Thanksgiving has always been on of our favorite holidays. Seeing loved ones, sharing delicious food, taking a break from our hectic lifestyles for some old fashioned good times.
This year has been different to say the least and Thanksgiving is no different. Here are some tips to help safely enjoy Thanksgiving.
Keep Your Guest List Low
Make next year the Thanksgiving to invite old co-workers but keep this years gathering smaller. And if you have at risk family members strongly consider doing a zoom Thanksgiving with them.
Try For A Fresh Air Meal
If weather is permitting try to have your Thanksgiving outside, just like the original meals. If you can’t do it outside open a window and make sure you have good ventilation
Keep Families Together
If there are multiple families attending have them stay together and practice social distancing.
Limit the Cooks in the Kitchen
Make sure you don’t have a million cooks in the kitchen. Try to keep the people cooking and serving to a minimum (and be sure to show your appreciation if you aren’t the one cooking!)
Ditch the Buffet
Have your designated cook dish the plates in the kitchen to avoid passing plates all around.

We know its been a looong year and we never expected to do this, lets be grateful for what we have and remember that next year we can be thankful for something new the ability to celebrate a traditional Thanksgiving! 🦃

A big thank you this Veteran’s Day for all who have served as well as their families that supported them!

1. FHA Loan – This is most common assistance loan and you may already be familiar with FHA loans, these are widespread and help buyers with lower credit scores and less money saved for a down payment.
2. USDA Loan – are for lower-income borrowers in rural areas (but check with us you may not realize you are in a rural area 🙂
3. VA Loan – this is a great option for those who have service in the military and their families as it allows no down payment!
4. Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Loan – these are conventional loans that are a good option for those with good credit scores but can put down as little as three percent.
5. Good Neighbor Next Door Loan – this HUD program provide aid for first responders and teachers.
6. FHA Section 203k Loan – if you are getting a fixer-upper this is a great option as home improvement costs can be rolled into the FHA primary mortgage.
7. HomePath ReadyBuyer Program – this is program pays ups to 3% of closing cost assistance for Fannie Mae properties in foreclosure (you must complete an educational course as well)
8. Native American Direct Loan – this program is for Native American veterans on federal trust land.
9. Energy-efficient Loans – there are a few federal programs that allow for savings on homes rated as energy efficient or loans that allow the borrower to add efficiency upgrade costs into the primary mortgage.
10. Local State and City Programs – last but definitely not least there are many local options people often don’t know about that can provide assistance to first time home buyers!

Check with us and we can review your situation and help you decide if any of these are a good fit!

We know 2020 has already been spooky! So we are wishing you and your family a safe and happy Halloween! No tricks – all treats! 👻

We are often asked about whether borrowers should take out a 15 or 30 year mortgage. You may have noticed rates on a 15 year mortgage are amazingly low. Lower rate is better right? Well its not quite that simple. Most people actually get a 30 year mortgage. Lets review the pros and cons.
The main pros of a 15 year mortgage are the aforementioned lower rate. You are also paying less in interest over the lifetime of the loan. For example a $200,000 mortgage at 15 years with today’s current rates you’d be looking at less than $45,000 in interest. While the same loan at 30 years you’d pay over double that, over $100,000 in interest over the life of the loan. You also have the benefit of paying of the loan free and clear in half the time.
Sounds great, why don’t people do it more? Well the kicker is higher monthly payments. Most people are looking for lower payments. The above loan for 30 years would have a monthly payment around $850, while the 15 year loan would have a monthly payment of over $1300. That’s a big difference to most people.
If you’re already saving comfortably for retirement, college, have savings and little other debt then the 15 year might be the call. But most people are looking for financial flexibility and the much lower monthly payment, hence the popularity of the 30 year term. But either way rates are low and we recommend taking advantage, so fill out the free consultation on our website and we can see what program best fits your needs!

You’ve probably heard that interest rates are currently at record lows. You’ve probably also heard 2020 is a year like no other. Many people are asking about cash out refinancing or getting a home equity line of credit.
Here are is quick breakdown of the similarities and differences between the two loan types.
Both allow you to get cash out immediately and in both cases you are borrowing against the equity in your home.
The major differences is with a cash out refinance, you are replacing your first loan with a new one and the home equity loan is a second loan to your existing first mortgage and an additional payment.
Cash out refinancing generally has a lower interest rate, as it replaces the existing first loan and is seen as less exposure to lenders.
Please contact us for a free custom evaluation and we can quickly review your case to see how much cash you qualify for and see what program works best for you!

If you’re self employed getting a mortgage secured is a slightly different process than traditional mortgages. It often comes with additional requirements and red tape.
Here are some tips to help you get organized and approved if you’re self employed!

Apply For A Mortgage When Your Income is Up
We know this is easier said than done but lenders will look at your last two years income most closely, and if you’re income fluctuates its best to apply on an up year. This can help you qualify for a greater loan amount and lower interest rate.

Get That DTI Lower
Your debt-to-income ratio is one of the key factors in getting approved. So you’ll want to try to pay down debts (both business and personal) as well as avoid opening new lines of credit a few months before applying.

Don’t Mix Business and Personal
Keep your business and personal finances separate. Have separate bank and credit card accounts for your business and personal use. This will help lenders easily see the business income and expenses as well as show you are running your business in a professional manner.

Contact A Mortgage Professional
Give us a call or contact us from our pre-qual app and we can see what product best fits your needs. You may be a candidate for QM (Qualified Mortgage) or non-QM lender, either way we can review and help you get started!

If you are about to purchase a house – you are going to be excited and maybe a little nervous. Here are 5 things to do to help lower any anxiety or future surprises.
1. Look For Wet Spots
Check the ceilings for wet spots (rings or circles) and discoloration around windows. They can cause issues down the road and be hard to fix!
2. Check The Wiring
Turn on the switches, dimmers, check the doorbell, garage door, basically check it all. If things are not working right, there could be an overall wiring issue.
3. Inspect the Bathroom
Again look for water damage around toilets, showers and tubs. Also make sure everything is working properly, flush the toilets, check the showers and faucets to make sure the hot water works.
4. Test the hardware
Basically check everything from fans to the washer and dryer. Make sure it all works.
5. Run the heat and AC
You want to make sure the heat and AC are working properly – turn them on and let it run a few minutes.
Finally make a checklist for all the items to be included in the sale and have the owner signoff or initial it so there’s no confusion or disagreements at closing.

Fall is officially here (even if it doesn’t fell like it 🙂
Here are a few tips for getting ready for the changing of the seasons and colder weather.

First you’ll want to rake up your leaves as leaving them on a lawn can cause mold and damage the grass. Next clean the gutters as leaves somehow have a magnetic ability to get stuck in them (if you do it yourself make sure to practice good ladder safety!)
Check your windows and doors for leaks – this can you really help keep cold air out. If you find a leaky window, you may want to apply caulk to the frames.
If you have a fireplace and chimney and haven’t had it cleaned lately call a chimney sweep to clean it before you start your first fall fire!
If you have other fall prep tips you like, let us know as we’d love to hear them 🙂

As some high-demand markets and areas are red hot with limited inventory, we are seeing bidding wars with multiple offers on a house or property which can result in a bidding war.
Here are a few tips to win a bidding war and if you’re the seller how to pick a winner. Don’t forget to get feedback from your real estate agent as they may have important knowledge about the seller. And don’t get too frenzied where you bid yourself to a point where its going to break your budget!

Up the Ante
Of course if there are multiple bids on the property, increasing your offer is going to help. In addition you can make a larger down payment on the mortgage to make financing easier, especially if the purchase price goes above the appraised value. And the old saying cash is king is applicable here as well. Paying in cash shows you’re serious and it also can make for a faster closing.

Preapproval
You’ll want to do this anyway but definitely make sure you are preapproved as it shows you are a viable buyer. Please contact us for a pre-approval letter whether you are in a bidding war or not!

Escalate
You can also add an escalation clause where if someone matches your offer you will raise your offer above it!

Write a Letter
This may sound hokey but we have seen a lot of cases where sellers want their house to go a buyer that is going to care for and appreciate the house. Tell them why the house is special to you and you might not even be the highest bidder and still have the winning offer!

Picking a winner
If you’re lucky enough to be on the selling end of a bidding war here are some tips to pick a winner. Again cash is king. Cash offers give you a lot more certainty that there won’t be surprises during the closing. And if its not a cash offer review the buyers offer, make sure they are preapproved before starting. Also review special offers and escalation offers like an offer to waive some contingencies or beat matching offers.