Helping Washington State homeowners learn more about their mortgage options.
This morning Freddie Mac released their weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) revealing that mortgage rates slightly improved last week.
It’s important to note that the rates from the PMMS are based on an average from last week… so they are not current.
If you would like me to provide you with current rates based on your personal scenario, I am happy to help you!
Since mortgage rates have returned to a more historically “normal” level, many are surprised that mortgage rates a bit higher than they may have been over the past few years. Mortgage rates have been pushed higher largely due to inflation. It’s expected by many industry experts that mortgage rates should improve to the mid-5% range somewhere between this summer to sometime next year. I do not expect to see mortgage rates for the 30 year fixed 4% anytime soon. [Read more…]
Did you know that you don’t need a 20% down payment to buy a home? In this video, I discuss what funds are needed during the home buying process.
If you’re interested in buying or refinancing a home, please contact me!
This past month or so, I have been helping people deal with issues with their mortgage lenders. This isn’t entirely unusual, but it seems to be happening more often in this current market. Sometimes, the client leaves the lender and I “adopt” their transaction and other times, they are able to work it out with the other lender.
I think that part of the issue is that mortgage rates are so volatile right now… and have been for a few months. With mortgage rates in a higher range than what we’ve become accustomed to, more people are focused in on interest rates. Yes, the interest rate you pay on your mortgage IS important, but it’s not the only factor and, in the event a lender is not able to close on a mortgage, choosing a lender mainly because of interest rates can be an expensive decision.
Another factor is that, in Washington state, only about 60% of licensed mortgage loan officers opted to renew their license in 2023. A 40% reduction is pretty significant… this does not factor in the loan officers who work for banks or credit unions (that are not required to be licensed) and who have been laid off or chosen to find another field for employment. [Read more…]
The funding fee for VA mortgages for 2023 have been announced. Great news – the fees for 2023 have been reduced from 2022!
The VA Funding Fee is a one-time charge often added to the loan amount and financed over the term of the mortgage. VA mortgages do not have monthly mortgage insurance premiums (unlike FHA mortgages).
Here are the VA Funding Fees for 2023: [Read more…]
FINALLY!!! HUD just announced that the mortgage insurance on FHA mortgages will be reduced by 30 basis points on most mortgage loans.
FHA mortgages typically have two forms of mortgage insurance. Borrowers pay for both an upfront premium, which is often added to the loan amount and financed over the life of the loan and an annual premium, which is paid monthly. The mortgage insurance which has been reduced is the annual mortgage insurance. [Read more…]
I have just created a page on my blog dedicated to first time homebuyers. Right now, you can access this on the column to the right.
I will be updating this page with information that first time homebuyers or people who have not bought a home recently may find useful. Currently, I have a couple of different scenarios intended to help demystify the homebuying process. I hope you’ll check it out!
If you or anyone you know are thinking about buying their first home or re-entering the home buying market, please feel free to share this with them. 🙂
And of course, I would love to help you with your mortgage needs. Please contact me if I can be of any assistance.
Many Veterans who have served our country have earned the right to have a VA mortgage loan. It’s unfortunate that some sellers as well as real estate agents have a bad image of VA loans and often discourage them. Many years ago, VA loans were sometimes more challenging than conventional financing – this is rarely the case anymore. Some people may falsely assume that if a Veteran is using a VA loan, they must have poor credit or not enough funds for a down payment. A majority of the Veteran’s I have provided mortgages for have excellent credit and plenty of funds for down payment, they opt for the VA loan because they either don’t want to use all of their funds for down payment, or the VA mortgage loan could be providing a lower interest rate than what they would receive with conventional financing. Bottom line, it’s their entitlement that they sacrificed and worked hard to earn. [Read more…]
Rhonda Porter is a Licensed Mortgage Originator MLO121324 living in the greater Seattle area. Rhonda began her career in 1986 in the title and escrow industry and began her mortgage career in 2000. She enjoys helping people understand the mortgage process and started writing The Mortgage Porter in late 2006. Read More…
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