The Top Things To Know When Refinancing Your Home

The Top Things to Know Whne RefinancingIf you are thinking about refinancing your home in the near future, you probably know that this is a great way to shorten the term of your mortgage while also saving money. At the same time, refinancing your home does not come without risks. Take a look at some of the top things you should do and what to avoid before you go through the refinancing process.

Do Check Your Credit Score

Always check your credit score before you begin the refinancing process. A surprising number of credit reports contain errors, and you need to correct any errors on your credit report before you apply for a new home loan. If you do not correct the mistakes ahead of time, you could end up with a higher interest rate on your new home loan than you should.

Don’t Forget To Think About Closing Costs

You need to consider closing costs before you apply for a home refinance. Just because interest rates have gone down doesn’t necessarily mean you will save money. In general, if you can get a home loan that is at least a half of a percentage point lower, you should save money when compared to the closing costs you will owe; however, you should always do the math to calculate your break-even point. 

Do Think About The Equity You Will Have Left

If you complete a cash-out refinance, you need to calculate the amount of equity you will have left after the refinancing process is complete. While you might want to conduct a cash-out refinance to cover a major home repair or renovation, you do not necessarily want to completely deplete the equity in your home. You could end up with a very high-interest rate if you do so.

Don’t Forget To Talk To Your Lender About All the Options

When you refinance your home, you have multiple options available. You can tap into the equity in your home, reduce the size of your mortgage payments, or shorten the term of your loan. You should think about your goals and decide which option is best for your needs. Always talk to an expert before completing the refinance process.

A Home Loan For an AirBnB Property: What To Know

A Home Loan For an AirBnB Property: What To KnowIf you are looking for a way to diversify your investments, you might be thinking about buying a rental property. One of the most common rental options is AirBnB. Given the number of people who use AirBnB, this could be a great way to generate a steady stream of short-term renters. On the other hand, can you take out a loan to buy an AirBnB property?

There Are No Mortgages Specifically For AirBnB Properties

First, understand that there are no home loans available specifically for AirBnB or VRBO properties. If you go to a lender and ask for an AirBnB loan, they will direct you to a traditional investment property mortgage. Regardless of whether you want to do short-term loans through AirBnB or a long-term loan that you handle on your own (or through a formal property management company), the mortgage you will apply for is the same. What are the options you have available?

Options For An AirBnB Property

If you want to rent out an AirBnB space, you have a few options. First, you could always consider renting out a room in your primary residence. This could be a less expensive way for you to start generating some income through AirBnB.

Or, you can apply for a traditional investment property loan through a mortgage company. This loan uses the value of the investment property as collateral. The process of applying for this new mortgage will be similar to the process of applying for your first mortgage, but the lender may require you to put more money down. 

Finally, you could also move and buy a multi-family property, such as a duplex. Then, you could live in one of the units while renting out the others. This could be a nice middle ground between the other options.

Consider Using AirBnB To Generate Rental Income With Your Own Rental Property

These are a few of the top options available if you want to use AirBnB to generate rental income. It is one of the most popular rental apps, and the process of applying for a loan for an AirBnB property is the same as applying for a loan for any other type of investment property. 

Updating Your Home: The Top Options

Update Your Home Without RenovatingIf you want to improve your quality of life while also increasing the value of your home, you might be interested in updating it. You probably want to live in a home that is well-designed, and a prospective buyer wants the same thing. Unfortunately, performing a major renovation can be time-consuming and expensive, but there are more cost-effective ways to update your home. What are a few of the top ideas?

Paint Your House

One of the first ways you can update your home is to give it a fresh paint job. If you have an older home, a fresh coat of paint can go a long way toward making your home feel younger. Furthermore, there are still homes that have very outdated color schemes, and some of them even use wallpaper. Right now, neutral colors, such as grey, are very popular among homebuyers. In addition, neutral colors are very easy to match with furniture. 

Update Your Lighting

You can also update your home by improving the lighting system. If your lights are not that strong, certain rooms might feel small and cramped. On the other hand, a room that has plenty of natural light feels much more open and welcoming. Even something as simple as swapping out your light bulbs for LED bulbs can go a long way toward making your home feel more inviting. New light bulbs might also use less electricity, which can help you save money.

Swap Out The Handles And Cabinet Pulls

The kitchen is the heart of the home, so you should consider updating this room as well. You do not need to swap out all of the appliances and cabinets. Even something as simple as updating the handles and cabinet pulls can make your house look young and fresh. For example, stainless steel, aged copper, and brushed nickel are a few of the most popular materials for cabinet and drawer pulls. 

Get A Landscaper 

Finally, you can also update your home by hiring a landscaper. You may want to start by mowing your lawn, but you can also make your home look younger and more welcoming by planting a few flowers and bushes. This is also a great way to make your home more sustainable without breaking the bank.