Last month I wrote about advice I’ve been seeing popping up in my Facebook feed from Dave Ramsey on mortgages. There are several points that I just don’t find realistic for the average person who wants to buy a home, such as only using a 15 year amortized mortgage with 20% down payment and limiting your mortgage payment to 25% of your take home pay. I promised that I would share a follow up post where I review different scenarios comparing his advise to real life scenarios. [Read more…]
How Does Dave Ramsey’s Advice on Mortgages Pencil Out?
October 14, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Should You Follow Dave Ramsey’s Advice on Mortgages?
September 29, 2021 by 2 Comments
Dave Ramsey is someone a lot of people follow for financial advise. Lately he’s been showing up A LOT in my Facebook stream pushing his thoughts on mortgages, home ownership and credit. Some of his ideas, I don’t totally disagree with. In fact, I shared a post that came from his group encouraging people to continue to pay rent and make their mortgage payments during the pandemic if at all possible (ie nothing is for free). However, I don’t support what he instructs his followers who are considering buying a home and I also have an issue with anyone who pushes their “team of vetted real estate agents”…I would be really surprised if there is not some sort of financial relationship associated with this referral arrangement.
Let’s take a look at what he encourages his followers to do with regards to buying a home or getting a mortgage. [Read more…]
Mortgage Rates Lumbering Low
September 9, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Freddie Mac’s PMMS shows mortgage rates remaining at low levels. 
From Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist, Sam Khater:
“While the economy continues to grow, it has lost momentum over the last two months due to the current wave of new COVID cases that has led to weaker employment, lower spending and declining consumer confidence. Consequently, mortgage rates dropped early this summer and have stayed steady despite increases in inflation caused by supply and demand imbalances…”
What to do if your bank closes your line of credit
July 9, 2021 by Leave a Comment
CNBC reports that Wells Fargo is closing personal lines of credit and no longer offering the product to consumers. In a letter sent to their clients, they state that the closure may impact their credit scores. In my opinion, this really stinks! [Read more…]
Mortgage rates move lower
July 8, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Mortgage rates have moved lower as reflected in Freddie Mac’s Prime Market Survey released this morning. 
From Freddie Mac: “Mortgage rates decreased this week following the dip in U.S. Treasury yields. While mortgage rates tend to follow Treasury yields closely, other factors can be impactful such as the labor markets, which are continuing to improve per last week’s jobs report,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “We expect economic growth to gradually drive interest rates higher, but homebuyers and refinance borrowers still have an opportunity to take advantage of 30-year rates that are expected to continue to hover around three percent.” [Read more…]
Income Limits increased for Home Advantage with Down Payment Assistance
July 1, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Hot off the press! Washington State Housing Finance Commission has just announced that income limits for the Home Advantage program are being increased to $160,000 effective July 2, 2021. Click here for current mortgage rates for your scenario. [Read more…]
Fed Leaves Rates the Same BUT…
June 16, 2021 by Leave a Comment
The Fed’s announcement today to leave the funds rate unchanged was not a surprise to the markets. What did send the bond market in a tizzy this afternoon was that the Fed ever-so-slightly moved the goal posts out a bit for inflation. [Read more…]
Reduce your mortgage payment AND improve your your home with a refi
April 22, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Recently I helped some clients refinance their mortgage on their home in Tacoma. Not only did we dramatically reduce their monthly mortgage mortgage payment, they were able to make some improvements to their home. [Read more…]
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