Home Equity Playbook: HELOC, Home Equity Loan or Cash-Out Refinance
HELOC vs home equity loan vs cash-out refinance: how each works, what each costs on one example, and how to move up without losing your low rate.
11 min read
Mortgage Tips
Every article on mortgage tips, newest first.
I Sold My Own House This Fall. Here's What I Learned.
My Charlotte home sold at full price the day it listed. How I set a price above most agents' advice, got it ready, and handled an $8,000 repair request.
· 5 min read
You May Be Paying for PMI You Don't Need. Here's How to Get Rid of It
How to get rid of PMI step by step, with two worked examples, rules for FHA, USDA and VA loans, and what the new White House housing order does and doesn't do.
· 12 min read
Seller Credits: What They Are, How to Ask for One, and the Best Ways to Use It
Learn what a seller credit is, how to ask for one in five steps, how much the seller can pay on each loan type, and the best ways to use it.
9 min read
Are Adjustable-Rate Mortgages a Good Idea Right Now? Here's the Math
Are adjustable-rate mortgages a good idea right now? See what they are, what 5/6, 7/6 and 10/6 mean, and how much you can save each month.
· 8 min read
Charlotte Home Sales Fell 8.7% in August. Here's What Buyers Can Ask the Seller to Pay.
Charlotte-area closings fell 8.7% in August while rates hit 7.40%. The seller credit cap, not the median price, decides how much room you have to negotiate.
· 6 min read
California Prop 37 Explained: What the $25 Billion Homebuyer Loan Would Actually Do
Prop 37 would let CalHFA lend up to 17% of the price on new California homes, with 3% down. Here's how it works and what buyers should know.
· 5 min read
Credit Score and Mortgage Pricing: What Moves the Needle
Why a two-point difference in your credit score can change your down payment and pricing, and what to avoid while you're shopping.
· 6 min read