Helping Washington State homeowners learn more about their mortgage options.
It’s Friday, so let’s have some fun! I asked AI to help recreate me as a glamourous action figure, Rhonda – The Mortgage Porter.
Full disclosure, I asked ChatGPT to write a post to compliment the doll it created for me. Here it is!
Meet Barbie’s Mortgage Maven: Rhonda Porter, The Mortgage Porter! 💁🏼♀️💼🏡 [Read more…]
Mortgage interest rates have been VERY volatile with all the movement in the stock market. Typically, when the stock market is plummeting, we see mortgage rates improve. This is because mortgage rates are based on bonds and investors will seek the safety of bonds. In the markets we recently have been experiencing, the lower mortgage rates may be available for moments before moving higher.
If you’re considering refinancing to obtain a lower interest rate, you need to be prepared to take action. [Read more…]
Where are mortgage rates following Trump’s “Liberation Day”?
How do home values typically do during a recession?
Learn this and more in my latest Mortgage Rate Update video.
If you’re considering buying, selling, refinancing, remodeling or even a reverse mortgage, I’m happy to help you!
I’m a day late on the weekly update as I’m just back from my vacation with family.
Here’s your mortgage update, including how the markets and proposed tariffs are impacting the direction of mortgage rates.
25 years ago, I left my career in the title and escrow career to become a mortgage loan officer. I announced it on April fools day to the real estate agents that I was no longer going to be their title rep and that I was making the move to the mortgage side. Many were shocked as I had been in the title industry for 14 years and was pretty established. It was a big move! [Read more…]
FHA issued an update to their guidelines (ML 2025-09) revising residency requirements for FHA mortgages. The new guidelines only allows U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents and removes non-permanent residents from being eligible.
From Mortgage Letter 2025-09:
“Currently, non-permanent residents are subject to immigration laws that can affect their ability to remain legally in the country. This uncertainty poses a challenge for FHA as the ability to fulfill long-term financial obligations depends on stable residency and employment.”
This is an evolving situation. I expect other government backed loans to follow suit. Stay tuned.
I am taking a quick vacation to visit my son and family in Japan. I will be back to work as fresh as a cherry blossom on April 8, 2025. (Update: I’m back from vacation!)
My team is ready to help you with your preapproval or home buying needs while I’m away. You can start an application here to get the process started. [Read more…]
As expected, the Fed has decided to leave the Fed funds rate unchanged, leaving the targeted range between 4.25% and 4.5%. This rate does not directly affect mortgage interest rates, but rather influences the direction of mortgage interest rates (unless you have a home equity line of credit that is based on the prime rate).
What may impact mortgage rates today is the press conference following the Fed rate announcement. Stay tuned!
Rhonda Porter is a Licensed Mortgage Originator MLO121324 living in the greater Seattle area. Rhonda began her career in 1986 in the title and escrow industry and began her mortgage career in 2000. She enjoys helping people understand the mortgage process and started writing The Mortgage Porter in late 2006. Read More…
Recent Comments