Once you get through the home buying process, it’s time to move on to the next big thing: moving! It can be a stressful and tedious event, and you want to avoid scams. Whether you bought a home across the country or just a few blocks away, here are five tips to choosing reliable movers.

Coming Soon listings continue to become more common as the local housing inventory tightens.  It causes concern among buyers, sellers and real estate professionals.  It has prompted real estate commissions across the country to issue guidance on the topic. Here’s what you need to know to keep informed and to understand all sides of the equation.

When you visit a public open house and an agent asks you to sign the "sign-in sheet" what should you say? What should you write down? What are the rules for who can represent you if you decide that the Open House is, in fact, your future Dream House? 

Many times the agent holding the open house states the seller is requiring a list of everyone who walked through the house as a measurement of interest and to get feedback on the price and condition of the property. Some agents state that their company policy, brokerage and/or seller require the list of visitors for security reasons in case something ends up missing from the house.  

While these are legitimate reasons, if you have ever provided your real contact information at an open house, you have probably experienced being contacted for something other than the explained reason. Most likely you were solicited to see if you wanted an agent to show you a different house or if you needed pre-approved for a mortgage.

Components of a Mortgage Payment: PITIA

• P stands for Principal or the amount you borrowed.
• I stands for Interest.  Lenders charge interest for the money you are borrowing. The interest generally reflects prevailing market rates based on investor demands.
• T is for property taxes.
• I represents Homeowners Insurance premiums (hazard insurance), which is mandatory.
• A stands for Association, as in homeowners association. For some residential properties, HOA dues are required.

Fixed Rate vs. Adjustable Rate

• With a fixed-rate loan, the interest rate charged by the lender never changes over the life of the loan. That means the P (principal) and I (interest rate) portion of your PITIA payment will not change. However the T (taxes) and I (insurance) portions may change if your taxes or insurance premium change. Many people prefer the stability of a fixed-rate loan.
• With an adjustable-rate loan, the interest rate can increase or decrease. There are a large variety of adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs).

Government Loans vs. Conventional Loans

• Government loans include VA loans guaranteed by the Veterans Administration, FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loans administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and USDA Rural Loans insured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• If a loan is not insured or guaranteed by a government agency, it is considered to be a conventional loan. These loans are often purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, although this purchase is typically invisible to the member. If you have less than a 20 percent down payment, you will likely need private MI. The advantage of MI is that you need less upfront cash and can buy your home sooner.

Length/Term of the Mortgage

Summer is peak home buying season and that means the competition can be fierce. Use these five tips to stay ahead of the game and land the home of your dreams.

Can you schedule a showing for a home in Pending status? Does the Under Contract status mean that there is a chance the current offer on a home may fall through? Will the seller consider a back up offer from you in the case that the current buyer is unable to sell their current home soon? These are all fantastic questions and each property status requires these questions to be addressed in different possible ways.

All the planning, house hunting and waiting are over. The final step in the home-buying process is closing on your new place. Before you get the keys for your new home and officially call it your own, you have one more sprint ahead of you: paperwork. When you know what to expect, the process won’t seem so overwhelming. All parties involved want your closing to be just what you imagined: a joyous occasion with little or no hiccups.

Once you’ve found the right home, it’s time to get serious! That means submitting an offer and signing a contract agreement with the sellers.  Recently about one-third of homes nationwide sold in less than 30 days. Homebuyers are having a tough time simply making offers before their potential dream homes are snatched up by other buyers.

Though your search for homes may start online, it won’t end there. You can do a lot of research on your own. The National Association of Realtors reported that 68% of home buyers found the home they ended up buying on their phone last year, but once you find your perfect home, you will need the help of an expert when it comes to actually securing it.  A buyer’s agent can help you navigate through the home-buying process. When it comes to making an offer, your agent will negotiate on your behalf so you don’t pay a penny more than you have to.

The best way to buy a home is with cash. It may sound crazy, but people like you do it every day!  If that’s not feasible for you, you’ll need a home mortgage loan.   Looking to stand out from the buying crowd and land the perfect home? Instantly distance yourself with an underwritten letter of pre-approval.