Paying Off Credit Card Balances vs. Closing the Accounts

With While mortgage lenders review a loan application, affordability is determined. Affordability can sometimes be a moving target as different loan programs may have different acceptable levels of debt. Paying off credit card balances might seem important, but lenders look at things differently. There are two primary types of debt, installment and revolving. Installment debt […]

Financing New Construction vs. Existing Homes: Pros and Cons

Believe it or not there are some differences between financing new construction and financing an existing property. Yes, they’re certainly both financing options for a residential mortgage but there are some key differences and you might be surprised at the available options. Popular Loan Options for Financing an Existing Property Let’s first look at the […]

Impound Accounts Explained

Impound accounts, sometimes referred to as Escrow accounts in other parts of the country, are funds set aside to take care of property taxes and insurance when due. Some loans require impound accounts while others leave them as an option. Let’s take a further look at these accounts and what they accomplish. Impound Accounts Explained […]

Short Term Loan vs. Long Term Loan? Why Your Choice Matters

Deciding on which home loan to take is usually a matter of choosing an interest rate. But for those who have never financed a home before, there are many more things to decide on besides the rate. You might be surprised at the array of loan choices available to you, including short-term loans and long-term […]

The Dangers of Trying to Prequalify Yourself

Sometimes the term ‘prequalify’ is used incorrectly in the mortgage world. It can be a bit disconcerting, especially with multiple non-lender sites that ‘prequalify’ someone without even speaking with an experienced loan officer. Trying to fly solo in this area can mean someone who in fact can qualify for a home loan could be told […]

Meet the Behind-the-Scenes People At Your Mortgage Company

When you and I first speak together, it’s generally a Q&A sort of thing. You have questions, I have answers. The first is probably to check out mortgage rates to make sure we’re competitive and to get a general fix on the mortgage market. The next is to talk about getting prequalified, get a loan […]

How to Craft the Perfect Explanation Letter

In the mortgage industry, it’s referred to as an Explanation Letter. After someone submits a loan application to a lender, the lender might want some further explanation regarding an item that appears on a credit report or some other piece of documentation in the file. While a bit unsettling, such a request is fairly common […]

Answers to the Most Common Lender Questions About Your Application

Often when a mortgage lender reaches out to an applicant after the loan has been submitted, the applicant’s first response is often, ‘Oh no, what do they need?’ After all, along with the initial application there was an additional amount of documentation the lender needed in order to process the loan. But in most instances […]

These 5 Things Can Stop Your Loan Application in Its Tracks

Once your loan application is submitted, the application is documented with some personal financial information from you such as paycheck stubs and/or tax returns, bank statements and W2 forms. In addition to your personal information, various third party services are ordered in preparation for submitting the application for an approval. The loan application is reviewed […]

Marriage, Legal Separation and Your Mortgage

The phrase, “’til death do us part” is one we’ve all heard. Unfortunately, many marriages don’t last that long. When a couple decides to separate, either legally or informally, there are different options to consider. Do they simply need some time apart to figure things out independently? Maybe have a little “breather” in order to […]