How Much Is My VA Funding Fee?
VA loans are a great option for military personnel but it’s important to know about all the fees associated with these types of loans. The VA must be paid a loan funding fee before the VA will issue a guaranty. The amount of the funding fee depends on the amount...
How Will the Government Shut Down Affect Mortgages?
Here we are several days into a government shutdown and many people are wondering what impact that will have on real estate, the housing market, and the mortgage process. For many people, dealing with the government shutdown interrupts our life in several ways and can...
Wire Fraud in Real Estate – What to Be Aware of
It seems every week we hear something about money fraud or wiring fraud after real estate transactions and mortgage or financial transactions. In March of last year, the California Department of Real Estate issued a consumer alert and warning against timeshare fraud....
Should Sellers Get a Home Inspection Before Listing?
Even though this isn’t necessarily a mortgage or financial post, I wanted to talk about the importance of a home inspection when buying a property and also BEFORE listing a property. With some mortgages, the home inspection is imperative to the financing of a...Is There Ever a Good Reason for an Adjustable Rate Mortgage?
An adjustable rate mortgage or ARM is a home loan with an interest rate that can change periodically. Monthly payments can go up or down based on the current interest rate. The initial interest rate is lower than a fixed rate mortgage but after a certain period,...
Is a Bridge Loan a Good Idea?
A bridge loan is a loan between two transactions, typically the buying of one house and the selling of another. A bridge loan is ideal when a homeowner cannot afford to mortgage payments at the same time. This works when you are buying one home when your previous home...Buying Down Your Interest Rate
Have you heard the term “buying down an interest rate”? This is a common phrase in home loan applications, especially when working with a bank or mortgage broker. You can buy down your interest rate by asking for a series of different rates and associated...What is a Mortgage Rate Lock?
At least one time during the home loan process I get asked, what is the mortgage rate lock? A mortgage rate lock is a mortgage lenders commitment to honor an exact interest rate for a specific period of time. This means that once I have promised you a specific...Should I Buy a House or a Condo?
The decision to buy either a house or condominium comes down to personal preference and the type of house you want to maintain. Condos can be easier on the maintenance but higher on the homeowner association dues because of that lack of maintenance. However, both have...
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Here you’ll find tips, updates on mortgage laws and changes that can affect your loan or approval. Check back often for more great ideas.