Buying a House?

Free Credit Report – Annual Credit Report
Free Annual Credit Report UPDATE REGARDING YOUR FREE CREDIT REPORT: During these times of COVID-19, accessing your credit is important. That’s why Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion are now offering free weekly online reports through April 2021. Step 1 of How to Buy a House is to check your credit. But, even if you’re not buying […]

How Much House Can I Afford? Insider Tips and Home Affordability Calculator
‘How Much House Can I Afford?'(The Definitive Guide)Home Affordability Calculator Reveals what a Lender thinks you can afford AND how much House You can Afford based on what you Want to Pay per month.*Updated with 2017 Industry Rules/Guidelines*Buying a house? The first question is to determine how much you can reasonably afford. That is a […]

Low Down Payment and First Time Home Buyer Programs 2019 Edition
100% FHA! Conventional 1% down mortgage + 2% down payment assistance! What are Low Down Payment, First Time Home Buyer Programs 2019? First Time Home Buyer Programs 2019 Edition What are the low down payment mortgage and first time home buyer programs available in 2019? VA still offers 100%, zero-down financing. But what if you’re not […]
Buying a House - Mortgage Calculators:
Mortgage Payment Calculator (Our Most Popular Mortgage Calculator)
Use this mortgage calculator to determine your monthly mortgage principal, interest, taxes and insurance payment (PITI) and amortization schedule.
Mortgage Affordability Calculator
Wondering ' How much mortgage can I qualify for ?' and ' How much house can I afford ?' This mortgage calculator helps answer those questions!
Mortgage Qualification Calculator
Use this mortgage calculator as your first step in determining your ability to qualify for a loan.
Down Payment Calculator
Create a savings plan towards your home purchase. Discover down payment required for FHA Loan, VA Home Loan, USDA Loans, and a Conventional Loan.
First Time Home Buyer - Should I Rent or Buy a Home? - Buy vs. Rent Calculator
Should I buy or rent? As a First Time Home Buyer, it's often difficult to decide whether to Rent or Buy. This Buy vs. Rent Calculator helps make the decision easier.
First and Second Mortgage Calculator
The First and Second Mortgage Calculator calculates the effective interest rate of a first and second mortgage. Combining mortgages can be a useful strategy, find out if it makes financial sense.
Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction Calculator
Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction Mortgage Calculator and IRS Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction pamphlet - Calculate the savings from Mortgage Interest & Mortgage Points.
Rental Property Calculator
An income property can be an excellent investment. This Rental Property Calculator is designed to examine the potential return you might receive from an income property.
Costs involved with Buying a House:
Home Buyers Closing Cost Calculator
Use this Closing Cost Calculator to help estimate the total cost of buying a house.
Home Buying Articles

Free First Time Home Buyer Class MN – Online Options! – Upcoming Classes!
First Time Home Buyer Class MN Upcoming First Time Home Buyer Classes in Minnesota: Please click on the Class Name for More Information and to Register for the First Time Home Buyer Class MN: Monday, May 22nd, 2023 – 6:30 – 8:30 PM – Minneapolis Community Education Class – Mortgage Financing: An In-Depth Look at The […]

Buy a Home with just 1% Down? Yes with the 1% Down Mortgage!
1% Down Mortgage It’s back! As of April 12th, 2023, the Buy a Home with 1% Down! You have 1%, the lender contributes 2%, giving you 3% Equity at closing-Available w/No monthly Mortgage Insurance option is back!! This program is only available for a limited time, so contact your local mortgage broker MLS Mortgage today! […]
How To Get Your Offer Accepted – 12 Strategies for a Sellers’ Market
We have a Mortgage / Real Estate Question and Answer weekly, today’s question was: ‘Some things that you can do to help your offer stand out among the other offers is?’ Great question! How To Get Your Offer Accepted That is a very relevant question in today’s hot sellers’ market! So today we’re going to […]

Mortgage Insurance – Who needs it?
Who needs Mortgage Insurance? If you’re buying a house with less than 20% down payment, the answer is YOU. Mortgage Insurance is often abbreviated in the industry as “MI”. Some conforming home loans with less than 20% down do offer “No MI” or Lender-Paid MI. That option can be advantageous if you only plan to be […]

House Hack – How To Live Rent Free and Become Rich – New Class
House Hack How to Live Rent Free on Your Terms Hack your way into Home-Ownership and Financial Freedom with this new online House Hack Class. House Hacks Class Description: “Your home is said to be your biggest investment. In reality housing is likely your biggest expense. House Hacks will explore ways to “Hack” your current […]

Loan Max VA & Conforming Loan Limits 2021
Loan Max – VA Loan Limits and Conforming Loan Limits Loan Max Updated and Increased for 2021 – although the US Department of Veteran Affairs does not set a limit for VA Home Loans – most lenders do set limits and the VA Home Loan limits match Conforming Loan Limits. See VA Loan Benefits. Conforming Loans […]

How Much is a Down Payment on a House? – Do you have enough?
How much is a down payment on a house? That varies whether you are a First Time Home Buyer, repeat buyer, or qualify for any unique loan programs. For many people, the minimum is 3% of the purchase price with a Conventional Loan (up to your Conforming Loan Limits) or 3.5% for a FHA Loan […]

What is an Appraisal on a House?
What is an Appraisal on a House? A home appraisal is used to determine the value of a house. It starts with a professional appraiser evaluating the home’s: Size Features Overall condition Additional considerations include: The Neighborhood What Similar Homes in the area have sold for in the past six months The home’s replacement cost […]
5 Mortgage Pre-Approval Tips to Get You Into Your Dream Home
5 Mortgage Pre-Approval Tips to Get You Into Your Dream Home Buying a home to call your own is a common financial goal among most adults. Home-ownership represents different things to different people. For many, it offers a sound strategy for accumulating wealth, while setting a steady foundation for the future. Purchasing a home is […]

Low Down Payment and First Time Home Buyer Programs 2019 Edition
100% FHA! Conventional 1% down mortgage + 2% down payment assistance! What are Low Down Payment, First Time Home Buyer Programs 2019? First Time Home Buyer Programs 2019 Edition What are the low down payment mortgage and first time home buyer programs available in 2019? VA still offers 100%, zero-down financing. But what if you’re not […]

How to Be Offered the Best Mortgage Rates
How to Be Offered the Best Mortgage Rates “Am I being offered the best mortgage rates?” As a Mortgage Loan Originator, I’ve had my share of that question. I also know it’s not a simple answer. Companies can’t guarantee they have the best mortgage interest rates. However, there are ways to improve your likelihood of being […]

18 Interview Questions to Ask a REALTOR ® (Real Estate Agent)
Selecting the right Real Estate Agent for you can be difficult. Below is a list of 18 interview questions to ask a REALTOR ®. Utilizing some or all of these questions during the interview will help you determine which Real Estate Agent is a good fit for you. 18 Interview Questions to Ask a REALTOR® […]
Buying a House – Glossary
Buying a House?
Our Home Buyers are Saying:

"When I bought my first home, Shel helped me finance it. I had lots of questions that she was quick to respond to. Since her company is a broker, she shopped around with different lenders for the best rate and found me the best program for my situation. When rates dropped, I refinanced with her and even though my credit was not perfect at the time, I still got a great rate."