Blog Posts

The COST of Your Next Home Will Be LESS Than Your Parents’ Home Was

By Rick Olsen | April 12, 2018

The COST of Your Next Home Will Be LESS Than Your Parents' Home Was | Simplifying The MarketThere is no doubt that the price of a home in most regions of the country is greater now than at any time in history. However, when we look at the cost of a home, it is cheaper to own today than it has been historically. The Difference Between PRICE and COST The price of […]

Mortgage Interest Rates Have Begun to Level Off

By Rick Olsen | April 11, 2018

Mortgage Interest Rates Have Begun to Level Off | Simplifying The MarketWhether you are a buyer searching for your first home, or a homeowner looking to move up to your next home, you should pay attention to where mortgage interest rates are heading. Over the course of 2018, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey, rates have increased from 3.95% in the first week of […]

What Is Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)?

By Rick Olsen | April 10, 2018

What Is Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)? | Simplifying The MarketWhen it comes to buying a home, whether it is your first time or your fifth, it is always important to know all the facts. With the large number of mortgage programs available that allow buyers to purchase homes with down payments below 20%, you can never have too much information about Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). What […]

US Housing Market Still In ‘Buy Territory’!

By Rick Olsen | April 9, 2018

US Housing Market Still In ‘Buy Territory’! | Simplifying The MarketAccording to the Beracha, Hardin & Johnson Buy vs. Rent (BH&J) Index, the U.S. housing market has continued to move deeper into buy territory, supporting the belief that housing markets across the country remain a sound investment. The BH&J Index is a quarterly report that attempts to answer the question: In today’s housing market, is it better to […]

VA Loans by the Numbers [INFOGRAPHIC]

By Rick Olsen | April 6, 2018

Some Highlights:

Since the creation of the VA Home Loans Program, 22 million veterans have been able to achieve the American Dream of homeownership.
In 2017, $188 billion was loaned to veterans and their families through the program.
VA Purchase Loa…

House Prices: Simply a Matter of Supply & Demand

By Rick Olsen | April 5, 2018

House Prices: Simply a Matter of Supply & Demand | Simplifying The MarketWhy are home prices still rising? It is a simple answer. There are more purchasers in the market right now than there are available homes for them to buy. This is an example of the theory of “supply and demand” which is defined as: “the amount of a commodity, product, or service available and the […]

Boomerang Buyers: Most Qualify for Financing in 2-3 Years

By Rick Olsen | April 4, 2018

Boomerang Buyers: Most Qualify for Financing in 2-3 Years | Simplifying The MarketAccording to a new study from Lending Tree, Americans who have filed for bankruptcy may be able to rebuild enough credit to qualify for a home loan in as little as 2-3 years. This is in stark contrast to the belief that many have that they need to wait 7-10 years for their bankruptcies to […]

What Should You Look for In Your Real Estate Team?

By Rick Olsen | April 3, 2018

What Should You Look for In Your Real Estate Team? | Simplifying The MarketHow do you select the members of your team who are going to help make your dream of owning a home a reality? What should you be looking for? How do you know if you’ve found the right agent or lender? The most important characteristic that you should be looking for in your agent is […]

NOT Owning Your Home Can Cost You a Lot of Money!

By Rick Olsen | April 2, 2018

NOT Owning Your Home Can Cost You a Lot of Money! | Simplifying The MarketOwning a home has great financial benefits, yet many continue to rent! Today, let’s look at the financial reasons why owning a home of your own has been a part of the American Dream for as long as America has existed. Realtor.com recently reported that: “Buying remains the more attractive option in the long term – that remains […]

The Cost of Renting vs. Buying Today [INFOGRAPHIC]

By Rick Olsen | March 30, 2018

Some Highlights:

Historically, the choice between renting or buying a home has been a tough decision.
Looking at the percentage of income needed to rent a median-priced home today (28.9%) vs. the percentage needed to buy a median-priced home (15.7%)…