Highlights of HomePath® No Appraisal Required No Mortgage Insurance Required All occupancy types are eligible Primary Residence, Second Home, and Investment Eligible for High Balance Loan Amounts Unique Attributes to HomePath® The sales price is used as the property...

As lenders tighten mortgage guidelines for home buyers, minimum downpayment requirements are increasing.  Several years ago, you could finance a home with nothing down. Today, most conventional mortgages require at least 10 percent. Anecdotally, guideline changes have led to an increase in the number...

A mortgage approval is never final until it’s funded. A host of things can “go wrong” while your home loan is underway. Some are in your control, many more are not.  And just being aware of some potential pitfalls could help save your loan down the road, and your peace of mind today. MSN...

Shopping multiple lenders for a “good mortgage rate” can sometimes save you 1/8 percent on your rate and/or a few hundred dollars in fees. However, when it comes to getting the best mortgage rate, you’re going to more than good research skills. You’re going to need some luck. Mortgage...

For the first time this year, Fannie Mae announced significant updates to its mortgage underwriting guidelines. The changes include newer, harsher ARM qualification standards, the elimination of a once-popular loan product, and tighter rules for interest only mortgages. Fannie Mae made its official...

The Fed Funds Rate is currently in a target range of 0.000-0.250 percent. The Fed Funds Rate is an inter-bank lending rate. It’s also the basis for Prime Rate, a consumer interest rate on which credit card payments are based, among other consumer loans.  Prime Rate is equal to the Fed Funds...

When it comes to buying a home, consumers can no longer shop for a mortgage based simply on lowest interest rate quotes. Today’s home buyer needs good advice from an experienced, educated mortgage professional who has the consumer’s best interest in mind. For consumers, this means beware...

Each week, government-led Freddie Mac publishes a weekly mortgage rate survey based on data from 125 banks across the country.  According to this week’s results, the relative rate of a 5-year ARM is extremely low versus its 30-year fixed-rate cousin. Consider this comparison: In April 2009,...

Mortgage markets closed unchanged last week, but that’s not say mortgage rates were calm. Monday through Wednesday, rates improved steadily before a swift, late-week sell-off unwound the gains. Mortgage rates have been very low for a very long time — against the expectations of most market...

Don’t forget that the end of the first time home buyer tax credit is in sight, and I have heard nothing about any extensions. Borrowers need to be in contract by April 30 and close by June 30. Seattle Mortgage Rates, Seattle Home Loans, Washington home loans, Washington Mortgage Rates Related...