Credit Opt-Out: How to limit countless sales calls
We’ve all been there – buying that new car, a house, even shopping for a credit card or personal loan. Without fail, it seems like the very moment we let one entity pull our credit, we’ve doomed ourselves to an endless amount of spam calls from a call center in Des Moines for the exact […]
Time to make a move? This may be the best time EVER to become a landlord / investor
Many homeowners who purchased or refinanced in the last couple of years are currently in a great financial position – namely due to their low mortgage interest rate (and payment). But what happens if you’re one of the many that wants to upgrade in the current market? Or maybe you’ve just experienced a change in […]
Everyone pays points!*
Unless you’ve stayed away from any form of communication in the modern world, it’s no mystery that mortgage rates have been moving relentlessly higher in 2022. But how high is high? That will depend on a number of factors, including: Date and time of day of the quote (things change quickly – some days, we can have […]
Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Loans: The Cost of “Free” Money
Many people are curious about Down Payment Assistance (DPA) programs when it comes to buying a home. In the mortgage industry there are a good number of options for these programs depending on where you are (geographically), and how much you make (most DPA programs are created to assist low-to-moderate income buyers, typically defined by […]
Pay now or pay later? (rate-buydown options)
Many people are familiar with the words “points” or “discount” in the lending universe, and its corresponding stigma (read: “I don’t like to pay the bank fees”). Before you write-off points (no pun intended – speak to your CPA to see if they are deductable!), remember this: you are paying the bank either way (higher […]
Rate vs fees – how should you pay the bank?
Let’s get something out of the way upfront – mortgage lenders are NOT non-profit in nature. While not all banks / lenders offer the same pricing (or have a similar overhead – think Rocket with their $1M per shot Super Bowl ads), none of them work for free. Rest assured; they WILL make their money. […]
The Upfront Cost of Buying a Home (And Planning Accordingly)
When it comes to buying your first home, two questions typically surface: “how much do I need for the down payment?”, and “how much can I afford per month?”. Many people think having their down payment in the bank and making enough to cover the monthly payment is all that’s needed, and in a way […]