Monthly Archives: May 2019

And the Winner is…

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Those who were able to make it out to our most recent mixer at Up a Creek Tavern in Howland benefited from the trade professionals who were also in attendance. Hopefully, most of the attendees met new contacts who they can refer clients to in the future and also increase their sphere of influence. In addition to bettering yourself professionally, one lucky attendee won the drawing between the agents for a brand new laptop computer.

We’re sure you’re anxious to find out who won. Well…drum roll please… Continue reading →

What Drives a Lending Decision?

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Mortgage Lending
When someone is ready to buy, they often hop in their car and start browsing the local housing stock for their new home. It can be an exciting venture, especially when you’ve found a few in your price range.

But what is your “price range,” really? Do you know what that corner dream house with the covered patio and finished basement will cost you each month? The truth is, the sticker price in the homebuyers guide is just a part of the total housing cost and doesn’t take into account all the other costs and criteria that a lender will be considering when you apply for a mortgage loan.

There are distinct questions a lender has to answer before they can determine what a mortgage payment is going to look like. We’ll discuss these elements over the next couple installments, but for now… we will start at the beginning.

Continue reading →

Have We Seen the Last of Population Decline in Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley?

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Youngstown-Oh-Mahoning-County

Latest population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau show certain communities may be leveling off when it comes to a decline in residents

The United States is growing at a historically slow rate. Between 2017 and 2018, the country grew 0.6 percent in population. The timeframe prior saw a 0.7 percent increase. That doesn’t sound like a whole lot of growth…And you would be correct. The U.S. is experiencing its slowest rate of annual growth since 1937, when the nation was in the midst of the Great Depression. Continue reading →