The employment scene looks much different today than it did a few years ago. Between ongoing pandemic-related disruptions, the Great Resignation and the rise of gig work, more people than ever are wondering if they can get a mortgage or refinance their home loan without a full-time job. Yes, getting a mortgage or refinancing your

Buying a home is often the most significant purchase you’ll make and one of the tenets of the American Dream. Though some people might assume that a disability can make it difficult or impossible to get a home loan, individuals with disabilities have plenty of options for getting a mortgage.  Even if your sole source

When a deal is signed in real estate, it usually means everything has been agreed to and completed. That’s the rule – but every rule has its exception. In the case of closing on a home, the exception is a dry closing. A dry closing happens when the seller and buyer agree to complete a

You’ve probably seen advertisements promoting 0% APR (annual percentage rate) credit cards or adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) with interest rates well below the going rates. These are two examples of teaser rates.  A teaser rate (or introductory rate) is a low, temporary credit card or loan interest rate companies use to market their financial products to

Mortgage delinquency is a term used to describe the state of a mortgage when the borrower falls behind on their payments. This can happen for a variety of reasons, and it can lead to plenty of consequences and stress. Left unaddressed, mortgage delinquency can lead to foreclosure proceedings. If you’ve begun to fall behind on

Imagine this: Your search for a home is over, and you’re ready to embark on your home buying adventure. You’re preapproved (or approved) for a mortgage loan, and you’ve got a purchase agreement in your eager hands. You put the contract down long enough to calculate the final cost of buying the home – and

You’ve saved the money, and you’ve found a house. And now it’s finally happening for you. As part of the exciting process of buying your first home, you apply to the bank for mortgage preapproval. In evaluating your request, the lender tells you they need to figure out if you can afford the monthly costs

You’re ready to buy a home. You’ve put in an offer and the seller has accepted it. Congrats! Now, you’ll be expected to pay a small sum of money upfront to: Show the seller that you’re serious about buying their home Make it worthwhile for the seller to take their home off the market  Provide

Buying a home can seem easy enough, right? You find the home you want, you make an offer, get a mortgage. And voilà! The house is yours.  If only it were that simple.  There are way more steps involved in the home buying process – and some of those steps can feel challenging.  Once you

A home purchase is a big investment, and it’s an investment many people are eager to make. That’s probably because they’re aware of the many benefits that come with homeownership, like building equity, tax advantages and improving their credit history.  However, for some of us, a good credit score is the thing that’s holding many

But when it comes to getting a conventional mortgage, new isn’t always better. That is, when it comes to starting a new job during the process.  In fact, it can potentially complicate the process.  When you apply for a mortgage, the lender wants to see your recent job history because it lets them assess your

Let’s be real, past generations of home buyers had an easier time coming up with down payments and closing costs. And that was great for them, but times have changed.  For most home buyers today – especially people trying to buy their first home – student loan debt, credit card debt and TWO recessions are

Whether it’s a bad first date, an awkward family dinner or a client meeting that goes on forever, life is full of situations that may require a smart exit strategy. The best exit strategies are as drama-free as possible and can reduce or virtually eliminate any hard feelings. Home buying can be a lot like