If you’ve got federal student loans, you’ve probably heard that repayment is about to change — again. Starting July 1, 2026, the SAVE plan officially ends, two brand-new repayment plans launch, and millions of borrowers will be reshuffled into new monthly payment amounts. That reshuffle doesn’t just affect your loan servicer statement. It flows directly into how a mortgage lender calculates your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) — which affects how much home you qualify for. [Read more…]
Refinance to Pay Off Student Loans Without Cash-Out Pricing
June 26, 2026 by 1 Comment
How to Prepare to Refinance While Rates Are a Moving Target
June 24, 2026 by 1 Comment
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…]
Cash-Out Refinance to Pay Off Debt: FHA vs. Conventional in Washington State
June 13, 2026 by Leave a Comment
A Common Scenario I See
A Washington homeowner comes to me carrying a significant amount of high-interest credit card debt. Their credit score is below 600. On paper, it doesn’t look promising. With credit card interest rates averaging over 20% APR — and often higher for borrowers with lower credit scores — it’s easy to see how balances grow faster than payments can keep up. Minimum payments barely cover the interest, let alone reduce the principal. But they have something working in their favor: substantial equity built up in their home over time. [Read more…]
The First Step in the Mortgage Process Most Lenders Skip – The Discovery Call
May 28, 2026 by 6 Comments
Most loan officers do the same thing the moment you reach out: they ask for your income, pull your credit, and hand you a rate quote. Sometimes they skip even that and just send you an application link.
I do something different first — and after 25 years in the mortgage business, I believe it makes all the difference. [Read more…]
Is a 1% Drop in Mortgage Rates Enough to Refinance in 2026?
February 25, 2026 by Leave a Comment
Is a 1% Drop Enough to Refinance?
You’ve probably heard the old rule of thumb: “You shouldn’t refinance unless interest rates drop at least 1%.”
But is that actually true in today’s market?
If you bought your home when rates were 6.75%—or anywhere in that 6–7% range—and you see them dipping into the low 6s or high 5s, you’re likely wondering if that move is enough to make a refinance worth the effort. [Read more…]
