2024

How do you ensure you’re hiring an amazing real estate agent?

One of the biggest perks of homeownership is the opportunity to build wealth over time. Researchers at the Urban Institute found that homeownership is financially beneficial for most families,2 and a recent study showed that the median net worth of homeowners can be up to 80 times greater than that of renters in some areas.3

Most loan programs typically require a FICO score for loan approval to be 620 or higher, but it can vary by program. Borrowers with a higher FICO score are considered less risky to lenders, which can lead to several advantages, such as a lower down payment requirement and better interest rates. According to myFICO, a good FICO score generally falls within the 670–739 range, while a score below 620...