Your Mortgage: The Most Important Points To KnowThere are many complicated terms thrown around regarding your mortgage, and one of them is an escrow account. You will probably hear that your lender will collect some additional money every month for escrow payments. If you take a look at your mortgage statement, you will see your interest, your principal, and your escrow. What does this mean, and why do you have to pay additional money that isn’t going toward the balance of your loan?

The Definition Of An Escrow Account

An escrow account is an extra account that your lender opens on your behalf to make sure certain expenses are covered. Because your mortgage investor has a lien against the property, the mortgage company has an interest in making sure your property does not fall into foreclosure. That means that you need to stay on top of all of your expenses, including those beyond your mortgage. 

What Escrow Accounts Will Cover

Generally, your mortgage company will open an escrow account that is used to cover your home insurance premium and your real estate taxes. Generally, real estate taxes and home insurance premiums are only billed once per year. If you get a large bill for several thousand dollars, you might not be able to cover it. If you don’t pay your real estate taxes, the government could foreclose on your house. Instead of asking you to pay thousands of dollars at once, your mortgage company will open an escrow account for you, collecting small amounts of money every month to make sure you stay up to date on your home insurance taxes and premiums.

How The Balance In Your Escrow Account Is Determined

If your mortgage company is collecting additional money every month, that means there is less money for you to spend. Therefore, your mortgage company is careful only to collect as much money as required. Your escrow account balance is determined by your property taxes and insurance premiums. During an annual escrow review, your mortgage company will see if the account has a surplus balance. If it does, you will get a refund for the surplus balance. Keep in mind that if your real estate taxes or insurance premiums go up, your mortgage company may collect more money in the future. 

The Right (And Wrong) Reasons To Buy A House

The Right (And Wrong) Reasons To Buy A HouseThere are many people who dream of owning a home, but you need to purchase your home for the right reasons. Simply purchasing a house because other people are doing so is not a strong reason to make such an expensive purchase. What are some of the reasons why you should purchase a house? What are some examples of bad reasons to buy a home?

The Right Reasons To Buy A Home

There are several strong reasons why you should consider purchasing property. If you have children, you may want them to attend a specific school. Therefore, you might be interested in purchasing a house in that school district. If you plan on being in a house for several years, you may be able to financially justify this purchase.

You may also want to purchase a house because you have relatives who want to move in with you. For example, many people like to take care of their parents as they get older. If you believe you can keep your parents out of an assisted living center by allowing them to move in with you, purchasing a house might be a smart move.

The Wrong Reasons To Buy A Home

On the other hand, there are wrong reasons to purchase a house as well. For example, if you believe you should purchase a house because the value of a home is always going to go up, that is not necessarily the case. Just like other financial markets, the real estate market can rise and fall, and there is no guarantee that your house is going to go up in value.

You should also try to avoid purchasing a house just because you feel guilty about renting. If you feel like you are approaching the home purchase process with some misgivings, you need to pause and think twice. Just because you are tired of renting doesn’t mean you should purchase a house.

Think Carefully Before Making A Decision

Purchasing a house is a big decision, and you need to review the benefits and drawbacks carefully before you decide to move forward. Do not hesitate to reach out to an expert who can help you figure out if purchasing a house is right for you. 

 

What Do First-Time Homebuyers Need To Know?

What Do First-Time Homebuyers Need To Know?If you are purchasing a house for the first time, you are probably excited to imagine what your life might look like in a bunch of different houses. At the same time, the process can be a bit overwhelming. The housing market is competitive right now, the financing process can be confusing, and you might not know exactly what you are looking for. What are a few of the most important tips first-time home buyers need to know?

Reach Out To Experts For Help

First, you need to reach out to professionals who can help you during the process. For example, you should always reach out to a real estate agent with local knowledge. That way, they can help you figure out what house is best for your needs. You should also reach out to a local loan officer for a pre-approval letter. This will make your offer more competitive, and it will give you a budget with which to work.

Figure Out Your Down Payment

You need to figure out how much money you have for a down payment. If you are buying a house for the first time, you might be able to qualify for an FHA backed loan, which may allow you to purchase a house for less than 20 percent down. You may want to talk to an expert about how much money you should put towards your down payment versus how much money you should use to pay off other sources of debt. 

Keep Your Finances Stable During The Closing Process

After an offer has been accepted, you must make sure you keep your finances stable during the closing process. You do not want to pull money from your down payment for other big expenses, and you should not open any new credit cards. You should also try to avoid switching jobs during this time. Your loan officer will do a deep dive into your finances, and you must make sure everything is stable.

Get Ready To Buy A Home

Even though purchasing a house for the first time can be daunting, there are experts who can help you. As long as you have the right team behind you, you should find the right house to meet your needs.