Patrick McCarthy Real Estate Blog - Home Buying Category

25 07, 2017

How to Reduce the Fees You Pay for Getting a Home Mortgage

By Patrick McCarthy, Realtor|2017-07-24T16:25:07-04:00July 25th, 2017|Financing, Home Buying|

The purchase of a home can require a substantial financial commitment. In addition to making a new monthly mortgage payment, there can also be a considerable amount of money due up front, before you're even given the key to the front door. But, by shopping around and having a good understanding of what these additional [...]

13 06, 2017

What to Expect at a Real Estate Closing

By Patrick McCarthy, Realtor|2017-06-12T13:17:24-04:00June 13th, 2017|Advice, Home Buying, Home Selling|

If you've never been involved in a real estate closing, it can be a fairly intimidating process - especially if you are the buyer. While a closing doesn't typically take very long, it can seem like there is an endless stack of paperwork for you to sign and items that you need to verify. If [...]

25 04, 2017

Single Family Home versus Condominium – Which is Better for You?

By Patrick McCarthy, Realtor|2017-04-25T19:49:43-04:00April 25th, 2017|Advice, Home Buying|

If you're considering making a move in the near future, it is possible that you are torn between whether to go with a single family structure or a condominium. There can certainly be pros and cons to either option - but, depending on your specific situation, one or the other could be a much better [...]

18 04, 2017

What Does the Fed’s Proposed Interest Rate Increase Mean for Home Buyers?

By Patrick McCarthy, Realtor|2017-04-17T21:36:01-04:00April 18th, 2017|Advice, Financing, Home Buying|

Since the U.S. economic recession of 2008, we've been living in an environment of historically low interest rates. Now, however, as the economy continues its upward movement in its recovery, there is talk of the Fed raising interest rates again. If the current increase in interest rates does occur, this would actually mark the third [...]

11 04, 2017

What to Look for When Purchasing an Older Home

By Patrick McCarthy, Realtor|2017-04-11T21:33:22-04:00April 11th, 2017|Advice, Home Buying|

While an older home can provide you with a unique array of history and charm, it is important to know what to look for before you sign on the dotted line. Otherwise, you could find yourself needing to make a long list of repairs before you are even able to settle in. Just some of [...]

21 03, 2017

How Much Do Interest Rates Affect What You Really Pay for Your Next Home?

By Patrick McCarthy, Realtor|2017-03-21T11:30:26-04:00March 21st, 2017|Advice, Home Buying, Real Estate|

With talk of another possible rise in interest rates in the air, should the Fed decide to move forward on this action, it can have a long-term effect on investors. It can also have an impact - in some cases, a significant one - on the amount that you'll ultimately pay for a new home. [...]

21 02, 2017

Tips for Searching for Homes Online

By Patrick McCarthy, Realtor|2017-02-21T21:40:48-05:00February 21st, 2017|Advice, Home Buying|

Whether you were just simply "surfing" the Internet, or you were actually engaged in a specific search, there's a chance that you may have found the ideal next home for you online. Luckily, due to the vast reach of the world wide web, shopping for homes today has been made much faster and more convenient [...]

7 02, 2017

Will the Stock Market’s Rise Help or Hinder Home Buying?

By Patrick McCarthy, Realtor|2017-02-06T20:49:00-05:00February 7th, 2017|Home Buying, Real Estate|

Over the past several months, many investors have been feeling much more confident in their investment portfolios - especially as the Dow Jones Industrial Average has hit the coveted 20,000 mark. But, while stocks and other equities may have some upward momentum of late, can this help or hinder you if you're hoping to buy [...]

3 01, 2017

Home Buying Tips for a Fast Paced Real Estate Market

By Patrick McCarthy, Realtor|2017-01-03T20:27:41-05:00January 3rd, 2017|Home Buying, Real Estate|

Since the stock market crash and economic recession of 2008 are behind us now, the housing market has come back rather nicely - and in some areas of the country, the real estate market is becoming very fast paced, with homes being sold within just a matter of hours, instead of weeks or months. If [...]

27 12, 2016

Downsizing or Not to Downsize

By Patrick McCarthy, Realtor|2016-12-27T17:50:32-05:00December 27th, 2016|Advice, Home Buying, Home Selling|

Downsizing to a smaller home can actually be one of the biggest decisions that you make. While you may have had dreams in the past of moving to a larger abode in order to better accommodate your growing family, it is safe to say that many people don't think quite as lovingly about selling the [...]

Patrick McCarthy Real Estate Blog – Home Buying Category