Buying a New Home? Ask Yourself These 5 Questions First

Mortgage interest rates are starting to inch upwards, and it’s difficult to know when they’ll start rising for good. If you’ve been thinking about buying a new home, now is a good time to take action before the holidays are in full swing. Traditionally, inventory dwindles during the winter months, so it can be difficult […]

How Much House Can I Afford Right Now?

One of the top questions I hear from clients is, “How much house can I afford right now based on my salary?” Usually, they tell me what they make and want to know how much house they can afford based on that criteria. But salary is only one part of the equation. To figure out […]

Get a Mortgage with 100% Financing for Medical Professionals

The medical professional home loan (aka physician loan or doctor loan) is built to help you qualify for a mortgage with 100% financing. That’s a zero-down payment, even with heavy student loan debt. You can even qualify before you’ve finished your residency once you have an employment offer pending. Physicians, medical professionals, and other healthcare […]

5 Steps to Buying a Condo in 2021

Buying a condo for the first time can be a smart path to homeownership in 2021. Condos offer homeownership at a lower purchase price than single-family homes and a lot less maintenance. Buying a condo also offers community living, access to shared amenities such as fitness centers, pools, tennis courts, or parks. As a result, condos are […]

You Don’t Need 20% Down for a Good Mortgage

For many homeowners, saving money for a large down payment can take years. Add to that rising house prices and discouragement can set in, especially if house prices are rising faster than you can save. But you don’t need to put 20% down on a new home to get a good mortgage. In fact, putting […]

Primary Residence: The Real Definition and Why it Matters

First, primary residence and principal residence mean the same thing. So when we talk about mortgages, primary residence and principal residence are interchangeable terms. What is a Primary Residence? In short, a primary residence is the main location where a person lives. It could be a home, condo, apartment, or even a boat. The main defining criteria are simple: […]

Is Buying a Home a Smart Move Right Now?

For a lot of people, this has been the year of transition. Work from home, back to the office, zoom school, back to campus, hybrid everything, and each month there’s a new set of rules. The big question I’ve heard a lot—is buying a home still a smart move? Is now a bad time to […]

How to Cancel PMI and Lower Your Monthly Mortgage Payment

Private mortgage insurance (PMI) is typically required for homeowners who put less than 20% down toward their home loan. In general, private mortgage insurance (PMI) is 0.5 – 1.5% of the total loan amount and is tacked onto the monthly mortgage payment. It can easily add a few hundred dollars to your mortgage payment every […]

How to Finance a Fixer-Upper with an FHA 203(k) Home Loan

Buying a fixer-upper can be a fast way to get into a great home that is selling below market value and build home equity fast.  But buying a home that needs a lot of repairs and remodeling can also be a money pit with whole lot of stress. If you want to dive into a […]

Renting vs. Buying a Home in 2021

Renting vs. Buying a Home in 2021 No matter where you live, this past year brought a lot of uncertainty. Now with 2021 underway the housing market is shifting again. Deciding to rent or buy a new home in 2021 comes with a whole new set of questions this time around. Deciding Whether to Rent […]