Loan Limits Increased For 2018
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... »
Home Ownership
Life is not one size fits all, so your mortgage shouldn’t be either.
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... »
11 Poisonous Plants in Home Gardens
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... »
Foreclosure and VA Home Loans
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... »
Having Trouble Saving For A Down Payment? Follow These Easy Money Saving Tips!
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... »
J.D. Power Survey Shows Many Home Buyers Unhappy With Their Mortgage Lender
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... »
Mortgage 411: Why Do People Use Non-Bank Mortgage Lenders?
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.... »
Can a Surviving Spouse Use a VA Loan?
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... »
Extraordinary Closing Costs for Extraordinary People With Homes For Heroes
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... »
Can You Receive Gift Funds For a VA Home Loan?
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. ... »
Five Low Cost Home Improvements That Can Increase Property Value
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... »
How To Buy A Home With Little Or No Money Down!
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... »
Three Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Start Looking for a Home
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... »
Getting a Home Mortgage with Credit Issues
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... »
Six Checkout Line Hacks
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... »
Beware of These IRS Audit Triggers
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... »
The Right Pro for the Job
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... »
MortgageSMART – ESCROW…Not Scarecrow!
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... »
MortgageSMART
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... »
DON’T LET RISING PRICES SINK YOUR HOME OWNERSHIP DREAMS!!!
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... »
Six Ways to Declutter Your Countertops
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... »
Can a VA Loan Be Passed to a Spouse or Children?
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... »
A New Take on Old Tech
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... »
You Gotta Have Heart
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... »
Dessert in 6 Ingredients or Less
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... »
BEWARE! – The HERO Program can affect a VA Home Loan and the Sale of your Home
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... »
FHA Reducing Annual Insurance Premiums
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... »
Delightful December Drinks
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... »
Holiday Hosting Hacks
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... »
HOME BUYERS SEMINAR
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... »
Six Ways to Declutter Your Countertops
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... »
Home Buying Secrets – Off-Season Home Shopping
As we’ve noted before, there was a substantial drop in mortgage rates this past summer. If you were ready to buy, you should have been able to take advantage of some very low and... »
Don’t Let Colder Temps Cause Your Home Ownership Dreams To Hibernate
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... »
Six Ways to Foil Hackers, Phishers and Pushy Marketers
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... »
Five Money Saving Tips for Future Home Buyers
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... »
Five Things Not to Store in Your Garage
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... »
How to Get Your Dream Home with the FNMA HomeStyle Loan!
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... »
Millennials And Mortgages: Fixer Upper Loans Are The Housing Industry’s Best Kept Secret
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... »
Don’t Let Rising Prices Sink Your Home Ownership Dreams
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 buying their first... »
Don’t Believe The Hype! Five Things Jeff Goldblum And Apartments.com Aren’t Telling You
As an actor, we appreciate a lot of what Jeff Goldblum has done in his career. But as a spokesperson, well… both he and Apartments.com have a very one-sided way of looking at... »