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Why Reverse Mortgages Are a Harder Sell Now

The millions of Americans who haven’t saved enough money for retirement still have a potential safety net: their home equity. But recent changes to reverse mortgages mean seniors and their families may have tougher decisions to make.

Reverse mortgages allow people 62 and older to tap their home equity without having to pay the money back until they move out, sell the house or die. Borrowers can take payouts as lump sums, monthly checks or through a line of credit that can be tapped at will. The reverse mortgage debt grows over time, typically at variable interest rates, and may deplete all the equity in the home, leaving nothing for heirs. If the home is worth less than the reverse mortgage balance, though, borrowers and their heirs can’t be held responsible for that loss.

The loans earned a bad reputation as commission-hungry salespeople preyed on seniors who didn’t understand the loans’ complexities or who had financial problems so severe that they quickly burned through the money. Another problem was unscrupulous advisors who urged people to use their equity to buy questionable investments, including expensive annuities.

Over the years, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which oversees the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage program that insures most reverse mortgages, implemented changes that made the loans safer and, in some cases, cheaper.

Costs fell enough that fee-only financial planners who traditionally had shunned these loans started to recommend them to wealthier clients as a portfolio protection strategy. People could borrow against a reverse mortgage line of credit when markets were down, rather than selling shares at their lows. Research, much of it published in the influential Journal of Financial Planning, found the strategy allowed people to spend more with less risk of running out of money in retirement.

In October 2017, the Trump administration reduced the amount people could borrow and increased the costs, raising the upfront mortgage insurance premium for a line of credit from 0.5% to 2% of a home’s value. HUD Secretary Ben Carson cited losses in the program and a need to put it on a “more sustainable footing.”

Using reverse mortgages for portfolio protection can still make sense, but the strategy is a harder sell now with the changes, says certified financial planner Michael Kitces of Columbia, Maryland, who was an early advocate of the strategy.

“For a reasonably affluent client that has a $300,000 or $500,000 house, that’s $6,000 to $10,000 of upfront costs just in case you might ever need the line of credit,” Kitces says. “It’s just too much of a mental upfront hurdle for most clients.”

Even before reverse mortgages became more expensive, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warned last year against another strategy that some financial advisors were promoting: using the loans to delay claiming Social Security.

Social Security benefits grow about 7% to 8% each year they’re delayed after age 62, but the costs and risks of reverse mortgages generally exceed the cumulative lifetime benefits of bigger Social Security checks, the CFPB says. Borrowing money for living expenses early in retirement can mean there’s not enough left to handle later financial shocks, such as long-term care.

The CFPB took action in 2016 against three reverse mortgage lenders for deceptive advertising that claimed people couldn’t lose their homes. Although borrowers don’t have to make monthly payments on the loans, they do have to keep up with property taxes, insurance and maintenance.

These days, reverse mortgages may be best suited for the way many people have traditionally used them: to pay off existing mortgages so they can eliminate monthly payments or to generate monthly income in retirement, says Wade Pfau, professor of retirement income at The American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Those borrowers actually benefited from some of the changes, which included a reduction in annual insurance premiums on borrowed amounts.

“Your loan balance grows more slowly, which is good,” says Pfau, the author of the recently updated book “Reverse Mortgages.”

The brief heyday of the portfolio protection strategy may have had a silver lining: It got more financial planners thinking about a product they used to shun. Kristi Sullivan, a certified financial planner in Denver, says she now talks to clients more often about reverse mortgages and the potential uses of home equity in retirement.

“Some people are still reluctant to discuss the option, but more and more are open to listen and look at financial models using a reverse mortgage,” Sullivan says.

This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press. 

More From NerdWallet

  • Millennials Are Good at Saving. But Investing? Not So Much
  • How to Find ‘Advice-Only’ Financial Advisors
  • The 3 Reports You Haven’t Frozen Yet

Liz Weston is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: lweston@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lizweston.

The article Why Reverse Mortgages Are a Harder Sell Now originally appeared on NerdWallet.

Realty Solutions Group was built around a simple but elusive concept: provide brokers and clients with the highest level of service in the industry through cutting-edge sales, marketing programs and a culture that values innovation, relationships and a strong local focus.

In less than 5 years, Realty Solutions Group is among the top independent brokerage firms in S/E Wisconsin.

As a locally-owned, independent company, Realty Solutions Group is deeply committed to supporting the communities and clients we serve. We are constantly evolving, but remain focused on that one simple idea behind our founding.

We are a full service brokerage with discounted commissions. We offer no long term listing contracts, a Performance Guarantee, Smart Seller Program and a Communication Guarantee. Contact us today and let us provide you with the very best real estate experience.

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The Most and Least Affordable Places to Buy a Home

Whether you can afford a home depends — a lot — on the city you want to call home. A modest income can go a long way in Cumberland, Maryland, the metropolitan area with the nation’s most affordable houses. In contrast, the least affordable homes are in the San Jose, California, metropolitan area — the center of Silicon Valley.

In Cumberland, a median-priced house costs less than two years’ median household income. By contrast, the typical home in San Jose costs about 10 years of household income.

NerdWallet calculated affordability for 173 metropolitan areas by comparing the median annual household income and the monthly principal-and-interest payment for a median-priced single-family home. “Median” means half of the values or incomes are higher and half are lower. Those comparisons revealed the five most- and least-affordable markets for buying a home.

The lists were compiled using data from the National Association of Realtors, the Census Bureau and NerdWallet surveys.

» MORE: How much can you afford in your area?

Most affordable metro areas

1. Cumberland, Maryland-West Virginia

Median home price: $84,600

Median household income: $45,808

Principal and interest payment: $326 (equals 8.5% of monthly income)

Despite their affordability, houses in the Cumberland metro area don’t sell quickly. In February, single-family home listings had been on the market for a median of 146 days, according to Realtor.com. The national median was 84 days.

2. Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio-Pennsylvania

Median home price: $90,200

Median household income: $44,981

Principal and interest payment: $348 (9.3% of monthly income)

Roughly midway between Pittsburgh and Cleveland, Youngstown was once a steel manufacturing powerhouse. Since then, it has embraced its diminished population and opted not to prioritize growth.

3. Peoria, Illinois

Median home price: $120,400

Median household income: $57,090

Principal and interest payment: $464 (9.8% of monthly income)

Among the five most-affordable metro areas, Peoria has the highest house prices. But it also has the highest median household income among the five, boosting affordability.

4. Binghamton, New York

Median home price: $108,900

Median household income: $51,360

Principal and interest payment: $420 (9.8% of monthly income)

Nearby Binghamton University is considered one of the top public universities in the country.

5. Decatur, Illinois

Median home price: $100,000

Median household income: $46,198

Principal and interest payment: $386 (10% of monthly income)

Decatur is in the heart of corn country, and is home to an Archer Daniels Midland facility that processes hundreds of thousands of bushels of corn a day.

Least-affordable metro areas

1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California

Median home price: $1.27 million

Median household income: $110,040

Principal and interest payment: $4,898 (53.4% of monthly income)

This is the only major metro area in this analysis with a six-figure median household income. But it’s also the only metro with a seven-figure median home price.

2. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, California

Median home price: $920,000

Median household income: $96,677

Principal and interest payment: $3,548 (44% of monthly income)

With a median home price of almost $1 million, homes in the Bay Area are hard to afford.

3. Honolulu, Hawaii

Median home price: $760,600

Median household income: $80,513

Principal and interest payment: $2,933 (43.7% of monthly income)

Honolulu is one of the hottest housing markets for international buyers, with Canada, Australia, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom leading the pack.

4. San Diego-Carlsbad, California

Median home price: $610,000

Median household income: $70,824

Principal and interest payment: $2,352 (39.9% of monthly income)

San Diego is also a top destination for foreign buyers, led by Canada, Mexico, the U.K., Japan and Germany.

5. Boulder, Colorado

Median home price: $546,400

Median household income: $74,615

Principal and interest payment: $2,107 (33.9% of monthly income)

The population of the Boulder metro area grew by almost 24,000 between 2010 and 2016, to 313,961. It’s home to the University of Colorado, where about 30,000 students are enrolled.

This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press.

More From NerdWallet

  • How much can you borrow?
  • Mortgage pre-qualification calculator
  • 7 programs that help first-time home buyers

Holden Lewis is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: hlewis@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @HoldenL.

The article The Most and Least Affordable Places to Buy a Home originally appeared on NerdWallet.

Realty Solutions Group was built around a simple but elusive concept: provide brokers and clients with the highest level of service in the industry through cutting-edge sales, marketing programs and a culture that values innovation, relationships and a strong local focus.

In less than 5 years, Realty Solutions Group is among the top independent brokerage firms in S/E Wisconsin.

As a locally-owned, independent company, Realty Solutions Group is deeply committed to supporting the communities and clients we serve. We are constantly evolving, but remain focused on that one simple idea behind our founding.

We are a full service brokerage with discounted commissions. We offer no long term listing contracts, a Performance Guarantee, Smart Seller Program and a Communication Guarantee. Contact us today and let us provide you with the very best real estate experience.

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Dreaming of a Deck? 4 Ways to Save on Construction

Your visions of hosting fancy family barbecues and planting elaborate container gardens can come with a big cost: building a backyard deck.

The average cost for a wood deck is about $10,950, according to Remodeling magazine’s “2018 Cost vs. Value Report,” while a composite deck — typically made of recycled wood fibers and plastic — could set you back about $17,668. The report looked at costs nationally for professional installation of a 16-by-20-foot deck with pressure-treated joists, a built-in bench and planter.

Of course, the cost to build a deck on your property could vary widely, depending on size, style, where you live and who installs it. Knowing deck costs in advance — and ways to keep the total price under control — can help you build a deck without destroying your budget.

» MORE:  Explore your home improvement financing options

How much does it cost to build a deck?

Many factors affect the cost to build a deck, such as level of finish and site preparation, but the price of professional installation always makes up a big chunk of the bill. Knowing this can help prevent sticker shock.

When he was a builder, Andrew Wormer, editor of Professional Deck Builder magazine, taught clients the 50/50 rule: “For every dollar spent on materials and supplies, expect to spend another dollar to have it installed,” he told NerdWallet in an email. And if your contractor quotes a cost per square foot, it’s probably for labor and materials combined.

In addition to supplies and labor, the climate of the location and slope of your property can also affect the cost to build a deck.

“Foundations for decks in cold climates are typically more expensive because they need deeper, freeze-proof footings,” Wormer said, while “sloped sites can create additional expenses but also present design opportunities.”

How to plan your deck installation

Know your limits: A deck is a permanent addition to your home, just like a bathroom remodel or finished basement. Additions must follow local building and zoning codes, such as required distance from property lines, that may limit the size and scope of the project, Wormer said. Upkeep is another limiting factor to consider: Composite decking and other synthetic materials generally cost more but require less maintenance, making them cheaper in the long run.

Make a budget: Start with a list of “wants” and “must-haves,” as well as the amount you’re willing to spend. Then, think about the size and value of your home, as well as how long you plan to live there. A large, luxurious home might look funny with a small, simple deck. And an oversized deck with lots of personal features may not make sense for a small house you might outgrow in a few years. Work with a professional builder to fit as many must-have elements into the design as your budget will allow, Wormer said.

Long-term costs like taxes and insurance belong in your deck budget, too. A call to the local tax assessor’s office and your homeowners insurance company during the planning stages can prevent unpleasant surprises.

Balance cost with benefits: When planning a deck, increased comfort and living space should be the main goal. Should you ever refinance or sell, improved home value and marketability may be a happy side effect.

Anything that creates more space outside, where people can envision themselves hanging out with friends, can really help sway the market, says Ryan Lundquist, a certified residential appraiser in the Sacramento, California area. Just don’t expect a dollar-for-dollar return on your investment: According to Remodeling magazine’s 2018 Cost vs. Value Report, on average, a homeowner can recoup around 64% of the cost of a composite deck or almost 83% of the cost of a wood deck.

Find the right contractor: Peace of mind and a workmanship warranty are usually worth the added cost of hiring a pro. Still, some homework is required to find the right one. Make sure to:

  • Compare quotes from three or more deck contractors to ensure a fair price
  • Read credible reviews of all potential contractors as well as the materials they use
  • Request pictures of past deck projects, and don’t be afraid to ask whether the initial timeline and estimate were met
  • Ask the contractor’s previous clients if they are satisfied with the service and finished product
  • Confirm that contractors are bonded, licensed and insured (if required) by contacting your local building department or state consumer protection agency before hiring them

Tips to reduce deck cost

Keep it simple: Eliminating curves and other fancy design features will make a difference, but reducing the overall size of the deck is where you’ll likely find the biggest savings, Wormer said. Matching deck dimensions to standard lumber lengths and using premade concrete piers, or footings, can also reduce cost.

Choose wood, but carefully: Untreated wood decks are generally the cheapest to install, but don’t forget long-term costs. Wood decks require yearly maintenance and deteriorate quickly if they don’t get it. Investing in pressure-treated wood or a composite deck could save time and money later, especially if you plan to stay in the house for a long time.

Time it right: The warmer months are most popular for deck building, so scheduling your installation in the off-season could be a way to save. With fewer jobs competing for their time between November and March, contractors may offer reduced labor rates and faster scheduling to gain your business.

DIY if you dare: Pulling permits, interpreting building codes and properly installing foundation supports are above the skill level of many DIYers. In most cases, paying a pro to install a deck is worth the peace of mind. But, if you’re confident in your carpentry skills or have friends who are experienced builders, doing it yourself can significantly reduce the cost. There are many resources and how-to videos available online, especially if you’re content with a simple, rectangular design.

In some cases, it could make sense to have a professional handle the harder parts of building a deck, while leaving the easier tasks to you. For example, a pro could install an unfinished wood deck and you could do the sealing, staining or painting. It’s fairly easy for any homeowner and would save some money.

More From NerdWallet

  • 12 First-Time Home Buyer Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
  • Getting a Tax Refund? Use It on Home Improvements
  • How to Save on Your Destination Wedding in Hawaii

Beth Buczynski is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: bbuczynski@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @bethbuczynski.

The article Dreaming of a Deck? 4 Ways to Save on Construction originally appeared on NerdWallet.

Realty Solutions Group was built around a simple but elusive concept: provide brokers and clients with the highest level of service in the industry through cutting-edge sales, marketing programs and a culture that values innovation, relationships and a strong local focus.

In less than 5 years, Realty Solutions Group is among the top independent brokerage firms in S/E Wisconsin.

As a locally-owned, independent company, Realty Solutions Group is deeply committed to supporting the communities and clients we serve. We are constantly evolving, but remain focused on that one simple idea behind our founding.

We are a full service brokerage with discounted commissions. We offer no long term listing contracts, a Performance Guarantee, Smart Seller Program and a Communication Guarantee. Contact us today and let us provide you with the very best real estate experience.

Powered by WPeMatico

12 First-Time Home Buyer Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Every year, first-time home buyers venture into the market and make the same mistakes that their parents, siblings and friends made when they bought their first houses.

But today’s novice buyers can stop the cycle. Here are 12 mistakes that first-time home buyers make — and what to do instead.

1. Shopping for a house first before a mortgage

Talk to a mortgage professional about getting pre-qualified or even preapproved for a home loan before you start to seriously shop for a place.

It’s more fun to look at homes than it is to talk about your finances with a lender. So that’s what a lot of first-time home buyers do: They visit properties before finding out how much they are able to borrow. Then, they are disappointed when they discover they were looking in the wrong price range (either too high or too low) or when they find the right home, but aren’t able to make a serious offer.

How to avoid this mistake: Talk to a mortgage professional about getting pre-qualified or even preapproved for a home loan before you start to seriously shop for a place. The pre-qualification or preapproval process involves a review of your income and expenses, and it can make your bid more competitive because you’ll be able to show sellers that you can back up your offer. (See what a preapproval is and why it matters.)

Neal Khoorchand, broker-owner of Century 21 Professional Realty, in the South Ozone Park neighborhood of Queens, New York, pre-qualifies his clients before showing them properties.

“If you’re qualified for a one-family house for $500,000, we’re not going to show you a one-family for $600,000 — it would be a waste of time,” he says.

2. Not looking for first-time home buyer programs

As a first-time home buyer, you probably don’t have a ton of money saved up for the down payment and closing costs. But don’t make the error of assuming that you have to delay homeownership while saving for a huge down payment. There are plenty of low-down-payment loan programs out there.

How to avoid this mistake: Ask a mortgage lender about your options. You might qualify for a Veterans Administration or U.S. Department of Agriculture loan that doesn’t require a down payment. Federal Housing Administration loans have a minimum down payment of 3.5%, and some conventional loan programs allow down payments as low as 3%.

3. Not hiring a buyer’s agent

Work with an exclusive buyer’s agent, someone who has a duty to work in your best interests.

Some home buyers make the mistake of working directly with the seller’s real estate agent, who is obligated to secure the best price and terms for the seller. As a novice home buyer, you could be overmatched when negotiating with an experienced agent who’s working on the seller’s behalf.

How to avoid this mistake: Work with an exclusive buyer’s agent, who has a duty to work in your best interests. (See NerdWallet’s guide to finding a buyer’s agent.)

4. Using up all of your savings

If you buy a previously owned home, it almost inevitably will need an unexpected repair not long after. Maybe you’ll need to replace a water heater, repair a crack in the chimney or get rid of hidden mold.

“That’s a growing pain for the first-time homeowner, when stuff breaks,” says John Pataky, executive vice president of the consumer division of EverBank. “If they don’t have enough in back reserves, emergency funds, they find themselves in a hole quickly.”

How to avoid this mistake: Save enough money to make a down payment, pay for closing costs and moving expenses, and take care of unexpected expenses. This is easier said than done. But you can buy a home with a down payment of much less than 20%, allowing you to conserve your savings. (Find out how much down payment you need to buy a home.)

5. Ignoring a home’s drawbacks

Write a list of the attractive and the unattractive qualities of each house, and pay attention to each home’s downsides.

A lot of first-time home buyers fall in love with one of the first properties they look at. They ignore the negatives of the house and its neighborhood.

But you can’t disregard the downsides forever. For example, you might think you’ll be OK with a long commute, but after a few months of spending too many hours stuck in traffic, you’ll wish you had bought a house closer to work.

How to avoid this mistake: Do two things. First, resolve to visit “10, 15, 20 houses” before making an offer, Khoorchand says, so you’ll be less likely to fall in love with the first or second or third home you look at.

Second, write a list of the attractive and the unattractive qualities of each house, and pay attention to each home’s downsides.

6. Being indecisive

The flip side of choosing a place too quickly is acting too slowly when you find the right home. In a market with more buyers than sellers, you have to move fast.

Khoorchand says he can talk all day about clients who “needed some time to think about it” and made an offer two or three days after viewing a house, only to discover that another buyer had swooped in and made a successful offer.

How to avoid this mistake: “Once you look at multiple houses, and you get a feel of the market and you know what the market is like and where the prices are at, and you see something you like, don’t hesitate to make an offer, because you and 10 other people will be interested in that same property,” Khoorchand says.

7. Overpaying for a house

First-time home buyers tend to pay more than experienced buyers would pay for the same house, according to research conducted by two economists with the Federal Housing Finance Agency. In their analysis of appraisal data from more than 1.7 million home sales, FHFA economists Jessica Shui and Shriya Murthy concluded that first-timers overpay by an average of 0.79%, which was nearly $2,200 per house, according to the data set they examined.

Shui and Murthy pointed to the inexperience of first-time home buyers. Real estate agents say newbie buyers let their emotions take over, too. “You tend to overlook potential negatives and only look at the positives of a particular house,” says Jim Murrett, president of the Appraisal Institute, an association of real estate appraisers.

How to avoid this mistake: Ask your agent for a competitive market analysis, a report that looks at the prices of comparable nearby homes that have been sold recently. And it helps to fully understand the real estate process, so seek homebuying advice from a certified HUD housing counselor.

8. Skipping the home inspection

It’s a mistake to buy a previously owned home without an inspection because there could be expensive, hidden damage.

In some markets, a lot of buyers compete for a small number of properties for sale. In these strong seller’s markets, buyers are tempted to waive a home inspection. It gives them a competitive edge over smarter buyers who wouldn’t dream of forgoing an inspection before plunking down hundreds of thousands of dollars for a home.

It’s a mistake to buy a previously owned home without an inspection because there could be expensive, hidden damage that you wouldn’t spot but an inspector would.

How to avoid this mistake: Simple: Hire a licensed home inspector. Your real estate agent will gladly make a recommendation, but it’s better to hire an inspector of your own choosing who doesn’t depend on your agent for referrals. The American Society of Home Inspectors (homeinspector.org) has an inspector search tool.

9. Underestimating the costs of ownership

After you buy a home, the monthly bills keep stacking up. This can come as a surprise if you’re not ready.

“It’s not just your mortgage payment,” says Seth Feinman, vice president of Silver Fin Capital, a mortgage brokerage in Great Neck, New York. “You’re going to have the oil bill, the gas bill, you’re going to have a cable bill, you’re going to have all these things that the bank doesn’t care about when qualifying you for a mortgage.”

Renters often pay these kinds of bills, too. But the new home could have higher costs — and it might come with entirely new bills, such as homeowner association fees.

How to avoid this mistake: Work with a real estate agent who can tell you how much the neighborhood’s property taxes and insurance typically cost. Ask to see the seller’s utility bills for the last 12 months the home was occupied so you have an idea how much they will cost after you move in.

10. Miscalculating repair and renovation costs

Assume that all home repair estimates are low. Seek more than one estimate for expensive repairs, such as remodeling.

First-time home buyers are frequently surprised by high repair and renovation costs. Buyers can make two mistakes: First, they get a repair estimate from just one contractor, and the estimate is unrealistically low. Second, their perspective is distorted by reality TV shows that make renovations look faster, cheaper and easier than they are in the real world.

How to avoid this mistake: Assume that all repair estimates are low. James Ramos, owner of Re/Max Bay to Bay, a real estate brokerage in Tampa, Florida, recommends doubling the estimates to get a more realistic view of costs.

Seek more than one estimate for expensive repairs, such as roof replacements. A good real estate agent should be able to give you referrals to contractors who can give you estimates. But also seek independent referrals from friends, family and co-workers so you can compare those estimates against ones you receive from contractors your agent refers.

11. Applying for credit before the sale is final

It’s a mistake to get a new credit card, buy furniture or appliances on credit or take out an auto loan before a mortgage closes.

One day, you apply for a mortgage. A few weeks later, you close, or finalize, the loan and get the keys to the house. The period between is critical: You want to leave your credit alone as much as possible. It’s a mistake to get a new credit card, buy furniture or appliances on credit or take out an auto loan before the mortgage closing.

Here’s why: The lender’s mortgage decision is based on your credit score and your debt-to-income ratio, which is the percentage of your income that goes toward monthly debt payments. Applying for credit can reduce your credit score a few points. Getting a new loan, or adding to your monthly debt payments, will increase your debt-to-income ratio. Neither of those is good from the mortgage lender’s perspective.

Within about a week of the closing, the lender will check your credit one last time. If your credit score has fallen, or if your debt-to-income ratio has gone up, the lender might change the interest rate or fees on the mortgage. It could cause a delay in your closing, or even result in a canceled mortgage.

How to avoid this mistake: Wait until after closing to open new credit accounts or to charge furniture, appliances or tools to your credit cards. It’s OK to have all those things picked out ahead of time; just don’t buy them on credit until after you have the keys in hand.

12. Missing the first mortgage payment

Sounds hard to believe, but it’s not rare for new homeowners to be late with their first monthly payment, or to miss it altogether, says Neil Garfinkel, a real estate attorney with Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson in New York City. “Maybe you didn’t fully understand the process. You thought it was being auto-deducted but it’s not being auto-deducted. You didn’t get the bill in the mail. Whatever. Those first couple of payments, from a credit perspective, are really, really important,” he says.

How to avoid this mistake: At the real estate closing, ask when the first mortgage payment will be due and write it down. Ask how you will receive notice that the payment is due: A coupon book? A letter in the mail? An email or a text? Then, look out for that notification.

In many cases, the mortgage servicer — the company that bills you, collects the payments and makes sure the principal, interest, taxes and insurance all go to the right places — will mail you a welcome letter with these details.

More From NerdWallet

  • Down Payment Strategies for First-Time Home Buyers
  • 25 Tips for First-time Home Buyers
  • Don’t Have to Overpay for Your First Home

Holden Lewis is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: hlewis@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @HoldenL.

The article 12 First-Time Home Buyer Mistakes and How to Avoid Them originally appeared on NerdWallet.

Realty Solutions Group was built around a simple but elusive concept: provide brokers and clients with the highest level of service in the industry through cutting-edge sales, marketing programs and a culture that values innovation, relationships and a strong local focus.

In less than 5 years, Realty Solutions Group is among the top independent brokerage firms in S/E Wisconsin.

As a locally-owned, independent company, Realty Solutions Group is deeply committed to supporting the communities and clients we serve. We are constantly evolving, but remain focused on that one simple idea behind our founding.

We are a full service brokerage with discounted commissions. We offer no long term listing contracts, a Performance Guarantee, Smart Seller Program and a Communication Guarantee. Contact us today and let us provide you with the very best real estate experience.

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