Entries by Loan Processing

How to Know When You’ve Outgrown a Home

When you purchased your home, it felt like a dream come true. Now, it feels like you’re waking up to a not-so-rosy reality. Why is that so? You may be outgrowing your home. As a household’s size, preferences and priorities change over time, a once ideal living space can start to feel unlivable. Upgrades and […]

How Does the Prime Rate Impact Loans?

In 2022, the prime rate went up by 4 points, going from 3.5% to 7.5%. This happened because the Federal Reserve wanted to better manage inflation. By July 2023, the prime rate had gone up to 8.5% But what does all of this actually mean? What is the prime rate, and how does it impact […]

Are You Financially Prepared for a Home?

Homeownership is a significant milestone in many people’s lives. It’s not just about finding the perfect house; it’s also about ensuring that your finances are in order to support this long-term commitment. This newsletter will help guide you through some essential steps to prepare your finances for homeownership: 1. Assess Your Financial Situation: Calculate your monthly […]

Getting a Mortgage With Student Debt

More than 43 million Americans have student loans. So if you’re hoping to buy a home with student loans in tow, you’re not alone. Fortunately, student loans are treated just like any other debt when applying for a mortgage. While having lots of debt can certainly make the process more challenging, it doesn’t disqualify you […]

Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance

Low-income, first-time homebuyers may qualify for a low-interest, deferred payment loan of up to 17% of the purchase price for down payment assistance and 4%, up to $10,000 in closing costs assistance. Overview The loan funds must be used to pay a down payment and closing costs on the purchase. The home you buy must […]

How Homeowners Build Generational Wealth

Homeownership can be a pathway to building generational wealth — in fact, owning a home is so closely linked to long-term stability that it’s been one of the few life goals that’s just as common today as it was 50 or even 100 years ago. But how does homeownership help families build wealth? What makes […]

When You Should (Not) Refinance

Refinancing is common practice for homeowners, and it’s often a smart financial move. It can lower your payment, reduce your interest rate and more. But when it’s not the right time to refinance, it can be an unnecessary effort or even result in extra costs. When should you think about refinancing, and when should you […]