The Housing Blog

  • Welcome to the Home Buying Institute

    The Home Buying Institute has been educating home buyers and homeowners since 2006. This is our blog. You can find the main section of our website here. If you have any questions, you can ask them here.

    FHA Debt Ratios are Not Always Set in Stone

    January 22, 2012

    Reader Question: “I have heard that mortgage lenders have gotten really strict over the last couple of years with debt ratios on FHA loans. Is this true? If so, what is the maximum allowable debt-to-income ratio for first-time home buyers in 2012?... [full story]

    Common Compromises When Shopping for a House

    January 7, 2012

    Do you plan to start shopping for a house soon? If so, you probably have a very specific vision in your head. You can see the architectural features, the layout, and the view from the bedroom window. There’s nothing wrong with this kind of visualization.... [full story]

    57 Tips for First-Time Home Buyers in 2012

    November 26, 2011

    Editor’s note: This is part one of a two-part series of tips for first-time home buyers. You’ll find the second part of this tutorial on this page. I recently had lunch with a friend who was planning to buy a house. As a first-time home buyer,... [full story]

    14 Reasons to Stage Your House Before You Sell It

    November 23, 2011

    Staging a house for sale can be a time-consuming process. According to some experts, it may cost you anywhere from $200 – $2,000, depending on how much work is needed. But is it really worth the time and expense? Does it really make a difference?... [full story]

    Can I Clean Up My Credit Report by Myself?

    November 23, 2011

    Reader question: “I have a few things on my credit report that I’d like to remove. I was thinking about hiring a company to help with this. But I’ve heard good and bad things about these companies. Is this something I can do on my own?... [full story]

    How do lenders assign interest rates on home loans?

    November 21, 2011

    Stop me if this sounds familiar. You see a certain interest rate for a home loan advertised on the mortgage lender’s website. It’s a fairly low rate, so you figure you’ll apply for a loan with this particular lender. You call them up,... [full story]

    How Do I Know How Much Equity I Have in My Home?

    November 20, 2011

    Reader question: “I’ve heard that home prices in the United States have dropped a lot since the housing market went bad a few years ago. I’m curious to know how much equity I have in my house right now, if any. What are the steps involved... [full story]

The Housing Blog