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Home Loan News..


Wednesday Wisdom: Win the Market You’re In
You don’t win by waiting — you win by preparing. Too many people are on the sidelines right now, watching rates like it’s a scoreboard. But the truth is, the rate is only one line item in the bigger picture. The bigger win is ownership, equity growth, and timing your life — not just your loan. Let’s get honest about the math.If home prices grow 3–5% while you wait for rates to drop 0.5%, the math doesn’t balance in your favor. But when you buy now and refinance later, you ca

Michael Belfor
Oct 221 min read


7 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers
You’ve decided you want to buy a home. You are ready to look at listings, view the next open house, and pick your favorite paint colors—but not so fast! You need to make sure you are financially ready first. We know…it’s not as much fun as scrolling through online real estate listings. But it is the key to ensuring that you’re able to find a home you love. That starts with finding a mortgage lender and obtaining a home loan—two things we specialize in. Here are seven financia

Michael Belfor
Oct 216 min read


TIPS FOR REAL ESTATE AGENTS*** Interviewing Recent Buyers: Insights and Experiences
One of the best ways to understand the mortgage process from a client’s perspective is to interview recent buyers. By gathering their feedback and experiences, you can gain valuable insights into what went well, what could be improved, and how you can enhance your services. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of interviewing recent buyers and share common themes from their feedback. Gathering Feedback from Recent Buyers Understanding Pain Points: Interviewing recent

Michael Belfor
Oct 213 min read


Monday Momentum: Move Before the Market Does
Mondays are made for motion. The market doesn’t wait for anyone — not the perfect interest rate, not the perfect season, not even the perfect plan. But the people who move with clarity always find opportunity, even when others are standing still. If you’re buying, this week is about positioning , not perfection.Start with your numbers — not the headlines. A full pre-approval gives you leverage, clarity, and the ability to act when the right home hits the market. If you’re an

Michael Belfor
Oct 201 min read


Saturday Strategy: Faith Over Fear in a Waiting Market
The hardest part of this market isn’t the data — it’s the doubt. Buyers keep waiting for a green light from the Fed, the news, or their friends. But faith doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. It moves with conviction. If the payment works, if the home fits, and if the long-term plan makes sense, then today might already be “the right time.” Real estate rewards the prepared — not the perfect. And that’s why we keep showing up, making calls, writing offers, and trusting God wit

Michael Belfor
Oct 181 min read


WEEKEND Mortgage Market Update
The Shutdown Drags On Good morning! The longer this government shutdown lingers, the more it begins to chip away at GDP and overall growth. Even when the government reopens, much of that lost output can’t be recovered—especially for small private-sector businesses that depend on federal contracts and spending. Yesterday, we finally saw the 10-year Treasury yield drop below 4.0% —a major technical milestone and a clear sign that investors are shifting into “risk-off” mode. Bon

Michael Belfor
Oct 172 min read


Friday Focus: Control the Controllables
The most productive agents aren’t the ones who know where rates are headed — they’re the ones who know how to navigate today. Markets fluctuate. Buyers hesitate. But when you lead with real numbers and personalized options, you give people permission to move forward. That’s leadership, not luck. We’re helping buyers structure affordability through buydowns, DPA layering, and custom payment targets. Every one of those starts with a single question: “What monthly number gives y

Michael Belfor
Oct 171 min read


Payment Targets Beat Headlines
Rates move. Headlines shout. But smart buyers win by anchoring to a payment target—not a clickbait decimal. When we start with “What monthly number lets you breathe?” everything else falls into place: price, down payment, and the best structure to protect your cash. From there, we compare paths: Conventional vs. temporary buydown: Trade a slightly higher cost today for breathing room in year one or two. Self-employed options (bank statements/P&L): When tax returns don’t tel

Michael Belfor
Oct 161 min read


How Buydowns Are Helping Buyers Win in 2025
As mortgage rates hold steady in the mid-6% range, more buyers are turning to one of the most effective affordability tools in today’s...

Michael Belfor
Oct 82 min read


Self-Employed and Ready to Buy? Here’s How to Make It Happen
If you’re self-employed, you’ve probably heard the phrase “it’s harder to get a mortgage when you work for yourself.” That might’ve been...

Michael Belfor
Oct 72 min read


The Truth About Down Payment Assistance — Still Alive, Still Powerful
There’s a common misconception floating around right now: that Down Payment Assistance (DPA) programs disappeared when the market slowed....

Michael Belfor
Oct 62 min read


Weekly Recap — The Fed Cut and What It Really Means for Rates
This week gave us one of the most anticipated Fed meetings of the year. The central bank delivered a quarter-point cut — the first since...

Michael Belfor
Oct 31 min read


Why Fast-Closing Programs Matter More Than Ever
In a market where rates haven’t broken decisively lower, speed has become one of the most valuable advantages a buyer can bring. Sellers...

Michael Belfor
Oct 21 min read


A New Month, the Same Question — Where Are Rates Headed?
October opens with the same debate that’s defined much of 2025: are mortgage rates finally heading lower, or are we stuck in place?...

Michael Belfor
Oct 11 min read


Green Mortgages: Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Financing
Green mortgages, also known as energy-efficient mortgages (EEMs), are designed to help homebuyers finance eco-friendly homes or...

Michael Belfor
Sep 92 min read


Renovation Tips for Sellers: How to Prepare Your Home for a Quick Sale
When preparing to sell your home, making strategic renovations can significantly impact its marketability and selling price. Renovations...

Michael Belfor
Sep 53 min read


September Jobs Report Misses — Rates Improve
This morning’s August Jobs Report came in well below expectations, and mortgage markets reacted quickly. Only 22,000 jobs were added in...

Michael Belfor
Sep 51 min read


Why Mortgage Rates Don’t Always Follow the Fed
With another Fed meeting around the corner, there’s chatter everywhere: “If the Fed cuts rates, won’t mortgage rates drop too?” The...

Michael Belfor
Sep 41 min read


Three Simple Moves That Make Homebuying Less Stressful
Buying a home is exciting — but it can also feel overwhelming. Between documents, deadlines, and decisions, many buyers end up stressed...

Michael Belfor
Sep 31 min read


Mortgage Refinance for Divorce: Navigating Loan Changes Post-Divorce
Divorce can bring many financial challenges, and one of the most significant is deciding what to do with the family home. If you and your...

Michael Belfor
Sep 22 min read
Content by The Belfor Team, Mortgage Lender California
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