Washington State Mortgages, Made Clear. Buying or Refinancing? Let's find the right loan together.
I'm Rhonda Porter — a licensed Mortgage Advisor with 25+ years of experience helping homebuyers and homeowners across Washington State find the right loan with confidence. No jargon. No pressure. Just honest guidance.
I have some exciting news to share — I’ve been nominated for Best Home Mortgage in the Seattle Times’ 2026 Best in the PNW contest!
This nomination means a great deal to me. Nearly everything I do in this business grows from relationships — clients who come back, friends who send their family members, real estate agents who trust me with their buyers. Being recognized this way feels like a reflection of all of you, and I’m genuinely grateful.
A low appraisal on a refinance is one of those moments that can feel like the whole transaction is falling apart. I just worked through this with a borrower on an FHA refinance — the appraisal came in below what we needed, and we had to decide quickly how to respond. We got through it, and the experience is a good reminder that a low appraisal is not necessarily the end of the road.
Here’s what your options actually look like when this happens. [Read more…]
This week we cover the latest jobs data, housing price forecasts, the Optimal Blue rate index, this week’s economic calendar, a morning MBS update, and a spotlight on price reductions versus seller-paid rate buydowns — including a real example that may surprise you.
When a buyer and seller are working to close a deal in a higher-rate environment, a seller buydown is often one of the most powerful tools on the table — and one that’s frequently misunderstood or underused. Rather than simply reducing the sales price, a seller can contribute funds that directly lower the buyer’s mortgage rate or reduce their payment for the early years of the loan. The result for the buyer is often more meaningful than an equivalent price cut.
Before you drop your list price or make a lowball offer, read this. A $20,000 seller-paid permanent rate buydown can save a buyer more than $270 a month — nearly three times the savings of a $20,000 price reduction.
Here’s how it works, and why it’s one of the most powerful negotiating tools in today’s market [Read more…]
