A First Time Home Buyer’s Story

I’m so excited for some clients I helped buy their first home a couple of years ago. I thought I’d share their story – at least the Readers Digest version! 🙂

This couple attended a home buyers class that I was teaching back in 2014. They purchased their first home in Seattle in 2014 using a down payment assistance program we offer through the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. [Read more…]

Mortgage Rates Continue Lower

Freddie Mac’s PMMS report released this morning reveals mortgage rates continued to move lower for the third consecutive week. According to this report, mortgage interest rates are at their lowest in (just barely) over a year.

[Read more…]

Mortgage Rates Drop to Lowest in 10 Months!

Freddie Mac reports that mortgage interest rates are at 10 month lows in today’s Prime Market Mortgage Survey.

The Prime Mortgage Market Survey is based on an average of conforming mortgage rates from last week. If you would like to have a current mortgage rate quote based on your personal criteria for your home located anywhere in Washington state, please contact me! I’m happy to provide you with a no-hassle mortgage rate quote.

Qualifying for a mortgage when you pay alimony

Recently Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac updated their guidelines to treat alimony payments the same way that FHA has.

With conforming mortgages (Fannie/Freddie) where there is more than 10 months remaining for alimony payments, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will allow the alimony to be deducted from gross income instead of being treated as a monthly debt. This often dramatically improves debt-to-income ratios. [Read more…]

Update on the penny floor project

I’ve been meaning to share this post… it’s a little painful. Hopefully it will help others who are considering doing a penny floor. As you can see from these photos, we’ve had some issues with moisture. Hubby thinks it’s probably because we took too long to finish the job. I’m no pro, however (that doesn’t stop me from having my opinion that) I think it’s mostly because we did this on a basement floor. And living in Seattle, our basements can get damp. In reality, we’re probably both right… you can see the pennies starting to discolor in my last post. [Read more…]

Mortgage rates ahead of the Jobs Report

Freddie Mac’s PMMS (Prime Mortgage Market Survey) shows the 30 year fixed rate averaged just under 4% last week at 3.93% priced with 0.500 points.


Tomorrow morning, the Jobs Report will be released which may impact rates for better or worse. Stay tuned!

If I can help you with your refinance or home purchase anywhere in Washington state, please contact me.

Financing a “multi-generational” home


It’s becoming more common for families to have multiple generations living under the same roof. Some families opt to commit to buying a “multi-generational” home together designed to accommodate their lifestyle, whether it’s a home with an attached or detached dwelling unit (aka mother-in-law apartment) or even a home built specifically for generations to live together, there are options available for living with your parents and/or grown children. [Read more…]

Bouncing Mortgage Rates

Freddie Mac’s PMMS report reveals that last week the 30 year fixed conforming mortgage averaged 3.68% with an average 0.5 point.pmms march 10 2016
This is slightly higher than what was reported last week and slightly lower compared to a year ago.

From Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist, Sean Becketti:

“The 10-year Treasury yield ended the survey week exactly where it started, however the solid February employment report boosted the yield noticeably on Friday and Monday. Our mortgage rate survey captured the impact of this temporary increase in yield, and the 30-year mortgage rate rose 4 basis points to 3.68 percent. This marks the second increase this year. Nonetheless, the mortgage rate remains 33 basis points lower than its end-of-2015 level.

It’s still a great time to refinance or lock in a low rate if you’re buying a home. If you are considering either buying a home or refinancing a home located anywhere in Washington state, I’m happy to help you. Click here if I can provide you with a mortgage rate quote.