Honoring service through homeownership. 🏡
The VA loan, created during WWII, has helped over 25 million veterans buy a home — with no down payment, no PMI, and competitive interest rates. 💪🏼
This Memorial Day, we’re proud to serve those who’ve served us. 🎖️
If you or someone you know is a veteran, we’d be honored to help them explore their VA loan benefits. 🤝
📉 When will mortgage rates drop? 🏡
It’s the question we hear every day — and here’s what’s really moving the needle. 🎯
👉 The 4 biggest factors influencing interest rates right now:
1️⃣ Inflation 💥
2️⃣ Jobs Reports 📄
3️⃣ Unemployment Data 📉
4️⃣ Global Tariffs 🌍💰
Whether you’re buying, refinancing, or just staying informed — this breakdown helps you stay ahead of the market 📊✨
Pre-Qualified vs. Pre-Approved vs. Pre-Underwritten
Which one helps your offer win the house? Let’s break it down!
🏡💼✅
- Pre-Qualification: ⚡️ The quickest step—but also the weakest when making an offer. It’s typically based on a quick convo about your income, credit, and assets (without reviewing any docs).
- ✅ Pro: Fast and easy
- 🚫 Con: Not verified, so it’s not quite as strong as a full Pre-Approval
- 🧐 Think of it as: “I should be able to buy a home, assuming everything I said is correct.”
- Pre-Approval: 📈 Now we’re talking! A loan officer has reviewed your credit report, income, and assets.
- ✅ Pro: More reliable and often required to tour homes
- 📄 Con: Still not underwritten by an actual underwriter
- 💭 Think of it as: “I’m highly likely to get approved.”
- Pre-Underwritten (FastTrack Pre-Approval): 🏆 This is the gold standard. You submit all your docs upfront, and we get your loan fully underwritten—before you’re even under contract.
- ✅ Pro: Just needs the home info to close
- 🚀 Bonus: With our FastTrack Program, we can close in as little as 10 business days!
- 🔒 Think of it as: “I’m already approved—just need a house!”
- 🏠 Sellers LOVE this. It shows you’re rock solid and ready to close fast—often beating out higher offers!
📣 Want to stand out in a competitive market?
Ask us how to get FastTrack Approved and move with confidence!
What’s a 2-1 Buydown & Why it could Help the Right Buyer
📉 Lower payments. Smoother transition. Bigger wins. 🏡
Thinking of buying a home but worried about high monthly payments right out of the gate? A 2-1 buydown might be the perfect solution! 🙌
Here’s how it works:
The “2-1” = Temporarily reduced interest rates for the first 2 years:
📆 Year 1: Your rate is 2% lower than the market rate
📆 Year 2: Your rate is 1% lower
📆 Year 3 & beyond: Your rate adjusts to the standard fixed rate
Example:
If your fixed rate is 6.5%, a 2-1 buydown gives you:
✅ Year 1: 4.5%
✅ Year 2: 5.5%
✅ Year 3+: 6.5%
Why it’s helpful:
💸 Lower upfront payments help ease into homeownership
📈 More affordability during the first two years
🚀 Great for buyers expecting future raises, bonus income, or refinance opportunities down the road
Who pays for it?
Often, the seller or builder covers the cost as part of a negotiated deal—making it a smart win-win for buyers! 🤝
📲 Let us know if you’d like to see how a 2-1 buydown could work for your next home!
Creative Financing Spotlight: Become a Non-Contingent Buyer
🎯 No strings. Just stronger offers.
Worried about needing to sell your current home before you buy your next one? 😬
You don’t have to. 🙌
We’ve helped many buyers become non-contingent, meaning they can buy their next home without waiting to sell their current one first—and that’s a huge win when making an offer. 🏆
Here’s how we do it:
💡 We use an instant HELOC to help you tap into the equity in your current home—before you sell it.
⚡️ The HELOC can be done in just a few days
💰 You get the down payment funds deposited within a week
🏡 You can now make a non-contingent offer on your dream home
Why it matters:
✅ Sellers love non-contingent offers—no waiting, no uncertainty
🎯 Helps you stand out in a competitive market
🗓️ You keep control of your timeline and avoid juggling two closings at once
We’ve used this strategy to help families move with confidence—and get their offers accepted faster. 🚀
📲 Want to know if this could work for you? Let’s run the numbers together!
🏡 5 Mistakes First-Time Homebuyers Make (And How to Avoid Them!)
Buying your first home is exciting—but it can also feel overwhelming.
Avoid these common pitfalls and move forward with confidence! 💪
- Skipping the Pre-Approval.
- ❌ Mistake: Shopping for homes without knowing your true budget.
- ✅ Fix: Get pre-approved before you start looking—this shows sellers you’re serious and helps you shop smart. 📝
- Underestimating Total Costs.
- 💸 Mistake: Focusing only on the down payment.
- 🔍 Fix: Be prepared for closing costs, moving expenses, and future maintenance. We’ll walk you through it all! 🧾🔧
- Opening New Credit.
- 💳 Mistake: Financing furniture or opening new credit cards before closing.
- 🚫 Fix: Wait until after you close to make big purchases. New debt can throw off your approval! 🛑
- Not Asking Enough Questions.
- 🤔 Mistake: Feeling unsure but not speaking up.
- 📣 Fix: No question is too small—we’re here to guide you every step of the way! 👋
- Letting Emotions Lead.
- ❤️🔥 Mistake: Falling in love with a house before knowing if it fits your budget.
- 📊 Fix: Stay focused on your goals—and we’ll help you find a home that fits both your heart and your finances. 💵💖
Looking to buy your first home with confidence?
We’re here to help you every step of the way!
📲 Let’s get started!
REALTORS
📝 The Ultimate Pre-Approval Checklist
Your buyer’s first step to getting offer-ready!
Before touring homes or making an offer, make sure your buyers check these boxes ✅:
- Basic Info & Application.
- 👤 Full name, date of birth, Social Security number
- 🏠 2-year address history (renters or owners)
- 💼 Employment info (2-year history)
- 💵 Monthly income & other sources (bonuses, overtime, etc.)
- 📊 Overview of debts (auto loans, student loans, credit cards)
- Income Docs (pick what applies):
- 👔 W-2 Employees:
- 📄 Last 30 days of pay stubs
- 📄 Last 2 years of W-2s
- 📈 Self-Employed:
- 📁 Last 2 years of personal & business (if applicable) tax returns
- 📬 Last 2 years of 1099s (if applicable)
- Asset Verification (for down payment & reserves):
- 🏦 1-2 months of full bank statements (checking/savings)
- FHA/VA require 1 month
- Conventional requires 1 or 2 months, depending on the credentials
- 📑 Retirement account statements (optional but helpful)
- Credit Check
- 📉 We can do a Soft or Hard check to review credit scores and liabilities
- ⚠️ Let us know if buyers have any past issues (bankruptcy, collections, etc.)—we’ve seen it all and can help game-plan! 💬
- Identification
- 🪪 Driver’s license or government-issued ID
- 💥 BONUS: FastTrack Approval
- For serious buyers who want to win in this market:
- 🚀 Our FastTrack Pre-Approval gets their file fully underwritten upfront—so they can make non-contingent offers and close in as little as 10 business days!
💡 Perfect for multiple-offer situations and competitive price points.
📲 Need a pre-approval fast? We’ve got you covered.
We’re happy to hop on the phone with your clients and walk them through every step.
Let’s help them get home! 🏡
Real Estate Trivia: VA Loan Edition
In honor of Memorial Day, let’s salute the power of the VA loan!
1️⃣ When did VA loans start?
📜 The VA loan benefit was created in 1944 as part of the original GI Bill during WWII—designed to help veterans transition to civilian life by becoming homeowners. 🪖🏠
2️⃣ How many veterans have used it?
🎖️ Over 25 million veterans and service members have used a VA loan to purchase or refinance a home since the program began.
3️⃣ What’s the biggest perk of a VA loan?
💰 $0 down payment required—without mortgage insurance (PMI)!
That’s right: No down payment AND no PMI = total game-changer. 🏡🔥
4️⃣ Is there a loan limit?
📈 As of 2020, eligible veterans with full entitlement have no loan limit on VA loans—yes, you can buy a high-value home without needing jumbo financing! 💪
5️⃣ Can you use a VA loan more than once?
🔁 Yes! VA loans are reusable. Veterans can use their benefit multiple times—whether they sell the home or pay off the prior loan. 🏠➡️🏠
6️⃣ Can surviving spouses use the VA loan?
💍 Yes. Qualifying surviving spouses of veterans may also be eligible—another way this benefit honors the legacy of service. 🙏
7️⃣ Are VA loans just for first-time buyers?
🆕 Not at all! VA loans are for first-time AND repeat buyers. As long as you have entitlement available, you can use it again. 📋✅
This Memorial Day, we honor those who’ve served—and we’re proud to help them achieve the American dream of homeownership. 🏡❤️💙
📲 Have questions about VA loans? We’d be honored to help.
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