Helping Washington State homeowners learn more about their mortgage options.
Did you know the biggest savings this season might not be in your shopping cart?
Black Friday is a great reminder to look for deals—and one of the smartest “deals” you can snag is refinancing your mortgage.
If you’ve been curious about lowering your rate, reducing your payment, or tapping equity for home improvements or debt consolidation, now is the perfect time to explore your options.
This week’s episode of The Mortgage Porter reviews current mortgage rates and what may impact rates this short holiday week. Plus, we review recent changes to Fannie Mae’s guidelines that removes the minimum credit score requirement of 620.
If you or anyone you know are thinking about buying or refinancing a home, I am happy to help! Feel free to contact me to review your scenario.
Fannie Mae (conventional lending) recently changed their underwriting guidelines to no longer factor in credit scores for underwriting approval!
Before this guideline change, borrowers needed to have a mid-score of at least 620 to qualify for a conventional mortgage. Scores below 620 could mean that someone may have to opt for an FHA mortgage, which has both upfront and monthly mortgage insurance regardless of the amount of down payment or equity with the property. [Read more…]
We are going on 14 days with the government shutdown. How does the shutdown impact obtaining a mortgage for a purchase or a refi? Is it impacting mortgage rates? Check out the latest episode of The Mortgage Porter.
Our first workshop was a lot of fun, and we covered quite a bit – if you would like access to “Getting Started with Homeownership” please reach out to me. [Read more…]
Last Friday, something I have been writing about for years finally happened. Trigger leads have been banned!
The bipartisan Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act (H.R. 2808) is now official. The law doesn’t go into effect until March of next year… so unless you protect yourself and opt-out of being harassed by strange loan officers or I mean, loan officers who are strangers, you will still feel very popular after having your credit pulled.
Honestly, even after this goes into effect, I still recommend protecting your credit by following these steps.
Of course, if you’re thinking about buying or refinancing your home, I am happy to help you!
I’m excited to share some important and timely news that’s poised to make your homebuying experience smoother, less stressful, and more private. If you’re a long time reader of The Mortgage Porter, you know that I have a huge beef with trigger leads with the articles I’ve written. Let me break down the latest developments around the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act (H.R. 2808)—also known as the “Trigger Leads” bill—and explain exactly what it means for you. [Read more…]
In today’s digital world, protecting your personal and financial information is more important than ever. One of the most effective ways to safeguard yourself against identity theft and fraudulent activity is by freezing your credit. Whether you’re applying for a mortgage, planning a big financial move, or simply want to enhance your financial security, understanding how and why to freeze your credit can be a crucial step.
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