Washington State Mortgages, Made Clear. Buying or Refinancing? Let's find the right loan together.
I am humbled to be a finalist in three categories at the 2014 Business and Humanitarian Awards Leadership Awards Gala. This annual dinner is an event that is organized by the Washington Association of Mortgage Professionals (WAMP).
I am a finalist in the following categories:
I still get this question all the time — usually from someone who went through a short sale years ago and assumes they’re permanently locked out of buying again. They’re not. The wait period depends entirely on which loan program you use, and for some buyers it’s shorter than they think.
Short sales aren’t just a leftover from the 2008–2012 housing crisis, either. I still see them today — usually tied to divorce, job loss, or a medical hardship rather than a market crash. Whatever the reason behind yours, here’s where things stand for Washington State buyers in 2026. [Read more…]
I’ve just learned that last month, the Washington State Housing Finance Commission did their 50,000 closing! In other words, WSHFC has helped over 50,000 families buy a home in Washington state using one of their first mortgage and down payment assistance programs. The 50,000th home buyers are from Federal Way and represent a typical Home Advantage home buyer:
I’m back home in Seattle from a two week (okay, just over 2 week) vacation on our sailboat, Pointless. We cruised the San Juans, up to Princess Louisa Islet and returned home via the Canadian Gulf Islands. The sailboat is newer to us – we’ve had it almost a year. She’s a Valiant 40 that was built in 1985. We purchased her from the original owners who sailed her around the world while living aboard. My husband has spent the last year lovingly sprucing her up and this vacation was the longest voyage she (or I) have been on to date!
A Step-by-Step Guide for Washington Homebuyers (Updated for 2026)If you’ve found a home that needs work — outdated kitchen, worn roof, cosmetic issues, or more significant repairs — you may be wondering:
“Can I finance the purchase and the renovation together?”
In many cases, the answer is yes — through an FHA 203(k) rehabilitation loan, a program insured by the Federal Housing Administration.
An FHA 203(k) loan allows you to purchase (or refinance) a home and finance eligible repairs into one mortgage.
But where do you actually start?
Here’s a clear, practical breakdown. [Read more…]
