Saturday Strategy
Mortgage FAQ's, did you knows and much more...
New Build Financing Insights
In the current market, some new build lenders offer substantial credits to lower interest rates. While this may seem appealing, it's crucial to evaluate the long-term implications. We recently reviewed a client's loan estimate with nearly $40,000 in credits to reduce interest rates, but the home's price was only $380,000. Essentially, they were paying almost 10% more for the house upfront. Yikes! Check out this weeks Saturday Strategy Video
Check this out... the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) exists to reflect the true interest rate. In some cases, it can be deceptively high, around 11 to 13%+, due to excessive upfront costs.
Don't rush into decisions. The lowest rate with the wrong strategy can cost you thousands.
Buyers Are Back, Sellers Are Listing—But Strategy Matters More Than Ever
Inside Lending – Week of January 26, 2026 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Is it ignorance or apathy? Hey, I don’t know and I don’t care.”—Jimmy Buffett, American singer-songwriter, author, and businessman NATIONAL MARKET UPDATE The year is off to a great start. For the week ending January 16, applications for purchase mortgages were 12% higher…
Mortgage Rates Recently Hit a 3-Year Low. Here’s Why That’s Still a Big Deal.
If you’re one of the thousands of homebuyers waiting for rates to fall, you should know it’s already happening. And they recently crossed an important milestone. Rates officially dipped their toes into the 5s – something that hasn’t happened in about 3 years. This moment marked a critical threshold. Now, rates are sitting in the low…
Why Your Mortgage Is the Most Misunderstood Financial Tool in America
For most people, a mortgage is the largest financial decision they will ever make. Yet it’s often treated like a bill to get rid of as fast as possible. That’s where the misunderstanding starts. A mortgage is not just a loan. It’s a financial tool. And like any tool, how you use it matters more…
Why Rising Foreclosure Headlines Aren’t a Red Flag for Today’s Housing Market
If you’ve seen headlines saying foreclosure activity has been climbing for 10 straight months, it’s easy to assume that’s a sign of trouble for the housing market. But when you look at the full picture, a few simple truths become clear: Foreclosure Filings Are Up 32%, But That Doesn’t Mean the Market’s in Trouble If you…
Are Big Investors Really Buying Up All the Homes? Here’s the Truth.
It’s hard to scroll online lately without seeing some version of this claim: “Big investors are buying up all the homes.” And honestly, if you’re a homebuyer who’s lost out on a few offers, that idea probably sounds believable. When homes are expensive and competition is tight, it’s easy to assume giant companies are scooping…
Housing Activity Is Picking Up Heading Into Spring
Inside Lending For the week of JANUARY 19, 2026 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “The trouble with being punctual is that nobody’s there to appreciate it.”—Franklin P. Jones, American journalist, PR exec, and humorist NATIONAL MARKET UPDATE Existing Home Sales shot up 5.1% in December, the biggest increase for that month in nearly three years, while affordability…
How Taxes, Leverage, and Diversification Work Together to Build Wealth
When most people think about building wealth, they focus only on saving more or paying off debt faster. But real wealth is usually built by understanding how taxes, leverage, and diversification work together, especially when it comes to owning a home. Let’s break this down in a simple way. 1. Taxes: Keeping More of What…
Home Updates That Actually Pay You Back When You Sell
Planning to sell this spring? While you may be tempted to hold off until the first blooms or the spring showers hit, that’s actually waiting too long to get started by today’s standards. Buyers have more options than they did a few years ago. So, it’s worth it to tackle repairs now and make sure your…
Want to know the #1 thing homeowners regret when they sell without an agent?
It’s that they didn’t price their house correctly for their current market. According to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), those sellers agree pricing their home effectively was the hardest part of the process. Top 5 Most Difficult Task for Sellers Who Didn’t Use an Agent: And that makes sense. Pricing isn’t as simple as picking…
The Credit Score Myth That’s Holding Would-Be Buyers Back
Would-be homebuyers aren’t sitting on the sidelines because they don’t want to buy. They’re sitting out because they think they can’t. And sometimes, it’s their credit score that’s holding them back. According to a Bankrate survey, 2 out of every 5 (42%) Americans believe you need excellent credit to qualify for a mortgage. That may be why, when renters are asked…
P.S. Can I count on you to contact me if you hear that a friend, family or coworker is looking to buy, sell or refinance? Call/Text 480.553.8770 - We'd be honored to help them too!