Frequent Questions and Answers
The cost you’ll pay to take out a home loan, it represents the annual interest you’ll owe.
Credit score: the higher your credit score, the lower your mortgage rate can be. Loan-to-value ratio (LTV): The larger your down payment, the better your LTV, Debt-to-income ratio (DTI): This measures your existing debts compared to monthly income.
Mortgage rates vary by lender because companies are willing to take on different levels of risk and have different overhead costs.
A Realtor is a licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, or rent properties, offering expertise, guidance, and support.They are members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and are held to a higher ethical standard than basic real estate agents.
Realtor prices homes, prepares them for sale, markets them, conducts showings, negotiates offers, manages paperwork, and guides sellers through closing.
Realtor assists buyers by finding suitable properties, negotiating prices, managing paperwork, guiding through inspections, and ensuring a smooth closing process, all while providing expert advice and support.
Realtor.com is generally more accurate for real-time listing information because it directly pulls from Multiple Listing Service (MLS) databases, while Zillow's Zestimates are algorithmic estimates that can be less accurate, especially for off-market homes. For serious buyers seeking the most up-to-date property status, Realtor.com is the preferred choice.
Zillow is an online real estate marketplace and information company
It is a free tool for consumers to get a rough idea of a home's value, but it is not intended to replace a professional appraisal or a comparative market analysis
Zestimates can be off by thousands of dollars ($14k–$60k on a $500k home) because they may not account for unrecorded interior upgrades or, in some cases, outdated public data.
Buying a new home is generally better for low maintenance, energy efficiency, and modern, customizable features with warranties. Conversely, resale homes often offer better locations, established, unique, and sometimes lower prices.