Empire of America Blog
Helpful information and tips on buying, owning or renting a home and the housing market
Appraisal Not Required? Maybe Not! Find Out Before You Place an Offer to Buy a Home!
April 7, 2022You can always remove an appraisal contingency from your purchase offer, but did you know that the appraisal itself may not be a lender requirement for mortgage financing (it’s called a property appraisal inspection waiver or PIW)? This can be […]
Best Practices to Improve Your Credit Score & Interest Rate Pricing
April 22, 2022The best way to improve your credit score is to follow the best practices listed below for raising and then maintaining, a high credit score. A good credit score can benefit you in many ways; people with strong credit have […]
Can I Qualify with Self-Employment?
March 8, 2022The quick answer is yes, absolutely! We work with plenty of clients who are self-employed. Here are some quick rules and guides to help you see how it works: History Requirement: Two-year history of the company/self-employment. Some exceptions are made [...]
Closing Cost Breakdown
March 8, 2022These are the hard costs you incur to obtain a mortgage. Closing costs are separate from pre-paid expenses for taxes, insurance, or interest – together they are combined to determine the funds needed to close (total cash required). Closing Costs […]
Empire of America (EOAC) – 40 Years of Residential Real Estate Lending
April 7, 2022It’s been 40 years since our firm opened its doors. Decades of operations and experience, with the same CEO at the helm, has led our firm to a strong client & referral base, and here’s what they have to say […]
HELOC Versus Cash-Out Refinance
April 21, 2022Cash-Out Refinance Most homeowners have experienced substantial equity appreciation in their primary residence over the past several years, however that may be easing in the years ahead. The home’s current equity is defined as the difference between the outstanding […]