23. Financing a Home with Mortgage Broker, April Blackwell

The housing market in Raleigh right now is ridiculous - mortgage rates are low, prices are sky-high, and supply can't keep up with demand.  So when you put in an offer to buy, you better be prepared. Today, we welcome our mortgage broker, April Young Blackwell from Blackwell Mortgage, to give us some tips on how to navigate this wild time in the Triangle. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT: How she got into the financial industry, and her experience Who she can help get financing for a home The difference between today’s market and the disaster of 2008 Why new construction is now taking up to 8-9 months You have to be ready and willing to act quickly  Looking for diamonds in the rough is a good strategy Why Raleigh is on all the top lists How to rebuild credit, use it responsibly, and monitor it. Quickest way to improve your credit score Understanding utilization of credit Good and bad lines of credit to have open Why only banking with local banks or credit unions can hurt your credit standing Where to get credit education and resources What loans are available for 1st time home buyers How much deposit you need to put down  What is an FHA loan What is PMI, and how to avoid it Saving for a deposit vs. paying off bad debt Creative ways to make more money How to know how much you can afford Understanding Due Diligence (DD) money and how to play the game Why you need to get pre-approved (and what it means) Rules around Flips a buyer has to be aware of Checklist: steps to get ready to buy a home Number 1 mistake home-buyers make! Are you looking to buy or sell a home and are in needed of a real estate agent in the Raleigh area? As a Licensed Realtor and referral agent, I can save you the time and stress searching and vetting, and connect you to my team of trusted Realtor partners. Read more here, or click the link below Click here to get started RESOURCE LINKS: Blackwell Mortgage Mortgage Points Blog by April Blackwell Credit Smart by Freddie Mac Homebuyer Education by Fannie Mae CFPB Financial Tools and Education for Adults DHIC FHA loans