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According to the National Association of Realtors, home values across the US increased by 4.8%, on average, throughout 2018. Here are three trends that could cause home prices to continue rising in 2019: Supply The number of homes available for sale is low in many markets. When the supply is low, sellers typically have more negotiating power than buyers. This means that sellers can ask for higher prices, and buyers may be obliged to pay those higher prices if they really want to purchase the house. Demand First-time

1 – If You’re Thinking of Buying a Home It may be worthwhile for you to consider buying a home now instead of waiting. That’s because most economists anticipate that interest rates will continue to go up throughout this year due to: Risk of higher inflation, which leads to higher interest rates A greater supply of bonds due to growing budget deficits Less demand for bonds due to the Fed winding down their bond-buying program It may benefit you to lock in today’s rates instead of waiting for

If you’ve traveled in an airplane recently, you probably went through a security check at the airport.  These security checks are required by a federal law called the USA Patriot Act.  This very same law has a provision that requires mortgage companies, banks, and financial institutions to document your source of funds when you buy a house or refinance a mortgage.  In short, the US government has recruited mortgage lenders in its fight against terrorism!  In fact, lenders are required by law to ask you for: The exact

Interest rates on home loans that conform to the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines tend to be lower than non-conforming loans.  That’s why it’s good news that the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) recently announced that the conforming loan limits have increased to $484,350 in 2019.  This is a $31,250 increase from the $453,100 loan limits of 2018.  In some higher-cost areas, the loan limits could be as high as $727,525.  Click here to view a map of all the loan limits across the US.   Here are two ways