Found 3 blog entries tagged as buyers.

Here at Ramus Realty Group, we field questions every day from homebuyers looking here in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. Here are three of the most common questions we keep hearing this fall:

How much can I afford to spend on a home?

Homebuyers often want to determine their budget and understand how much they can afford to spend on a home. Factors such as income, expenses, credit score, down payment amount, and prevailing interest rates play a significant role in determining affordability. Rates have come down significantly since their peak earlier in 2024, although they're not close to the lows we saw in recent years. 

Consulting with a mortgage lender or using online affordability calculators can provide a clearer picture. Ramus Realty…

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Pennsylvania in general has a large inventory of older homes - both in our rural regions and in the larger cities. What should you watch out for when buying an older home here in Pennsylvania?

1. LEAD - Homes built prior to the year 1978 are at risk of having lead contamination in the paint, plumbing, dust and soil. If a seller knows that there is lead on the premises (he or she had a test in the past and knows the results) then they must disclose that to you prior to the purchase. But many sellers have never tested their properties for lead and so may have no knowledge of lead dangers that exist. 

As the buyer, you can order lead tests to be performed. We rarely see these tests, to be honest, but they do exist and you may ask for them as part…

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Looking to boost your credit score? Here's seven steps you can take to improve your credit score:

1. Get a copy of your credit report. There are 3 main credit bureaus and you should check each one for errors because each of the three may collect slightly different information:

  • Equifax
  • Experian
  • TransUnion

You can request a copy of your credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com. You are entitled to one free copy of your report every 12 months. 

2. Report any errors you find directly to the credit bureau. For information on how to dispute incorrect reports, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has good information: How Do I Dispute an Error on My Credit Report?

3. Make sure you always pay your bills on time. To make it less…

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