blog
VA Mortgage Loans Getting More Restrictive
Predatory lending. Churning. Taking advantage of borrowers. These are words and phrases that should be only distant memories of the pre-housing crash mortgage market of the early 2000s. Unfortunately though, they’ve all been brought up in today’s marketplace as well, specifically when it comes to VA mortgage loans and recent actions taken by Ginnie Mae…
Read MoreDid the Fed Lower the Interest Rate?
Today it’s anticipated that the federal reserve will cut rates by a margin of .25 to the Fed funds rate. What does that mean? Well, the Fed funds rate is the rate which banks borrow from each other in the federal reserve system. When the Fed cuts rates, it’s usually to stimulate the economy by…
Read MoreMortgages for Millennials
Is there a mortgage program for millennials? With all of the headlines, media quotes, and information out there, you would think mortgages for millennials would incorporate a slew of products, programs, educational courses, and more. The reality, though, is far less fancy. While there are a ton of mortgages for millennials, the programs available…
Read MoreCan I Buy a Home If I Have Debt?
Can I Buy a Home With Debt? When it comes to buying a home, many people are concerned with their debts. Headlines frequently discuss student loan debt, and how it holds people back from home ownership – particularly the millenial generation. Another easy “fact” to find online is that lenders want your total debt,…
Read MoreWhat is a No Closing Cost Refinance
Rate is the one word that comes up perhaps more than any other when shopping for a mortgage loan. The second most frequent topic of discussion is on closing costs – the dollar amount it takes to get a mortgage done. There’s an appraiser that needs to be paid, underwriters that need a paycheck, and…
Read MoreWhat Would a Recession Mean for Housing?
The “R” Word It’s come up a lot recently. With unemployment at or near all time lows, a stock market rally that’s defied all odds for longer than history says it should have, and the Fed looking at potentially reversing monetary policy, it looks like our next recession is more a matter of when,…
Read MoreHow Much Money Do I Need for a Mortgage Down Payment
What Mortgage Options Are Available With Less Than 20% Down Payment? One of the biggest mortgage misconceptions is how much money is needed as a down payment when purchasing a new home. One rumor that won’t die is that to buy a home, you need a large down payment. So many people believe they need 20% down…
Read MoreDoes Experian Boost Work?
Experian, one of the 3 major credit bureaus, has recently rolled out a marketing campaign to highlight their ‘Boost’ product – one which a customer can use to report accounts that traditionally do not get reported to the credit bureaus, to increase their credit scores. Sounds great, right? Well to see a…
Read MoreWelcome to MasonMac!
Welcome to Mason-McDuffie Mortgage! Thanks for stopping by! Check out our blog page for insights into the housing market, credit tips and tricks, and up-to-date loan info!
Read More
