NEWS & INSIGHTS

What Type of Borrower Gets the Best Mortgage Rate? You might think it's the borrower who negotiates the hardest. Not necessarily. I met a client recently whose first question to every lender was exactly the same: "Can you cover my $600 appraisal fee?" She was determined to get that fee waived. But here's something many borrowers don't realize. When a lender offers a credit to cover your appraisal fee, that money isn't necessarily free. The lender may simply offer a slightly h

What Does a 25 Bps Fed Rate Hike Actually Mean to You? Today, the Federal Reserve will announce its latest interest-rate decision. If rates move by 25 basis points (0.25%), what does that actually mean for you? One important misconception first: A 25-bps Fed move does NOT mean mortgage rates automatically move 0.25%. The Fed controls a short-term policy rate. Mortgage rates are influenced more by the bond market, inflation expectations, economic conditions, and—most important