Washington State Mortgages, Made Clear. Buying or Refinancing? Let's find the right loan together.
Buying a home is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll ever make — and understanding the mortgage process is key to making confident, informed choices.
In this section, you’ll find educational resources designed to help you navigate every step of the home buying journey. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, moving up to your next home, purchasing an investment property, or exploring options for a second home, these articles break down complex mortgage concepts into clear, practical guidance.
Topics include:
My goal is to help you understand not just how to qualify — but how to structure your financing strategically so it supports your long-term financial goals.
If you’re buying a home in Washington State (or anywhere in the U.S.), and you want thoughtful guidance instead of pressure, this is a great place to start.
Many homeowners in our area may be sitting on quite a bit of home equity that they could use to purchase their next home. When it’s not a “buyer’s market”, you may have lower odds of a seller wanting to accept an offer if it’s based on needing to sell and close on an existing home. In order to have your offer accepted, it’s helpful to put forward an attractive offer that will make it easier for the seller to select your offer over others.
Here are some programs that can help! [Read more…]
Buying your first home is such an exciting and important time of your life. It’s a big step in creating financial freedom for your future. First homes are often referred to as a “starter home” as people tend to live in the home for a shorter period of time and use the equity they gain from appreciation and paying down the mortgage towards buying their next home. [Read more…]
Recently I was invited to contribute to an article for U.S. News on How to Avoid PMI on a Mortgage with Less Than 20% Down by Gina Freeman.
The article includes various strategies on how to avoid private mortgage insurance.
Private mortgage insurance is typically required when someone is putting down less than 20% for a home purchase or if someone has higher than an 80% loan-to-value if they’re refinancing a property and are using a conventional mortgage.
There are many ways private mortgage insurance (pmi) can be paid for, including a lump sum “single premium” as a closing cost or as part of the monthly mortgage payment.
There is also “split premium” which is a combo of a single premium and monthly and lender paid.
The seller may even be able to contribute towards private mortgage insurance if negotiated in the real estate contract and the loan meets required guidelines for someone who’s putting down less than 20% for a home purchase or if someone has higher than an 80% loan-to-value if they’re refinancing a property and are using a conventional mortgage. [Read more…]
Buying a home for your child is a major financial and emotional decision. It’s a generous gesture that can offer security, stability and help create wealth, but it’s essential to carefully weigh the pros and cons before making this commitment. Here are some important factors to consider: [Read more…]
Recently I wrote a post “How to Improve Your Odds of Getting YOUR Offer Accepted” which included this bit of advice:
“Understand the numbers: Bidding wars, low appraisals and commissions. Your mortgage professional should review strategies regarding how your offer may look like, including how long it will take to “break even” on bidding above the list price. What do your payments look like if you need to bid up $5K, $20K or more in order to “win” the bid. What happens if the appraisal comes in lower than expected? What if the seller is not offering to pay your real estate brokers commission? Understanding the numbers helps to reduce the stress involved with the “what ifs. You may be surprised that bidding up on a home doesn’t impact the payment as much as one would think as cost is amortized over 30 years with a typical mortgage.” [Read more…]
