I’ve been helping people buy homes in Seattle for over 25 years. The market has gone through a lot of cycles — but some things stay constant. Seattle is competitive, prices are high relative to the rest of Washington, and the buyers who succeed are usually the ones who did their homework before they ever made an offer.
How Do I Compare Mortgage Lenders or Loan Officers?
December 16, 2025 by Leave a Comment
How Do I Compare Mortgage Lenders or Loan Officers?
Choosing the right mortgage lender or loan officer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during the homebuying or refinancing process. While interest rates matter, the right professional can save you stress, time, and even thousands of dollars in the long run.
Many buyers now turn to AI tools—like ChatGPT, Claude or Google Gemini—to help compare mortgage options. But whether you’re using AI or doing your own research, here are the five most important factors to consider when comparing lenders or loan officers. [Read more…]
2026 Conforming Loan Limits for Washington State
December 5, 2025 by 1 Comment
Low-Down-Payment Programs, Renovation Loans & Down Payment Assistance Options
The 2026 conforming loan limits are giving homebuyers and homeowners across Washington State more borrowing power and more flexibility. Higher limits mean more buyers can qualify for competitive conforming mortgage programs—often with lower down payments, reduced mortgage insurance, and expanded underwriting options. [Read more…]
Do You need to sell your House before You can buy your next Home?
February 22, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Many homeowners in our area may be sitting on quite a bit of home equity that they could use to purchase their next home. When it’s not a “buyer’s market”, you may have lower odds of a seller wanting to accept an offer if it’s based on needing to sell and close on an existing home. In order to have your offer accepted, it’s helpful to put forward an attractive offer that will make it easier for the seller to select your offer over others.
Here are some programs that can help! [Read more…]
Should You Avoid Private Mortgage Insurance
January 12, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Recently I was invited to contribute to an article for U.S. News on How to Avoid PMI on a Mortgage with Less Than 20% Down by Gina Freeman.
The article includes various strategies on how to avoid private mortgage insurance.
Private mortgage insurance is typically required when someone is putting down less than 20% for a home purchase or if someone has higher than an 80% loan-to-value if they’re refinancing a property and are using a conventional mortgage.
There are many ways private mortgage insurance (pmi) can be paid for, including a lump sum “single premium” as a closing cost or as part of the monthly mortgage payment.
There is also “split premium” which is a combo of a single premium and monthly and lender paid.
The seller may even be able to contribute towards private mortgage insurance if negotiated in the real estate contract and the loan meets required guidelines for someone who’s putting down less than 20% for a home purchase or if someone has higher than an 80% loan-to-value if they’re refinancing a property and are using a conventional mortgage. [Read more…]
