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Buying a House

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Housing Market Update – September 2026

If you’re thinking about buying or refinancing a home, understanding today’s mortgage market—and knowing your options—can help you make a confident move. For prospective buyers, current higher borrowing costs can make it harder to afford a move—and they’re also influencing what’s happening with home prices and inventory across the country. So, what’s behind today’s mortgage…

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Can You Work With Multiple Real Estate Agents at the Same Time?

When you’re buying a home, it can be tempting to think that working with several real estate agents will give you a huge advantage. More agents could mean more listings, more connections, and more chances of finding the right property, right? Well, not necessarily. While it’s technically legal to work with multiple agents in certain…

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How to Use a HELOC: Smart Ways to Leverage Your Home Equity 

As you pay down your mortgage and your home’s value changes, you build equity that can potentially help you fund major expenses, consolidate debt, make improvements, or prepare for unexpected costs. One way to access that equity is through a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC).  A HELOC is a revolving line of credit secured by your home. Unlike a traditional…

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Housing Market Update – August 2026

Mortgage rates have remained elevated in recent months, leaving many prospective homebuyers wondering when (or if) they’ll see meaningful relief. While rates can change quickly in response to economic and market conditions, several factors are currently keeping upward pressure on borrowing costs. So, what’s keeping rates from falling more quickly? There are a few key…

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What to Know About a Home’s HVAC System

You must consider various factors, including location, neighborhood, layout, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and even school districts. Not to mention that you need to evaluate essential features such as storage, amenities, or even finishes on the newly renovated kitchen. But savvy home buyers know that some of the most important things to check are…

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Housing Market Update – July 2026

July 15, 2026   Will Mortgage Rates Go Down? Here’s What Homebuyers Should Know Will mortgage rates go down? It’s one of the most common questions homebuyers are asking today. While no one can predict interest rates with certainty, current economic conditions suggest that mortgage rates may remain higher than many buyers had hoped for…

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Biggest Home Inspection Red Flags to Look Out for Before Buying

However, since buying a home is one of the largest investments you can make, a comprehensive home inspection is also one of the most critical steps in this process. A professional inspection helps uncover hidden problems that may not be visible during a casual walkthrough—issues that could cost thousands of dollars in repairs and even…

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Homeownership Made Simpler: Key Takeaways from Our Recent Webinar

During our recent First-Time Homebuyer Webinar, Lafayette Federal’s mortgage experts walked attendees through the homebuying process, from understanding credit requirements and obtaining a strong pre-approval to exploring financing options designed to make homeownership more accessible. The session also highlighted Lafayette’s Essential Workers Mortgage Program, which offers qualified borrowers up to 100% financing with no private…

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