Refinancing Jargon: What Do All of These Words Mean?
Refinancing a home doesn’t need to be a complicated process. Half of the battle is knowing the terminology used in the mortgage and finance industries. Let’s take the guess work out of some of these terms by defining them: Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Also called an ARM,...
Cash-out Refinancing: What is it and is now a good time?
When homeowners secure a cash-out refinance, their mortgage is replaced with a new loan with an amount higher than the current loan balance. The homeowner can then withdraw the difference of the two loans as cash. Over the course of the last few months, some people...
The Federal Reserve releases outlook for 2020
The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged (near zero) amidst a projected gradual economic recovery from the recession. New forecasts predict a slower economic recovery than the Trump administration seems to expect. In the post-meeting statement that...
FICO scores and refinancing – is your credit good enough?
With everything that's been going on lately, interest rates have dropped dramatically. For some homeowners it is the perfect time to refinance their home mortgage. Does refinancing make sense for you and your family? There are two critical things to educate yourself...
Have you ever wondered what your mortgage would have been like in 1983?
The interest rates in the 1980s were high. With a few exceptions, they have generally been on a decline ever since. Want to see what your current home mortgage would have been like in 1983? How about in 1979? Or 1995? Take a look at our Historical Rate Chart. Endless...
Fed aims to get the economy back on track
The fed meeting on April 29th addressed the fact that they are going to use all the tools in their arsenal to get the economy back. It looks like their main goal is to instill some stability in the market. As such, they will be keeping rates low for a while. “The...
Interactive Rate Charts Highlight Interesting Trends
Most people have an easier time interpreting numbers when they are presented to them visually. Endless numbers on a spreadsheet don't always paint a clear picture of the current situation with regard to rates. So we have added a few interactive visual charts to our...
COVID-19 and your mortgage: what about a forbearance?
We recognize there is a lot of information posted on the Internet and in the media regarding how to pay your mortgage during the COVID-19 pandemic. As your trusted mortgage broker, we want you to have the best information available. One topic that is particularly hot...
Coronavirus and the effect on mortgages
What has been happening with the mortgage industry since COVID-19 was classified as a pandemic? In short: a lot. Economies have come to a standstill and financial markets have been turned completely on their head. Let's take a look at exactly what happened. The...
Adjusting business processes during COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many companies within the real estate and mortgage industries to adjust their business practices. Here are a few highlights: Remote Online Notarization The Oregon Association of Realtors (OAR) is advocating for and participating in the...