If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines hoping for interest rates to drop or home prices to become a little more affordable, then I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you’re going to be waiting a long time.

Much like many markets across US metropolitan areas, the Bay Area housing market has been in a state of freeze. Sellers are unmotivated to sell, as they’d be pushed into much higher interest rates upon repurchase, and buyers are struggling to cope with high interest rates.

As discussed in our previous article, interest rates and inventory in the Santa Cruz housing market are making it difficult to transact and holding housing prices high. What’s going to happen when rates inevitably drop?

Due to extreme supply constraints, we can…

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Remodeling a homeIf your house isn't brand new, you probably have a list of improvements you'd like to make. Renovating your home can increase its usability, coziness, and aesthetic appeal. And if you ever decide to sell the property, all of these criteria are critical. While some renovations are worth your time and money, some aren't, and if you decide to sell your property, you may be dismayed to realize that you won't recoup your investment. There is nothing wrong with making your ideal home a reality. But you have to be aware of the home improvements that do not add value.

Upgrades on utilities

You can't ignore the maintenance that comes with owning a home. It is critical to upkeep the boiler, plumbing, and electrical wiring in a home. You should invest some…

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By Richard Stevens
Digital Content Manager
New Silver Lending, LLC

Calculating how much house you can afford is relatively straightforward if you just want a basic estimate based on your current salary. For instance, one quick rule thumb is to multiply your annual salary by 2.5 (or 3 if you have a good credit score). With that being said, you can also achieve a more accurate estimate, using some simple debt-to-income ratios.

The goal of this post is to outline the debt-to-income ratios that most US banks use when calculating your recommended mortgage amount. We will be using several user-friendly charts and examples to help solidify a few key points.

Table of Contents

  1. Quick Rule Of Thumb: Multiply Your Annual Salary By 2.5 or 3
  2. The More…

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