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…]
Credit and Financial Strategy
Your mortgage approval doesn’t start with a rate — it starts with your credit profile and financial structure.
In this section, you’ll find educational articles on:
- Credit scores and reporting
- Debt-to-income ratios
- Mortgage insurance
- Bankruptcy recovery
- Financial planning considerations
- Long-term homeownership strategy
Understanding how lenders evaluate credit and income allows you to prepare strategically rather than reactively.
My goal is to help you improve your financial scenario — whether that means preparing to buy, restructuring debt, or planning your next move.
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…]
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…]
Some things to Consider before you do Forbearance with your Mortgage
April 13, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Politicians and the media have made it sound like entering into a forbearance with your mortgage because of the pandemic is something that many Americans are taking advantage…and maybe you should too, right? Well…maybe not. [Read more…]
‘Tis the Season to not sabotage your credit
December 9, 2019 by Leave a Comment
Several weeks before the holiday season sets in, we begin to see those commercials I absolute dread. You know, the luxury cars with giant red bows on them…the recipient gushes, “you shouldn’t have!”… and they’re right, the gift giver probably should not have – especially if they’re considering buying or refinancing a home. [Read more…]
