Starting your mortgage application can be frightening, but it doesn’t have to be Every American’s journey to homeownership is different, but nearly all of them involve a mortgage - and getting started with an application can be daunting and confusing. Lenders can require dozens of documents, the process can feel overwhelming, and everything needs to be done before the purchase deadline. If Continue Reading

Mortgage insurance can make funds more accessible, even at high loan amounts Traditionally, Americans who are searching for their first home are told to save up a down payment equal to 20% of the purchase price of any property they buy. This gives them a healthy amount of equity in their home, making financing accessible and affordable when pursuing a mortgage. But not everyone can afford Continue Reading

A mortgage is a puzzle, and an appraisal is one of the most important pieces There are so many things that go into funding a mortgage, whether that’s collecting the right documentation, finding the right lender, or making sure that everything is getting done before closing. But one of the most important parts of any mortgage is the appraisal. An appraisal for a mortgage is like any other Continue Reading

Protecting yourself financially is just as important as your physical health We all want to do what we can to minimize the impact of the novel Coronavirus, Covid-19, on our lives. But practicing social distancing, ensuring we’re washing our hands enough, and working remotely all only protect us physically. If like many Americans you’re worried about your finances during these uncertain Continue Reading

Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases any American makes, so make sure you're in good hands. Buying a home is complicated: you need to find the right property in your price range in an area that works for you - and those are just the first steps. One of the most critical parts of any home purchase is getting a mortgage. Almost every American isn't able to afford hundreds of Continue Reading

There are countless reasons to work with a broker, but some are more important than others Getting a mortgage can be a complicated and confusing process, which is why so many people recommend working with a mortgage broker. But it’s not always clear exactly why you should work with a broker, so we’ve put together a list of the top 5 reasons working with a mortgage broker is the only way to Continue Reading

Different Mortgages Suit Different People It’s undeniable that mortgages are complex. Every lender has different products with different rates, fine-print, and requirements. And taking a step back from the finer details, there are differences even between the way interest builds up on your mortgage depending on the type! There are fixed rate, variable rate, and adjustable rate mortgages, Continue Reading

 You can grow your savings without managing a dozen different investment accounts There are so many options for investing in your future - buying stocks, investing in a mutual fund, opening an IRA account - to the point that it can be hard to pick one. However, there is another option that is very simple: investing in your home. By improving the value of your home, or raising the Continue Reading

Sometimes the solution to your financial problems is found at home Sometimes in life the unexpected and unfortunate happens - and the unexpected can be very expensive. Whether that’s sudden medical bills not covered by your health insurance plan, emergency vehicle repairs being needed, or even unexpectedly owing significantly more in tax than you expected, any sudden expense can add a Continue Reading

Your credit is critically important for many things, including your mortgage We’ve talked before about how you can build your credit rating, but sometimes it’s important to also discuss how your credit score materially affects your ability to qualify for a mortgage. This might seem like a given - of course your credit score, which determines how responsible you are with loans, affects how Continue Reading