Home MattersMonthly Homeownership Newsletter

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Overcome Homeownership FOMO

It’s easy to feel like everyone has homeownership figured out. Someone you know just bought their first house, a neighbor is renovating their kitchen, one of your friends is talking about their equity. And maybe this has you thinking, “Am I behind? Should I be doing something right now?”

I hear this more often than you might think. But, the truth is, homeownership looks different for everyone. While someone is buying their first home, someone else is wondering how to use their home equity.

Since June is National Homeownership Month, I wanted to take a minute to remind you to stop comparing your situation to everyone else’s and walk you through how to take control of your own.

If You’re Thinking About Buying

A lot of buyers start by looking at homes online. And, while this part is fun, it’s not the first step you need to take. A better way to get started is to find out what you can afford.

When you apply online, I can review your financial information and talk through your goals to help you get a better idea of what options may be available to you. From there, I can guide you through how the mortgage process works, what documents you may need, and what kind of monthly payment range feels realistic for you.

Don’t feel like you have to have it all figured out on your own. I’m here to help you navigate the homebuying process.

If You Already Own a Home

Owning a home doesn’t mean the conversation is over after closing. A lot can change over time, including your home’s value, your loan balance, your budget, and what you need from your home.

That’s why it can be helpful to check in on your mortgage from time to time. Not because something is wrong, but because you deserve to know what options you may have waiting for you.

You may have more equity than you realize, especially if you’ve owned your home for a while or your home’s value has changed. My refinance calculator can help give you a quick ballpark figure of what you could potentially save each month. It’s not a final answer, but it is a good starting point.

You Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone

Homeownership FOMO usually shows up when you have just enough information to feel behind, but not enough information to know what to do next. That’s where I can help.

If you’re thinking about buying, we can look at what may be possible and what steps make sense from here. If you already own a home, we can talk through where your mortgage stands today and whether there’s anything worth looking at more closely.

Contact me today to talk through your questions and get a clearer idea of what could come next.

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CREATE YOUR HOME PLAN. Contact me today to get your custom quote on your mortgage or refinance.

Run My Numbers

The Top 5 Questions I Get Asked

Buying a home comes with a lot of questions, and honestly, it should. Over the years, I’ve heard many of the same questions from buyers who just want to understand what to expect before they take the next step. Here are some of the most common questions I get.

1. How Do I Know What Mortgage I Can Get?

The mortgage options available to you will depend on your personal situation. Once you apply, I’ll review your income, credit, assets, debts, down payment, and overall goals to help narrow down which options may be a good fit. From there, I can walk you through the details so you understand the pros and cons and have the information that will help you make a decision.

2. What Types of Mortgages Do You Offer?

All of the loan programs I offer can be tailored to suit your credit score and down payment options. There are conventional loans and government-backed loans, both categories could help make homebuying more affordable. Some of the most common mortgages are:

FHA Loan
VA Loan
USDA Loan
15- and 30-year Fixed-rate Mortgage
Adjustable-rate Mortgage (ARM)
Jumbo Loan

You can read more about these mortgage programs and more on my website, or give me a call and I can explain them in more detail.

3. What Paperwork Do I Need to Apply?

You can start your online application without any physical paperwork. Our secure portal can connect directly to your financial institution(s) and employer, once you’ve granted permission. That said, the basic documents you’ll need to provide include:

Two most recent years of tax returns and W-2s.
Two most recent pay stubs (must be within the last 30 days) and (if applicable) other income records such as documents for Social Security, disability, pension, child support, or alimony.
Your last two months of statements for all accounts.

4. How Long Does the Loan Process Take?

On average, mortgages close in about 30 days*, but things like your loan type, documentation, and credit approval can affect the timeline. After I have received all of your required documents, there will need to be an inspection, appraisal, and final approval from our underwriting team. If you are on a tight deadline, let me know early on in the process and we can work together to avoid delays.

I’ll provide updates throughout the approval process so that you know where your loan status stands. You can also keep track of your application status in my Home Loan Tracker after you’ve applied.

5. Will There Be Any Fees?

A lot of people are so focused on the down payment, they forget about closing costs. Usually, closing costs range from 2–5% of the home’s price. These fees can typically include:

Appraisal and inspection fees
Origination and underwriting fees
Title insurance
Property taxes and homeowner’s insurance
Private mortgage insurance (if required)

You won’t have to guess what these costs are though, because I will provide a detailed loan estimate and walk you through it so you know exactly what to plan for.

Have a question that you didn’t see here? Let me know! Asking the right questions could help you save time, money, and stress later, so don’t hesitate to reach out.

*Fast closing and processing is dependent on many factors including receiving timely documentation from the borrower. Your experience will vary.

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UNDERSTAND YOUR LOAN OPTIONS. Connect with me today to discover what mortgage options best suit your buying plans in today’s market.

Start The Conversation

Reasons to Refinance This Summer

Summer should be spent relaxing, not stressing over finances. Maybe your home needs repairs or you’re due for a summer vacation, or maybe you’re getting ready to send a kid off to college this fall. Whatever financial situation you could use extra cash to take care of this summer, I have refinance options that may help.

Why Some People Refinance

There’s no one reason someone gets a refinance. For my customers, it has always depended on what was going on in their lives and what plans they were trying to figure out. A few common reasons people have asked me about refinancing are:

Paying for home repairs or updates
Covering school or tuition costs
Looking for more room in their budget
Paying for their dream vacation

What’s A Cash-out Refinance*?

A cash-out refinance lets homeowners replace their current mortgage with a new one. If your home is worth more than what you owe, a cash-out refi could help you take part of your home equity out as cash. That lump sum payment could be used however you want, even for repairs, education costs, debt consolidation, or other expenses that you may (or may not) be planning for.

Not sure if a refinance is right for you? That’s totally normal. Most people don’t know until we’ve taken a look at their options together. If you’re curious, reach out and I can help you take a look.

*All loans subject to credit approval and meeting eligibility requirements. Restrictions apply. Must meet minimum equity requirements. By refinancing an existing loan, the payments and total finance changes may be higher over the life of the loan.

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REFINANCE QUESTIONS? Let’s look at what it could mean for your monthly payment.

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BLT Pasta Salad

Recipe courtesy of Food Network

If you’re a BLT fan, this pasta salad is a simple way to switch things up. It has all the familiar flavors: bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, and a creamy dressing, but the pasta makes it feel more like a full side dish or easy meal. Plus, it’s easy to bring to a cookout, potluck, or family dinner.

Print PDF Of Recipe

Ingredients:

12 oz. corkscrew-shaped pasta
½ c. milk
12 oz. bacon
3 medium ripe tomatoes, cut into chunks
1 T. chopped fresh thyme
1 clove garlic, minced
Salt and pepper
½ c. mayonnaise
¼ c. sour cream
4 T. chopped chives or scallion greens
5 head Bibb lettuce, quartered (or 5 cups chopped romaine hearts)

Directions:

Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water according to the package directions. Drain, toss with milk in a large bowl. Set aside.
2. While the pasta cooks, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels, reserving about 3 tablespoons of drippings in the pan. Add tomatoes, thyme and garlic to the pan and toss until warmed through, season with salt and pepper; set aside about ¼ cup for garnish. Toss the remaining bacon and the tomato mixture with the cooked pasta.
3. Mix the mayonnaise, sour cream and 3 tablespoons of chives with the pasta until evenly combines. Season with salt and pepper. Add the lettuce; toss again to coat. Garnish with the reserved bacon and the remaining 1 tablespoon of chives. Serve at room temperature.

PRO TIP: If you’re making this ahead of time, wait to add the lettuce until right before serving. You can prep the pasta, bacon, tomato mixture, and dressing in advance, then toss in the lettuce at the end so it stays fresh.

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