It is a widely held belief that you need to put 10-20% down to buy a house. The truth is, you can buy a house with as little as ZERO down payment, and if you have the right programs in place, you can get into your own home with ZERO OUT OF POCKET! If you… Continue Reading
When buying a house, it is critical that every borrower research each loan program to know the ins-and-outs of each type of financing. Knowing what loan is best suited for you and your family will depend on your individual financial situation. Perhaps nothing is more important than trying to determine how much cash you will… Continue Reading
If you are buying or refinancing an investment property, the first thing you need to know is “how much can I borrow”? To answer this question, we need to look at the maximum loan-to-value guidelines (“LTV”) for conventional loans that are sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. This article lays out the five differences between… Continue Reading
By now, we are all aware of the impact of the novel coronavirus “COVID-19” on our lives. Travel is restricted, businesses are closed, many are quarantined, and when we do go out, many of us wear face masks and stay at least six feet from other people. But what has the impact of COVID-19 been… Continue Reading
Approximately 34% of US households do not currently own a home. According to the National Multifamily Housing Council, there are over 43 million households in the United States occupied by renters. There are a number of reasons of course for not owning a home. However, one of the biggest perceived obstacles to homeownership is: Lack… Continue Reading
If you’re wondering why mortgages seemingly come in sizes, like tubs of popcorn at a movie theater, you’re not alone. A jumbo mortgage refers to a loan amount that’s higher than the conforming or high-balance loan limit for a particular county. Presently, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac set the maximum loan amount threshold for the… Continue Reading
A couple of years ago we published a piece about how to get a mortgage even if you have student loans. Back then the mortgage industry was different and eventually the information aged on us. It happens, we can’t possibly predict how things will change, all we can do is try to stay on top… Continue Reading
Earlier this summer, a friend of mine was looking to buy a house and although their Realtor assured them that it was a slam dunk and everything was fine with their paperwork and they had a legitimately significant down payment, there were complications. In fact, their appraisal came in a little over eight percent short.… Continue Reading
When you think of the word “conventional,” I know it brings to mind images of things that are considered “normal” or “standard” in our culture. That kind of thinking has caused a great deal of confusion among mortgage-seekers for a very long time because a Conventional mortgage isn’t the default choice for many buyers. For… Continue Reading
Shopping for a mortgage should be your first step before you even begin to ponder your housing options. Whether you choose to go with an FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional or exotic mortgage is a very personal decision that you’ll have to make on your own, but I thought it might help if I made some… Continue Reading