Author: jeff
Inside the mind of a mortgage underwriter
When it comes to getting your mortgage loan approved, think of the bank or lender’s underwriter as the key gatekeeper. Charged with the task of reviewing the entire file of documents from the loan process real estate transaction, underwriters basically vet borrowers, making sure they meet all mandated guidelines and criteria and clearing the way […]
Historically low interest rates? We go all the way back to the start of civilization to find out
You’ll often hear the term “Historically-low interest rates” tossed around in news reports, real estate advertisements, and yes, even mortgage blogs. But the supposed historical data on mortgage interest rates usually doesn’t go back any further than the early 1970s, and sometimes only to the 1990s. How is that ‘historical?’ So we decided to buck […]
What’s the formula for getting the lowest possible interest rate on your mortgage?
Every borrower, every mortgage, and every approval are different, but there are some universal factors that result in the best possible interest rates. Here is the formula for getting a great low-rate mortgage no matter who you are: # Credit Score Your credit score may not be all you need to get the best interest […]
25 Facts about The National Association of REALTORS, including its golden Code of Ethics
If you’re a Realtor, make a living any way related to the housing industry, then you’ll surely know about The National Association of Realtors. But for those who aren’t aware, it’s a trade association for U.S. and North American real estate agents and others working in the real estate industry. The official name is The […]
Everything you wanted to know about The Big 4 real estate companies: Century 21, Coldwell Banker, Keller Williams, and RE/MAX
When it comes to buying or selling a home, there is no one perfect company, as each individual home buyer or seller has different needs, concerns, and personalities. Additionally, it’s usually the agent – not their company – that’s doing the lion share of work and delivering great service to consumers. However, the real estate […]
Do open houses really help sell homes?
Do open houses really help sell homes? The short answer is “probably not” if we only gather opinion and anecdotal experience of home buyers and even Realtors. The prevailing belief among real estate agents is that open houses only sell about 1% of listings. However, they’re great as lead generation tools, especially for young or […]
The things that Americans spend (and waste) money on (Part 2)
Most of us spend a jaw-dropping amount of money every year on things that we don’t need – or even really want. So we’ve put this list together of what Americans spend on everyday goods and services – and how much cash we’re flushing down the drain. In part one of this blog, we covered […]
The truth about lying on your mortgage application
You can call it exaggeration, misrepresentation, playing the game, or just fudging, but no matter how you look at it, writing things that aren’t true on a mortgage application is lying. It also happens to be mortgage fraud, and it’s illegal. Although there are many degrees, from an unwitting consumer boosting their income a tiny […]