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Author: Kynzy Lowe

Kynzy is a writer and web developer here at Benchmark. She holds a degree in film/cinema/video studies with a minor in Journalism from University of New Mexico. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family.

Prepare Your Home for Fall

by Kynzy Lowe

The resurgence of everything pumpkin spice means that fall is upon us once again. You are probably as excited to pull out that box of fall décor as we are. If you live in a building (a house, duplex, apartment, condo, etc..) then there are some other important tasks that should be added to your to-do list to make sure your home is well prepared for the change of season.

  • Have your furnace inspected

Don’t get left in the cold. Fall brings cooler temperatures, shorter days, and earlier sunsets. Ensure that your home stays nice and cozy by having your furnace inspected. Contact your preferred local HVAC company to get your furnace checked out and maintenance, if needed.

  • Clean your gutters

Gutters safely carry water from your roof away from your home’s foundation. Blocked gutters can prevent this water from flowing, causing damage to your home, so it is important to clear out any debris that has built up. You can hire someone to do this, or you can do it yourself. Consider getting gutter guards so that water will flow smoothly without your gutters getting clogged with leaves or other debris.

  • Properly insulate your home

Combat the drop in temperature by making sure your home is properly insulated. The most effective way to keep your home warm is to invest in extra insulation, and there are many different options that vary based on your type of home and specific layout. This can be pricey, but will save money on energy bills in the long run. You can also reduce heat loss by covering windows with blinds and curtains.

  • Check outdoor faucets

Make sure all outdoor faucets are turned off. It might be worth doing now, before winter, to avoid water freezing and bursting pipes. Don’t forget to use insulated covers for exterior water spigots.

  • Bring in outdoor items

Depending on the weather, it may be best to pack up outdoor furniture and other patio items that could get damaged. If you have a pool, it might be time to cover it so that it stays clean until next summer.

Following these tips can help you avoid common problems in the fall and winter. By making sure that your home is well prepared, you can relax and enjoy all that this season has to offer.

How To Make Your Interest Rate Hold For Longer

by Kynzy Lowe

Searching for a home? That’s great! It’s a good time to buy! We know that it can be stressful, as interest rates could go up during your search. What if it didn’t have to be that way? What if you could be certain that your interest rate wouldn’t change while you searched for your next home? With Benchmark’s Lock and Shop program, you don’t have to worry about rising interest rates. Lock and Shop by Benchmark allows you to lock in your interest rate while shopping for your home!

Get More Time To Shop

75 days. The Lock and Shop program will lock your rate for 75 days, giving you more time to search for your home. Enter the market with a pre-approval and a locked rate from Benchmark to give you the confidence to succeed in a competitive market.

In a highly competitive market, making several attempts to land a deal is the challenging reality. The more prepared you are, the higher chance you have of your offer winning acceptance. Our branches provide many helpful tools to our clients, so you can be prepared when it’s time to make an offer.

Three steps for how Lock and Shop can help you succeed

Step 1: Get Pre-approved.

Step 2: Lock your rate with our Lock & Shop program.

Step 3: Identify a few different properties you are interested in, and make an offer. If your offer doesn’t win, move to the next. Do this for 75 days from date your rate was locked.

Just imagine how it could help you.

Tom’s family is moving to a new state due to his job. They are unfamiliar with the area, and have a lot to consider. Buying a home is a big decision, and they don’t want to rush the process and end up regretting their choice. Wisely, they contacted Benchmark and spoke about their concerns of rising interest rates. Understanding their challenges, their loan officer recommended the Lock and Shop program to them. Relieved to be able to lock in their interest rate, Tom and his family searched for their perfect home with confidence.

Get in touch today to learn more about the Lock and Shop program from Benchmark!

Contact your local Benchmark branch. Contact us today for personalized information. Call me yourself or request a call from me. WeI would be honored to provide you with our famous excellent service for your new loan.

 

Benchmark brings you home.

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Your mortgage application was denied. Now what?

by Kynzy Lowe

If your mortgage application has been denied, you don’t have to give up on your home ownership dreams. There are steps you can take to improve your ability to get approved for a loan.

First, it is crucial to get in contact with your lender. There are a multitude of reasons as to why an application can be denied. Learning why your application was denied will give you the chance to resolve any issues.

Let’s go over some common reasons an application may be denied.

Credit Score

There is a minimum credit score that borrowers will need to meet in order to receive a home loan. If your credit score does not meet the minimum requirement, your application could be denied, but you can work to improve your score. Although it takes time to improve a credit score, the benefit is worth the effort.

To maintain a good credit score, be sure to always pay your bills on time. Also, try to pay down debt to reduce your debt to income ratio. It is also best for your card balance to be low in relation to your credit limit. Even if you no longer use an account, do not close it, because your credit score is also affected by how long your accounts have been open. You should also limit credit inquiries and opening new credit lines; too many in a short period of time can lower your score.

Inconsistent Employment

There are certain employment requirements that borrowers will need to meet when applying for a home loan. It is favorable to have consistent employment; any gaps in your job history will be considered. Check to see if your income meets the minimum amount required for the loan you are applying for. Make sure that all of your income has been accounted for, including freelance, investment accounts, inheritances, and savings accounts.

Missing Paperwork

Carefully look over your loan application paperwork. Be careful that the information you provided is complete and correct. Ensure that you have provided all required documents. Missing or incorrect information can be a reason for a denied application.

Don’t Give Up!

It may take some time, but it is possible to come back from a denied mortgage application as a stronger applicant. At Benchmark, we take our job of helping you secure the dream of homeownership seriously. Even if you are not approved, you will be armed with the knowledge to do something about it courtesy of your Benchmark loan officer.

If you are serious about getting approved for a mortgage, contact us: we are here to help.

Contact your local Benchmark branch. Contact us today for personalized information. Call me yourself or request a call from me. WeI would be honored to provide you with our famous excellent service for your new loan.

 

Benchmark brings you home.

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