Help Me BA

06/02/2026

Mortgage Story 2 – Penn State has a saying, “One Team,” which means no matter what sport you play, we are one family. About four years ago, my friend Lisa, who had to endure cheering for me and my average game at PSU, without asking for hazard pay, reached out to me. Yes, for those that don’t know, cheerleaders are athletes. She saw on Facebook that I had moved to The Gulf Coast of Florida, and mentioned she and her husband Steve vacation in Siesta Key from Pittsburgh every winter. So, I went down that year to reconnect, and had a ball. Lisa and I picked up where we left off in college like the years hadn’t passed. I visited them again the next year. Cut to last winter, and they decided they were going to try St. Petersburg for their winter vacation. I was hoping all the great things I said about StP over the previous two years swayed them a little, but it was actually Rick Springfield playing at The Mahaffey blocks from our hood. I connected them with my “Cruise Directors,” Laura and Jeff, who rented one of their AirBnB’s to my Pittsburgh crew. They were here for 3 weeks, and I think I saw them twice, which told me they had jumped into our vibe with both feet. They called several times for dinner suggestions, and this being a foodie town, they may or may not have said, “That was the best _____ we’ve ever had,” a couple times. Yes, it was a pleasure assisting them with their mortgage, but more importantly, I am so happy that they are as happy with their new home as I am. Red Bull high-diving at The Pier this weekend!!! Thanks Rob Eanell of Reynolds Realty Gulf Coast, and Roy Fillyaw of Smith and Associates Real Estate, it was a pleasure working with you and your teams.
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06/02/2026

Mortgage Story – Penn State has a saying, “One Team,” which means, no matter what sport you play at PSU, we are one family. Several years back, through Matt Woolley, I was reconnected with Dr Nigel Sparks to handle his home purchase in State College. While his lovely bride did all the heavy lifting, Nigel did intercede at the right moment when things got things could have gone sideways. When I first started in this business 20+ years ago, I went around asking my Realtor friends what they hated about people who did what I did for a living. Communication was the overwhelmingly the answer. So, as best I can, I try to make sure Realtors do not have to call me asking me what is going on with a loan. Nigel was as agreeable as they come, but had the gift of keeping it real, when keeping it real was necessary. He was the perfect client at the perfect time, to let me know he had my back. We lost Nigel last fall, but I am so happy I was able to chop it up again with one of the young Thundercats from PSU Soccer, who ended up teaching me something I still access today. Much love to Sarah for her steadiness throughout what ended up being an unconventional transaction. Finally a tip of the cap to Sandy and Nic Stover, Krissy Bonson, and Paul Confer for orchestrating a long but smooth process.

Book a Strategy call: https://bit.ly/MeetWithBA
Call/text: 814.777.0757
More Educational Content: https://youtube.com/

06/01/2026

Life changes. Priorities shift. Families grow. Kids move out. Careers evolve. And eventually, the house you’re in may stop fitting the life you’re living.

If that’s been weighing on you lately, let’s talk through what your options could realistically look like today, no matter where rates or prices are.

Life can’t always wait for perfect market conditions. Maybe you don’t have to either.

You may be telling yourself you’re going to wait to move – maybe you’re hoping mortgage rates will come down, prices will fall, or the market will feel a little easier.

05/30/2026

First Time Homebuyer Myth - You need 20% to put down.

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05/29/2026

A lot of people have been waiting for rates to drop or prices to come down before making a move. But the reality is, sometimes life changes before the market does.
A growing family.
An empty nest.
A new job.
Retirement.
Needing to be closer to loved ones.

Those are the real reasons 1 in 5 buyers last year said they felt like they had to move, no matter the market. Because life doesn't wait for the timing to be perfect.

And if that’s where you are right now, you can still move. You may even have more options than you think. You just need someone who can help you find them.

05/28/2026

Yes, rates have been volatile, and global instability is keeping them from settling down anytime soon. There’s no sugar coating that. But the full picture of affordability is more nuanced than the headlines suggest.

Want to run the real numbers for your situation? Let's talk. Reach out and let's set up a quick, no-pressure conversation.

Let's be real with each other for a second about affordability.

05/27/2026

After a year or more of rates coming down, things have changed. And lately, mortgage rates have been climbing again.

And if that's made you wonder whether you should delay your move until they drop, you're not the only one.

The honest truth is that rates probably won't come down much until inflation cools off and some of the global uncertainty settles. And no one knows exactly when that'll be.

But what most headlines won't tell you is that rates aren't the only thing that affects affordability. Sure, they’re a big factor, but not all of the affordability news is bad.

Wages, home prices, and inventory are all trending in a direction that could still help make your move possible.

Want to know what that actually looks like for your situation? Drop a comment or send me a DM.

Because even though rates are higher, there are pockets of opportunity in any market, if you know where to look.

05/25/2026

VA home loans can put homeownership within reach, and a trusted lender can help make sure you understand the details before you move forward. If you’re active duty, you’ve served, or know someone who has, connect with a trusted lender who can walk you through whether you’d qualify and what the VA benefit offers. You may be able to buy a home sooner than you thought.

Nearly half of Veterans (49%) feel homeownership is currently out of reach, according to a recent survey from NewDay USA.

05/22/2026

Builder incentives and lower new home prices are working to your advantage in a way they haven't in years. Want to see what's available in your area and what kind of deal a builder may be willing to make? Let's connect.

If you’ve always assumed a newly built home is just not in your budget, you should know the math just got a little friendlier.