SoFi Blog

Waiting around for a good mortgage rate can make you feel a little like a ballplayer who’s been warming the bench—except there’s no coach to tell you when to get in there and play.

It’s up to you to decide if the timing and terms of any new loan are right for you.

If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines for a while, wondering when and if to jump in and refinance, you’ve probably noticed that mortgage rates are fluctuating with economic news but are still lower right now than they have been since late 2016. Simply put, right now the market’s hot, and it might be time to start the mortgage refinancing process.

There’s no place like home. It’s a haven from the hectic outside world, a place to relax, spend time with your loved ones, and truly enjoy yourself.

But finding a house that offers all the creature comforts your heart desires is easier said than done. It’s easy to get distracted, wistfully imagining relaxed Sunday mornings in the breakfast nook or making your home-grown produce dreams a reality. But, to get to that reality, you might have to put in some legwork.

The process required to find your dream home can be intimidating. It’s not just deciding what you want in a home—there’s a whole journey involved. Navigating the ins and outs of real estate and mortgages can be tricky, but with a little planning it’s possible.

Read on for a few ideas on how to find the house of your dreams.

There’s been a lot of buzz lately about who has the upper hand in the current real estate market—buyers or sellers. In recent years, the supply of existing homes for sale has fallen below demand, leading to a real estate market that tends to favor sellers.

Now, it seems the market may be changing, providing better opportunities for prospective buyers, at least in some locations. “It could even become a nationwide trend by mid to late 2020, as supply and demand conditions change,” according to the Home Buying Institute .

If you’re a homeowner—or hoping to become one—you’ve probably heard the terms “seller’s market” and “buyer’s market.” It’s all about how many homes are for sale, how many people are seeking to buy, and how that affects prices and the speed at which homes sell.

Let’s admit it, everyone loves a good deal. From a killer happy hour, to a clothing sale, saving money can be satisfying—even life changing.

So imagine saving much more than on a meal or a new outfit. Living in one of the most affordable cities in the US could mean saving across the board. That means greater financial stability, and maybe even purchasing a home of your own—sooner rather than later.

No one plans to get divorced or separated. It’s not what a couple hopes for when they say their vows. And it’s definitely not what they envision when opening joint bank accounts, purchasing a car, getting a dog, or buying a house together.

But if a pair does end up divorcing, figuring out what will happen to joint assets like these can be confusing and painful—at a time that’s already an emotional rollercoaster.

Taking out a mortgage is the single biggest financial commitment that most married couples make. Collectively, Americans owe $9.1 trillion on their mortgages, which make up by far the largest share of consumer debt.