Resources

Preparing Your Home for a Tornado – Part One

You’ve seen the devastation caused by the tornado that touched down in Missouri last month. Weeks ago an F-5 tornado devastated Oklahoma City, OK just like the one that killed 161 people in Joplin, MO two years ago. With severe thunderstorms a common occurrence here in St. Louis, you know tornado warnings are not something […]

Is Paying Off Your Mortgage Early a Good Idea?

It’s a question that weighs on many homeowners’ minds these days. Is it wise to pay off your mortgage early? The answer depends on your financial situation and there are good arguments that can be made either way. Here are several reasons why you should and shouldn’t pay off your mortgage early.

Credit Qualifying for a Mortgage after Divorce: 3 Tips

Very frequently, we get borrowers who have gone through a divorce and due to lack of awareness of the items still on their credit report, are unable to qualify for the refinance or purchase mortgage they were hoping to obtain. You can still get a mortgage after divorce. Here are some tips to make sure […]

Attracting Buyers: Increasing Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Spring is the busiest real estate buying season and if your home is on the market you might be a little stressed wanting your home and your “curb appeal” to look amazing. With so much rain and cooler temperatures in the Midwest, it may be tempting to let the outside appearance of your home slide […]

The Basics of Mortgage Underwriting

Underwriting a mortgage loan is as much an art as it is a science. Whether you’re in the market for a mortgage on a new home or refinancing, it helps to know what mortgage underwriters look for so you can meet the lender’s parameters for loan approval. Here are some things to keep in mind. […]

Typical Refinancing Mistakes You Should Avoid

Interest rates are still at historic lows and refinancing could save homeowners a bundle. Trouble is many homeowners aren’t refinancing because the process can be a bit tricky. Here are some refinancing mistakes to avoid. Before starting the refinancing process it’s a good idea to know your credit score. Job loss and a tough economy […]

4 Tips for Using Child Support to Qualify for a Mortgage

Quite often we see mortgage applicants, generally single mothers applying for financing that have income from a job and child support. Sometimes, the child support is the make or break item that is the difference in qualifying the applicant for a home loan. However, due to the inconsistent nature inherent in some child support relationships, […]

Here to Home Ownership in Nine Steps Part Three

Homeownership is the “Great American Dream”….it also happens to be one of life’s greatest stresses. However, if we pay attention to these simple 9 steps, we can maximize the “Dream” part while minimizing the “Stress” part of the process. Over the next series of articles, we will cover the necessary steps to buying a home.

Here to Home Ownership in Nine Steps – Part Two

Home ownership is the “Great American Dream” …it also happens to be one of life’s greatest stresses. However, if we pay attention to these simple 9 steps, we can maximize the “Dream” part while minimizing the “Stress” part of the process. Over the next series of articles, we will cover the necessary steps to buying […]