EDITORS NOTE: This post was written back in 2008 and mortgage rates have obviously changed 🙂 If you would like a mortgage rate quote based on current rates for your home located in Washington state, click here. [Read more…]
Refinancing isn’t just about lowering your rate — it’s about improving your overall financial strategy.
In this section, you’ll find educational resources explaining when refinancing makes sense, when it doesn’t, and how to evaluate your break-even point. Whether you’re considering a rate-and-term refinance, cash-out refinance, HELOC, renovation mortgage, or reverse mortgage, understanding the numbers and long-term impact is critical.
Topics covered include:
- “Should I refinance?” scenarios
- Cash-out strategies for remodeling or debt consolidation
- Home equity planning
- Recasting and re-amortization
- Renovation loans and ADU financing
- Refinancing with a second mortgage
My approach is always low-pressure and analytical — we look at the math, your goals, and your timeline before making any decisions.
If you’re a homeowner in Washington State wondering whether refinancing could improve your situation, start here.
Home Equity Loans Offer Protection from Financial Uncertainty
January 8, 2008 by 3 Comments
While on vacation last week, I took advantage of being “unplugged” and read the Seattle Times. On the last Sunday of 2007, they featured an article on How You Can Ride Out a Recession by Teresa Dixon Murray. Teresa offers 17 easy suggestions on how to protect yourself during uncertain economic times with her top tip being:
1. If you own a house, get a home-equity line today.
It won’t cost you money unless you use the credit line. But this way, you will have access to money if you lose your job or hit an emergency. If you wait until you’ve been laid off to apply for the credit line, “good luck trying to get a loan if you’re unemployed,” said Les Szarka, president of Szarka Financial Management in North Olmsted, Ohio.
Picking your next mortgage by rate shopping? You might as well be playing Liar’s Poker.
October 23, 2007 by 8 Comments
Rate shopping to select who will be assisting you with your next mortgage is similar to playing “liars poker”. The Loan Originator who is the most successful at bluffing wins. The fact is, unless you’re locking in the rate at the moment you’re shopping, you don’t have that rate. It’s a rate quote–that’s all. Mortgage rates change throughout the day. They are based on mortgage backed securities: bonds. Some lenders I work with offer “live pricing” and others issue rate sheets; sometimes we can have several rate sheets offered by a lender during one day.
Ashamed of having a subprime mortgage? Don’t be.
August 24, 2007 by 2 Comments
The other day, FOX news contacted me after reading one of my post wanting to interview some of my successful borrowers who once had a subprime mortgage. You wouldn’t know this from watching the news: a majority of subprime mortgages are performing well. It’s a minority that are not. [Read more…]
It’s so nice to meet you!
July 29, 2007 by 6 Comments
Fact is, most of my clients, I never meet face to face. Odd isn’t it? I’m caring for one of their largest financial transactions and it’s all handled via email or phone calls. I could be standing in line at the grocery store next to someone who I don’t know (or recognize) yet I’ve seen all their financial information…credit scores, bank accounts, retirement portfolio, collections, etc. if I facilitated their mortgage. [Read more…]
