Christie Mitsumura - Mason McDuffie Mortgage Corp.

09/16/2026

A home can look ready for your move while the legal and financing timeline says otherwise.

If tenants already occupy the property, the lease may continue after the sale. At the same time, an owner occupied loan may have requirements about when the buyer must move in.

That overlap needs to be understood before the offer, not discovered after it.

Review the lease.

Confirm the loan requirements with your mortgage professional.

Ask a qualified local attorney about tenant rights and removal timelines.



– Send this to someone considering a tenant occupied property.

• owner occupied mortgage

09/15/2026

A name change usually does not stop a mortgage.

What can slow things down is when your documents make it look like two different people are applying.

Maybe your driver’s license has your married name, your bank account still has your maiden name, and last year’s W2 has the old one.

That is not automatically a problem.

But your lender may need to connect the dots.

Depending on what shows up in your file, you could be asked for something like a marriage certificate, court ordered name change, updated identification, or a simple explanation showing why the names are different.

One thing I would check early is where your money is coming from.

If the bank account you are using for your down payment or closing costs is still under your previous name, tell your lender before underwriting starts digging through statements.

Same goes for payroll.

If your paystub shows one name but your ID shows another, it is much easier to address that early than after someone asks for clarification three days before closing.

The goal is not to make every document identical overnight.

The goal is to make your paper trail easy to follow.

Recently married or changed your name?

Before you apply, pull out your ID, latest paystub, W2, bank statements and purchase documents and see whether the names line up.

A five minute check now can save a very annoying email chain later.

Save this for mortgage prep.

Send it to the newlywed who is already changing their name everywhere.



— If we haven’t met yet, I’m Christie, your go-to mortgage broker in Hawaii serving you coast to coast.

09/14/2026

Here are seven moves I want buyers to pause before closing:

1️⃣ Applying for new financing

2️⃣ Missing a payment

3️⃣ Closing a credit account

4️⃣ Making a large purchase

5️⃣ Cosigning for someone

6️⃣ Starting a new credit dispute

7️⃣ Moving balances in a way that changes the credit picture

Not every change ruins a loan.

The problem is making the change before your mortgage professional can explain how it may affect the file.

Save this list and keep the money picture boring until the keys are yours.

• what not to do before closing

09/13/2026

Some of the best mortgage work is invisible.

It is the deposit explained before it becomes a question. The document updated before it expires. The debt discovered before an offer is written.

A buyer may never see the problem because someone was looking for it early.

That is the kind of quiet preparation that protects a closing.

09/13/2026

Some of the best mortgage work is invisible.

It is the deposit explained before it becomes a question. The document updated before it expires. The debt discovered before an offer is written.

A buyer may never see the problem because someone was looking for it early.

That is the kind of quiet preparation that protects a closing.

09/13/2026

09/09/2026

If your lease ends next spring, the renewal notice can become the deadline that makes the decision for you.

Before you tour anything, open your lease and write down:

1️⃣ The exact lease end date.

2️⃣ The date your non renewal notice is due and how it must be delivered.

3️⃣ The cost and rules for going month to month or ending the lease early.

4️⃣ Your target closing window.

5️⃣ Your backup plan if closing moves.

Then choose your overlap plan:

OPTION A: A short overlap may mean paying rent and a mortgage around the same time, but it gives you breathing room to move and absorb a delayed closing.

OPTION B: Little or no overlap reduces duplicate housing expense, but it requires a backup place to stay and a moving plan that does not depend on a perfect closing date.

OPTION C: A month to month bridge can create flexibility when the lease allows it. Confirm the new rent, notice requirement, and minimum stay first.

Now make the decision with four numbers:

• Your maximum full monthly housing payment.

• Your lender’s estimated cash to close.

• The cash needed outside closing for inspections, moving, utility setup, and any planned overlap.

• The minimum savings you refuse to spend.

Ask your MLO to price the home using the full monthly payment, including principal, interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance when applicable, and HOA dues.

If one of those four numbers is missing, the plan is not ready yet.

Save this for later.

Send it to someone who needs to see this.

09/08/2026

Ask your lender these four questions 👇

1. What is the annual percentage rate?

It is easy to focus only on the interest rate, but the APR gives you a better look at the total cost of the loan because it includes the rate plus certain fees.

When comparing lenders, compare the APR too.

2. Can I make payments every two weeks?

Paying half of your monthly payment every two weeks adds up to 13 fullpayments each year instead of 12. That extra payment can help you pay down your mortgage faster and save on interest.

If your lender does not offer this option, ask whether you can make extra principal payments on your own.

3. Do you offer mortgage recasting, and what does it cost?

Recasting allows you to put a lump sum toward your mortgage balance. Your lender then recalculates the loan, which can lower your monthly payment.

This may be helpful if you have extra cash to put toward the loan but refinancing does not make sense. Just remember that not every lender offers it.

4. Can you send me a full closing cost estimate with every fee listed?

This helps you see exactly what you are being charged. It also makes it much easier to compare lenders, ask questions, and possibly negotiate a better deal.

Bonus question:

5. Do you have relationships with listing agents in the Hawaii area?

A lender with a strong local reputation can help make your offer feel more dependable. If the listing agent knows your lender communicates well and closes loans on time, that extra confidence could help in a competitive situation.

The right lender should be happy to answer all of these questions.

Save this before your next lender conversation.



mortgage questions to ask🤓

09/07/2026

Labor Day always feels like summer’s deep breath.

The patios are still full, the grills are still going, and families are squeezing in one more afternoon enjoying the day.

The days may be getting shorter, but there is still time for one more sunset, one more backyard dinner, and one more evening that lasts longer than planned.

This weekend is not only about saying goodbye to summer.

It is about slowing down long enough to enjoy what is still here.

What ordinary moment from this summer do you already know you’ll miss?

09/06/2026

You can admire the destination.

You can picture the kitchen.

You can even decide where the couch will go.

But without a financing plan, you are still standing at the airport without a ticket. 😉