Stephanie Barritt - Barritt Mortgage Architects

11/04/2026

That mortgage renewal letter shows up, the rate looks reasonable, and signing it would take about 30 seconds.

Before you do… compare it.

Your current lender’s offer is only one option, and the easiest option isn’t always the best fit for your next mortgage term.

Before putting pen to paper:

📌 Compare the rate with what else is available
📌 Look at the term, penalties, and prepayment privileges
📌 Think about whether your plans have changed since your last term
📌 Ask your lender if there’s a better offer available
📌 Explore whether switching lenders could make sense

You don’t have to leave your current lender. Sometimes staying is absolutely the right choice.

But another five-year term is a big commitment to make just because a renewal letter landed in your inbox.

If yours is coming up, send me a message before you sign. Let’s make sure you know what your options are.

11/03/2026

Mortgage renewal coming up? Don’t treat that renewal letter like a form you just need to sign.

Your renewal is actually one of the best opportunities to check in on your mortgage and make sure it still works for you.

A lot can change over one mortgage term. Your income might be different. Your monthly budget may have changed. Maybe you want more flexibility, plan to move soon, or finally want to start paying your mortgage down faster.

So before you renew, look at the whole picture.

Compare rates and terms. Check your prepayment options and penalties. Think about what you want the next few years to look like. And see what other lenders have available before automatically accepting your current lender’s offer.

You may end up staying exactly where you are, and that’s completely fine. The goal is simply to know you’re choosing it because it’s the right fit, not because it was the easiest box to check.

Renewal coming up? Send me a message and let’s review your options before you sign.

10/30/2026

Halloween is almost here, so let’s talk about the actually scary parts of buying a home 🎃

Is it the mountain of paperwork that somehow needs another signature every five minutes?

The bidding war where you’re trying to stay calm while also really wanting the house?

Or waiting for the inspection results and hoping there aren’t any expensive surprises hiding behind the walls?

Buying a home definitely comes with a few nerve-racking moments, but knowing what to expect (and having the right people in your corner) can make the whole thing feel a lot less scary.

So, which one gets your vote: paperwork, bidding wars, or inspection results?

10/29/2026

A lower mortgage rate doesn’t always tell you the full story.

The interest rate is the rate used to calculate the interest you’ll pay on the money you borrow.

The APR (Annual Percentage Rate) goes a step further. It’s designed to give you a broader picture of the cost of borrowing by factoring in the interest rate along with certain applicable fees and charges.

That’s why you might see a mortgage advertised with one interest rate and a slightly different APR.

When you’re comparing mortgage options, looking at the rate is important, but so are the fees, terms, penalties, and flexibility that come with it.

The lowest number on the page isn’t automatically the best mortgage for you.

Comparing mortgage options? Send me a message and let’s look at the whole picture, not just the rate.

10/28/2026

What if buying a home meant taking over the seller’s mortgage instead of starting a brand-new one?

That’s essentially how an assumable mortgage works.

If the seller’s mortgage allows it, a buyer may be able to take over the remaining mortgage balance, interest rate, and terms. This can be especially interesting when the seller has a lower rate than what’s currently available.

But it’s not as simple as swapping names on the paperwork.

The lender still needs to approve the new borrower, and the buyer needs to qualify. You’ll also need to account for the difference between the purchase price and the mortgage balance, which could mean bringing a larger down payment or arranging additional financing.

And not every mortgage is assumable, so the existing mortgage terms matter.

If you come across a home with an assumable mortgage, it’s worth looking at the numbers before deciding whether it’s actually a good deal.

Have questions about assuming a mortgage? Send me a message and let’s look at how it could work.

10/28/2026

10/28/2026

If you opened an FHSA this year, consider this your reminder to check your contributions before December gets busy.

A First Home Savings Account is designed to help eligible first-time home buyers save for a home while getting some pretty useful tax benefits: contributions are generally tax-deductible, and qualifying withdrawals for a first home are tax-free.

You can generally contribute up to $8,000 per year, with a $40,000 lifetime limit.

And here’s an important detail: FHSA contribution room only starts accumulating once you’ve actually opened the account. Unused room can be carried forward, subject to the FHSA carry-forward rules.

So if you opened one this year but haven’t contributed the full amount, now is a good time to check where you stand and decide what makes sense before year-end.

Saving for your first home? Send me a message and let’s talk about how your down payment plan fits into the bigger mortgage picture.

10/27/2026

Not every mortgage success story starts with an approval.

In this case, the client wanted to buy, but their credit score was standing in the way. Instead of applying over and over or assuming homeownership wasn’t an option, the focus shifted to what could realistically change over the next 12 months.

The plan was simple: make every payment on time, bring down revolving balances, avoid unnecessary new credit, and give their credit history time to reflect those better habits.

It wasn’t an overnight fix. But month by month, their credit profile got stronger.

A year later, they were in a much better position to apply, and this time, they were able to get approved.

Sometimes the best mortgage advice isn’t “let’s apply.” It’s “let’s make a plan so you’re in a stronger position when you do.”

If your credit is holding you back from buying, send me a message. A “not yet” doesn’t always mean “not possible.”

10/23/2026

We’re officially into the last quarter of the year 🍂

Three months left to make some progress on those homeownership goals you had back in January… or maybe the ones you picked up somewhere along the way.

You don’t have to completely cross the goal off the list by December 31. Making progress counts too.

So, what’s one homeownership or financial goal you’d love to finish (or get closer to) before the year ends?

10/22/2026

Before December gets busy, October is a good time for homeowners to do a little financial housekeeping.

Nothing complicated. Just a quick look at where things stand and whether there’s anything you want to tackle before the year wraps up.

A few things worth reviewing:

📌 Your current mortgage balance, rate, and renewal date
📌 Any higher-interest debt you’ve been working to pay down
📌 Your emergency savings and upcoming home expenses
📌 Whether you have unused prepayment privileges
📌 Any renovations or larger expenses you’re considering next year
📌 Your financial goals for the year ahead

You might decide everything looks good and there’s nothing to change. Or you might spot something that’s worth addressing now instead of carrying it into another year.

If your mortgage is part of what you’d like to review, send me a message. We can look at where things stand and what options make sense heading into the new year.