APM BLOG

You’d love to own a vacation home (who wouldn’t?!) but you’re not sure if you can afford it, or even qualify, on your own. Buying a vacation home with family can be the best of both worlds: you get the option—and prestige—of owning a second home, but you only have to pay a fraction of the costs.

Sounds like a dream come true, right? Buying a home with family can be, but that all depends. There are many factors to consider before you plunk down your hard-earned cash, sign those documents, and show up to your new vacation home…only to find your sister’s car in the driveway.

Halloween, as well as our everyday lives, looks a bit different this year. We’re navigating through a pandemic and adapting at every turn. Halloween brings a unique set of problems when you have little ones, who sometimes plan months in advance for the big day. The good news is that we can still make it fun and safe  for everyone with a little planning and creativity. Here are a few out-of-the-box ideas to consider:

You’ve submitted all your financial documents, completed your paperwork and secured your new home loan or refinance. Pop some champagne and celebrate all that you have accomplished! Though this may feel like the end, it’s actually just a stop on your homeownership journey. 

Identifying your dream home is an important step in the homebuying process – but you’ve still got to close the deal! Putting in an offer on a home can be nerve-racking. After all, once your offer is submitted, it’s out of your hands and up to the seller. This is why you should do everything possible beforehand to ensure your offer stands out from the rest and looks as attractive as possible to the owner.

The new COVID world has been challenging for all of us. From working from home, while assisting children with distance learning, and trying to keep a household running is a lot on the plate! With this new normal, we’ve put together a few tips to help balance the thousand balls you have in the air. 

Today’s low interest rates have spurred interest in something else: refinancing! There has never been a better time to refinance your mortgage if you’re looking to secure an insanely low rate. 

You’ve been amazing in your dedication to helping our country and communities as we grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. While we know your job is far from over, we want to show our appreciation by offering front-line medical professionals a mortgage discount that puts a little more money back into their pockets.

If you or your loved ones have been affected by a wildfire, our hearts go out to you. In this time of hardship and loss, we at American Pacific Mortgage send you our deepest sympathies and can only hope for a sense of calm and safety to be restored for you as soon as possible.

We’re all searching for a little certainty nowadays. At a time when it seems like everything is changing, you can at least buy yourself a little peace of mind in the homebuying process by getting pre-approved. 

You know you want to sell your home. The only issue left to decide now is whether you sell it yourself or enlist a real estate agent to help you. This is always an important decision…but it’s even more so in the current pandemic. The logistics of selling a home today are multiplied as health and security have become even bigger priorities.

Moving to a new neighborhood can be so exciting! You’ve got a new home to make your own, a neighborhood to explore and different amenities at your disposal. This is a brand-new chapter filled with endless possibilities! 

There may be no greater example of multi-tasking than when you’re buying and selling a home simultaneously. It can feel like you went from 0 to 100 in no time flat! Whether you’re chomping at the bit to get settled into your new home or ecstatic about the price you secured for your current home, we know you have plenty of activity to go around. 

Relocating is on the minds of many Americans right now for a few reasons. These include the current work-from-home (WFH) culture spurred by COVID-19, career changes and low interest rates. Companies like Facebook, Google and Twitter have even given many employees the permanent option of working from home. This is causing change in our major cities as workers consider where they would want to live if their job’s location wasn’t a factor.

Just when, exactly, is it the right time to buy? That’s the million-dollar question! While no one can definitively answer that for you, there are a few facts you should take into consideration that may provide you with more clarity.

Is it smart to pay off your mortgage early? It certainly can be, in certain situations. In other scenarios, it may make more sense to put that money to work elsewhere, or to keep it in the bank. 

Life may not be completely back to normal, but many cities are reopening businesses and services as we emerge from quarantine orders caused by COVID-19. Returning to work and to the office will also give Americans a better sense of what their finances may look like in the near term.

Memorial Day is traditionally celebrated with cookouts and parties and often signifies the beginning of the summer season. It’s important, however, to respect and observe the actual meaning of Memorial Day, which is a National Day of Mourning honoring those who have died serving the U.S. Armed Forces. It’s important to remember that for many, this is a tough day. It’s difficult to raise a glass and light off fireworks and smile with the crowd when the observance hits close to home.

April showers bring May flowers, right? Well, yes…if the seeds have already been planted! If not, this is the ideal time to give your outdoor space a little TLC. Fixing up your yard can foster a pride in ownership, give the neighbors something beautiful to look at and, best of all, even increase the selling value of your home!