RESOURCES FOR YOU
Current news on the housing market, including articles on home trends, home buying, home selling, and homeowner advice.
5 early retirees share their top money tips
A handful of ordinary people have managed to take the typical retirement age of 63 and cut it nearly in half. While every early retiree’s journey is unique, there is usually at least one common feature of their stories: Each person has the discipline to save a large chunk of their paycheck — often, more than half of it.…
Why Getting Pre-Approved Should Be Your First Step
In many markets across the country, the number of buyers searching for their dream homes greatly outnumbers the number of homes for sale. This has led to a competitive marketplace where buyers often need to stand out. One way to show you are serious about buying your dream home is to get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a…
Millennials Lead the Homeownership Resurgence
Momentum continues to build for the housing industry, as evidenced by recent news from the Census Bureau regarding homeownership. “Contrary to some analysts’ predictions that the rate would fall to 61% or lower in the coming years, the new [Census Bureau] estimates indicate it increased to 64.2% in 2017,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “The…
Defusing Objection Bombs in Sales
Let’s face it, if you’re in sales, you’re going to deal with objections. And many new-home sales consultants have a difficult time overcoming objections from prospective buyers. Objections are like bombs: If not defused, they will blow up in your face! The key is learning how to masterfully mollify the situation. First, learn how to…
Donating to a great cause – Social Responsibility
1st Securities Mortgage is very conscious of being socially responsible. We love to get involved and contribute to worthwhile causes that help our local community and our partners, and the Village Green Splash Day event is one of these causes.
Bathrooms Overtake Kitchens as Most Popular Remodeling Project
The kitchen is king among the spaces with the most impact on a home’s identity. But having a beautiful bathroom is just as, if not, moreimportant for many home owners. In fact, bathrooms overtook kitchens as the most popular remodeling project, according to a new NAHB survey. NAHB has released the results highlighting the most common…
The Best Home Improvement Advice for Alzheimer’s Caregivers
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease is challenging in many ways. One of the biggest issues is providing a healthy and safe living environment. Make smart home modifications to enjoy peace of mind. Widespread and taxing. Many Americans are caregiving for people with Alzheimer’s. In fact, Redfin explains that “Alzheimer’s disease affects about…
Reaching Out to First-Time Home Buyers
During National Homeownership Monthin June, the housing industry celebrates the important role that home plays in our lives and the benefits of homeownership to households, communities and the national economy. It’s also an exciting opportunity to help open the door of homeownership to a rising tide of first-time home buyers. As we’ve previously reported, recent data from…
Mark Cuban says top employees share this key characteristic
Mark Cuban knows how to keep himself busy. The billionaire is the owner of the Dallas Mavericks NBA team, a serial entrepreneur and a longtime investor on ABC’s “Shark Tank.” With so much on his plate, it’s no wonder that the businessman values employees who can take some of the pressure off of him. “The people…
California Developer Helps Homeless Veterans
An estimated 20-25% of the U.S. homeless population are military veterans. So in an effort to help a portion of the needy in the Los Angeles area, Mercy Housing California, a regional arm of the national nonprofit developer, created a plan and allocated the funding for El Monte Veterans Village. The community’s 40 furnished studio units…