5 Steps to Creating Financial Security

As a mortgage professional, I get to review detailed financials when someone is looking to buy or refinance a home via their loan application. Sometimes people are using every cent they can or are maxing out their monthly cash flow in order to have a home. I often have people who come to me because they need help restructuring their high-interest credit card debts. And I also help people who are well established. Personally, I would like to see more people on a path to financial security.

Here are a few suggestions for your consideration… not necessarily in this exact order and your plan may vary depending on your financial situation or goals. [Read more…]

Give 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 across the table from them at a coffee shop in West Seattle and telling them that they would probably never need my services again since their rate was so low. I was wrong.

We are refinancing their mortgage of $359,000 into another 30 year fixed rate at 3.375% (apr 3.544) with net closing cost of $1145.  They are reducing their monthly mortgage payment by $418! That’s a significant amount of savings to put back into their household to pay off revolving debt, build savings or retirement or help fund a college account.

They could even take that $418 and apply it towards additional principal, making the same payment they have been for the past three years while whittling seven years off of their new mortgage. This would save them $67,000 over the life of the loan.

My point is that mortgage rates are extremely low. Even if your current rate is 4.5%, it may very well make sense to refinance.

If your home is located in Washington state and you would like me to provide you with a written rate quote, click here.

Which mortgage is best for you? Consider your retirement and savings accounts.

On my recent post, Comparing 15 and 20 Year Fixed Rates, a reader asks how do I decide which program is best for my clients?  The short answer is: I don’t. The decision of what type of mortgage to select is up to my client (assuming they qualify for the shorter term mortgage with the higher payment, of course). I feel it is my duty to help my clients understand the mortgage programs, so they can make an educated decision and to provide them with various scenarios to consider. [Read more…]