Did you miss out on locking in the lowest refi rates?
Mortgage rates are still ridiculously (artificial) low rates thanks to our governments continued support. Mortgage interest rates have...
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FHA Streamlined Refi for your Investment Property
Did you know that if your existing mortgage is FHA on your investment property, that it may qualify for an FHA streamlined...
read moreKeep me posted!
I forgot that postage rates were going up on January 27, 2013. Some of my clients who will be receiving my quarterly newsletter will...
read moreReader Question: Should I Wait to Refi?
One of my returning clients is considering a refinance, however, they’re not sure if they should wait or not. Their...
read moreShould I refi my 15 year fixed mortgage if my rate is 3.250%?
I’m reviewing a scenario for one of my returning clients who currently have a 15 year fixed mortgage at 3.250% from when they...
read moreObama Administration considering new Refi Program #MyRefi
The WSJ reports that the Obama Administration is “eyeing” a refi program that would allow underwater home owners who...
read moreHUD’s Net Tangible Benefit Requirement is Hampering FHA Streamline Refinances
HUD has a requirement that in order for a borrower to do a streamline refinance their existing FHA mortgage, their scenario must...
read morePresident Obama and HARP 3.0 aka #MyRefi
With the re-election of President Obama, in my opinion, the odds of HARP 3.0 becoming a reality improved. HARP is an acronym for the...
read moreGive yourself a raise: Refinance!
About three years ago, I helped a couple buy their first home. They were my first clients to lock in at 4.500%. I remember sitting...
read moreComparing Closing Cost
Sometimes I see quotes from competitors that befuddle me. This morning, a home owner in Maple Valley asked me to review their FHA...
read moreAPR is not the best tool for shopping mortgage rates
APR was created by our government to help consumers select a mortgage rate. It was intended to be a tool that would allow someone to...
read moreIs it time for you to refi?
Mortgage rates have been at historic lows for quite some time largely due to the Fed’s purchase of mortgage backed securities....
read moreFHA Rate-Term Refi’s may be a Great Option for Higher Loan Amounts
I have been working with a couple of Seattle area home owners who either have a jumbo mortgage or have a mortgage that used to be...
read moreHow loan to values impact pricing for refinances, including HARP 2.0
I thought it might be interesting to share a few examples of mortgage rates that are available for rate-term refinance, including HARP...
read moreThe Family Opportunity Mortgage Refinance
I’ve written about the Family Opportunity Mortgage for purchases where certain circumstances allow one to obtain a mortgage for...
read moreTis the Season for Vacations
Many families are squeezing in a vacation during the remaining days of summer. I can’t blame them, I’m just back from one...
read moreHow Long Will PMI Stay on my HARP 2.0 Mortgage?
This is a question that I’m often asked by Washington home owners who are considering refinancing their current...
read moreFreddie Mac HARP 2.0 Loans Getting Tougher
One of the lenders that we work with for Freddie Mac HARP 2.0 refi’s has announced today that they are not accepting...
read moreHas your Bank turned down your refi?
In a time when one might assume that their bank would work with them to refinance their home, many Washington homeowners are finding...
read moreHow an appraised value can impact the pricing of your refi
I’m working with a homeowner in the Wedgwood neighborhood of Seattle who’s interested in refinancing his existing 30 year...
read moreFHA Streamlined Refi Revamped and Revisited
There is a lot of interest in the FHA streamlined refinance since HUD has greatly reduced the mortgage insurance premiums for some...
read moreHARP 2.0 Questions to ask your Mortgage Originator
HARP 2.0 (Home Affordable Refi Program) was revamped late last year to remove loan to value restrictions allowing more underwater home...
read moreHARP 2.0 and Private Mortgage Insurance
The Home Affordable Refi Program (HARP 2.0) is a refinance program to help home owners who have lost home equity take advantage of...
read moreWhat are your odds of getting a HARP 2.0 refinance?
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 4, 2012: Odds are back to being a little tricky if you have a Freddie Mac securitized mortgage….bummer!...
read moreRefinancing when you have an existing Second Mortgage or HELOC
When you are refinancing your primary mortgage and you have an existing second mortgage or HELOC (home equity line of credit), the new...
read moreRefinancing Your Seattle Area “High Balance” Mortgage Over $506,000
If you obtained a high balance mortgage over the current limit ($506,000 in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties) and missed the...
read moreBuying a Home with Owner Occupied Financing After Refinancing Your Home as Owner Occupied
I’m seeing a trend where home owners are refinancing their current home as “owner occupied” and then weeks after...
read moreThe Cash-In Refi
You’ve probably heard of a “cash-out” refinance where a home owner is taking equity out of their home for home...
read moreRefinancing Guidelines Need to Loosen Up for Housing Recovery
This subject has been gnawing at me for a while and I’m actually surprised I haven’t written about it here before. ...
read moreAn Awkward Time of Year for Closing Refinances: 1st Half Taxes Due
On April 30th, first half of real estate taxes are due for properties located in Washington State. For those...
read moreHow Much Reserves are Required When Refinancing?
I had a great question yesterday from a potential client who asked how come my Good Faith Estimate was showing more reserves being...
read moreSecond Mortgage Subordinations May Cause Huge Delays with Refi’s
If you have a second mortgage (home equity line or fixed term), and you are not going to pay it off during a refinance; it needs to be...
read moreSkip Two Mortgage Payments when You Refi!
The promise of not having to write a check for your mortgage payment for two months seems so tempting that many home owners chomp on...
read moreWould You Like Your Mortgage Blended, Shaken or Stirred?
Many home owners have two mortgages on their properties. A first mortgage and a second mortgage that may either be fixed or a...
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