iQCU Blog

The housing market has never been hotter. Mortgage rates are still very low, and coming out of the pandemic slowdown of 2020, homebuyers are actively shopping. In such a competitive real estate market, it pays to be prepared so you can move quickly when you find the right home, especially when it comes to qualifying for a mortgage loan.

Have you always dreamed of owning a home but felt you couldn’t afford it? There are many possibilities, and owning a home is within reach! Chances are that even with your current household budget, you can put aside enough savings for a down payment on a house in one or two years, maybe even less. It’s all a matter of how you manage your money.

In the past, we have written about creating a household budget and managing the family expenses. There are some costs, such as groceries and utilities, that you will incur no matter what your living situation, but if you own your home, you will have homeowner expenses that you may not have anticipated. 

You’ve been out of college for a few years and you finally have enough money saved for a down payment. Are you ready to buy a house? Purchasing a home is one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make, if not the biggest. High-involvement purchases require a lot of prep work and research prior to, and a decent amount of upkeep following. Here is our quick guide to home ownership to help get you on the right path.

Shopping for your first humble abode is one of life’s biggest milestones. It’s also one for your savings account! You’re finally on your own, with no parents, no dorm advisors—maybe just one or two roommates to split the cost and binge watch Westworld with. But with great power comes great responsibility—at least according to Spider-Man’s uncle. The big question: rent vs. buy? The matter of buying versus renting crosses every shopper’s mind. Renting an apartment is usually the next step after leaving the dorms because certain things are still taken care of by the complex. Broken water pipe? The building will fix it. Fridge making weird noises? Maintenance will be in to take a look at it.