Sam Fickel, Mortgage Advisor. NMLS 1874259

05/13/2026

These might sound obvious, but you'd be surprised how often they happen!

In reality, none of these items are impossible to work through, as long as you consult with your mortgage lender prior to doing them. That way, we can guide you on how to navigate the process, and we can set proper expectations with everyone involved.

But I swear, if you do this stuff without giving your loan officer the heads up, ooooooh boyyyyy you're in for something special!

05/11/2026

VA loans are easily the most powerful loan products out there. Between the great rates, no down payment, no mortgage insurance, and a streamline refinance option, they provide the opportunity of homeownership to millions of veterans - myself included!

05/08/2026

05/06/2026

The official definition of a first time home buyer is "someone who as not held title to real property in the last 36 months". This means that:
-If you inherited property (and therefore hold title to it), you are NOT a first time buyer.
-If you bought a manufactured home in a park or rented lot, you can still be a first timer since that is not considered real property.
-If you've owned a home most of your life, but you've been renting since you sold your home 3 years ago, you are now a first time home buyer.

05/04/2026

A lot of folks have really good rates on their current homes. But when life happens and you need to move, what can you do if you don't want to lose that amazingly low rate?

Do what I did in 2023 - convert your home into a rental. You don't need to refinance or anything, and you can maximize cash flow while building equity. Don't want to deal with tenants? Just hire a property management company!

04/29/2026

Personally, I like to allocate my spending weekly. That way, if I want to add an extra hundred bucks a month, it's "only $25/week" that I can't spend on who-knows-what. This strategy makes goal setting much easier!

04/27/2026

Asset Depletion is one way to qualify for a loan without having income. It works by using a percentage of your available assets, usually retirement accounts, and "depleting" it over time, usually 240 months.

So if you have $2,000,000 in an IRA or 401(k), then that comes out to $8,333/month of qualifying income.

But if you have that much money available, why not just buy the house with cash?
That's certainly an option - but you may have to pay taxes on the funds you withdraw, and those funds will no longer grow with the stock market. The decision ultimately depends on what you're comfortable with, and how you want to structure your finances.

04/22/2026

I know, I know, *of course* I'm going to recommend that you reach out RIGHT NOW. Realistically though, there are a lot of benefits to being in contact with a loan officer sooner rather than later, and it can help set you up for a much smoother transaction down the line.