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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,...

I always tell people, the biggest competition for SELFi is consumer misunderstanding. The more knowledgeable a customer is about mortage 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...

A common misconception among homeowners is whether they can skip payments when refinancing. After all, who wouldn’t want to go a couple months without a mortgage payment? The short answer is: Yes, you can go two months without a payment, however, no payments are...

SELFi started with a simple idea: to offer the absolute lowest interest rates. That’s it. You see, I had worked for mortgage lenders that charged higher than market rates and it didn't feel good knowing customers could get a better deal elsewhere. I felt that the best...