Property is generally a smart long-term investment, and adding a second home can give you a valuable appreciating asset with many practical advantages. Let’s take a look at how to buy a second home and consider some important factors you should keep in mind along the way.

If you're thinking about refinancing your home, you can probably remember all the paperwork it took to get your mortgage approved -- and you might be feeling daunted.

But the process doesn't need to be complicated. Buying your home was the hard part and refinancing is comparatively straightforward. Read on to find out what steps to take and what documents you'll need.

When interest rates decline, refinancing your mortgage can be a good way to save money. How much you can save depends on the equity you have in your home, what your new interest rate will be, and the length of your new mortgage. The savings could be substantial.

The following overview of mortgage refinance requirements can help you decide whether you are ready to apply for a new home loan.

The term cash-out refinance refers to obtaining a new mortgage to replace your existing one and getting cash back in the process. You essentially take out a new loan for a greater amount than your current mortgage and spend the cash back how you see fit.

If you have a conventional or Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan, you can typically receive up to 80 percent of the value of your home. You could receive up to 100 percent of your home’s value with a Veterans’ Administration (VA) loan.

For most people, buying a home will be the biggest purchase of your life – so you want to make sure you get it right.

You've got to consider the kind of property you want, the location, schools, commute, and all those other lifestyle factors. Most importantly, you have to think carefully about your budget and how much house you can afford.

The house price is only one factor that goes into determining your monthly mortgage payment. It's made up of several different parts and you'll need to understand them all before you can figure out what house you can afford.

With the demand for new homes increasing by nearly 25 percent from 2020 to 2021—and many homes going for tens of thousands of dollars over the asking price—coming up with a 20 percent down payment has become even more difficult for many home buyers.

What’s a potential home buyer to do?

One option to consider is mortgage insurance. But what is mortgage insurance? Listerhill Credit is here to help.

The historically low mortgage interest rates of under three percent have left many Alabama homeowners wondering if they should refinance their mortgage. While pursuing a mortgage refinance now could provide several benefits, it is important to understand the benefits and weigh the pros and cons.

Shopping for a mortgage can be stressful, especially if it’s your first home. From confusing terminology to difficult-to-compare differences, the process can make your head spin. To understand the process, there are a few concepts you should be familiar with. In addition, there are some general steps to follow to get you in the right home with the right loan.

To help you through the process, we’ve developed this guide. It covers some general definitions and some guidelines, from setting a budget to shopping for a mortgage.

Shopping for a mortgage is exciting, but it can also seem as if you need to learn a whole new language. What is a conventional loan? What does fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mean?

We're here to answer these questions and more to help you feel confident as you begin the process of applying for a mortgage.

If you’re shopping for a home, you may be wondering when you should start looking for a mortgage. Some people will advise that it’s fine to wait until after you’ve made an offer on a home to look for a mortgage. This can be true in some cases, but shopping for a mortgage and getting pre-approved before you’re bidding on a home can offer great benefits.

We’ve described some of the reasons that you may want to consider getting a pre-approval letter in this blog.