THE ABILITY TO REPAY

For many, having their refinance or new home purchase halted due to a “temporary” lay off as a result of the COVID-19 “stay home, stay healthy” order, has come as quite a shock. We are talking people who have been … Continue reading

RATE LOCK EXPIRATIONS & LOCK EXTENSION FEES ARE NOT COVID-19 RELATED

Not everything is a by-product of COVID-19, although that may be how it feels right now! When a Borrower opts to lock in their interest rate during the mortgage loan process, they do so for a defined period of time. … Continue reading

THE MYTH OF THE VA FUNDING FEE AND CLOSING COSTS

A zero down VA loan does not mean zero out of pocket when it comes time to close! There is a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to a VA loan, who pays what, and what costs if any are … Continue reading

COOKING WITH MICHELLE

If I’m not at work doing loans, you’ll more than likely find me at home cooking!  

 I love to entertain and I definitely show my love through cooking and baking. Because I’m so often asked for a copy of the recipe I’ve prepared for friends and community members, I decided to add a page to my blog allowing all of you access to some of the favorites.  The only down side of doing this is that I’m what I’ve flippantly coined “a dumper”.  Meaning that I often don’t measure and/or I change up recipes constantly based on what I have on hand.  Pay attention to the “Notes” within each recipe so you can see the variations that I’ve done and that have worked well for me and relax and have fun trying what appeals to your taste buds.

Cheers!

CONGRESS RESTORES IMPORTANT TAX DEDUCTION

Good news for Borrowers who are paying mortgage insurance as part of their mortgage payment! Borrowers with adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less may deduct 100% of their mortgage insurance premiums on their federal tax returns for the years … Continue reading

LOOKING TO BUY A NEW HOME, BUT YOUR NEW JOB HASN’T STARTED YET?

Yes, it’s possible, however, lenders are looking for stable income when you apply for a mortgage so there are some key points to be aware of if you are in the midst of a job change at the same time … Continue reading