Mortgage: The Death Pledge
Mortgage: ‘mortuus’ meaning ‘dead’ and ‘gage’ meaning ‘pledge‘
There was yet another twist in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East today. Renewed hope of a deal after President Trump said, “Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran.” That was yesterday afternoon though, and his latest Truth Social post carried...
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Published on: 2026-05-06
Source:
The Truth About Mortgage
Here’s something creative I haven’t seen many try (other than the home builders) to close the affordability gap. The State of Rhode Island is using treasury deposits placed directly with local banks and credit unions to subsidize mortgage rates. The end result is helping a first-time home buyer secure a...
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Published on: 2026-05-05
Source:
The Truth About Mortgage
Needing funds to improve your home… but having little or no equity, our Home Improvement Loan program is your answer. Most home financing options, cash-out refinances, HELOCs, and second mortgages are all based on one key factor: equity. If you don’t have enough equity, you’re usually out of options. Our Home Improvement Loans are different. No LTV...
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Published on: 2026-05-05
Source:
Mortgage Depot
And just like that, mortgage rates are back above 6.50% and could be heading even higher. I’ve been warning folks for a couple weeks now that the worst may not have been behind us. Between seasonal factors and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, upward pressure on rates was...
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Published on: 2026-05-04
Source:
The Truth About Mortgage
Alejandro Borrayo is a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator dedicated to helping clients navigate the home financing process with clarity and confidence. He specializes in a wide range of loan programs, including Conventional, FHA, VA, Non-QM, and DSCR, allowing him to tailor solutions that align with each borrower’s unique financial goals....
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Published on: 2026-05-04
Source:
Mortgage Depot
Everyone knows Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) loans are pervasive at this point. Anytime you buy anything online, you’re given the option to pay it back in installments instead of all at once. Even a small purchase that’s $100 or less can be broken down into monthly payments. This pushes...
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Published on: 2026-05-01
Source:
The Truth About Mortgage
Mortgage applicants can now qualify for a home loan with VantageScore. For years, the industry has relied solely upon FICO scores to determine pricing and eligibility. But due to a recent policy change, both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will now accept FICO scores or the new VantageScore. In addition,...
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Published on: 2026-04-30
Source:
The Truth About Mortgage
Donnie Powell is a seasoned Mortgage Loan Originator, bringing decades of high-level financial and market experience to every client relationship. With a background rooted in trading, capital markets, and institutional finance, Donnie has a deep understanding of how market conditions, pricing, and timing impact financial decisions—an advantage he now leverages...
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Published on: 2026-04-29
Source:
Mortgage Depot
It’s looking like mortgage rates are headed back up again after a nice reprieve in early April. We all know they had a terrible March thanks to the beginnings of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. But then reversed course in the first half of April to wind up...
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Published on: 2026-04-29
Source:
The Truth About Mortgage
Self-employed borrowers often adjust their business structure for tax planning, liability protection, or long-term growth. While these changes may make sense from a business perspective, they can create unexpected challenges during mortgage qualification, especially when trying to use one year of tax returns. A recent update from Freddie Mac directly...
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Published on: 2026-04-29
Source:
Mortgage Depot
It’s been an eerily quiet week or so for mortgage rates. Almost too quiet, as if you think something’s lurking around the corner. After a very volatile March (when they surged higher) and much of April (when they surprisingly recovered), they’ve done basically nothing. It makes you wonder what comes...
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Published on: 2026-04-28
Source:
The Truth About Mortgage
Mortgage rates have had a pretty good April, all things considered. They’ve come down about 30 basis points (0.30%) over the past month, despite the conflict in Iran still raging on. So I was curious where mortgage rates would be without a war in Iran, had it never gotten started...
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Published on: 2026-04-24
Source:
The Truth About Mortgage
Folks have been debating so-called “mortgage rate lock-in” for years now. It’s also known as the golden handcuffs of an ultra-low interest rate that make it difficult to move. On the one hand, you’ve got this well-below-market mortgage rate and corresponding cheap housing payment. On the other hand, it makes...
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Published on: 2026-04-23
Source:
The Truth About Mortgage
Each year, I compile the top 10 mortgage refinance companies by loan volume. This means the mortgage lenders closing the most refinance loans in the country versus the competition. The undisputed leader was United Wholesale Mortgage, or UWM for short, based on the just released data. Despite being a lender...
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Published on: 2026-04-22
Source:
The Truth About Mortgage
As mortgage lending continues to evolve, appraisal options have become more flexible, helping streamline transactions without compromising accuracy. One option gaining traction is the Hybrid Appraisal. If you’re exploring financing options, it’s important to understand what a hybrid appraisal is, when it’s allowed, and how it works. What Is a...
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Published on: 2026-04-22
Source:
Mortgage Depot
There’s this theory that AI adoption will be “massively disinflationary.” In that as the technology improves, we will see big production gains that lower the costs of everything. Simply put, supply will greatly outstrip demand, making things cheaper. This sounds like a good outcome for inflation and an environment that...
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Published on: 2026-04-21
Source:
The Truth About Mortgage
You might be wondering why mortgage rates remain fairly low despite tensions in the Middle East remaining quite high. While there was a glimmer of hope a few days ago when Israel and Lebanon announced a ceasefire and an Iranian official declared the Strait of Hormuz open, it appeared to...
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Published on: 2026-04-20
Source:
The Truth About Mortgage
STUDY SUMMARY Money is the number one issue married couples argue about. 86% of couples who got married in the last five years started out in debt. The higher a couple’s debt burden, the more likely they are to argue about money. Couples in healthy marriages are much more likely...
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Published on: 2026-04-17
Source:
Ramsey Solutions
Financing a manufactured home can already involve additional layers of review, and when that home is located in a leasehold community, the rules become even more specific. One of the most important distinctions to understand is how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac differ with respect to manufactured homes on leasehold...
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Published on: 2026-04-15
Source:
Mortgage Depot
Get Up to $13,000 Toward Your Home Purchase The HOPER Hope for Homeownership (H4H) Program is an FHA-backed initiative to help today’s buyers overcome one of the biggest barriers to homeownership: upfront costs. By combining financial assistance with long-term energy savings, this program creates a powerful opportunity for both first-time...
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Published on: 2026-04-06
Source:
Mortgage Depot
These programs are ideal for non-owner-occupied transactions where traditional banks slow deals down or apply rigid underwriting standards. Nationwide Business Purpose Lending (Non-Owner Occupied) We offer asset-based business-purpose loans nationwide, focused on the strength of the property and the transaction rather than borrower income limitations. Loan amounts from $75,000 to...
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Published on: 2026-04-01
Source:
Mortgage Depot