First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes to Avoid

By Jason Neuffer |   Feb 13, 2025

Buying your first home is an exciting milestone, but it can also be overwhelming. Many first-time buyers make common mistakes that can lead to financial strain or regret down the road. To help you navigate the process smoothly, here are some key mistakes to avoid.

Closing Costs: What to Expect

By Jason Neuffer |   Jan 24, 2025

Buying a home is an exciting milestone, but it comes with several financial considerations, including closing costs. Understanding what these costs entail can help you prepare and avoid any last-minute surprises. Here's a breakdown of what to expect regarding closing costs.

How to Review a Loan Estimate

By Jason Neuffer |   Dec 10, 2024

If you’re in the process of buying a home or refinancing your mortgage, one of the most important documents you’ll encounter is the Loan Estimate. This document, provided by your lender, gives you a detailed breakdown of the costs and terms associated with your loan. Knowing how to review it can save you money and help you make a confident decision. Here’s what you need to know. Please note the loan estimate images used in this post are just an example and should not be used to estimate costs or quote a rate. Please click here to complete an application if you would like a loan estimate.

Understanding Blended Interest Rates: A Comprehensive Guide

By Jason Neuffer |   Nov 02, 2023

Interest rates play a fundamental role in the world of finance. Whether you're taking out a loan, saving money in a bank account, or investing in the stock market, interest rates have a significant impact on your financial decisions. Blended interest rates are a concept that often arises in various financial situations, and understanding them is crucial for making informed financial choices. In this blog post, we'll explore the concept of blended interest rates, how they work, and their relevance in different financial scenarios.

Helping Home Buyers with Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

By Jason Neuffer |   Aug 01, 2023

In the dynamic world of real estate, every potential home buyer's journey is unique, and as professionals, it's crucial to stay informed about various financial situations that may impact their dreams of homeownership. Today, we want to shed light on a significant misconception that many real estate agents may not be aware of - the possibility of home loan approval for buyers with a history of Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

Mortgage Planning During Divorce

By Angela Medlar |   May 01, 2023

Divorce can be a difficult, expensive and emotional time for everyone involved. If you and your spouse own a home together and have a mortgage, it can add an additional layer of complexity to the process. Here are some tips on how to handle your mortgage during a divorce.

What Is The Real Cost Of Mortgage Steering?

By Angela Medlar |   May 19, 2022

The real cost of mortgage steering could be tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the mortgage loan and could even make the difference between winning and losing an offer on a home.

It may seem super innocent. A mortgage lender offers to pay for a real estate agent’s marketing or offers the agent a desk in the lender’s office. In return, the real estate agent exclusively sends buyers to that mortgage lender, which may have terms less favorable than those of other lenders.

How is an underwritten approval letter different from a pre-approval letter?

By Jason Neuffer |   Apr 27, 2022

In today’s busy housing market, buyers find themselves making as many as 20 offers before one is accepted. Your approval letter could be the difference between getting the home of your dreams and losing it to a competing offer. You might be thinking, “Well, I have a pre-approval letter!” But was that letter underwritten by an actual underwriter?