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

A $2,015 Difference in Monthly Payments Deserves a Conversation A $2,015 difference in monthly payments deserves a conversation before a buyer walks away. Here's a real scenario I'm seeing: $1.5M home purchase 40% down → $900,000 loan amount Option A: 30-year fixed at 7.25% → ~$6,140/month principal & interest Option B: First-lien HELOC at 5.50% (interest-only) → ~$4,125/month That's a $2,015/month difference. The HELOC isn't for everyone — it's variable, interest-only, and r

21% of Sellers Just Cut Their Price — a Record. Here's the Playbook. 21% of sellers just cut their price — a record. Here's the playbook. According to Redfin, 21% of U.S. home sellers cut their asking price in September — the highest share ever recorded. This is now a buyer's market in many areas. For buyers who have been waiting, this creates real opportunity. Take a $650,000 home as an example. At a 10% price cut to $585,000 with 10% down at 6.625%: • Monthly principal & in

Self-Employed for Just One Year? You Can Still Qualify for a Mortgage. Self-employed for just one year? You can still qualify for a mortgage. I often meet clients who became self-employed after a career change, a move to freelancing, or starting their own business. Many are told by other lenders that they need two years of self-employment income. That is not always the case. We work with self-employed borrowers who have only one year of self-employment income. There are two p

Rate Hike Again? The Fed raised its policy rate by 0.25 percentage points in September, and CME FedWatch now shows traders pricing in roughly a 70% chance of another increase in October. Even it doesn’t necessarily mean the mortgage rate will rise again in Oct, but it shows a trend of where the rate is going. As we talk with buyers, here are three things worth keeping in mind: 1️⃣ Focus on negotiating seller concessions. A credit may make a bigger difference to a buyer’s near

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

Buy Without Sell: When You Don't Have to Sell Your Current Home Before Buying the Next One. $104K annual income. $550K new home. 10% down. Three weeks to close. Most lenders said no — the current home was listed, but with no offer in hand. One suggested a hard money loan. But this borrower wasn't buying an investment property. They were simply moving from one primary residence to another. Here's the situation: 🏠 Current Home - Expected sale price: $450,000 - Outstanding mort