life after rihousing

Life after the $17,500 down payment assistance program.

On January 26th 2023, RI realtors Published this article and introduced the realtor world to Rhode Island’s down payment assistance program that would create a whole new wave of home buyers.. It couldn’t get any...

3 Ways To Get Your Home Ready For The Holidays

3 Ways To Get Your Home Ready For The Holidays

1. Out With The Old And In With The New! Decluttering will help you focus your cleaning and organizing more effectively. It also allows space for new items that you may acquire during the holiday...

What to look for in your next home

It is important to take the time to find what specific property meets your wants and needs. The main key points to look for are the location/neighborhood, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, floor plan, lighting,...

Benefits of an open floor plan

Benefits of an open floor plan Each home has its unique path, which many refer to as its floor plan. The concept of an open floor plan has been more common among buyers in the...

Low-cost home improvements

Low-cost home improvements If you can’t find the exact home you want, maybe buying something close and making some customizations is the way to go. You might be worried that making changes will be expensive,...

Market update – April 8th

Market update – April 8th Many home buyers are feeling overwhelmed with the uncertainty of the current housing market. Experts are predicting a steady increase in rates over the next few months. With the increased...

DOs and DON’Ts after pre-approval

DOs and DON’Ts after pre-approval So, you were just approved for a mortgage loan, and you’re wondering what’s next. Maybe you haven’t found the perfect house, just started looking, and have some time before you...

Making a house a home

Making a house a home Your home should be more than a physical house. Home should be somewhere you’re excited to be after a long day, to unwind and relax. Different physical aspects in a...

Market update – March 15th

Market update – March 15th With inflation on the rise, consumers are taking a closer look at how they’re spending their money. Home mortgage rates reflect the market and what is happening in the world....

Spring Market Tips

What to Look for in the Spring Market With the change of seasons and the weather getting warmer, many potential home buyers are beginning to ponder the idea of whether purchasing a home is in...

Market Update 03/01/2022

With the already unstable market, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia has made many skeptical of the effects it will have on home loans. The conflict among other things is showing a subtle change in...

What is homeowners insurance?

What is homeowners insurance?

Homeowners insurance is a necessary part of buying a home and protects you in the event of a disaster or accident involving your home or personal belongings. Understanding what you need in an insurance policy...

Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

As summer draws to an end, the official start of fall is approaching, and it is the perfect time to start your fall maintenance checklist. Although every home is different, we’ve put together a helpful...

How your credit score affects your mortgage

Everyone knows you’re supposed to have good credit to get a loan. But what is “good” credit, and how much does it impact your loan overall? Although your credit score is not the only financial...

DACA and Homeownership

DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) is a government program to protect undocumented people who were brought to the United States as children. Often referred to as Dreamers, they have grown up in the U.S....

What is buyer’s remorse, and how to avoid it

What is buyer’s remorse? When you purchase a home, the last thing you want to do is immediately regret it. However, according to a recent survey by Bankrate, buyer’s remorse is rampant among homeowners. Nearly...

What is your debt-to-income ratio?

Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is calculated by dividing your debt by your gross income and is expressed as a percentage. Lenders use your DTI ratio as one metric to determine how much additional debt you can...

Why 2021 is a good year to buy for veterans

May is “National Military Appreciation Month.” As a veteran-founded company, Semper Home Loans has been helping veterans access VA home loans for over 15 years.

Corporate HQ Renovation

Renovation Since Semper Home Loans was founded in 2005, Providence, RI has been home to the corporate headquarters. In 2020 Semper began a large-scale renovation, and expansion, to create a reimagined 50,000 square foot campus....

The Housing Market & Inventory in 2021

Everybody’s loving the low rates-and who wouldn’t? Current homeowners are refinancing and lowering monthly payments, while first time home buyers are able to afford more house than just two years earlier. But low rates have...

Market Update 12/18/2020

Lawmakers are close to an agreement on a $900 billion economic relief package. This package would include a number of relief efforts including an additional stimulus check of $600 and $300 a week for Americans...

How to Save On Home Insurance Premiums

We all know how important home insurance is in safeguarding our homes and belongings in times of calamities and unexpected events. However, many homeowners forego purchasing or renewing their home insurance policies because of the...

RIHousing 10kDPA Program

A new down payment assistance program is now available, providing a $10,000 down payment assistance loan to first time homebuyers in the state of Rhode Island! To be eligible for this program you must meet...

5 projects to prep your home for cooler weather

Clean your gutters Keeping your gutters clear is an important part of maintaining your home and preventing both interior and exterior water damage. Removing leaves and debris from your gutters will help protect your roof,...

7 factors to consider when deciding where to live

Affordability: One of the most important factors to consider when deciding on a location is affordability. Living comfortably within your means should be a primary concern. Affordability extends well beyond the sale price of the...

Market Update 8/17/20

Last week the FHFA (Federal Housing Finance Agency) announced it will be implementing a new fee on refinances sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac after September 1st. This fee adds 0.5% of the loan...

Market Update 8/12/2020

There’s no doubt that the current state of the housing market and economy is being driven by the spread of Covid-19. While the market remains extremely volatile, mortgage rates are continuing to hit historic lows....

5 Easy Ways to Stage Your Home on a Budget

Staging your home to sell is an important part of preparing your home for the market. But springing for a professional stager may be out of your budget, especially if you’re upgrading to a more...

Top 10 Questions To Ask When Buying Home Insurance

While there’s nothing wrong with having only basic coverage on your homeowners insurance, it likely won’t fully cover the cost of rebuilding damaged parts your home or replacing the things you lost.

5 Factors that Affect Property Value

Most curious homeowners have consulted Zillow at some point or another to estimate their current property value. While those estimates may not always be very accurate, it does beg the question-what affects a home’s property...

Selling Your Home During COVID-19

Selling your home can be a stressful process, and COVID-19 presents a whole new set of challenges to sellers in 2020. But utilizing technology to your advantage and having a savvy realtor can help your...

How COVID-19 Might Affect Homeowners Insurance

Home insurance protects your home and personal belongings in case they get damaged or lost during specific natural disasters or burglary. It also covers the policy holder’s additional living expenses, as well as medical payments...

Staycation: Vacationing A Little Closer to Home

As states across the country begin to lift their travel restrictions and businesses slowly reopen, restless Americans are looking for opportunities to finally leave their homes. For many, travel plans were cancelled weeks or months...

VA Loans: What you need to know

Happy Memorial Day! This weekend is all about honoring our military. At Semper, we value veterans and your sacrifice to our country, so we want you to understand the loan options available to you. As...

The First Steps: Preparing to purchase your first home.

Intimidated by the idea of purchasing your first home? Many first-time buyers are, but here are some ways to be prepared: Managing your credit score Monitoring your credit is easier than ever these days. Sites...

What is the best way to spend my stimulus check?

According to the Treasury Department, nearly 120 million Americans have received their stimulus checks from the IRS in an effort from the government to stimulate the struggling U.S. economy. Even more have filed or will...

COVID-19 Resource Hub

At Semper, we are committed to continue to provide unparalleled service to our customers as we always have, throughout the COVID-19 crisis. The safety of our staff and customers remain our top priority, so we...

Keeping Your Credit Healthy

As the COVID-19 outbreak sweeps the globe and headlines in the media, it has become clear that this is not just a physical health virus, but also can cause financial hardships within the home.

Will FICO 10 Impact Your Credit Score?

With the introduction of the “FICO Score 10”, some may see their FICO score increase by 20+ points, while others could see theirs drop 20+ points from where they expected it to be. According to...

Loan Limits Be-Gone: What’s New in 2020 for Veterans

The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 will become effective as of January 1, 2020. What does this mean for Veterans looking to purchase a home?  The new legislation was implemented to aid...

Who Can Qualify for a VA Loan?

A VA loan is a mortgage option for all Veterans, Active Military, Service Members, Reserve Members, and select Military Spouses. Semper Home Loans has successfully completed thousands of VA loans. The VA Home loan was...

Semper Celebrates Teachers

Teachers are the cornerstone of society and are often underrated, under paid and under-appreciated. Teachers are forming the doctors, scientists, writers, and business owners of tomorrow. From kindergarten through high school, we all remember the...

It’s a bit of a Fixer-Upper

If you’re ready to take on a fixer-upper, go over to the Semper FHA Loan section for more information & get set up with a loan officer today.

Your Interest Rate Lock Questions Answered

What is a rate lock? A rate lock is the action of locking in, or reserving, an interest rate for a home loan. Locking in your interest rate guarantees the agreed upon rate under the...

3 Most Common Home Buying Myths

At Semper we talk to a lot of people about home buying. And sometimes, we hear some things that surprise us. There are a lot of myths floating around about home buying so it’s important...

5 Tips to make moving in to your new home easier

Over the years we’ve helped many home owners get into their new homes faster and easier. We’ve learned some tips and tricks along the way for helping home buyers start out on the right foot...

5 Tips for self-employed home buyers

It can definitely pay to be the boss. For many out there, being self-employed has some serious perks. You can set your own hours, open the door to unlimited income potential, and follow your passion....

Purchase and Sales Agreement

Buyers and Sellers sign a Purchase and Sales Agreement, or P&S, after an offer has been accepted on a home and a mutual agreement has been reached. A P&S includes the final sale price as well as the...

Secrets to buying a home in a hurry

Many people think buying a home is a long and drawn out process. Really though, if done right, home buying could take as little as 30-60 days. Check out our secrets on buying a home...

10 Most Common Mortgage Questions

Ready to buy a home but have some questions first? Check out below for the most common mortgage questions we get.   1. How can I get a good rate? Our originators will try our...

home buyer consultation

Important questions during a home buyer consultation

A lot of people are unsure about the home buying process because they don’t know what to expect. That’s where we come in, we’ll walk you through each step of the home-buying process. To start...

Fix your Credit!

Tips on Cleaning Up Your Credit

Why it’s important to clean up your credit Bad credit can be a major hassle. If you’re thinking of buying a home, you’re probably going to need to take out a loan for at least...

First time home buyers - Semper Home Loans

First Time Home Buyer Mistakes

First time home buyers make up a surprising percent of the market, in fact, this year first time home buyers made up about 34% of residential real estate sales this year. That’s a lot of...

What you need to apply – Semper Home Loans

What You’ll Need to Apply For a Home Loan

Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start when considering buying a home. Applying and gathering the proper documents needed can seem a little daunting at first but we’re dedicated to making the process as...

Down payment assistance Semper Home Loans

First Down – Down Payment Assistance

Semper Home Loans is happy to partner with Rhode Island Housing to offer the First Down program. This program eases down payment burdens for Rhode Islanders by providing up to $7,500 in down payment assistance....

Loans – Semper Home Loans

An Honest Guide to FHA Loans

What is an FHA Loan? The FHA was created in 1934 as a reaction to the Great Depression, a time that saw foreclosures and defaults rise sharply. As a way to keep the housing market...

Halo loan program – Semper Home Loans

Semper HALO Down Payment Assistance

We are very excited to announce our new HALO program! Now, we’re not calling ourselves home loan guardian angels, but we certainly wouldn’t stop any of our customers from saying so. For the past few...

Beat the winter weather – Semper Home Loans

Quick Fixes to Help Your Home Beat Winter Weather

Between rain, wind, snow and ice, winter can be a tough on a home. And while unfortunately there’s nothing you can do about the weather, you can follow some simple steps to make this winter...

People pointing at house

VA Home Loans

As an approved lender, Semper will help you get pre-approved and guide you through the process of applying. Below is everything you need to know about eligibility and document requirements. Check it our before you...

Big house, or small house? – Semper Home Loans

Smaller Houses May Be Happier Nests for Many Homebuyers

First-time homebuyers, those who are looking to “move up,” and longtime property owners thinking about downsizing have varying needs but, in some ways, they are birds of a feather. All face the daunting task of...