Baron O'Brien- National Business Development Manager

10/19/2026

The fun part of buying a home is scrolling the listings. The useful part is knowing what you're looking at before you fall in love with one. A little preparation upfront can mean fewer surprises later, especially when it comes to your budget, upfront costs and the people helping you through the process.
And when something doesn't make sense? Ask.

Save this before your first showing, and share it with someone who's officially in house-hunting mode.



First Time Home Buyer Tips | Home Buying Process | Earnest Money | Mortgage Pre-Approval | Homeowners Insurance | Home Inspection | Mortgage Lender | Home Loans | First Time Home Buyer | Homebuyer Education | Mortgage Tips | Home Buying Tips | Homeownership | Mortgage Education | Home Loan Programs | Real Estate | PRMG

10/15/2026

10/14/2026

You don't have to know what the market will do next to start understanding your options. You can look at what you can control: your budget, your financing options, potential assistance, and what you're comfortable with. That doesn't mean buying is right for everyone or that you need to make a decision today.
It just means you don't have to wait for a perfect market to get informed.

Save this for later, and send it to someone who's been waiting for the market to change.



Should I Wait to Buy a House | Down Payment Assistance | Seller Contributions | Homebuying Options | Mortgage Rates | Mortgage Lender | Home Loans | First Time Home Buyer | Homebuyer Education | Mortgage Tips | Home Buying Tips | Homeownership | Mortgage Education | Home Loan Programs | Real Estate | PRMG

10/12/2026

You made it under contract!

Now is probably not the time to make big financial moves without talking to your loan officer first. Things that seem completely unrelated to your mortgage can sometimes change the financial picture your loan was based on.

When you're this close to closing, a quick question can be worth making.

Save this until closing day, and send it to someone who's under contract right now.



Before Closing Tips | Mortgage Approval | What Not to Do Before Closing | Underwriting | Closing Day | Mortgage Lender | Home Loans | First Time Home Buyer | Homebuyer Education | Mortgage Tips | Home Buying Tips | Homeownership | Mortgage Education | Home Loan Programs | Real Estate | PRMG

10/07/2026

The home appraisal is getting a makeover this fall, and it's worth knowing about.

The report itself is changing. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which back many conventional loans, are rolling out a new appraisal format called UAD 3.6. It adapts to the type of property being appraised, pairs photos directly with the details they support, and replaces shorthand codes with plain-language descriptions, meaning a clearer, more detailed report for everyone involved in the transaction.

Here's the timeline. PRMG started ordering appraisals in the new format for standard conventional loans on October 1, 2026, ahead of the requirement. Appraisals for those loans are required to use UAD 3.6 starting November 2, 2026.

For your buyers and sellers, there's nothing extra they need to do. The appraisal will be ordered in whatever format the loan requires. What's worth flagging to your clients: they'll typically get a copy of the appraisal, and the new format is designed to make it easier to see how the value was actually determined, which can help head off a confused call after the report lands.

If a deal in your pipeline is moving toward an appraisal, happy to walk through what to expect under the new format before it gets ordered.

Save this and share it with a buyer or seller who has questions about how the appraisal process works.

Follow for more on what's changing in the mortgage process.

10/06/2026

Here's a question worth asking before you fall in love with a house:

What do I want my monthly budget to feel like? A pre-approval can help you understand what's potentially possible. But your life has to fit around your housing payment, not the other way around.

The biggest number you're approved for doesn't have to be your goal.

Save this before you start house hunting, and send it to someone getting pre-approved.



Mortgage Pre-Approval | Home Buying Budget | How Much House Can I Afford | Monthly Mortgage Payment | Cost of Homeownership | Mortgage Lender | Home Loans | First Time Home Buyer | Homebuyer Education | Mortgage Tips | Home Buying Tips | Homeownership | Mortgage Education | Home Loan Programs | Real Estate | PRMG

09/30/2026

Your parents may have a very different mortgage story than the one you're seeing today.

Different rates. Different home prices. Different down payments. Different buying conditions.

So if you've ever heard, “We bought our house for $___!” and thought, “Well… that doesn't help me today 😂” — you're not wrong.

The market changes. The numbers change. And your strategy should be based on today's market and your goals, not your parents' experience.

Save this one for the next time someone says, “Back in our day…”



parents mortgage | mortgage then vs now | home buying | mortgage rates | first time homebuyer

09/29/2026

Housing headlines can make it feel like you need to make a decision based on what the entire country is doing.

But your homebuying decision is personal.

Your income. Your credit. Your budget. Your location. Your timeline.

Use the headlines for context, but don't let them make the decision for you.



Housing Market | Mortgage Rates | Home Buying | Real Estate Market | Mortgage Education

09/24/2026

Hometown Hero Credit Program – Up to $21,000 in Assistance!

09/24/2026

If you've been refreshing mortgage news every day trying to figure out when it's the “right” time to buy...

The market is going to keep moving.

What matters most is understanding your numbers, your options and your timeline.

Don't let a headline make a decision that should be based on your financial situation.



Mortgage Rates | Housing Market | Home Buying | Mortgage Tips | Homeownership