Washington State Mortgages, Made Clear. Buying or Refinancing? Let's find the right loan together.
This is a question I get more often than you’d think, and the answer surprises most people: a bankruptcy doesn’t permanently disqualify you from getting a mortgage and depending on the type of bankruptcy you filed and which loan program you use, you may be eligible sooner than you’d expect — in some cases, before your bankruptcy is even fully discharged.
The two things that determine your timeline are which chapter you filed and which loan program you use. Let’s break both down. [Read more…]
Mortgage rates don’t move in a straight line. They drift up, dip down, hold steady for a few weeks, then jump again — sometimes in the same day.
If you’re waiting for “your number” to refinance, that uncertainty can feel like a reason to wait on everything. Don’t start the application. Don’t pull your credit. Don’t look too closely at your current loan. Just… wait.
Here’s the thing: waiting for the right rate and preparing to refinance are two completely different activities. You can — and should — be doing the second one while you wait on the first.
Let’s walk through what that prep actually looks like. [Read more…]
A few years ago, a mom called to make an appointment — not for herself, but for her two adult children. She was proud of them, both hard-working and responsible, and she thought they should be buying a home instead of renting. They came in together, and it turned out to be one of my favorite kinds of consultations.
They were doing a lot of things right. But they were also missing a few pieces that lenders look for: established credit history, a longer employment track record, and some savings set aside. Rather than push them into a loan they weren’t fully ready for, we put together a plan. A year or so later, they were in a much better position.
That kind of conversation happens more often than you might think. And it’s one of my favorite parts of this job — helping people get their financial house in order before they buy a home, so they can do it with confidence and on the best possible terms.
If you’re not quite ready to buy yet but want to be, here’s what I typically recommend. [Read more…]
Someone you care about — a child, sibling, parent, or close friend — needs help qualifying for a mortgage or large loan. They’ve asked you to co-sign. You want to help, so you say yes.
Before you do, make sure you understand exactly what you’re agreeing to. Co-signing is not a formality. It’s a full financial commitment, and it can have real consequences for your credit, your finances, and your own ability to buy or refinance a home.
Here’s what every co-signer — and every borrower asking for one — should know. [Read more…]
If you’ve been following the headlines lately, you may have seen reporting on how $800 monthly car payments are straining budgets and slowing auto sales. It’s a compelling story about the car industry. But from where I sit, there’s another story hiding in those numbers — one that affects far more people and almost never gets told.
That $800 car payment isn’t just hurting your ability to buy a car. It’s quietly taking a massive chunk out of what you can qualify for when you’re ready to buy a home.
Quick answer: At today’s common 6% rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage, every $100 in monthly car payment reduces your home buying power by approximately $16,679. An $800 car payment alone eliminates $133,432 in mortgage qualifying amount — before a lender even looks at the rest of your file.
