Insider Tips for a Strong Property Appraisal

When a lender evaluates a loan application, there really are two separate approvals going on. One is the lender evaluating the applicant. The applicant’s employment and income are reviewed making sure the new loan is affordable. A credit report and credit scores are ordered to make sure the applicant meets the minimum credit standards for […]

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) Explained

Sometimes Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) gets some bad publicity. Consumers can hear things about how important it is to avoid PMI. Yet that’s not really a fair statement. Some can also say that PMI only benefits the lender and not the borrower. But these statements need to be looked at a little further. Once explained, […]

Selling Loans: Why It’s a Good Thing

What many borrowers don’t realize is how mortgage lenders “fund” a home loan. Funding essentially means providing the money needed to create a new mortgage. It’s probably easy to think that when someone applies for a mortgage, the lender reaches back into its bank vault and sends the money over to the settlement agent. But […]

5 Things You Can Do to Ensure a Smooth Closing

From the outside looking in, getting a mortgage loan from application to final closing looks fairly straightforward. You apply for a loan, submit it, the lender looks at it, approves it then orders final closing papers. Once you submit your application, it gets pretty quiet on your end. But on the other end, there’s a […]

What Exactly is Forbearance?

The term “forbearance” has gotten a bit of attention over the past few weeks. Unfortunately, homeowners often seek out a forbearance agreement without fully knowing all the implications or understanding exactly what forbearance is and is not. The term has come to the forefront lately as the number of the unemployed mounts and homeowners may […]

Want to Be a Landlord? Know How It Will Affect Your Debt Ratios

One of the most consistent and safe investments continues to be real estate. Yes, there are always ups and downs but over time real estate as an investment asset is hard to beat. Flipping houses was a fad several years ago when No-Doc loans and loans for those with damaged credit were everywhere. Yet experienced […]

The Main Difference Between a Mortgage Banker and a Mortgage Broker

For many, a mortgage banker and mortgage broker are the same. They’re really not. They are the same because they’re a source for home financing but how they get a home loan ultimately to the closing table is different. A mortgage banker and broker might sound the same to the everyday consumer but there are […]

VA Eligibility Restoration: How It Works

There’s really no question the VA home loan is the premier option for those who are eligible and want to come to the closing table with as little cash as possible. In fact, the VA home loan doesn’t require a down payment at all. Zero. The only other loan program that doesn’t need any type […]

If Your Spouse Has Bad Credit: What That Means For You

Mortgage lenders evaluate good credit and bad credit a bit differently than they did several years ago. Prior to the introduction of credit scoring, a lender’s underwriter would review each credit entry line by line. The underwriter would look at credit limits and account balances, if there were any payments made 30, 60 or 90 […]

Closing Costs: What Your Lender Can Control and What Your Lender Can’t

When consumers start talking about mortgage loans, the two most important topics are almost always the prevailing interest rate for the loan program they’ve chosen and closing costs. Yes, there certainly are other considerations but in most every instance these two items get the most attention, and rightly so. After all, the interest rate on […]