Mortgages

Difference Between Discount Points and Lender Credits (Loan Origination Fees)

Homeowners should know many key mortgage terms, and two of the most important terms relate to lowering your home loan interest rate: discount points (also known as, mortgage points or prepaid... more

Difference Between Discount Points and Lender Credits (Loan Origination Fees)
Underwriting

The Mortgage Underwriting Process: Everything You Need to Know

In order to get a mortgage loan, you’ll have to go through a lender’s mortgage underwriting process – including for a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC) or cash-out... more

The Mortgage Underwriting Process: Everything You Need to Know
Underwriting

Your mortgage loan got denied in the underwriting process? We’ve got answers.

If you’re getting a mortgage loan, you’ll need to go through a lender’s mortgage underwriting process It’s the step in which your lender reviews your loan application to determine if your... more

Your mortgage loan got denied in the underwriting process? We’ve got answers.
Homeownership

How to Lower Your Debt-to-Income Ratio: Proven Strategies Homeowners Use to Improve Their DTI

As a homeowner, one of the most important numbers to keep an eye on is your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio This ratio is a comparison of the amount of debt payments you owe each month to the amount of... more

How to Lower Your Debt-to-Income Ratio: Proven Strategies Homeowners Use to Improve Their DTI
Mortgages

What Happens When a Mortgage Goes to Underwriting?

When a mortgage loan goes into underwriting, your credit and financial background are reviewed to determine whether your application can be approved This can include an assessment of your credit... more

What Happens When a Mortgage Goes to Underwriting?
Home Savings

Save Money by Trying to Lower Your Property Taxes

Owning a home comes with many expenses, and one significant cost is property taxes But did you know that there are ways to potentially lower your property tax bill and save money By understanding how... more

Save Money by Trying to Lower Your Property Taxes
Home Equity

Using Your Home Equity To Fund Your Retirement: Smart Move or Risky Business

Do you want more money for retirement Many homeowners consider using their home equity to fund their retirement to ensure they have enough money to enjoy their golden years However, before moving... more

Using Your Home Equity To Fund Your Retirement: Smart Move or Risky Business
Home Savings

Understanding Homeowner Debt: Save Thousands by Moving from Bad Debt to Good Debt

Debt is a reality for most homeowners, but not all debt is created equal Understanding the distinction between “good” and “bad” debt can help you optimize your finances and... more

Understanding Homeowner Debt: Save Thousands by Moving from Bad Debt to Good Debt
Homeownership

We thought you might ask…why are we building House Numbers?

We created House Numbers to help homeowners gain more financial independence It’s something both personal and meaningful to tens of millions of Americans What that looks like for you will be... more

We thought you might ask…why are we building House Numbers?
Mortgages

Refinancing Isn’t Just for Your Primary Mortgage

Refinancing your mortgage can be a game-changer when it comes to managing your finances and achieving your goals Many homeowners are familiar with refinancing their initial purchase mortgage, but did... more

Refinancing Isn’t Just for Your Primary Mortgage
Mortgages

What Documents Do I Need When Applying For A Mortgage

One of the most common questions a loan officer receives from a homeowner is, “What documents do I need when applying for a mortgage” It’s a great question, and the answer will vary somewhat... more

What Documents Do I Need When Applying For A Mortgage
Home Value

Debunking Solar Panel Myths, Exploring Solar Advancements

Harnessing the power of the sun has become an increasingly popular choice among homeowners who are eager to save on their electricity bills while contributing to a sustainable future With recent... more

Debunking Solar Panel Myths, Exploring Solar Advancements
Home Income

Maximizing Your Property: How to Make Money with Your Home

Are you looking for ways to maximize your property and earn some extra income If so, you’ve come to the right place! From renting out a room to storing someone’s vehicle, there are plenty of ways... more

Maximizing Your Property: How to Make Money with Your Home
Home Equity

Can I Access My Home Equity with Bad Credit Scores?

Do you need to access your home equity, but you’re worried that your low credit score will prevent you from getting approved You’re in luck! Today having less-than-perfect credit scores is more... more

Can I Access My Home Equity with Bad Credit Scores?
Home Equity

Home Equity 101: Understanding the Basics and Benefits of Home Equity

Home equity build-up is undoubtedly one of the most beneficial aspects of home ownership In fact, The Federal Reserve reported in a recent study that homeowners accumulate 40 times more wealth than... more

Home Equity 101: Understanding the Basics and Benefits of Home Equity
Home Equity

How Much Money Can You Access From Your Home Equity

As a homeowner, you enjoy many benefits that renters don’t One of the biggest is the ability to tap into your home equity, turning it into cash you can use right away What can you do with the cash... more

How Much Money Can You Access From Your Home Equity
Home Equity

Consolidating Unsecured Debt With Your Home Equity: A Wise Decision

Every year thousands of homeowners consider consolidating unsecured debt using their home equity But is this a wise decision In this article, I will cover when you should consider consolidating... more

Consolidating Unsecured Debt With Your Home Equity: A Wise Decision
Mortgages

When A Higher Mortgage Rate Might Make Sense

When mortgage rates increase, the last thing homeowners want to do is consider applying for a new mortgage But that could be a mistake, especially if you have equity in your home and are looking to... more

When A Higher Mortgage Rate Might Make Sense
Homeownership

How to Use Your Home Equity To Buy Another House (Investment or Second Home)

Do you have plans or dreams to purchase another house — whether investment property or a second home — and looking for creative ways to finance the purchase This is a very common question among... more

How to Use Your Home Equity To Buy Another House (Investment or Second Home)
Homeownership

Three C’s of Underwriting And How They Impact Your Mortgage Application

Capacity, Credit, and Collateral are the three C’s of underwriting Since they can significantly impact your mortgage application, you should take the time to understand how they are used in the... more

Three C’s of Underwriting And How They Impact Your Mortgage Application
Homeownership

Home Equity Agreements — what are they and why should you care?

Equity sharing agreements — also known as home equity investments (HEI) — are a relatively new and often misunderstood way to get cash from your home equity Below I will explain what they are,... more

Home Equity Agreements — what are they and why should you care?
Homeownership

5 Ways to Access Your Home Equity

If you’re a homeowner looking to access your home equity for cash, you’ve got a few options to choose from You can pick a HELOC, home equity loan, cash-out refinance, reverse mortgage, or home... more

5 Ways to Access Your Home Equity
Homeownership

When it’s smart to access your home equity with rising interest rates

Just like your doctor shouldn’t recommend that everyone smoke cigarettes, an expert in home wealth management should not recommend that everyone refinance their mortgage This is especially true... more

When it’s smart to access your home equity with rising interest rates
Homeownership

Read These 4 Simple Investment Strategies Before You Invest That Extra Cash

As a homeowner, how do you decide what to do with extra cash to improve your financial situation I ask people about this all the time, and few are confident in their answer Often, they settled on a... more

Read These 4 Simple Investment Strategies Before You Invest That Extra Cash
Homeownership

LTV, DTI, IR, FICO: Four Pillars of Home Financial Wellness

Homeowners often ask, what else is important for my home financial wellness This may come up when accessing home equity, planning for retirement, understanding the right time to refinance, or... more

LTV, DTI, IR, FICO: Four Pillars of Home Financial Wellness
Homeownership

5 Common Mistakes We Heard From Homeowners Who Pay Off Their Mortgage Early

Ever wondered why people who earn millions and can afford to pay cash for their home would still have a mortgage The short of it is because they will be millions of dollars richer after 30... more

5 Common Mistakes We Heard From Homeowners Who Pay Off Their Mortgage Early
Homeownership

Why Savvy Homeowners Track Home Equity Not Home Value

What’s my home worth Whether you’re checking out recent home sales in your neighborhood or snooping a neighbor’s home value on Google, this is what we all tend to focus on It’s the biggest... more

Why Savvy Homeowners Track Home Equity Not Home Value
Homeownership

How to Access Your Home Equity Without a Great Credit Score

Accessing home equity is a hot topic among homeowners we work with — whether for retirement, home improvement, to consolidate debt, make an investment, or pay an unexpected expense Homeowners with... more

How to Access Your Home Equity Without a Great Credit Score
Homeownership

6 Common Mistakes Homeowners Make When Accessing Their Home Equity

Many of us who have owned a home for at least a couple years are sitting on a lot of home equity because of the run-up in home prices over the past decade (even if we also feel poorer day-to-day,... more

6 Common Mistakes Homeowners Make When Accessing Their Home Equity
Homeownership

The Truth About Home Equity Conversion Mortgages

Does the quote above sound like something you may have said I hear some version of this all the time from homeowners that I speak with On the one hand, the run-up in home prices since 2012 has left... more

The Truth About Home Equity Conversion Mortgages
Homeownership

Why Wealthy People Have Mortgages

Why would someone who makes millions of dollars per year, and could easily pay for their house in cash, still have a mortgage Said another way, why do rich people feel so strongly about taking on... more

Why Wealthy People Have Mortgages
Homeownership

Debunk a common myth of PMI

In this blog, I want to debunk a common myth that we often hear from homeowners: you have to wait 5 or 10 years before you can stop paying private mortgage insurance (PMI) Not true! I confess: my... more

Debunk a common myth of PMI
Homeownership

9 Ways to Save Money on Homeownership in an Uncertain Economy

There’s a lot of anxiety brewing about the economy right now It’s understandable — inflation is high, interest rates increased quickly, companies have announced layoffs or hiring freezes... more

9 Ways to Save Money on Homeownership in an Uncertain Economy