DIY Penny Floor: Week Two

We are on the second week of our penny project. I am now referring to that ginormous 10 x 13 foot room as the pennytentiary. I must admit, I love seeing how it’s evolving and I will be happy beyond words when this project is DONE! 🙂

Since my last post about the penny floor, we finished gluing the compass.

2015-11-08 15.19.03

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Steps in the Mortgage Process when you are Refinancing a Home (Updated for 2026)

Refinancing a home in WA

Steps in the Mortgage Process When You Are Refinancing a Home (Updated for 2026)

Refinancing your home mortgage can be a powerful financial move — whether your goal is a lower interest rate, shorter loan term, cash-out for home improvements, or debt consolidation. In today’s market, many homeowners are refinancing to lock in savings or access equity they built over years of ownership.

Here’s a clear, step-by-step guide to the refinance process, what to expect, and how to prepare for a smooth experience. [Read more…]

DIY Project: Our Penny Floor

Now that my husband and I are officially “empty nesters”, we are beginning to have fun redecorating some of our extra bedrooms. My hubby has decided to convert one of the rooms into a man cave. The carpet needed replacing and the room is in a basement. We thought a “penny floor” would work well.

There are several web pages from fellow Do-It-Yourself folks who have happily installed floors made of coins… I thought it would be fun to share our progress with this project on some weekend post.2015-11-02 19.16.18

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Before You Go to Your Signing Appointment [Updated]

This will be the third version of this post since I started writing The Mortgage Porter in late 2009. Things have overall changed for the better for consumers when it comes to the closing procedure. Last month, two new disclosures, the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure, were introduced replacing the Good Faith Estimate and HUD-1 Settlement Statement effective for loan applications dated October 3, 2015 and after. This post applies to loans originated after October 3, 2015. If your loan application is dated prior to October 3, 2015, you should refer to this post instead.

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Steps in the Mortgage Process when You are Buying a Home

iStock_000003709509SmallThe process of getting a mortgage consists of several stages and typically takes anywhere from 30 – 45 days (or more) depending on how prepared you are, what mortgage program you have selected and if it’s a purchase, the closing date may dictate how long the process will take. The steps below may not take place in the exact order I have listed and some steps may happen simultaneously.

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