Washington State Mortgages, Made Clear
Most homeowners think about refinancing to get a lower interest rate. But there’s another reason to refinance that often gets overlooked — eliminating FHA mortgage insurance. In some cases, refinancing from an FHA loan into a conventional mortgage can actually lower your monthly payment even if your new interest rate is higher.
If you have an FHA loan from 2019 through 2022 — when rates were historically low — this scenario may apply to you right now. [Read more…]
When borrowers start researching FHA versus conventional mortgages, they often encounter the same inaccurate information — repeated across real estate websites, agent newsletters, and well-meaning advice from friends. These misconceptions can lead buyers to dismiss loan options that might actually work better for their situation, or to make decisions based on outdated assumptions.
Here are six of the most common misconceptions about FHA and conventional mortgages — and what’s actually true. [Read more…]
More families are choosing to live together across generations — whether to care for aging parents, support adult children, or simply share the costs of homeownership. If you’re considering buying a multi-generational home in Washington State, here’s what you need to know about how financing actually works. [Read more…]
One of the most common questions home buyers ask when comparing loan options is whether FHA or conventional financing is the better choice. The honest answer is that it depends on your specific situation — but there are some important factors that often get overlooked, including how your loan choice can affect your offer in a competitive market. Here’s a practical breakdown of how FHA and conventional compare for buyers in Washington State — including when FHA makes strategic sense and how sellers actually view FHA offers today. [Read more…]
Editor’s Note: This post has been updated for 2026.
When you apply for a conventional mortgage, the interest rate you’re quoted isn’t just based on what the market is doing that day. It’s also affected by a series of risk-based pricing adjustments called Loan Level Price Adjustments — or LLPAs. LLPAs are fees charged by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that get built into your mortgage rate or closing costs based on specific characteristics of your loan. Understanding how they work can help you make smarter decisions about your down payment, credit score, and loan structure before you apply. [Read more…]
