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Tuesday, April 22, 2025   /   by Joyce Dungca

What You Can Do When Mortgage Rates Are a Moving Target

Have you seen where mortgage rates have been lately? One day they go down a little. The next day, they go back up again. It can feel confusing and even frustrating if you’re trying to decide whether now’s a good time to buy a home.
Take a look at the graph below. It uses data from Mortgage News Daily to show that after a relatively stable month of March, mortgage rates have been on a bit of a roller coaster ride in April:
This kind of up-and-down volatility is expected when economic changes are happening.
And that’s one of the reasons why trying to time the market isn’t your best move. You can’t control what happens with mortgage rates. But you’re not powerless. Even with all the economic uncertainty right now, there are things you can do.
You can control your credit score, loan type, and loan term. That way, you can get the best rate possible in today’s market.
Your Credit Score
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  team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, mortgage rates, credit score, housing loan

Tuesday, January 14, 2025   /   by Joyce Dungca

The Truth About Credit Scores and Buying a Home

Your credit score plays a big role in the homebuying process. It’s one of the key factors lenders look at to determine which loan options you qualify for and what your terms might be. But there’s a myth about credit scores that may be holding some buyers back.
The Myth: You Need To Have Perfect Credit
According to Fannie Mae, only 32% of potential homebuyers have a good idea of what credit score lenders actually require.
That means two-thirds of buyers don’t actually know what lenders are looking for – and most overestimate the minimum credit score needed.
The Reality: Perfect Isn’t Necessary
But the truth is, you don’t need perfect credit to become a homeowner. To see the average score, by loan type, for recent homebuyers check out the graph below:
There is no set cut-off score across the board. As FICO explains:
“While many lenders use credit scores like FICO Scores to help them make lending . ...

  team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, home buying, credit score

Wednesday, November 27, 2024   /   by Joyce Dungca

Control the Controllables If You’re Worried About Mortgage Rates

Chances are you’re hearing a lot about mortgage rates right now, and all you really want to hear is that they’re coming back down. And if you’ve seen headlines about the early November Federal Funds Rate cut by the Federal Reserve (The Fed), maybe you got hopeful mortgage rates would start to decline right away. Although some media sources may lead you to believe that the Fed’s actions determine mortgage rates, in reality, they don’t. 
The truth is, the Fed, the job market, inflation, geopolitical changes, and a whole list of other economic factors influence mortgage rates, too. So, while recent actions from the Fed set the stage for mortgage rates to come down over time — it's going to be a gradual and, likely bumpy, process.
Here’s the best advice anyone can give you right now. While you may be tempted to wait for rates to fall, it’s really hard to try and time the market — there’s just to. ...

  team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, mortgage rates, credit scores

Friday, January 19, 2024   /   by Joyce Dungca

Key Terms Every Homebuyer Should Learn [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights

Buying a home is a big deal and can feel especially complicated if you don't know the terms used during the process.
If you want to become a homeowner this year, it's a good idea to learn these key housing terms and understand how they relate to the current housing market. That will help you feel confident when you buy a home.
Let’s connect so you can get expert help with any questions you have. ...

  team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, equity, mortgage, downpayments, credit score, appraisal