It's always a good idea to check your credit score before buying a home in California, especially if you plan to use a mortgage loan. Among other things, it could help you identify and fix credit-related issues that might be…
In a previous blog post, we explained what private mortgage insurance is and how it affects you as a home buyer. Today, we'll explore the process of cancelling private mortgage insurance (PMI) in California. In short: Homeowners with a PMI…
The median home price for the state of California recently rose above the $800,000 threshold for the first time ever. This is the result of double-digit annual price gains for both of the past two years. According to Zillow, California's…
The home appraisal is an important part of the VA loan process in California. It allows mortgage lenders to assess the current market value of the property being purchased, based on input from an approved home appraiser. Now, it seems…
Home buyers in California sometimes confuse the home inspection with the home appraisal, and vice versa. This subject can be especially confusing for first-time buyers who have never experienced either process. To add to the confusion, there are certain types…
Oh no, not mortgage insurance! California home buyers often react this way when they learn they have to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI). And that's understandable. In California, PMI can increase the size of a homeowner's mortgage payment by…
Is now a good time to buy a house in the San Francisco Bay Area? This is one of the top questions among would-be home buyers in our region, and rightfully so. The Bay Area real estate market has gone through…
In a previous article, we addressed the misconception that VA loans require a down payment. (The short version is that they don't.) Today, we'll focus on another common misconception about VA loans in California -- mortgage insurance. Here's the most…
For many months now, we've been reporting on the tight supply conditions within the San Francisco Bay Area housing market. But a new report issued this month showed that the Bay Area real estate scene is starting to experience some inventory…
California mortgage rates have followed a roller-coaster path over the past few weeks, rising from near record lows to their highest level in over ten years. Now, it seems like mortgage rates in California and nationwide might be leveling off…
