Change the Feel of Your Room for $500 or Less Using Rugs

Change the Feel of Your Room for $500 or Less Using Rugs

Everyone is looking for easy ways to spruce up their home. As spring approaches, those warm, cozy rooms that were so inviting in the cold can look cluttered and dark. If redecorating every season isn’t in your budget – and how many people can – 

Understanding FHA-Approved Condos

Understanding FHA-Approved Condos

In order to use FHA financing to buy a condo, the condominium project must meet the eligibility requirements of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). FHA-insured loans offer some significant benefits for the home buyer, such as lower down payment requirements and reduced lender fees, and 

FICO Shock? Your Lender Can Help with a Rapid Rescore

FICO Shock? Your Lender Can Help with a Rapid Rescore

If you’re ready to buy a new home, you know that a good FICO score is critical to the process. Your FICO affects not just your ability to buy a new home, but the interest rate and fees you’ll pay for the new loan. Often, 

Home Security Basics

Home Security Basics

News reports all over the country are filled with stories of rising crime. Homeowners and business owners alike are concerned and looking for better ways to safeguard their properties and lives. Fortunately, there is a wide variety of options available on the market; from full-service 

A Background on Credit Scoring Models

A Background on Credit Scoring Models

Homebuyers who have a better credit history over a longer stretch of time than a shorter one may benefit by a change to the credit-scoring model used by Experian. Up until about 2016, mortgage lenders didn’t use trended credit data and didn’t differentiate between types 

Moving in the Middle of the School Year – A Good Idea?

Moving in the Middle of the School Year – A Good Idea?

When you want to move, there is no guarantee that things will happen quickly. You might find your dream house in a few days, secure a mortgage and be able to move in right away. On the other hand, it might take months to find 

Realtor® Safety- We Need to Set the Benchmark

Realtor® Safety- We Need to Set the Benchmark

  As Realtors, were in a high-risk profession, and its not getting any safer so what can we, at Benchmark Realty, do to help you stay safe? We really want to set the benchmark for Realtor safety, not because we are trying to sell something, 

5 First Time Homebuyer Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

5 First Time Homebuyer Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

  See full story on benchmarkrealtyblog.com

Top School Districts Lift Home Prices

Top School Districts Lift Home Prices

    Homes within highly rated school districts tend to have a higher median sales price, sell for a greater percentage over the list price, and sell faster, according to a new study by the real estate brokerage Redfin. Highly rated public schools were found 

Why 20% of Households Are Throwing Away $11,500

Why 20% of Households Are Throwing Away $11,500

  About 20 percent of households who would benefit from refinancing are not doing itand they could be losing out on lessening their mortgage payments by thousands of dollars over the life of the loan,according to a new report from the National Bureau of Economic