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Weighing the Options: Vacation Home or First Mortgage Payoff?

Weighing the Options: Vacation Home or First Mortgage Payoff?

Have you always wanted to buy a second home in your favorite vacation spot, but you’re not sure if it makes financial sense to take on a second mortgage before paying off your first? It can be a tricky question as it feels like a trade-off between g

Jun 20, 2023 | Purchasing a Home

Making Sense of Today's Interest Rates

Making Sense of Today's Interest Rates

Mortgage interest rates have risen sharply in the past year, having bumped around the 3% -4% range for the last decade. After getting so accustomed to that range of rates, many borrowers are struggling with today’s level in the 6% span. However, his

Jun 13, 2023 | Interest Rates

What do Appraisers Consider When Valuing a House?

What do Appraisers Consider When Valuing a House?

As you begin the process to get a new mortgage, whether for a home purchase or a refinance loan, your lender will order an appraisal for the property to determine how much it is worth. That valuation will play a large part in your overall mortgage plan. I

Apr 11, 2023 | Purchasing a Home

Should You Help Your Kids Pay for Their Mortgage?

Should You Help Your Kids Pay for Their Mortgage?

According to a recent survey, almost a quarter of millennials and Gen Z homeowners said their parents had given them money in the past year to help with a rent or mortgage payment. That’s not hard to understand considering how much skyrocketing inflation

Apr 04, 2023 |

What is Cash to Close?

What is Cash to Close?

As you get into the mortgage application process, you may hear your lender use the term “cash to close.” What’s the difference between this phrase and closing costs? What does “Cash to Close” mean? Also called “funds to close,” cash to close denotes the t

Mar 28, 2023 | Purchasing a Home

What is a Loan Estimate?

What is a Loan Estimate?

During the mortgage application process, you will receive a very important document called the Loan Estimate (LE). This three-page form will provide you with detailed information about your proposed mortgage. Here’s what you need to know to effectively ma

Mar 21, 2023 | Purchasing a Home