Mortgages discussions and local services.
william_harris
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Topics and replies this member has contributed.
RE: Speeding up rural home loan approvals: my favorite shortcut
You nailed it with the “good enough” bit. I used to be the guy who’d triple-check every plat map and call the county office five times just to make sure I wasn’t missing a stamp somewhere. All that did was slow me down a...
RE: Struggling with mortgage payments?
Had a lender “lose” my tax returns once - set me back almost two weeks. They blamed the upload system, but I’m pretty sure it was just sitting in someone’s inbox. Tech’s only as good as the people using it, honestly.
RE: Finally Cut My Mortgage Payment - Anyone Else Score a Great Refi Deal Lately?
I get what you’re saying, but in my experience, those “miscellaneous” fees can add up fast, especially if you’re doing multiple deals a year. I’ve had lenders tack on $50 here, $75 there, and if you don’t call them out, ...
RE: Tapping into your home's value for a remodel: step-by-step?
Couldn’t agree more with the “not as safe as it sounds” angle. I’ve watched folks get burned thinking their home’s value would just keep climbing. I did a HELOC a few years back to update a rental, and even though I ran ...
RE: Surprised by how much credit score matters for home loans?
I hear where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen lenders get a bit twitchy when there are a bunch of disputes sitting on a report. I get that it’s tempting to dispute anything that looks off - been there myself, e...
RE: Teachers Can Reduce Upfront Home Costs; Here’s How
I get what you’re saying. I’ve watched folks get lured in by the GNND program, thinking it’s a slam dunk, but then they hit a wall with all the paperwork and restrictions. Had a buddy who tried it - he ended up bailing h...
RE: Surprised by how much credit score matters for home loans?
Yeah, lenders get real jumpy about any movement in your accounts right before closing. I’ve had one call me because I shifted money between checking and savings - nothing major, but they acted like I was laundering cash....
RE: Seller financing vs. lease-to-own: which one actually works better?
Had a lease-to-own deal go sideways a couple years back - tenant trashed the place and bailed when they couldn’t get financing. I get what you’re saying about “weeding out the tire-kickers” with a solid option fee, but e...
RE: Can You Buy a Home with a 580 Credit Score?
Yeah, I’ve been there too - bought my first rental with a 585 score thinking I’d “fix it later.” Ended up paying way more in PMI and interest than I ever expected. The equity was decent, but man, those extra costs sting....
RE: Why do rates jump around so much?
Why Do Rates Jump Around So Much? Nailed it with the “catching lightning in a bottle” analogy. I’ve tried to time rates before, too, and honestly, it’s a recipe for gray hairs. I remember back in 2018, I held off on a d...
RE: Why Conforming Loans Are a Great Option for Homebuyers
That’s spot on. I’ve done this myself - picked up a conforming loan at what I thought was a decent rate, then two years later rates dipped and I ran the numbers. After factoring in closing costs, it still made sense to r...
RE: Buying a house after bankruptcy - bigger down payment or wait it out?
Totally get where you're coming from. When I went through my own bankruptcy, I debated forever about timing. Ended up biting the bullet sooner rather than later because prices were climbing fast in my area. Interest rate...