If you are going through the process of applying for a mortgage, you understand that you might be asked for certain documentation. For example, your lender will ask for information about your financial situation, the various debts you carry, and where your income is coming from.  To get a better financial picture, they might even…

Traditional mortgages have stringent lending requirements. Lenders verify your income in several ways, including reviewing pay stubs and W-2s. But what happens if you don’t have those documents? Many borrowers are self-employed, retirees, and business owners who don’t get these documents because they’re not employees of a single company. Instead, they might run companies or…

Qualifying for a conventional mortgage can be challenging for many types of borrowers, including real estate investors, retirees, and small business owners. Luckily, several loan options are available for purchasing a home. If you’re having difficulty securing a home loan, a portfolio loan might be the right option for you. Understanding how they work can…

When buying a home, you have many options to choose from. Most people don’t know how many mortgage programs can help them save money and get the funding they need to purchase a property. However, since several types of home loans are available, it can be difficult to find the right one for you.  Conventional…

A home is a significant investment, but becoming a homeowner has many advantages. First, you’ll own your property, so as long as you continue to pay your mortgage, your home will increase in value over time. In addition, it gives you a permanent residence where you don’t have to worry about moving every few years…

Property taxes are paid to the government to ensure projects such as community services, schools, and fixing the roads. How much property tax you pay will depend on where you live and your home’s value. However, all homeowners pay property taxes, so it’s important to budget for more than your principal and interest when paying…

CoreLogic recently released its Home Price Appreciation Report, revealing that home prices in the US appreciated by 6.9% in 2022. This growth is expected to continue in 2023, with the company forecasting a 3% increase in home prices. While the media and neigh sayers think we are headed for a housing bubble or crash… it…

A conventional loan for first-time home buyers is a traditional mortgage loan that meets the parameters set by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. Conventional loans require some percentage of down payment, depending on the mortgage you choose, and your credit score typically must be 620 or higher. In addition to credit score, conventional loans for…

FHA loans for first-time home buyers make it more affordable for aspiring homeowners to purchase a home. The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) was established in 1934 as part of an effort to make homeownership more affordable for buyers that meet specific criteria. An FHA home loan for first-time home buyers is insured by the federal…

If you are thinking about purchasing a new home, you might not be in a position to purchase a home with cash alone. Fortunately, you do not need to save up hundreds of thousands of dollars to qualify for a house. There are plenty of loan options available, but every buyer is in a different…

Are you interested in purchasing a new home in the near future? You might be buying a home for the first time, which is why you need to think carefully about your credit score. It is one of the most important factors that will dictate whether you qualify for a home loan.  Regardless of whether…

Having bad credit doesn’t always mean that you won’t be able to get a mortgage or home equity loan, although it does complicate your efforts. There are ways for you to get the funding you need to buy or borrow against the equity of your home even when your credit rating isn’t great. The following…

If you are thinking about purchasing a house, there are a lot of steps you need to complete. One of the most important steps is to accumulate a down payment.  A down payment is the amount of money that you have to put towards the principal value of the house at closing. Learn more about…

If you are interested in purchasing a home, there is a good chance that you will have to take out a mortgage. Not a lot of people can purchase a home with cash, but thankfully there are multiple types of mortgage loans to choose from. It is important to think about the different types of…

A HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) and a HELOAN (Home Equity Loan) are both secured by the equity in your home. The main difference between a HELOC and a HELOAN comes down to how you get and use the money.  A HELOC loan is akin to a credit card in that it’s a line…

If you are interested in purchasing a house for the first time, you have probably realized that there are a lot of hoops that you have to jump through. Even though it can look like a significant challenge to purchase a house on your own for the first time, there are tools that you can…

If you are interested in purchasing property, you may have to take out a loan. There are different types of loans available, including FHA loans, investment property loans, and even a VA home loan. At the same time, before you can purchase the house, you may be required to place an earnest money deposit. If…

If you are thinking about applying for a home loan, there is one word that is going to come up over and over again: escrow. So, what is escrow in a mortgage, and what do you need to know about mortgage escrow? There are some situations where this could be beneficial, and there are other…

Jobs report gives Fed green light for more rate hikes The Federal Reserve is almost certainly raising interest rates in March. The only question now is by how much. The strong January jobs report is the last piece of evidence the Fed needs to show that inflation pressures are not going away anytime soon. With…

Where we live has been dictated by where we can find a good job. That truism has defined much of where Americans reside — clustered in and around lucrative job markets.  Working remotely isn’t just another perk in a benefits package, it’s the opportunity to move freely and still continue the same career, ideally with…

Record home price appreciation in the last few years has pushed tappable home equity to new heights! According to a report published by data vendor Black Knight this week, the third quarter of 2021 saw a nearly $250 billion dollar increase in tappable equity—a record. With record high tappable home equity, now is a great time to consider a…

Real estate investors were responsible for 18.2% of the homes purchased in the U.S. during the third quarter of this year — a record-high share, according to Redfin.  Investment Property Mortgage Home Loans are available to both new and experienced investors.  This new all-time high was up from a revised share of 16.1% in second-quarter…

High home prices could drop in November as mortgage rates increase, economist says Home prices are rising, though not at the same record pace as earlier this year. As a result, economists say both homebuyers and homeowners should expect substantial home value increases annually, but decreases month-over-month toward the end of 2021. “The typical home…

HOME EQUITY HAS HIT A RECORD HIGH. As home prices continue their rapid rise, many Americans are sitting on a pile of equity in their homes.  Homeowners with mortgages gained $2.9 trillion in equity in the second quarter of 2021, a 29.3% year-over-year increase, according to a new report by CoreLogic.  This marks an average gain…

Stock Market Example Invest $160,000 10% annual growth $504,287 at end of 12 years $342,974 at the end of 8 years $2,808,354 at end of 30 years Griffin Funding offers DSCR (debt service coverage ratio) loans at a ratio as low as .75 to allow you to qualify on the cash flow of the property…

If you’re like most dog owners, you love the idea of watching your dogs play and run around in the backyard. You enjoy the freedom of opening the door and letting them roam and get out some energy. However, those positive feelings change pretty quickly the first time your dog digs up the garden.  What…

When you’re shopping for a new home, it’s challenging to tell when a house is actually in good condition. Quick fixes and cosmetic band-aids can easily pull the wool over the eyes of unsuspecting home buyers. Before you know it, you’ve bought a house with underlying issues like mold or worse. No prospective homeowners want…

Buying a home is an exciting and somewhat daunting decision. Many people get used to the idea of paying rent, not realizing that there are programs available to help them buy a home and put that rent money into an investment, rather than watch it disappear.  If you are a first-time home buyer, you can…

A new Bosa Development luxury high rise Condo project in the Embarcadero district of downtown San Diego opened its doors this summer. The property is located at 888 W E St San Diego CA 92101. The Pacific Gate tower has attracted many buyers including foreign buyers, due to its beauty, location, and amenities. Most US…

Nonstop Signs & Graphics is a versatile printing company based out of San Diego. We work with individuals, small boutique businesses and Fortune 500 companies alike. Forbes recently recognized Nonstop Signs & Graphics as one of the fastest growing companies in the US. CEO Brandon Stapper serves on the Youth Entrepreneur Council and the Forbes…

America’s luxury home market is facing an inventory shortage but it’s not as deep or severe as the one in the wider housing market. Redfin says that inventory of homes priced $1 million or more was down 20.4% in the first quarter of 2018 compared to a year earlier, pushing prices in the luxury sector…

The share of mortgage closings that were for home purchases increased in April according to the latest data from mortgage software firm Ellie Mae. Purchase money loans made up 65% of total loans with refinances down to 35%. Last year at this time purchases made up 59% of mortgage originations while refinances took a 40% share. “We…

We would all like to pay off our mortgages sooner rather than later, right? But with mortgage payments that never seem to end and interest payments that continue to pile up, it’s easy to get in a rut with bare minimum payments. Well, did you know that if you make one extra payment a year,…