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Mortgage / Finance

Anybody that's hung around the ActiveRain “water cooler” for any length of time understands the value of the relationships built on the site. AR is so much more than a social networking site, however.


It's also the place to get up-to-the-minute information on topics that affect your clients. Ask yourself: what's the most confusing aspect of buying a home for the real estate consumer? The answer is most likely financing the purchase. Credit scores and how they affect the mortgage rate, types of loan products, points, fees – whew! -- there's a lot to know about mortgages.


To serve your clients effectively you need to know about this stuff and keep abreast of changes in the mortgage industry. Thankfully, ActiveRain is not only popular with real estate agents and brokers but with finance professionals as well.


Whether you're an agent trying to figure out what the Fed's latest move means to your clients or a mortgage pro who needs input on how to build relationships with real estate agents, ActiveRain is the place to tap into a wealth of knowledge.

Recent blogs on Mortgage / Finance
By Brian Madigan, LL.B., Broker
(RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage (Toronto))
Commercial Bond Yields CMB 5 Year - 3.31% CANHOU 12/15/31 [-0.03%]     10 Year - 3.75% CANHOU 09/15/36 [-0.03%]     Floating Rate insured cost of funds 2.53% [-]     Prime Rate 4.45% [-]     GoC 2 Year - 2.83% CAN 05/01/28 [-]     3 Year - 2.94% CAN 03/01/29 [-]     5 Year - 3.13% CAN 03/01/31 [-0.03%]     10 Year - 3.52% CAN 06/01/36 [-0.03%]    
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By Melvin List, Purchase Specialist
(https://www.flbestrate.com/)
At C2 Financial, we offer specialized Zero Down Payment Doctor Loans (also known as Physician Loans or Doctor Loans) designed exclusively for high-earning medical professionals across Florida. These powerful 100% financing programs let qualified doctors purchase or refinance a home with no down payment, no private mortgage insurance (PMI), and flexible guidelines that recognize the unique career path of physicians.Who Qualifies for Doctor Loans in Florida?Our Physician Loan program is available to the following licensed professionals: Medical Doctor (MD) Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) Doctor of Dental Science or Surgery (DDS) Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) Doctor of Ophthalmology (MD or DO) Doctor of Psychiatry (MD or DO) Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VM...
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By John Lake, Sarasota and Cape Cod Mortgage Ba
(loanDepot)
After 18 incredible years with Shamrock Home Loans, I have decided to make a change. I am deeply grateful for the memories made and the fantastic people I’ve worked alongside at Shamrock. To my amazing Realtors, referral partners, and clients—thank you. Together, we have helped so many families achieve the dream of homeownership while managing mortgage debt to keep it truly affordable.Today, I am excited to announce that I am beginning a new chapter in my career by joining the team at loanDepot!In today's volatile real estate market, having the right support matters more than ever. I am thrilled to continue providing the highest level of service, dedication, and commitment to making the mortgage process as seamless and stress-free as possible for my clients and partners.Let’s connect an...
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By Melvin List, Purchase Specialist
(https://www.flbestrate.com/)
Florida’s veteran community is one of the largest in the nation, and many service members and retirees dream of building a custom home tailored to the Sunshine State lifestyle. With strong population growth and limited inventory in popular areas like Tampa Bay, Orlando, Jacksonville, South Florida, and the Panhandle, a VA one-time construction loan (also called a VA OTC or construction-to-permanent loan) offers an outstanding solution. As a dedicated Loan Officer at C2 Financial serving all of Florida from Tampa, I’m Melvin List (NMLS #123087), and I specialize in helping veterans navigate this powerful financing option. Here’s why the VA one-time close construction loan stands out as one of the smartest ways to build in Florida in 2026.What Is a VA One-Time Close Construction Loan?A V...
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By Ken & Ari Walker - Husband & Wife Team, Your Direct Private Money Source
(Pacific Direct Mortgage)
Your deal is good. Your credit is good. Your bank still said no.If you own rental properties in California and have tried to add another one through a conventional lender, you may have already hit this wall. Not because anything went wrong, but because the loan product you are using was never designed for someone in your position.Here is what happens: Conventional lenders calculate your debt-to-income ratio using every mortgage you currently carry. The rental income from those properties only partially offsets what shows up as debt on paper. By the time you apply for a third or fourth purchase, your DTI has often climbed past the 43% - 45% threshold that most banks require, regardless of how well the properties are performing. The deals are sound. The financing structure just has a ceil...
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By Ken & Ari Walker - Husband & Wife Team, Your Direct Private Money Source
(Pacific Direct Mortgage)
I think we have all been watching the California housing market and waiting for it to take a breath, but of course, it just set another record instead!The story underneath this headline is more interesting than the number itself. The market is not rising evenly, it’s splitting in two, and where you sit in that divide matters a lot right now.According to the California Association of REALTORS, the statewide median hit $930,260 in May, the second consecutive record. At the top end, things are moving fast! A record 38.5% of all statewide sales were million-dollar homes, with transactions in the 1 million to 2 million ranges up 8.2% year-over-year, and above 2 million was up 8.5%.  And that segment of the market is not slowing down.The “mid market” is a different story however. Homes priced...
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By Dennis Dahlberg Broker/RI 623-582-4444
(Level 4 Funding )
Beyond private financing, consider government loans, traditional lenders, and personal equity.The overview below outlines popular loan options for investors, including those suitable for less-than-perfect credit.203K Loan: Backed by the Federal Housing Administration, 203K loans are available to eligible buyers looking to purchase and rehabilitate older or damaged properties. Only owner-occupants may apply for this loan, and the property must require repairs that meet FHA standards.Home Equity Loan: Homeowners with enough equity may qualify for a home equity loan or line of credit. Eligibility typically requires a solid credit profile and adequate collateral.FHA Loan: Designed for those with imperfect credit or limited funds for a down payment, FHA loans are available only to buyers int...
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By Adam Scard, World traveler and lover of real estate trends
The loan or credit card application process is not just about filling out an application; it's about demonstrating that the application has been well organized by providing financial documentation. Lenders use the documents on your loan application, and your credit application records, to determine how much money you earn, how you spend it, how much debt you have, and how much you have to pay. If you don't have an organized system, you can suffer delays, mistakes, or even be turned down.A good financial record keeping system will help you to be able to ready any document a lender may ask for quickly. It also demonstrates responsibility and preparedness, which can positively influence a lender’s decision. Appropriate organization enables the applicants to prevent last minute scrambles, r...
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By Tammie Jungling, Strategic Mortgage Solutions for Florida & Georgia
(Certainty Home Lending)
Happy Friday!Markets were closed today in observance of the Independence Day holiday weekend, but Thursday provided encouraging news for mortgage borrowers.A weaker-than-expected June employment report suggested the labor market is continuing to cool. That helped improve the bond market and eased some pressure on mortgage rates heading into the holiday weekend. While rates continue to move daily, this week's direction was slightly better than last week.This Week's Market Snapshot Mortgage rates improved slightly compared to last week. The June Jobs Report showed hiring slowed and previous months were revised lower. Markets interpreted the report as supportive for mortgage bonds. Bond and stock markets closed Friday for the Independence Day holiday. What This Means for BuyersEven small i...
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By Brian Madigan, LL.B., Broker
(RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage (Toronto))
Commercial Bond Yields CMB 5 Year - 3.23% CANHOU 12/15/31 [-0.04%]     10 Year - 3.67% CANHOU 09/15/36 [-0.03%]     Floating Rate insured cost of funds 2.53% [-]     Prime Rate 4.45% [-]     GoC 2 Year - 2.74% CAN 05/01/28 [-0.04%]     3 Year - 2.85% CAN 03/01/29 [-0.03%]     5 Year - 3.04% CAN 03/01/31 [-0.04%]     10 Year - 3.43% CAN 06/01/36 [-0.03%]  
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By Andrew Collins, Real Estate Market Observer
(Independent Real Estate Research)
Expert guidance on one of divorce’s most financially consequential and least understood issuesKey takeaway: Retirement accounts are often one of the largest financial assets in a divorce after the family home, yet they are also among the most commonly mishandled. Understanding the QDRO process, knowing which retirement accounts require one, and recognizing the long-term financial impact of mistakes is important for anyone working through a divorce settlement.Among the many financial decisions involved in divorce, retirement assets are often some of the most complicated. Many couples focus most of their attention on the family home, immediate living expenses, and custody-related concerns, while retirement accounts are pushed into the background. That can be a costly mistake. For many hou...
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By Andrew Collins, Real Estate Market Observer
(Independent Real Estate Research)
Most buyers negotiate the wrong number. They'll fight for two weeks over a $10,000 price reduction and treat the interest rate as weather, something that happens to them. The math says they've got it backwards. On a typical loan, a single percentage point of rate moves the monthly payment about as much as a $42,000 swing in price. Understanding why changes how you counsel a client on almost every offer.Here's the mechanism, with real numbers you can run yourself.Price moves the payment slowly. Rate moves it fast.Take a $400,000 loan on a 30-year fixed. At 6.5%, principal and interest come to about $2,528 a month. Add $10,000 to the price and the payment goes up roughly $63. That's the intuition most people have: more house, bigger payment, and the increments feel manageable.Now hold the...
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By William Piotrowski, Just Call William 630-881-8655
(Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation )
🏡🎉 Hey Melanie Rybarski & Laura Sandoval what a perfect way to close out the month—with back-to-back closings! 🎉🏡Mark & Michele We wish you nothing but happiness, wonderful memories, and many years of making this house your home.Thank you for trusting us to be part of such an important milestone. It was truly our pleasure to assist you throughout the mortgage process, and we hope you'll continue to look to us as your trusted mortgage advisor for years to come.If you ever have questions about your mortgage or other financial needs, we're just a phone call away. And if we can't help directly, we have an outstanding network of trusted professionals who can.The greatest compliment we can receive is your referral. If you know a friend, family member, or coworker who is thinking about buying ...
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By Ken & Ari Walker - Husband & Wife Team, Your Direct Private Money Source
(Pacific Direct Mortgage)
One of the more interesting things about real estate investing is that the best opportunities often don't look very exciting at first glance.In fact, if you lined up some of the most profitable deals next to the prettiest homes on the market, many investors would probably choose the wrong property.That's because value isn't always hiding in a fresh coat of paint or a perfectly staged living room. Sometimes it's hiding in a floor plan that no longer fits how people live today.A few decades ago, formal dining rooms and formal living rooms were considered “must have” features. Families entertained differently so homes were designed differently, and those spaces served an important purpose.Today, many buyers are looking for something else:An extra bedroom.A home office.A private space for e...
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By Brian Madigan, LL.B., Broker
(RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage (Toronto))
Commercial Bond Yields CMB 5 Year - 3.23% CANHOU 12/15/31 [+0.05%]     10 Year - 3.66% CANHOU 09/15/36 [+0.06%]     Floating Rate insured cost of funds 2.53% [-]     Prime Rate 4.45% [-]     GoC 2 Year - 2.76% CAN 05/01/28 [+0.03%]     3 Year - 2.86% CAN 03/01/29 [+0.03%]     5 Year - 3.04% CAN 03/01/31 [+0.05%]     10 Year - 3.42% CAN 06/01/36 [+0.06%]  
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By Diana Dahlberg - 1 MONTH REALTY, REALTOR in Kenosha, WI since 1994 - (262) 308-3563
(1 MONTH REALTY)
How Mid-2026 Wisconsin Mortgage Rates Affect Kenosha Buyers  Mortgage rates for Kenosha buyers in mid‑2026 remain notably higher than in recent years, causing many to be more mindful of their monthly budgets. Even so, steady demand is supported by a range of local, state, and federal loan programs, meaning buyers still have practical routes to ownership when homes are appropriately priced.If you’re shopping for a home in Kenosha this summer, you’re likely weighing monthly affordability as much as overall price. Rates are holding steady across area lenders, creating an environment where buyers and sellers both need to adjust their expectations and focus on what’s possible today, rather than hoping for dramatic short‑term changes.Local credit unions and mortgage companies are keeping opti...
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By Ken & Ari Walker - Husband & Wife Team, Your Direct Private Money Source
(Pacific Direct Mortgage)
Recently we have found ourselves having more conversations about trust than interest rates.Not because loan programs have changed. Not because underwriting guidelines have changed. And not because the real estate market has suddenly shifted. Instead, it's because of two stories that have generated a lot of discussion throughout Sonoma County and the North Bay.One involves the continuing fallout surrounding the Wine Country real estate empire built by Kenneth Mattson and Timothy LeFever. According to reports, hundreds of investors may have suffered significant losses after federal authorities alleged a large-scale Ponzi scheme involving real estate investments. What many believed to be a successful and growing operation ultimately became one of the biggest real estate stories our region ...
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By William Piotrowski, Just Call William 630-881-8655
(Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation )
📊🏡 MORTGAGE RATE UPDATE — FREDDIE MAC REPORT 🏡📊🚨 30-YEAR MORTGAGE RATES HOLD NEAR 6.5% 🚨Despite fresh inflation data showing continued pressure, mortgage rates remain in a surprisingly tight range.📉 Latest Freddie Mac Numbers (June 25):🏠 30-year fixed: 6.49% (up from 6.47%)🏠 15-year fixed: 5.84% (up from 5.81%)📊 For context:👉 A year ago: 6.77%👉 Today: ~28 bps lower YoY🔎 WHAT’S DRIVING THIS STABILITY?Even with inflation concerns rising:📈 PCE inflation: 4.1%📈 Core PCE: 3.4% (above Fed target)Bond markets had already priced in much of this pressure, which is why mortgage rates barely moved despite “hot” inflation data.🏠 HOUSING MARKET IMPACTWe’re seeing a clear divide in the market:✔️ Buyers who must move are still active✔️ Refinance activity has picked up slightly✔️ Many potential buyers ...
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By Ken & Ari Walker - Husband & Wife Team, Your Direct Private Money Source
(Pacific Direct Mortgage)
For years, California’s housing conversation felt stuck in the same cycle: Too expensive.Not enough homes.Too much red tape.Too difficult to build.But lately, something interesting has started happening.The conversation coming from California leadership is beginning to shift in a much more unified direction. Whether people agree politically or not, one thing has become increasingly clear: many of California’s top gubernatorial candidates now publicly agree that the state needs more housing, faster approvals, fewer delays, and less obstruction when it comes to development.That alone says a lot about where the market may be heading.Not long ago, many politicians avoided strongly supporting large scale housing expansion because it was politically risky. Today, several candidates openly sup...
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By Ken & Ari Walker - Husband & Wife Team, Your Direct Private Money Source
(Pacific Direct Mortgage)
One of the more interesting things happening in Sonoma County right now is that inventory has been steadily increasing, yet home prices have remained surprisingly stable.Normally, people assume more homes on the market means prices should fall.Real estate isn't always that simple.While buyers have more choices than they did a few years ago, demand hasn't disappeared. People still want to live in Sonoma County. Families are still relocating. Buyers are still entering the market, even if they're moving a little more cautiously than before.What we're seeing is not a market crash or a market boom. We're seeing a market that is becoming more balanced.Buyers have more options. Sellers still have opportunities. Homes are taking longer to sell, but well priced properties continue to attract att...
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