When you apply for a mortgage to buy a home, there are many factors that your lender will consider before approving your loan. One of the things that lenders think about when they're approving or denying a mortgage is the potential borrower's debt-to-income ratio. Knowing what DTI is, how that impacts your ability to buy a home, and what you can do to improve your debt-to-income ratio can help you through the home buying process.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed mortgage or home loan professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

What Does Debt-to-Income Ratio Mean?

Debt-to-income ratio is the amount of money that a home buyer pays monthly for debts compared to the amount of money they make

In today’s online world, pictures are more important than they’ve ever been—especially when it comes to selling a Nolensville home. Buyers are more likely to first see homes for sale online than through any other way. Because of this, sellers need to make sure the photos that buyers see are the best possible photos they can be. While sellers can take the photos on their own, if they aren’t experienced in photography, they likely won’t get the best results. For sellers who want professional-quality photos, the best thing to do is hire a professional photographer. Here are some of the reasons why professional photographers are worth spending the extra money.

Photographers Are Affordable

While it may seem like hiring a professional photographer can

Are you trying to sell your Murfreesboro home this spring? This time of year is a good time to sell a home. In spring, home buyers in large numbers start to look for their new home purchase. As a home seller, there's much you can do to make your home more attractive to buyers. Staging your home properly, making your home comfortable, and maintaining a clean property throughout the home selling process can help your home sell for a good price. Here's what you need to know.

Get the Climate Control Working

Spring temperatures can fluctuate. It's important for homeowners to have climate control working for all conditions, hot and cold, to ensure that their home will be comfortable for showings. If the furnace is having a hard time keeping up with

Winter is not the most popular time to sell a home, but homeowners can’t always wait until spring and summer to sell. It can be tricky making a home welcoming during winter, especially if there’s snow covering the ground outside. No matter the season, sellers need to prepare their home for showings. Here are some handy tips all homeowners should know about making their home more appealing during the winter.

Clear a Path to the Home

It’s no secret that it snows during the winter, and that snow can make it difficult to get to the home. When a Mount Juliet homeowner knows they’re going to have guests over for a showing, the first thing they need to do is clear a path to the home. Making it easier for guests to get to the home helps make them feel

Pools can be a great addition to a home, and many home buyers dream of one day buying a home with a large pool that everyone can enjoy. However, owning a pool comes with a lot of factors that are often overlooked. Before buying a Gallatin home with a pool, homeowners need to make sure they know exactly what they’re getting into. Here are some of the most important things home buyers need to know about pools before they decide to buy a home that has one.

Pools Require Maintenance and Upkeep

Every part of a home will require occasional upkeep to ensure it stays working, and pools are no different. However, many buyers don’t realize just how much effort pools require and think the most they will need to do is add chlorine and keep the water topped

Buying a new Franklin home is one of the most important decisions in a person’s life, and the results of that decision can affect them for a long time to come. For that reason, home buyers need to be sure that the home they’re buying is everything it’s supposed to be. There are some homes on the market that aren’t as good of a buy as they seem. Fortunately, these types of homes often have visible red flags that buyers can identify if they know what to look for. Here are some of the most common red flags a home can have and what they can mean.

Unusually Low Prices

Everyone loves finding a great deal, whether they’re shopping for groceries or looking for a new home to spend their life in. However, finding a home at a great discount isn’t like

People who buy Brentwood homes in need of maintenance or repairs often find themselves in a situation that also has them postponing those same chores upon moving in. Remediating deferred maintenance is an undeniable chore, but also an undeniable necessity to prevent compounding issues such as further damage, reducing home value, and risking health problems for occupants. However, these lapses aren't the end of the world, as it's feasible to start taking action to get a home in order with this guide.

Start Remediation Through Assessment

An inspection likely occurred at the time of purchase to let you know what needs repairing, and new concerns may have arisen since then. If necessary, get another professional inspection to help determine what

A cabinet upgrade can be costly, but nothing quite revitalizes a kitchen like changing the cabinets. For Hermitage homeowners with older cabinets in need of a change, learn more about whether refurbishing or replacing kitchen cabinets is the best choice depending on the situation. Here are a few of the advantages and disadvantages of both:

Pros & Cons of Refurbishing Your Cabinets

Refurbishing kitchen cabinets can take many forms, which makes this a great option for homeowners who want to change up their kitchen space without investing in new cabinets. Cabinets can be stained, re-painted, given different hardware, can have new doors installed without a total replacement, and more. These projects are often more involved on the part of the

One of the things Gulch homeowners worry about when making home improvements is how much their improvement will increase their home's value. Some home improvements increase value more than others. If you're a homeowner who would like to boost your home's value, and you're looking for the right home improvement, these tips can help.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Can Some Home Improvements Lower Your Home's Value?

Yes, some home improvements can lower a home's value. If the home improvement makes the home less desirable to buyers, either by taking away a feature that the home buyer would want, or by installing something the buyer would

A home addition can be a fun project to take on for Gulch homeowners who need the extra space (and a change of pace). The promise of an extra bathroom, bedroom, or story can feel like a literal dream come true. But before taking on the work, there are a few things to consider before calling a contractor or taking a sledgehammer to the nearest wall.

Look Around the Home

Space in a home has a tendency to be underutilized, either because it is inconvenient or largely forgotten. Is there an old utility closet that would make the perfect third bathroom? Can the garage be converted into a playroom? Can the attic be insulated and then turned into a guest bedroom? Can extra space in the hallway or under the stairs be turned into a small home office?