Ben King, Gershman Mortgage

11/02/2026

I get asked all the time what the difference is between a home inspection and an appraisal. They sound similar, but they do very different jobs.

An inspection is for you. An inspector looks at the condition of the house: the roof, foundation, plumbing, electrical, furnace and more. It's how you find out what you're really buying.

An appraisal is for the loan. An appraiser estimates what the home is worth based on its condition and comparable sales nearby, so the lender knows the price is supported.

A house can appraise just fine and still have problems an inspection would catch. That's why I'd never skip the inspection just because the appraisal came back good.

Ben King | Loan Officer
M: 417-849-1782 | W: bking.gershman.com

10/26/2026

A lot of people worry about their credit without knowing what actually drives it.

The biggest factors are pretty simple:

Paying on time. This matters most.
How much of your available credit you're using. Lower balances compared to your limits usually help.
How long you've had credit.
New accounts and recent applications.

A few other things worth knowing: checking your own credit doesn't hurt your score. And paying off a card is usually better than closing it, since closing it can lower your available credit.

If you're thinking about buying in the next year or so, the best thing you can do is keep payments on time and avoid opening new accounts right before you apply.

Ben King | Loan Officer
M: 417-849-1782 | W: bking.gershman.com

10/19/2026

When people estimate a house payment online, they usually only look at the loan itself. That's where a lot of surprises come from.

Most mortgage payments are made up of four main pieces:

Principal: the amount that pays down your loan
Interest: the cost of borrowing
Property taxes
Homeowners insurance

Depending on your loan and down payment, there may also be mortgage insurance or HOA dues.

Taxes and insurance are often collected monthly and held in an escrow account, then paid when the bills come due. That's also why your payment can change from year to year even with a fixed rate.

Know the whole number before you fall in love with a house.

Ben King | Loan Officer
M: 417-849-1782 | W: bking.gershman.com

10/12/2026

Before I talk about a house payment with anyone, I like to talk about what their month actually looks like right now.

Not the budget on paper. The real one. Groceries, gas, the truck payment, the kids' activities, the subscriptions nobody remembers signing up for.

It's not about judging anyone's spending. It's about knowing what you're working with. When you can see where your money goes, it gets a lot easier to figure out what payment makes sense and what would leave you stretched.

The number that matters isn't the biggest one you can get approved for. It's the one that still works on a normal month.

Ben King | Loan Officer
M: 417-849-1782 | W: bking.gershman.com

09/26/2026

09/22/2026

🍂🎃 500 FOLLOWERS + A NEW PACKAGE + FIRST DAY OF FALL GIVEAWAY! 🎃🍂

We have THREE exciting things to celebrate today: the official first day of fall, hitting 500 followers, AND the launch of our newest package: The Petite! 🤎

The support The Seasonal Collective has received since launching has meant more to us than we can say. Every follow, share, comment, booking and kind word has helped our little business grow, so we want to celebrate by giving one of YOU a fall porch transformation on us!

✨ ONE WINNER will receive The Petite Porch Styling Package — a $175 value! ✨

TO ENTER:

🍂 Like/follow The Seasonal Collective
🎃 Like + share this post
🤎 Tag TWO friends in the comments who love fall as much as you do!

That’s it!

Our brand new Petite Package features a hand selected collection of beautiful heirloom pumpkins, professionally delivered and styled to give your entryway an elevated touch of fall without you having to lift a finger… or a pumpkin. 🎃✨

It’s perfect for smaller porches, entryways, or anyone who wants a beautifully styled fall moment on a smaller scale.

We are SO grateful for the way our community has welcomed The Seasonal Collective. Thank you for allowing us to bring a little more fall magic to the Ozarks. 🤎

🍂 Winner announced 9/28!

Good luck & HAPPY FIRST DAY OF FALL, Y’ALL! 🎃🤎

This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook or Instagram. *Hay bale is not included in the giveaway but can be purchased separately.

09/21/2026

I think one of the most helpful things we can do for buyers is talk about what happens after they get the keys.

Because your mortgage payment isn’t the only number worth planning for.

There are utilities, maintenance, repairs, lawn care, maybe higher insurance costs, and all those little purchases that come with moving into a new place.

You don’t need a massive emergency fund or a perfect budget to own a home. But I do think it’s smart to leave yourself some breathing room.

Getting into the house matters but being able to comfortably live there matters just as much.

Ben King | Loan Officer
M: 417-849-1782 | W: bking.gershman.com

09/20/2026

09/16/2026

With rates increasing the past couple of months, some sellers may be willing to buy your rate down for you. Julie Hayward with Exp and I sat down for a little discussion about it. If you would like more info reach out to me