Home Ownership

Read the latest blog posts from our mortgage experts, get the latest updates about the industry, tips and tricks for making your purchasing experience easy, and more!

Mortgage Mythbusting: First-Time Homebuyer Edition

Oct 21 2019

Are you on the hunt for your first home? Rethink what you’ve been told and take a look at these commonly thought of mortgage myths. MYTH: “My credit score isn’t good enough to buy... »
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Loan Limits Increased For 2018

Nov 28 2017

Higher loan limits have just been announced for 2018. This is great news for anyone looking to purchase a home in the coming year. It is not yet confirmed that FHA and VA... »
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Life is not one size fits all, so your mortgage shouldn’t be either.

Aug 14 2017

HomeBridge Financial Services serves the lending needs of home buyers, real estate professionals and builders across the country. Part of that service involves offering a variety of products that fit an ever-growing pool... »
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11 Poisonous Plants in Home Gardens

Jul 27 2017

There's no denying their beauty, but if these plants are ingested, or in some cases merely touched, reactions can range from discomfort to death. It pays to know these potentially poisonous plants, so... »
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Foreclosure and VA Home Loans

Jul 27 2017

Even with the great rates that a VA loan provides, unforeseen circumstances can arise where the veteran is unable to pay for their mortgage any longer. If a foreclosure seems likely the veteran... »
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Having Trouble Saving For A Down Payment? Follow These Easy Money Saving Tips!

Jul 21 2017

Many potential home buyers are more than capable of making their monthly mortgage payment but lack the savings necessary for the minimum down payment to purchase the home of their dreams. While there are... »
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J.D. Power Survey Shows Many Home Buyers Unhappy With Their Mortgage Lender

Jul 14 2017

The purchase of a home is most likely the largest financial decision many people will ever make. Because of this, the HomeBridge team takes being your partner in home buying very seriously. According to... »
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Mortgage 411: Why Do People Use Non-Bank Mortgage Lenders?

Jul 11 2017

According to multiple news outlets, ranging from the internationally known Wall Street Journal to newer financial websites, such as Nerd Wallet, many people are turning to non-bank lenders, for their mortgage lending needs.... »
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Can a Surviving Spouse Use a VA Loan?

Jul 7 2017

The VA guidelines before 2012 stated that only spouses who died from military-related causes would be allowed to have VA benefits. Since then the VA has changed their stance on loan eligibility for... »
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Extraordinary Closing Costs for Extraordinary People With Homes For Heroes

Jun 30 2017

HomeBridge Financial Services and The Jamie Zeitz Team’s mission is to provide extraordinary savings to heroes who provide extraordinary services to our nation and our communities every day! Homes for Heroes, Inc. is the largest... »
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Can You Receive Gift Funds For a VA Home Loan?

Jun 23 2017

Veterans are in a unique position when it comes to home loans. They are offered a number of great benefits such as easier qualifying, extremely competitive rates and of course zero money down. ... »
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Five Low Cost Home Improvements That Can Increase Property Value

May 17 2017

Considering selling your home in the next year or two? You may be surprised to hear that some of the simpler home improvement projects often bring the greatest return on your investment when... »
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How To Buy A Home With Little Or No Money Down!

May 17 2017

One of the major reasons potential home buyers stay out of the real estate market is the affordability of down payment and closing costs. Buying a home is one of the biggest financial purchases... »
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Three Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Start Looking for a Home

May 16 2017

There are many things to look at when deciding to buy a home. In addition to determining what you can afford (start with our mortgage calculator) and what type of loan works best for your personal... »
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Getting a Home Mortgage with Credit Issues

May 3 2017

So, you are thinking about buying a home and are concerned that your credit may hold you back from your dream of home ownership. Well you are not alone; the number one reason... »
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Six Checkout Line Hacks

Apr 28 2017

It's frustrating to make your way to grocery or retail registers only to find long, winding lines that await you. And, sometimes it feels like you get stuck in the slowest one. These six... »
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Beware of These IRS Audit Triggers

Apr 19 2017

Now that tax season has come to a close, there's no better time to get organized for next year while everything is fresh in your mind. As a real estate agent, there are many... »
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The Right Pro for the Job

Mar 21 2017

Whether buying a fixer-upper or updating their home to sell, clients may be interested in home renovations. If it's their first renovation-rodeo, give them some guidance on where to start when hiring a... »
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MortgageSMART – ESCROW…Not Scarecrow!

Mar 8 2017

When pursuing a Home Mortgage, one can become very anxious when learning about all of the costs that comprise a monthly payment. The mortgage payment is commonly believed to ONLY be comprised of... »
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MortgageSMART

Mar 6 2017

The Five Stages of Grief – don’t have to be your experience in choosing a Home Mortgage. Denial: “This can’t be happening to me.” Anger: “Why is this happening? Who is to blame?” Bargaining: “Make this not happen - in... »
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Don’t Let Rising Prices Sink Your Home Ownership Dreams!!!

Mar 5 2017

Many experts are predicting home prices will rise over the next year. While that is good news for current home owners, it is a negative for renters on the fence about... »
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Six Ways to Declutter Your Countertops

Mar 1 2017

If you find yourself short on counter space, these six inventive tips can help you organize and maximize any counter in the house: On the wall. Take a look around your walls, particularly walls where... »
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Can a VA Loan Be Passed to a Spouse or Children?

Feb 16 2017

While the majority of servicemembers and veterans are eligible for a VA home Loan, what are the requirements for spouses or even children? When looking into the VA Loan eligibilty there are always... »
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A New Take on Old Tech

Feb 15 2017

It used to be that electronics and devices performed a single job. But at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), manufacturers unveiled a host of products that expand our notions of what household... »
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You Gotta Have Heart

Feb 9 2017

February is American Heart Month, and a perfect reminder to make small changes that can have a big impact in your heart health. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the... »
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Dessert in 6 Ingredients or Less

Feb 7 2017

Dive into dessert with these simple recipes in no time flat—all requiring six ingredients or less. Trouble-Free Tiramisu (Serves 2) 14 vanilla wafers, divided 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules 2 tablespoons hot water 2 snack-size... »
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Beware! The HERO Program Can Affect a VA Home Loan And The Sale Of Your Home

Jan 26 2017

What is the Hero Program? HERO stands for Home Energy Renovation Opportunity. This is a program that provides financing for any energy improvements made to your house such as solar, windows, plumbing, etc. This... »
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FHA Reducing Annual Insurance Premiums

Jan 9 2017

As the nation’s housing market continues to improve, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro announced today the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will reduce the annual premiums most borrowers will pay by... »
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Delightful December Drinks

Dec 2 2016

Even if the weather outside is not so frightful, there's nothing like curling up by a fire with a good book and a nice warm beverage. We've chosen three special concoctions perfect for... »
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Holiday Hosting Hacks

Nov 15 2016

We all love having family and friends home for the holidays, but most of us wish we could spend more time chatting than being on kitchen detail. The following time-saving tips and holiday... »
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HOME BUYERS SEMINAR

Nov 7 2016

IF YOU HAVE ASKED ANY OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS, THEN YOU'RE THE AUDIENCE FOR WHOM THIS SEMINAR WAS CREATED!!! *CAN I AFFORD TO BUY A HOUSE, AND IF SO, WHAT IS MY PRICE RANGE? *WHAT... »
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Six Ways to Declutter Your Countertops

Oct 28 2016

If you find yourself short on counter space, these six inventive tips can help you organize and maximize any counter in the house: On the wall. Take a look around your walls, particularly walls where... »
Read More of the post Six Ways to Declutter Your Countertops

Home Buying Secrets – Off-Season Home Shopping

Oct 19 2016

While spring and summer are traditionally the times when people look to buy a home, there are many reasons why some buyers don’t begin their search until the warm weather subsides and the leaves... »
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Don’t Let Colder Temps Cause Your Home Ownership Dreams To Hibernate

Oct 12 2016

Historically, summer is the time when most people are looking to buy and sell real estate. As you may have heard, there was an unexpected and significant drop in rates this summer, which was... »
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Six Ways to Foil Hackers, Phishers and Pushy Marketers

Oct 10 2016

Update software. The latest computer, smartphone and apps software is the most secure. Update now and choose ‘Update Automatically’ in Settings. Update your WiFi router on its app or Web setup page. Strengthen passwords. Make them... »
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Five Money Saving Tips for Future Home Buyers

Sep 30 2016

Many potential buyers are shocked to find out that they actually will save money by purchasing a home versus renting one from someone else. In addition to building equity, there are multiple tax... »
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Five Things Not to Store in Your Garage

Sep 27 2016

For many of us the garage is a catchall for stuff that refuses to fit neatly inside our houses. The problem is most garages are neither climate controlled nor dust- or pest-free. Here... »
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How to Get Your Dream Home with the FNMA HomeStyle Loan!

Sep 22 2016

How to Get Your Dream Home with the FNMA HomeStyle Loan! Have you ever walked into home and said, “This house is perfect except…?” You may love the school district, the location, the size... »
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Millennials And Mortgages: Fixer Upper Loans Are The Housing Industry’s Best Kept Secret

Aug 31 2016

When it comes to the mortgage needs of millennials, regardless of where they live, one of the things our associates consistently hear is that many of these first-time buyers are having a hard... »
Read More of the post Millennials And Mortgages: Fixer Upper Loans Are The Housing Industry’s Best Kept Secret

Don’t Let Rising Prices Sink Your Home Ownership Dreams

Jul 28 2016

Many experts are predicting home prices will rise over the next year. While that is good news for current homeowners, it is not so good news for renters on the fence about buying their... »
Read More of the post Don’t Let Rising Prices Sink Your Home Ownership Dreams