Have You Checked Interest Rates Lately?

More than a year ago when interest rates began to slowly move up after recent Federal Reserve comments indicated we can anticipate three and maybe four rate increases for 2018. That was based upon economic projections that indicated our economy was awakening from its extended slumber as job creation and the unemployment rate showed signs […]

HUD, FHFA, FNMA, FHA, FHLMC: Who Are These People, Anyway?

HUD, FHFA, FNMA, FHA, FHLMC: Who Are These People? Well, they’re not really people. People certainly work there but in reality, HUD along with the others all government agencies that have some major connection with the mortgage industry. Some are relatively new and some not so much. The mortgage industry has so many acronyms it […]

USDA Approval: Basic Guidelines

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees a home loan program designed to finance properties located in rural and semi-rural areas. These areas are so designated by the United States Census Bureau and identified after the general census is taken every 10 years. This program was originally introduced in 1935 with the introduction of […]

VA Approval: Basic Guidelines

The Department of Veteran’s Affairs oversees the VA home loan program. First introduced as part of the larger Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, the VA loan was designed to help those returning from WWII more easily assimilate back into civilian life with various benefits such as paying for college, starting a business and buying a […]

FHA Approval: Basic Guidelines

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) oversees the FHA home loan program and issues guidelines lenders use for the FHA approval process. The FHA does not approve loans or otherwise handle them in any way. The program was introduced in 1934 as an integral part of the National Housing Act of 1934 as just one of the […]

Conventional Loan Approval: Basic Guidelines

Conventional loans are by far the most popular choice among home buyers. Conventional loans are those underwritten to standards set forth by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. When a loan is approved using these guidelines it is then eligible for sale in the secondary markets. Selling a loan allows the lender to continue making mortgages. […]

Do You Really Skip a Mortgage Payment When Refinancing?

This is an all too common phrase some lenders throw out when marketing their refinance programs or when speaking with a loan officer on the phone. A refinance replaces one loan with another and there are multiple reasons to refinance other than lowering an interest rate but skipping a mortgage payment isn’t one of them. […]

Why Portfolio Loans are Important

There is a term in the mortgage industry called “portfolio lending” and it’s a specific type of home loan program that caters to a particular situation. Portfolio loans are so important that without it the real estate industry would suffer. What is a portfolio loan? It’s a loan that does not fit into any secondary […]

Does a Mortgage Broker Cost More? How Do They Get Paid?

There are different ways to get a new mortgage. A bank will offer a mortgage, so too will mortgage bankers. Each has its very own department that decides which loans to offer and what rates and fees to charge. A bank offers various financial services such as checking and savings accounts while a mortgage banker […]

5 Questions First-Time Homebuyers Need to Ask

Buying a first home is probably the biggest financial decision someone can make. For those who already own their own homes they can relate. It’s a process that can be explained upfront but until someone goes through it, experience is the ultimate teacher. Finding, buying and financing a home can be a rather drawn out […]