š”Ā The Steps to Homeownership Check Your FinancesReview your credit score, income, and savings. A healthy credit score and some money set aside for a down payment and closing costs will set you up for success. Get Pre-ApprovedTalk to a trustedĀ lenderĀ to find out how much home you can afford. A pre-approval letter shows sellers youāre serious and ready to buy. Find Your REALTORĀ®Partner with an experienced agent (like me š) who knows your area and will guide you every step of the wayāfrom search to keys in hand! Start Your Home SearchMake a list of your must-haves and … Continue reading...
What about your credit rating,
A high credit score gets consumers a lower mortgage payment. A lower score costs consumers with a more expensive mortgage. Finding out how to protect your credit score is critical to your financial well being. A soft credit inquiry does not impact credit scores. Itās typically done for informational purposes and not for lending decisions. A mortgage preapproval with only a soft credit check is hard to come by. … Continue reading...
5 Smart Ways Homebuyers Can Win During Inflation: Understanding Mortgages & Real Estate in Denver
How Inflation Affects Mortgages Inflation influences nearly every corner of the economy ā from food prices to borrowing costs. When inflation rises, money loses value and lenders increase interest rates to protect their investments. š¹ Higher inflation = higher rates for new loans, reducing affordability. š¹ Fixed-rate homeowners benefit, since their payment never changes. If your mortgage is fixed, inflation actually works in your favor. Your monthly payment stays the same while income and home values often rise. Over time, youāre paying back your loan with dollars worth less than when … Continue reading...
Is the Housing Market Going To Crash? Hereās What Experts Say
If youāve seen headlines or social posts calling for a housing crash, itās easy to wonder if home values are about to take a hit. But hereās the simple truth. The data doesnāt point to a crash. It points to slow, continuedĀ growth. And sure, itās going to vary by local area. Some markets will seeĀ pricesĀ rise more than others. And some may even seeĀ small, short-term declines. But the big picture is:Ā home prices are expected to rise nationally, not fall, over the next 5 years. The Real Story Is in the Expert Forecasts In theĀ Home Price Expectations SurveyĀ (HPES)Ā fromĀ Fannie Mae, each … Continue reading...
How much money do you need for a down payment?
Hereās why the right answer is so important for you to know. A lot of people overestimate how much they really need to save for a down payment. The most common answers? 10 or 20%. The truth: you may be able to put down as little as 3%. According to FirstHomeIQ, only 8 out of 100 people actually get this right. Donāt let misinformation hold you back. What did you guess? Drop a comment below. And if you want more information, talk to a trusted lender. … Continue reading...
Mortgage checklist for you today
š”Ā Mortgage Checklist You have decided Ā to buy a house? What do I need to prepare? Below is a helpful list. 1.Ā Financial Preparation āĀ Check your credit score and report āĀ Pay down existing debts āĀ Save for a down payment (typically 3%ā20%) āĀ Budget for closing costs (2%ā5% of home price) āĀ Gather proof of income (pay stubs, tax returns) āĀ Organize bank statements (last 2ā3 months) āĀ Avoid major purchases or job changes 2. Pre-Approval Process āĀ Research lenders and mortgage types āĀ Get pre-approved for a mortgage āĀ Compare interest rates and loan … Continue reading...
Wondering how much house you can afford
Quiz time! the best way to know how much home you can buy is A) Go to Zillow and put the numbers into their calculator B) Ask your friends and family what their payment is. C) Find the house and hope you'll qualify D) Meet with a lender and find out what the cost involved are and what the full payment will be, including principle,Ā interest, taxes and insurance,Ā You may need to add in HOA fees and possible leasing fees like a solar lease. ā What People Need to Know Before Getting a Home Loan 1. Credit Score & History Lenders check credit to see how responsibly you … Continue reading...
What the Feds cut in Rates means
Fed Cuts Rates for the First Time in Nine Months ā What It Means for San Mateo Peninsula Buyers & Sellers The Federal Reserve just cut interest rates for the first time since December 2024. But what does that mean for real estate here on the San Mateo Peninsula? Letās break it down in simple terms. What the Fed Just Did OnĀ September 17, 2025, the Federal Reserve lowered its key interest rate ā theĀ federal funds rateĀ ā byĀ 0.25%. This brings the target range down toĀ 4.00% ā 4.25%, the first cut in nine months. The Fed made this move because economic growth has slowed, job gains … Continue reading...
Repairing your credit
Is it better to buy now or wait?
Mortgage rates are still a hot topic ā and for good reason. After the most recent jobs report came out weaker than expected, the bond market reacted almost instantly. And, as a result, in early August mortgage rates dropped to their lowest point so far this year (6.55%). While that may not sound like a big deal, pretty much every buyer has been waiting for rates to fall. And even a seemingly small drop like this reignites the hope weāre finally going to see rates trending down. But whatās realistic to expect? According to theĀ latest forecasts, rates arenāt expected to fall dramatically … Continue reading...