Buying mortgage points is a way to secure a lower interest rate during the home buying process. It can save you several thousands of dollars in interest over the life of the loan and lower your monthly mortgage payment. Check out this nifty guide to learn how they’re calculated so you can assess if purchasing mortgage points makes sense for your situation.

Mortgage Points: What are they?

Mortgage points, also known as discount points, are fees you pay your lender to reduce your interest rate when you purchase homes or refinance. You’ll give your mortgage lender cash upfront to reduce your interest rate for the life of the loan. 

Should You Buy Discount Points?

If you have the budget for buying points, the decision often comes down to

Do you have plans to purchase a retirement house? It doesn’t matter if you’ve already retired or still have a long way to go before retiring. The perfect time to plan for your future home is now. 

This article will break down essential details that you’ll need to consider before buying your retirement home.

Should you buy before or after retiring?

Purchasing a retirement home well before retirement age has many benefits. Firstly, it’s easier to qualify for a mortgage while still having a job and the income to pay expenses. Secondly, you could put the house up for rent for profit –or at least to cover the monthly mortgage of the second home. 

Buying a home after retiring also has its perks. First, if you’re not sure where you want to

Summers in Middle Tennessee are both hot and humid, making it tricky to get out of the house and enjoy outdoor adventures. Luckily for us, our region is home to a long list of outstanding ice cream, gelato, and shaved ice shops that are the perfect remedy to our intense summers. Today we’re sharing our picks for the 10 Best Frozen Delights in Middle TN!

Mike's Ice Cream
129 2nd Ave N | Nashville

Mike’s Ice Cream is located in the midst of Nashville’s most active hub. While this means you’ll likely need to line up and wait to order a cone, don’t let impatience keep you away from this nostalgic parlor’s seriously tasty treats. Stop by for traditional ice cream, sundaes, soft serve, milkshakes, egg creams, malts, coffee creations, and more.

Geographically, Middle Tennessee sits in a climate band called a transition zone, which means subtropical and temperate climates meet where we live. This presents homeowners with a unique challenge in caring for their lawns; our sizzling summers and freezing winters are difficult for both warm- and cool-season grasses to survive.

The good news is that our team at Parks has excellent lawn care tips for everyday problems Middle Tennessee homeowners face. Whether you’re starting from scratch or rehabilitating a lawn that has seen better days, read on to ensure that your lawn retains maximum curb appeal all year long! 

Rake, Dethatch, and Aerate

At the first thaw, use a sturdy rake to give your lawn a thorough, deep combing. You’re working to

The interior design of your home will have a powerful impact on your day-to-day experience of living in it. Over time, a poor design can wear you down, making your dream home feel more like a tedious chore to work around. The good news is, there are practical steps you can take to overhaul your home’s interior design and help you fall in love with your home all over again. Today, we’re sharing our favorite keys to a well-functioning home.

Express Yourself Through Design

It’s easy to be influenced by the trends we see on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. While there’s nothing wrong with taking inspiration from designs we love, it’s also important that your final design express your own personality, interests, and preferences. Trends come

When you’re ready to sell your home, time is quite literally money. In this competitive seller’s market, you can capture the attention of buyers by taking simple steps to boost curb appeal. The following suggestions from our team are tried-and-true methods to ensure your home is snapped up as swiftly as possible.

Take a Photo to Gain Perspective

We view our homes through our own personal lens. This lens is colored by our emotions, experiences, expectations, and preferences. To help homeowners overcome this hurdle, we recommend taking a photo from the street. This type of photo will be the style prospective buyers will first encounter and will capture the first impression your home will make during tours and open house events. 

View the

Did you know that you could save thousands of dollars if you prepare your credit before applying for a mortgage? Your credit score is one of the most critical factors that determine your mortgage interest rate and which home loan program you qualify for.

This article will show you how you can get your credit in top shape for your upcoming mortgage.

1.) Learn where your credit scores stand.

First off, know that your credit score doesn’t have to be perfect to buy a home. Several loan programs allow buyers with credit scores in the low 500s to purchase a home. However, you should be aware that with low credit scores typically come paying higher interest rates.

Because of this, we recommend you begin by checking your credit scores so that

If you think that buying a house with bad credit is impossible, we have good news! It may be more complex, but it can be done!

But before you go house hunting, it's essential that you review your financial situation. Homeownership involves unexpected expenses that may be hard to cover if you're financially unstable. 

Let's look at how lenders understand a bad credit score, the loan options available for struggling credit, and the average credit requirements for getting approved for a loan.

What Is Considered A Bad Credit Score?

When it comes to conventional home loans, mortgage lenders can set their own credit score requirements. Because credit scores are used to determine risk, they essentially set the maximum risk they are willing to

One of the greatest aspects of being a homeowner is the freedom to upgrade and remodel your home as you please. While renters are usually limited to personalizing their homes with potted plants and artwork, homeowners can rearrange the very walls of their properties.

Still, as you begin your search for a home to purchase, keep in mind that not all remodeling undertakings will repay your investments equally. The worst time to discover that you’ve chosen the wrong projects is when you’re ready to put your home up for sale. To help you avoid common cash-consuming mistakes, our team did the math, read the statistics, and we’re ready to share our top ten projects that could lower your home value.

1.) DIY Projects (Above Your Ability)

DIY

One of the more daunting aspects of home organization lies in transforming our cluttered kitchens into tidy, functional spaces that facilitate easier cooking experiences. Today, we’re sharing our top eight strategies to help you figure out how to get your kitchen organized optimally. Get ready to declutter, reorganize, and establish a new routine to keep your kitchen in order.

1.) Make the Kitchen a Paperless Zone

It’s easy to get in the habit of bringing mail, coupons, paper flyers, papers from your child’s school, and work-related papers into the kitchen. However, piles of papers are a surefire way to make your kitchen look cluttered and nearly impossible to cook in.

Set up a mail organizer near the front door, a school paper file near