Mortgage

Once you've found the perfect Alaskan home, made an offer, and had it accepted, you'll need to make it through the mortgage closing before you are handed your keys. You may be anxious to officially become a homeowner, but the time it takes to close is dependent on a variety of factors— some of which are in your control!

If you're planning to buy a new home in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Eagle River, Palmer, Wasilla, North Pole, and beyond, you'll want to familiarize yourself with the following things that can slow down your mortgage closing:

Making big purchases
You may be excited about your new home, but resist the urge to buy new furniture and decor until after the closing. Making big purchases on credit cards can signal a red flag to lenders who will pull your credit just before closing to ensure it is still...

You may have heard that pre-approval is a great first step in the homebuying process. But why is it so important? When looking for a home, the temptation to fall in love with a house that’s outside your budget is very real. So, before you start shopping around for homes in Alaska, it’s helpful to know your price range, what you’re comfortable within a monthly mortgage payment, and ultimately how much money you can borrow for your loan. Pre-approval from a lender is the only way to do this.

According to a recent survey from Realtor.com, many buyers are making the mistake of skipping the pre-approval step in the homebuying process. In fact, only half obtained a pre-approval letter before beginning their home search, which means half are missing this...

While you may be watching mortgage rates rise (the average 30-year fixed rate currently hovering around 7 percent) and the number of homes to choose from on the lower end, there is one important concept to consider— buying a home in Alaska is still a better investment than renting.

We know that buying a home can feel like a major obstacle for many first-timers in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Eagle River, Palmer, Wasilla, North Pole, and beyond, but passing on the opportunity this year could create an even bigger hurdle later as rents will only continue to rise and the days of the 3 percent mortgage rate may be long behind us.

Below are three reasons why homeownership...

You may be watching both home prices and mortgage rates tick upwards in today’s unpredictable real estate market, wondering if buying a home right now is your best bet. While it may be an expensive endeavor, your goal of owning a home in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Eagle River, Palmer, Wasilla, North Pole, and the surrounding areas is not out of reach.

There are many strategies for saving money and staying on budget while buying a home in Alaska and as your local real estate experts, we are listing four to try below. Continue on for top tactics for becoming a homeowner in the current real estate market.

Get a Low or No Down Payment Loan

If the thought of putting 20 percent down on a home causes you stress or makes you want to toss your homebuyer dreams out the window, take a deep breath....

Did you know misconceptions and myths are what holds would-be homebuyers back most in Alaska? Buying a home is indeed one of the biggest steps you will ever take, but don’t allow what you assume is true or required to become fact without first doing the research.

As your local real estate experts in Anchorage, Eagle River, Palmer, Wasilla, North Pole, and the surrounding areas, Madden Real Estate is happy to help you clear a few things up! Below are three myths surrounding mortgages that may be keeping you from purchasing your dream home in Alaska:

Myth: Your best credit scores will be used
When you apply jointly with another borrower for a mortgage in Alaska, your lender will...

Becoming a homeowner in the Fairbanks, Anchorage, Eagle River, Palmer, Wasilla, and North Pole areas is exciting, but the thought of paying on your mortgage for the next 30 years may be anything but that. Not to mention, there are many other expenses associated with your home purchase— the inspection, the down payment, the closing costs.

Alaskan homeowners can easily feel overwhelmed, but as your local real estate experts, Madden Real Estate is happy to provide a few ways to keep those expenses down and pay off your mortgage early!

Make an extra payment
One of the simplest ways to start paying down your mortgage is to make one extra payment each month. Most lenders today do not have pre-payment...

With mortgage rates still at historically low rates and home values rising, many Alaksan residents are currently contemplating a move— even in the midst of the current, and somewhat uncertain, economic climate. However, if you've been wondering, now is indeed the time to purchase a home with more storage space, more bedrooms, more overall square footage or even a home in a better neighborhood. 

As your real estate agents in Fairbanks, Eagle River, Palmer, Wasilla, North Pole, and beyond, Madden Real Estate is happy to help you find your bigger, better dream home, but there are just a few factors to consider in your decision to move up.

The right mortgage
When moving up in ...

The idea of cutting your monthly mortgage payment down by refinancing your loan may sound intriguing to you as an Alaskan homeowner, but there is much more to consider before diving in. In fact, there are cases in which refinancing does not truly pay off for the homeowner. But don't worry! As your local real estate experts, you can count on Madden Real Estate to help you make the best decision for your situation.

Below are four factors to consider before making the decision to refinance your mortgage:

Refinancing is not free
Just as you likely paid some closing costs when you purchased your home in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Eagle River, Palmer, Wasilla, North Pole, and the surrounding areas, you will be required to again...

For homebuyers in Alaska this summer, saving for the down payment is one of the biggest hurdles in front of the finish line. In the past, we've shared how to start saving for the down payment, but you might be wondering where to keep the money.

Below are four options for risk-free accounts in which you can keep your down payment. You may sacrifice return, but you can be assured the money will be there when you need it to purchase your home in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Eagle River, Palmer, Wasilla, or the surrounding areas!

Online savings account
Compare online rates to determine which online savings account is best, but this may be the easiest option for moving around funds. You can track the money easily via online banking and set up transfers in a snap. You also don't need to worry about the bank not being open when you need to pull your down payment.

...

When it comes to buying a home in Alaska, you would be surprised by the number of potential buyers that sit back because they do not think they will qualify for a mortgage. However, the reality is that qualifying for a mortgage is simpler than you think and as a result, you are missing out on the many benefits of homeownership!

If you're sick of renting, given the increasing costs each year, and are ready to settle into a place of your own, now is the time! Don't allow yourself to put off homeownership any longer, just research the facts. Consider the following your checklist of what it takes to qualify for a mortgage:

1. A Down Payment
Did you know nearly half of all ...

While we are only days into the new season, this spring is already projected as a stand-out period for first-time buyers to enter the real estate market. Mortgage rates are still historically low, home prices are rising in addition to rents and first-timers are ready to invest into something of their very own in Alaska.

But when you are new to purchasing a home, you can overlook the many ways you can potentially save money in the process. Keep the following in mind as you house hunt this spring and as always, do not hesitate to reach out to our experts at Madden Real Estate with any questions!

Look past cosmetic issues
Many first-time buyers in ...

If you're just beginning the home buying process in Alaska, your first step will be getting pre-approved with a local lender. Next up? Finding your dream home and submitting a mortgage application to keep the purchase moving forward. However, many buyers find their application in the rejection pile due to factors they weren't aware of at the time. 

As your local real estate experts, Madden Real Estate has provided below four reasons why your mortgage application may be rejected so you can be sure to avoid them:

You don't have enough credit
While poor credit can put you in a sticky situation with lenders, not enough credit can do just the same. It is essential to build your credit history over...

It is not uncommon for Alaskan homebuyers to sit on the fence, wondering if there will be a better time to purchase a home down the road. Will you be able to get a better deal on a property in a few months? Will the real estate market slow down? These are all valid questions, but it's also important to consider the flip side and what it could cost you if you choose to wait to buy a home.

In today's market, interest rates continue to rise and waiting as little as a few months could cost you more than you think in your monthly mortgage payment. According to real estate news outlet Keeping Current Matters, the cost of waiting to buy is defined as the additional funds it would take to buy a home if prices and interest rates were to increase over a period of time.

For instance, in today's real estate market with an interest rate of 4.4 percent on a ...

With spring just around the corner and the Alaska real estate market preparing to pick up for the busy season ahead, there are numerous buyers on the fence wondering about their first step. Should I get pre-approved? Should we wait until we have a 20 percent down payment?

All of the questions running through your head are important to answer to get a better handle on the mortgage process, and as your local real estate experts, we're breaking down the steps you should avoid so you can embark on your homebuying journey with few hiccups along the way.

Do Not: Wait until you have a 20 percent down payment
Mortgage rates today are still hovering around historic lows— but not for much longer!...

The process of buying a home in Alaska can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially if it's your first time conducting a home search. There are many details to get in order, from the number of bedrooms you need to the best location, and it is easy for a few to fall through the cracks. One in particular that is commonly overlooked is the amount you will owe in closing costs. 

Many first-time homebuyers in Alaska are not aware of closing costs, but as your local experts in Anchorage, Eagle River, Palmer, Wasilla, North Pole and the surrounding communities, you can count on Madden Real Estate to ensure you know exactly what you're in for in today's real estate market.

What are closing costs?

Closing costs are...

Once you've made the decision to buy a home in Alaska, your next few steps will likely be entirely financial. From making a budget to going over your finances to meeting with a lender and getting pre-approved, every cost involved with your Alaskan home purchase should be considered to avoid any surprises.

However, many new homeowners in Fairbanks, Anchorage, North Pole, Wasilla, Eagle River, and Palmer often find there are a few hidden costs that they didn't account for going into the process. As your local real estate experts, you can count on Madden Real Estate to fully prepare you for buying...

One of the first steps you will take on your homebuying journey in Alaska is meeting with a lender to discuss your eligibility to take on a mortgage loan. You will likely be given a few quotes based on different loan products, each varying by terms, conditions, and interest rates. A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is a common choice for homebuyers in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Eagle River, Palmer, Wasilla, North Pole and the surrounding areas, however, there are a few reasons why this mortgage may not be for you.

As you decide which mortgage may be right for you this year, consider the following reasons to choose a loan other than the 30-year fixed-rate...

The summer season is upon us here in Alaska and with the market (and the weather!) beginning to heat up, many more buyers are out and about browsing available homes! But once you've found your dream home in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Eagle River, Wasilla, Palmer, or North Pole and you've moved on to applying for a mortgage, you may find that there is one factor that is stalling your loan approval— debt.

As we have mentioned in past blog posts, it's important to groom your credit score as much as possible before applying for a mortgage, but also to pay down high interest debt. There are a few common types of debt that will affect your mortgage approval and as your local real estate experts, we've listed them below!

Student Loans
Student loans—while considered unsecured debt—are...