Blog

For the fourth consecutive year, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) increased loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac backed mortgages. The conforming loan limit will jump from $484,350 to $510,400. For high cost areas, like the Bay Area, the loan limit will...

  Warren Buffett's views on stocks are well documented but when it comes to real estate, his opinions are not as publicized.  In 2011, he shared this piece of golden advice with CBNC's Squawk Box: "If you take out a 30 year fixed mortgage and it turns out the...

  Number 1: You choose the wrong company It's as simple as that. According to the CFPB, 47% of mortgage applicants fail to shop around for their mortgage. Most often, homeowners will refinance with their existing lender, thinking that lender will offer the best...

Here's how SELFi compares to Better Mortgage: 1. Interest Rates Let's cut right to the chase. First, how the business models differ: SELFi is a marketplace that shops wholesale interest rates across 15 lending partners, using an algorithm to match the lowest rate...

Often the biggest misconception of first-time home-buyers is the down payment. Some think it’s 20%, others think it’s 0%. Here's the real deal: For mortgages $484,350 and below, there are two programs called HomeReady and HomePossible. There are some minor differences...

Everyone knows that comparison shopping saves them money, yet when it comes to mortgages, many people don't. According to a report by the CFPB and Federal Housing Agency, 50% of consumers failed to shop around with mortgage companies before applying. Furthermore, 75%...

I always tell people, the biggest competition for SELFi is consumer misunderstanding. The more knowledgeable a customer is about mortgage rates, the more likely SELFi will earn his or her business. So we are in the education business just as much as the mortgage...

Often the biggest barrier for first-time home-buyers in San Francisco is the down payment. Traditional banks usually require 20% down. In San Francisco, the median home value is a whopping $1.14 million, where a 20% down payment equates to $228,000.   5% Down, No...

For the third consecutive year, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) increased loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac backed mortgages. The conforming loan limit will jump from $453,100 to $484,350. For high cost areas, like the Bay Area, the loan limit will...

Okay, so you have equity in your home, you need cash, but you’ve been told that you do not qualify for a cash-out refinance or a home equity line of credit. What are your options? First, exhaust your refinance search A cash-out refinance is usually the least expensive...

You applied for an FHA or VA loan, but your lender said your credit score is too low. Here is the number one thing you need to know: The minimum credit score may be a lender overlay. What are Lender Overlays? Lender overlays are more stringent standards than investor...

If you have a mortgage, there is a good chance you’ve been approached with offers to refinance from your current lender. You may think, “Since they’re my current lender, they’ll be able to offer me the best deal.” Think again. Blindly staying with your current lender...