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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!

Four Ways to Capitalize on Homebuying During 2020

Apr 30 2020

The current turbulent economic and social environment has changed how many Americans spend their time and money; that’s a fact. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t have the home you’ve always wanted. Whether... »
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Homebridge’s Hawaii Associates Help Out In Relief Efforts

Apr 29 2020

During this time of uncertainty, several of our Mortgage Loan Originators have offered aid to their communities in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. Homebridge's Aiea location and other Hawaii branches partnered up... »
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Stabilization in the MBS Market

Apr 25 2020

One of the major effects of the coronavirus was the enormous destabilization of the mortgage-backed securities (MBS) market back in mid-March. MBS pricing and trading activity determine home loan rates, so a big and... »
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How Can I Afford a Home? What Are My Options?

Apr 24 2020

Factors such as student loan debt, competitive real estate markets and low housing stock relative to demand have made many people believe that homeownership is beyond their reach. These issues can make homebuying... »
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The Unemployment Line is Growing

Apr 17 2020

The leading indicator on the health of the job market is the Initial Jobless Claims report, which essentially tells us the length of the unemployment line. And that line just grew. Over the past... »
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Homebridge Makes a Bold Statement in 2019 With Awards Sweep

Apr 14 2020

The year of 2019 was a massive year for Homebridge and its associates. Top originators closed an unprecedented amount of loans in 2019, creating a high watermark for the company as a whole.... »
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Coronavirus Fallout to Hit Homeowners

Apr 3 2020

The Coronavirus has impacted millions of Americans across the country due to job loss and furloughs making it difficult, and sometimes impossible, for homeowners to make their mortgage payments. The U.S. government has stepped... »
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Liquidity Defined

Mar 27 2020

This past week, thanks to the Federal Reserve, home loan rates declined. The high uncertainty around the coronavirus and its impact on homeowners and mortgage payments created a dire need for liquidity in... »
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Expand and Build Your Influence with the Growth Engine Tech Stack

Mar 24 2020

The growth of any Homebridge Mortgage Loan Originator is dependent on how effectively they can communicate with leads, borrowers and referral partners. Growth Engine is our promise that as a Homebridge MLO, you... »
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Three Factors that Affect the Move to Your Next Home

Mar 23 2020

Moving to a new home can mean grappling with second guesses and big decisions. However, your move can be made much easier if you focus on the three factors critical to the choice... »
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An All-Star Trip for the Books! – Homebridge 2020 All-Star Recap

Mar 20 2020

Each year Homebridge recognizes our incredible associates with an enchanting incentive trip for top producing Mortgage Loan Originators. This year our team spent time together in Cancun, Mexico on an All-Star trip of... »
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Coronavirus and Extreme Volatility

Mar 20 2020

This past week, home loan rates ticked up again despite the Fed recently cutting rates by a full point and the 10-year Note remaining just above 1%. Why? Mortgage backed securities (MBS) are bonds... »
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Rate Movements Explained

Mar 13 2020

This past week was a head-scratcher as home loan rates ticked up slightly week over week despite the 10-year Note yield hitting a historic low of 0.31% and stocks enduring heavy losses. Typically,... »
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How to Prepare for Buying a New Home

Mar 11 2020

After a lot of thought, you’ve decided to buy a home. Great decision! Mortgage interest rates are at a record low. This makes it a perfect time to buy a home. Before you meet... »
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How Low Can We Go?

Mar 6 2020

Home loan rates touched all-time lows this past week, fueling refinance activity and creating a sense of urgency for homebuyers to lock in purchase loans. The question many people are asking is, "how low... »
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Now Boarding Our 2019 Homebridge All Stars!

Mar 6 2020

2019 was a year of unparalleled growth and record-breaking volume which in turn, produced the largest number of All-Star qualifiers ever at Homebridge Financial Services. Our tremendous success in 2019 was made possible by... »
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Lowest. Rates. Ever.

Feb 28 2020

Bonds love bad news, uncertainty and fear, which are causing rates to move lower. This past week, the escalation of the coronavirus fears caused enough anxiety to push rates down to the lowest levels... »
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A Great 2020 Housing Story

Feb 21 2020

The continued strength of the labor market, along with historically low mortgage rates, will keep positive housing momentum alive in 2020. The Unemployment Rate is currently at a 50-year low of 3.6% with expectations... »
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What the Market Is Saying

Feb 14 2020

Home loan rates continue to hover near three-year lows. There are some on Wall Street who say rates are going to push even lower at some point — and they may be right.... »
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Using a Renovation Loan to Bring New Life to an Old Home

Feb 13 2020

When you first bought your house, everything felt new and there was a sense of excitement about your home. As time goes on, however, you may discover that your current home no longer... »
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Recovering From Coronavirus

Feb 7 2020

This past week was a bit rough for the bond market as home loan rates steadily ticked higher and off the best levels in three years. The coronavirus has been a tailwind to the... »
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How to Financially Prepare for Homebuying

Feb 5 2020

Buying your first home is the biggest and arguably the most important purchase you will ever make. Preparing for that transition will require you to look at your finances in a different way.... »
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How Does Your Down Payment Affect Homebuying?

Feb 5 2020

The down payment is one of the most important elements of the homebuying process. Your down payment could affect your finances for years to come. In this article, we’re going to breakdown the... »
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Rates Decline Again

Jan 31 2020

The coronavirus outbreak in China continued to grip the financial markets this week. The total affected and number of deaths rose sharply throughout the week suggesting the virus is not yet contained. Stocks hate... »
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Uncertainty Helps Rates

Jan 24 2020

Bonds love uncertainty and bad news. As a result, rates improve when not-so-good news emerges. That was the story this past week, as China has reported a new deadly coronavirus has started to spread... »
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Back to Fundamentals

Jan 17 2020

This past week was filled with so much good news — the biggest of which was the signing of Phase One of the U.S. and China trade pact. This trade deal is a very... »
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The Good News Continues

Jan 10 2020

This past week, we watched home loan rates tick modestly higher and retreat from three-year lows. Why? There are three main reasons: U.S and Iran. On Wednesday, the de-escalation of tensions between the U.S. and... »
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3 Myths About Transitioning from Renter to Homeowner

Jan 9 2020

After years of rising rent prices and an inability to make your home truly yours, you’ve had enough and are ready to officially break up with your landlord. You’re ready to become a... »
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Nice Start to 2020

Jan 3 2020

The new year and new decade started, and good news: some things don't change. Stocks picked up right where they left off in 2019 by touching all-time highs. And bonds, which also performed... »
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Global Improvement

Dec 20 2019

2019 was an incredible year for stocks, which finished the final trading week of the year at all-time highs. Generally speaking, when stocks go higher, so do rates. And that was the case... »
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Goldilocks 2.0

Dec 13 2019

“Let the Good times roll...” (The Cars) As we enter the final weeks of 2019, the housing and home lending sectors have enjoyed a good year thanks to a "Goldilocks" scenario of a... »
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Homebridge Recognized as #1 Renovation Lender By Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for 2019

Dec 9 2019

Getting a renovation loan can be crucial to the many families and individuals who want to turn their house into a home. These are the customers that Homebridge has been servicing for decades.... »
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Changes That Could Affect Rates

Dec 6 2019

There are rumors that our Fed is considering an idea to abandon its present 2% target rate for inflation in favor of a floating target where inflation would be allowed to rise above 2%... »
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Is Buying a Home the Next Step for You? (to Buy or Not to Buy)

Dec 6 2019

For many, buying a home is a major transition in life. It’s one that comes with a long list of benefits like building long-term equity, the freedom to personalize your living space, and... »
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Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac loan limit increases to $510,400

Nov 26 2019

Chapman Lending Team at HomeBridge Financial The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced Tuesday that it is raising the conforming loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to more than $510,000. In most of the U.S., the 2020 maximum conforming... »
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How a Renovation Loan Can Turn Your House Into a Holiday Home

Nov 26 2019

Whether you’re hosting a few out-of-towners for the weekend or housing the entire extended family, the holidays can force you to realize how much more space your home really needs. Using a 203(k)... »
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A Great Housing Backdrop

Nov 22 2019

That famous line describes the current wonderful backdrop for housing and the overall U.S. economy. Many are wondering what lies ahead for housing as we enter 2020. There are many reasons why the U.S.... »
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A Goldilocks Economy

Nov 15 2019

“Looking ahead, my colleagues and I see a sustained expansion of economic activity, a strong labor market, and inflation near our symmetric 2% objective as most likely.” – Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, November 13,... »
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What Renovation Loan Options Are Available to Me?

Nov 15 2019

One of the best parts of homeownership? You are in the driver’s seat when it comes to choosing home financing options. When it’s time to fund a renovation, you can pick from a... »
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How Fast Rates Can Change

Nov 8 2019

Right now, the biggest news story to follow is the U.S. and China trade negotiations. This past week, home loans started inching higher but were "saved" momentarily midweek when reports came out suggesting a... »
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