Last year (2020) will best be remembered as the year of “If it could’ve happened, it probably did.” The COVID-19 pandemic flipped our economy upside-down while millions of homeowners struggled to make their mortgage payments. Even worse was the fact that scammers saw this as an opportunity to take advantage of homeowners who were struggling […]
What are Government-backed Loans and How Do They Work?
When it comes to home loans and mortgages, there is no one-size-fits-all option. Not only are there different types of loans, there are two primary categories of loans – conventional and those that are backed by the Federal Government or government-backed loans. In most cases, government-backed loans are easier to qualify for and have lower […]
What’s the Difference Between A Mortgage Banker Or Direct Lender And A Mortgage Broker?
The mortgage industry is comprised of companies and individuals that assist people in getting home loans, namely mortgage bankers or direct lenders and mortgage brokers. Although they both provide the financing that prospective home buyers need, they are quite different. The direct lender or mortgage banker is a bank, credit union, or financial institution that […]
5 Ways to Tell If You’re Ready for Home Ownership
Owning a home is not just something to take pride in, it’s the biggest investment you’ll make in your lifetime. So, how do you know if you’re ready for this? While there are several benefits to owning a home, this is a huge financial responsibility. Benefits of Buying a Home in California Still not sure […]
What Does 2021 Hold for California Housing?
Here in California, it’s been a strange and bumpy few months in housing. At the beginning of the year, we were churning along with a lot of activity and rising home prices, looking like our housing momentum was continuing. Then came COVID-19 and our state locked down, throwing housing into a bit of a limbo […]
Why Do We Love Stockton? Let Us Count the Ways!
The news is full of depressing stuff. Yet, here in California, we live in one of the most beautiful states in the nation. This may be a great time to extol the virtues of our fair city with some of the reasons we love living here. The History Here in Stockton, we have deep roots […]
3 Current Trends in Today’s Mortgage Industry
With recent slow but steady rise in interest rates, we’ve witnessed a steady increase in mortgage industry activities such as construction projects and an increase in home equity bill consolidation lending. According to TransUnion, an estimated 10 million consumers will be applying for a HELOC (home equity line of credit) between 2019 and 2022. Consequently, […]