Tracking Down the BEST Realtor for YOU!

Yes, you need a realtor! A professional realtor is so much more than someone who shows you houses – they are acting as your representation in what will likely be the largest financial investment of your life. As a mortgage lender, I cringe when one of my clients says they don’t need a realtor (or…

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Applying for Your First Mortgage: What to Expect

If you’ve never been through a mortgage application process, or maybe it’s been a long while, you may be approaching it with some trepidation. The very idea of a stranger digging through details of your life history and finances can feel a bit invasive. While the process (and hence, your experience) will vary greatly depending…

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New Construction: What to Know Before You Buy

FULL DISCLOSURE up-front: No loan officer who is not in a “preferred lender” relationship with a builder can compete with new construction. Builders mark-up the sales price of their homes so that they can entice buyers with a rebate (which can be used to buy down the rate or cover some closing costs) in exchange…

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Pre-Qualification vs. Pre-Approval

In recent pre-COVID times, a simple pre-qualification letter was enough to start your home search with and was the only letter most lenders would issue until you were under contract, but in today’s competitive, multiple-offer market (driven by lack of inventory), you had better be armed with a pre-APPROVAL from your lender of choice. What’s…

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How to Best Today’s Mortgage Rates

how to best today's mortgage rates

  I hate to break it to you, but barring another global disaster or pandemic, we are unlikely to see mortgage rates drop to the 3% playing field again in our lifetime. The COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns seemed to last an eternity, so mentally and emotionally what happened during those times seems like the way things…

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