Category: News

Many people delay buying a home because they’re waiting for the “perfect” moment — higher income, better credit, more savings, lower rates, or total certainty about the future. While preparation is smart, perfection often becomes the reason buyers stay stuck on the sidelines longer than they intended. In reality, most successful homeowners didn’t buy when everything was ideal. They bought when things were *good enough* — and had a solid plan. ### The Myth of the Perfect Financial Snapshot It’s easy to assume you need flawless credit, a massive down payment, and zero debt before buying a home. The truth is, mortgage guidelines are designed for real people with real lives — student loans, car payments, career changes, and growing families included. Waiting until every number looks perfect often means…

Condos can be an amazing path to homeownership—often with great locations, amenities, and a lower price point than single-family homes. But condo financing has a few extra moving parts that can catch buyers off guard if they’re not prepared. Unlike a typical home purchase, condo loans often require a review of the HOA and the overall project. That can include budget health, insurance coverage, owner-occupancy levels, and whether the community has issues like ongoing litigation. These details matter because they can impact loan approval, timelines, and sometimes even which loan programs are available. The best move is to get proactive early. If you’re shopping condos, having a loan strategy that accounts for HOA documentation can prevent delays and reduce stress once you’re in escrow. It also helps you avoid falling…

The U.S. housing market is poised for a healthier, more active year in 2026, with major forecasters calling for lower mortgage rates, more home sales, and steady—not runaway—price growth. A Market Turning the Corner After several years of low inventory and higher borrowing costs, many economists see 2026 as a turning point rather than a repeat of the recent slowdown. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) projects that existing-home sales could rise by about 14% in 2026, helped by easing mortgage rates and solid job growth. At the same time, NAR expects nationwide home prices to increase around 4%, supported by strong demand and an ongoing shortage of homes for sale. Mortgage Rates: Gradual Relief, Not a Freefall Prospective buyers should not expect a return to the ultra-low rates of…

Buying a home isn’t only about the interest rate — it’s also about how you structure the deal. One of the most overlooked tools is negotiating credits that reduce your upfront costs or improve your monthly payment. When done right, this can make a home purchase feel a lot more comfortable without changing the home you want. A common strategy is a seller credit, where the seller contributes money toward your closing costs (and sometimes prepaid items like taxes and insurance). Another option is an interest rate buydown, where funds are used to temporarily lower your rate for the first year or two (like a 2-1 buydown). These tools can be especially helpful if you want to preserve cash reserves after moving in. The key is matching the strategy to…

When most people apply for a mortgage, they assume approval is all about income, credit score, and down payment. While those are important, underwriters look at far more than just the basics. In fact, some of the biggest approval delays — or denials — come from details borrowers never realize matter. Here are five things underwriters pay close attention to that often surprise buyers. 1. Consistency of Income — Not Just the Amount It’s not only how much you earn, but how stable your income appears over time. Sudden changes in pay structure, recent job switches, bonuses, overtime, or commission income can all trigger extra scrutiny. Even higher income doesn’t always help if it lacks consistency. Underwriters want to see a clear, predictable pattern that suggests your income will continue…

Applying for a mortgage can feel overwhelming, but the process is more structured—and often faster—than many buyers expect. Once your application is submitted and documents are provided, the loan begins moving through a clear sequence of steps designed to keep everything on track toward closing. In the first one to two weeks, your lender reviews your application, income, assets, and credit, and collects required documentation. During this time, employment and assets are verified, disclosures are issued, and the appraisal is ordered. Quick document uploads and prompt responses here can significantly reduce delays. By weeks two to three, the appraisal is completed and underwriting takes a full look at your loan file. The underwriter may request a few final items or clarifications, which is very common. Responding quickly during this stage…

You may not be familiar with a joint mortgage – this is where there are two or more parties on a mortgage. Commonly friends, family or a partner will combine their incomes and assets to buy a house. This is often done when one party cannot qualify or can’t afford a property on their own. Unlike a typical mortgage all parties are on the mortgage and all assume responsibility for paying it. The main benefit of a joint mortgage is being able to afford or qualify for more of home than one party is able to on their own. As you may have guessed this creates a more complicated situation where you can have co-ownership, and may be dependent on multiple parties making payments. Further you could have one party…

If you were recently denied for a mortgage application, it doesn’t mean you can’t get approved somewhere else. There are some application issues that are fixable. The first thing you’ll want to know is why you were denied. We can take a look and shop for other loans options. Credit issues are a common reason for getting denied. The first thing to do is to examine your credit report to see if there are any errors that can be fixed. There are also other loan programs if your score doesn’t fit conventional loans. Debt to income ration or DTI that is too high is another common reason to be denied. The first thing if possible, would be to pay down debt. Another common source of debt is student loans -…

If you’re in the market for a new house, you’ve probably heard that you want to get pre… qualified or pre-approved? What’s the difference anyways? There’s actually a big difference. Pre-qualified is more of a preliminary step. It gives you a general idea of much home you can afford. We will examine your credit, income, assets, and debts and you’ll have a general idea of the price range you’re looking for. You may also see that you need to increase your savings or lower debts before you buy. While pre-qualifying is an initial step, pre-approval is a deeper dive and being pre-approved carries more weight with sellers. To get pre-approved we will verify you income, assets, etc. and you will be more official (of course you still have to apply…