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Special Programs for Teachers
Civil servants like police officers, firefighters, and teachers often struggle to become homeowners as housing prices in the Bay Area have skyrocketed over the past several years. They can struggle with both having enough income to afford a home along with finding the...
What is a Mortgage APR?
As a home buyer, you're likely going to obtain a home mortgage. Many of us look at the interest rates for a mortgage and compare them to find the lowest cost mortgage. However, mortgage interest rates do not take into account the entire cost of a home loan. When...
Find Your Down Payment
Most people looking to find a home struggle with figuring out the down payment. You have a couple options. First, if you are moving into a home within the limits of a FHA Loan then you could manage to purchase a home for only 3% down. Second, if you are Veteran, there...
First Time Home Buyer – Steps to Success
As a first time home buyer, you are likely very nervous, confused, and scared. I want to make it as easy as possible for you by breaking it down to 5 easy steps: Review your financial situation with a qualified financial advisor to determine the realistic amount that...
Mortgage Industry Consolidation
When an industry shifts, we often see a move towards consolidation. In 2018, the mortgage industry is moving towards consolidation. This happened in the last great recession when mortgage companies were dying and had lost volume. The big one back then was Countrywide...
How Do I Know Where Mortgage Rates are Heading?
The Mystery of Mortgage Rates Mortgage interest rates are a big mystery to most people. Putting aside the obvious influence of your credit score, what drives the baseline mortgage rates up or down? In order to understand this,you need to know what Mortgage Backed...
How to make Successful New Year’s Resolutions
While the new year is still a couple weeks away, many start thinking about their resolutions for the upcoming year and it’s important to plan ahead. I want to take a moment to pause from my weekly mortgage and home buying tips to give you some tips to succeed in your...
The Changing Landscape of Walnut Creek
One top factor that people look for when buying a home is the community and walkability of the area. Home buyers prefer a house that provides them easy access to stores and restaurants. You don't want to get a home loan, then have more expenses in both time and money...
Final 2017 Tax Law Agreement
As we’ve all waited several weeks to hear of the final version of the massive tax law changes, Congress has finally come to an agreement. As it relates to the real estate industry, the biggest impact is that the mortgage interest tax deduction will exist up to...
2018 Changes in Real Estate Tax Law
The Proposed New Real Estate Tax Laws: How do they impact home buying? I debated writing this article as the new tax laws have not been finalized. However, many of my clients are asking questions and are concerned about the future. With that in mind, I want to add...
Karen’s Weekend Picks: December 15 – 17, 2017
I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season! One of my favorite things is looking at holiday lights. The Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District and the St. Francis Yacht Club present the oldest and largest lighted holiday boat parade on San Francisco...
Apply For A Mortgage: Everything You Need To Know
When you apply for a mortgage, it's potentially one of the most important things you will ever do. Most people require a mortgage in order to finance a house. Because buying a home is one of the greatest investments you will make in your life, it’s important that you...