Last week I had fun creating a spoof where I’m consoling a drunk racoon, Rocky. Rocky has the blues because he decided to chase a low rate with an online lender and now his home purchase transaction is on a rocky road. All joking aside, I actually have saved several purchases where clients who first opted for an online lender with a slightly lower rate discovered that the loan officer and their lender could not close their transaction. It’s easy to promise a low mortgage rate but that low rate doesn’t matter at all if your transaction doesn’t close. [Read more…]
Working with a Local Lender vs. an Online Lender for your Mortgage
December 12, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Mortgage Rate Update for September 8, 2025 | Should You Wait to Refinance?
September 8, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Mortgage rates are trending lower following the weak jobs report on Friday. Check out this week’s episode of The Mortgage Porter to learn what may impact mortgage rates and a common myth about when you should consider refinancing.
If you’re thinking about buying a home or refinancing your home, please reach out to me! I’m always happy to help you or anyone you know!
How to Catch a Falling Interest Rate
April 16, 2025 by Leave a Comment
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…]
Mortgage Rate Update for the week of August 26, 2024
August 26, 2024 by Leave a Comment
Mortgage rates continue to trend lower! Will this trend continue? Check out my latest video to learn more.
Marry the House. Date the Rate.
June 22, 2022 by Leave a Comment
I can’t take credit for the catchy phrase “Marry the house. Date the rate”. It’s being posted by mortgage professionals and real estate agents all over social media. What does this phrase mean? [Read more…]
There Once was a Renter
February 6, 2020 by Leave a Comment
I was just reviewing one of my client’s mortgages and thought I’d share a happy story with you. I’m REALLY proud of them. I first met Ryan and Rachel Renton (yes, I made up the names…but the rest of the story is true), at a home buyers class that I was teaching. Home buyers interested in the down payment assistance programs offered by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission are required to take a “live” class or an online class in order to qualify for the down payment assistance (dpa). [Read more…]
Changes to Limited-Cash Out Refinances
January 4, 2019 by Leave a Comment
A limited-cash out refinance is a refinance where typically, the home owner receives little to no-cash back at closing. It’s also referred to as a “rate-term” refinance. A limited cash-out or rate-term refinance offers better interest rates and/or pricing for interest rates than a true “cash out” refinance. [Read more…]
Days are numbered for the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP)
March 19, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The Home Affordable Refinance Program (aka HARP or HARP 2.0) is set to retire at the end of 2015. Homeowners who have a mortgage that was securitized by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac with a Note date prior to June 1, 2009 may be eligible for a HARP refinance.
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