Thank you to Jenn... First-time homebuyers are often left in the dark, having not received formal education on the homebuying process. I try to bridge that gap throughout the process.
https://www.housingwire.com/articles/va-loan-appraisal-rules-fees/
The Department of Veterans Affairs has made some changes to appraisals.
They revised Minimum Property Requirements and adjusted appraisal fees in select regions. Their goal is to "reduce delays, cut outdated rules and help Veteran homebuyers move faster in a competitive housing market."
Shorter answer: Yes, you can get a mortgage after a foreclosure. However, you will need to go through a waiting period and actively rebuild your credit.
Thank you to clients who take the time to leave kind words for my work!
https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/news/president-trump-cancels-21st-century-road-housing-act
Wednesday’s planned signing of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act was abruptly cancelled.
"The housing bill seeks to address affordability through several channels. It would streamline certain environmental review processes, create grants to help state and local governments increase housing supply, ease requirements for manufactured housing and expand some financing options...
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday that Trump still plans to sign the measure within 10 days, according to Axios."
Buying a secondary, vacation, or investment home typically is slightly more expensive than buying a primary home. The minimum down payment requirements are higher overall, and the debt-to-income qualification may be more stringent.
On the other hand, rental income may boost your income potential, and certain non-QM loans may qualify you without looking at income at all.
https://www.realtor.com/news/real-estate-news/housing-bill-banking-deregulation-mortgage-rates/
"The House and Senate announced a compromise for the 21st Century Road to Housing Act this week. They've settled on 45 provisions across 381 pages with major implications for housing."
These changes include regulations and support for smaller banks that have been disappearing in the mortgage space because they couldn't keep up. Support for more banks in rural areas should expand access to homebuying.
"Deregulation creates risk, but it may also allow banks to offer more competitive rates to borrowers if they choose to pass the savings along to their consumers," Berner said.
A rate quote is not a guarantee that you will receive that rate on your mortgage. To get a rate for sure, you need a rate lock. Do not rely on a rate that the bank has not put into writing and gotten signed.
More days than not, mortgages require overtime. It's work that I'm willing to put in to get you in your dream home efficiently. Thank you!
"More than half, 53%, of prospective buyers said they would be comfortable purchasing a home without any direct human involvement, according to a survey conducted by Veterans United Home Loans...
The survey found 89% of prospective buyers would share personal financial information with a lender's AI tool in exchange for mortgage advice, while 68% said they trust mortgage information provided by AI, according to the survey."
Mortgage rates are still sitting in the mid-6% range depending on the source, borrower profile, points, and loan type.
Freddie Mac has the 30-year fixed average at 6.47% as of June 18, 2026. A year ago, it was 6.81%.
That difference is not massive, but it is meaningful. On a $400,000 loan, the principal-and-interest difference is roughly $100/month.
The reason rates are not dropping faster is pretty simple: inflation is still the problem.
The Fed just held rates, but the market is now watching the possibility of a hike later this year. That matters because mortgage rates are influenced heavily by the bond market, inflation expectations, and the 10-year Treasury environment.
The Iran/Hormuz situation also added uncertainty around oil and inflation. Even though pressure has eased after the latest deal, markets do not instantly forget energy shocks.
For buyers, the practical point is this:
Do not make the decision based only on the rate.
Look at the full payment, cash to close, approval strength, and the risk of waiting.
If rates drop later, refinancing may be an option.
But if home prices rise while you wait, or inventory tightens again, the lower rate may not actually save you money.
For anyone buying in the next 60 to 90 days, I would focus on getting fully underwritten or at least properly reviewed now, then watching the market closely instead of trying to guess the perfect week to act.
Some homeowners get blindsided by major tax increases. Schoolcraft Township in MI saw 38 homeowners will jump from an average of about $1,100 in 2025 to almost $9,100 due to a tax assessment error that was charging on just the land, not accounting for the new homes built on it.
https://abcnews.com/Business/sellers-pulling-homes-off-market-matters/story?id=133589051
Many sellers have been taking their homes off the market, pushing higher prices. High costs for homebuyers have pushed many out of the market, leading to some sellers holding off for more saturation.
https://www.nationalmortgagenews.com/news/the-top-housing-markets-for-buyers-this-spring-season
"Nearly three-quarters of the most populous cities are buyers markets...Nashville, Miami and three Texas metros have the largest discrepancy.
Sellers face increased competition from high inventory and fewer buyers. Some builders are offering incentives like mortgage rate buydowns, which temporarily lower the interest rate for a set amount of time, usually 1-3 years. Home discounts are the highest they have been since 2012...
Of the 50 metros analyzed, only 7 were still in favor of sellers with Long Island leading, and 8 balanced markets, including New York and other East Coast metros."
You can cover your mortgage costs across multiple bank accounts as long as they are reviewed and cleared by the mortgage bank.
A lot of buyers assume 20% down is required to purchase a home.
In many cases, that’s not true.
Depending on the loan program, credit profile, and property type, some buyers qualify with much less.
The challenge is that many people disqualify themselves before ever speaking with a lender.
Has anyone here delayed buying because they thought they needed more money saved?
First-time homebuyers can rest assured I know how to guide them, no matter how many questions they have. THANK YOU!
https://www.nrmlaonline.org/2026/05/22/tn-governor-signs-bill-paving-way-for-prop-products
"Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed legislation (HB 2382) into law this week authorizing the approval of proprietary reverse mortgages in the state. The law took immediate effect."
A proprietary reverse mortgage is a private, non-government-insured loan that allows older homeowners to convert their home equity into cash.
https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/news/most-prospective-homebuyers-fail-basic-mortgage-quiz
New survey showed about 7 out of 10 aspiring first-time homebuyers said they felt knowledgeable about purchasing a home yet 75% of respondents answered 4 or less of 12 questions correctly.
It's clear borrowers need support from those they trust with their mortgage trust.