Aliya Piotrkowski Hanson Mortgage Advisor NMLS 2005001

10/27/2026

Not every loan is straightforward—and that’s exactly why product knowledge matters.

I recently closed a “rescue loan”: a transaction that had been unable to move forward with a large national bank.

There wasn’t anything wrong with the borrower. The challenge was finding the right way to structure the loan.

We took a fresh look at the file, identified a loan product that fit the scenario, and ultimately went from application to closing in 4 days.

That’s the part of mortgage lending I love.

Not forcing every borrower into the same box, but knowing enough products and guidelines to recognize when there may be another path.

Sometimes the best loan isn’t the one you started with. It’s the one your lender knows exists.



Sequence Mortgage

10/09/2026

Your California property tax bill just arrived… now what? 🏡📬

If you purchased a home recently, your property tax bill may look a little different. Most California counties can take 6–18 months to update the tax bill from the seller’s tax rate to your new assessed value.

Here’s what to do when that bill arrives:

🔸 If you pay property taxes separately, not included in your monthly mortgage payment: Pay the county directly through your county tax collector’s website. Keep a copy of the bill for your tax records!
🔹 If your property taxes are included in your mortgage payment: Check the top-right corner of your bill for the yellow box to see whether it was sent directly to your mortgage servicer.
🔹 If the bill was sent to your servicer: Great! They should pay it on your behalf. Keep a copy for your tax records.
🔹 If it’s a supplemental tax bill and therefore NOT sent to your mortgage servicer: Don’t ignore it! If your servicer sends you an escrow overage check, cash it and use the funds to pay the county directly. If you don’t receive a check, contact your servicer to review your escrow account and submit the bill for payment.

Property taxes can be confusing, especially in the first year or two after purchasing a home. This is one of the details we help our clients understand so there are fewer surprises after closing.

Save this post for tax season & share it with a new homeowner who might need it!

GetYourHomeInOrder

Sequence Mortgage

09/22/2026

Catching up on June fundings, and this month brought a little bit of everything.

✨ Three first-time homebuyers, each with a different path to homeownership.

🪴 A family who fell in love with our town and couldn’t wait to put down roots here – and that’s exactly what they did.

🍇 Buyers born and raised in Sonoma County who were thinking about the future of their family and what it meant to invest in the community they call home.

🤓 And another set of first-time buyers whose loan scenario required a little creativity. By taking the time to explore their options, we were able to position them for a more favorable interest rate.

💻 All three buyers utilized first-time homebuyer-specific programs—FHA, Fannie Mae 97%, and a below-AMI first-time buyer product. Their early education and willingness to plan ahead gave us the opportunity to explore the programs available and maximize the benefits of each.

Then we moved into our more experienced investors for the month.. ⏱️

🪎 Two HELOCs for move-up buyers, with two very different goals.
🐦‍🔥 One family was ready for a home that better fit their current needs and was able to leverage their existing equity to purchase their next home all cash.

💪🏼 Another homeowner leveraged the equity in their current residence to become a real estate investor, converting their existing home into an investment property while purchasing their next one.

🔨 And last but certainly not least, an experienced investor who found their perfect next project.

From first homes to next chapters to investment opportunities, June was a reminder that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to financing a home and that’s what keeps our jobs so fun. 🪩

Sequence Mortgage

09/16/2026

My favorite announcement of the year came early 📣

Sometimes, a small change in loan limits can make a big difference in how a home is financed. 🏦

The 2027 conforming loan limit is expected to increase to $845,000 for a single-unit property, up from $832,750.

We’re already able to lend within the anticipated limit ahead of FHFA’s official confirmation later this year.

Why does that matter?
Because the difference between conforming and jumbo financing isn’t always obvious until you’re right at that threshold.

Once a loan crosses into jumbo territory, there can be additional underwriting requirements, reserve requirements, and other guidelines to navigate. Staying within the conforming limit can offer a more straightforward financing path.

So, if your financing strategy for a particular home was just over the jumbo threshold last year, it may now qualify for conventional financing instead.

The buyer hasn’t changed. The home hasn’t changed. But the financing options might have.

And for sellers, this could mean something important: if your home is currently listed in the high 800s - low 1M, you’ve potentially just opened the door to a new pool of buyers who may not have qualified for the property under the previous loan limits.

If you’re working with a buyer or seller whose numbers fall somewhere near that line, it’s worth taking another look. 👀 🏡

08/04/2026

Still catching up on May fundings… embarrassingly late, but these three were too good not to share. 🏡❤️

To round out the month:

✨ A little Petaluma small-town magic. These buyers fell in love with Petaluma and knew they had to be here. After selling their previous home out of town, the timing couldn’t have been better — their agent found them an off-market gem. And in true small-town fashion, I got the address for their pre-approval and immediately recognized it… it was a home I had helped a first-time buyer purchase a few years ago. Full circle moments like this are one of the best parts of this business. Wishing these buyers all the best as they call Petaluma home and to the sellers, we will miss you here in town but we are so excited for you to find your next adventure in SoCal.
🐴 Finding the right place for the whole family. These buyers were searching far and wide for the perfect property — not just for themselves, but also for their horses. The perfect horse property with the perfect home can be hard to come by but, Kent + Sandoval Team - Compass, their agent, found the one, and we were thrilled to help make the financing work for a property that checked all the boxes.
🌿 Putting down roots in Petaluma. These first-time buyers were determined to make Petaluma home, and their agent secured them a fantastic deal that worked beautifully with their particular financing needs. They couldn’t be happier — and we couldn’t be happier for them.

Three very different purchases, three very different paths to homeownership, and a whole lot of collaboration behind the scenes.

May may be in the rearview mirror, but these wins are worth celebrating. 🥂



Sequence Mortgage

07/19/2026

5.0 star review received on Experience.com for Aliya Hanson by Brooke N L - Aliya made the experience great handsdown. We would certainly want to work with Aliya again in the future should we be looking for a new home.

Click to see all 232 reviews of Aliya Hanson, Mortgage Advisor | NMLS # 2005001

07/09/2026

5.0 star review received on Experience.com for Aliya Hanson by Max W L - Excellent communicator. Works with a sense of urgency. Highly skilled. able to quickly pivot to navigate challengea quickly and effectively as they came at us. Aliya will be my first call if we ever buy another home or need financing related to a home in the future.

Click to see all 231 reviews of Aliya Hanson, Mortgage Advisor | NMLS # 2005001

07/07/2026

5.0 star review received on Experience.com for Aliya Hanson by Marcus M - Communication!!

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06/30/2026

5.0 star review received on Experience.com for Aliya Hanson by Jennifer M - She was very helpful with our many questions .

Click to see all 229 reviews of Aliya Hanson, Mortgage Advisor | NMLS # 2005001

06/28/2026

5.0 star review received on Experience.com for Aliya Hanson by Julia R - Aliya is always wonderful to work with.

Click to see all 228 reviews of Aliya Hanson, Mortgage Advisor | NMLS # 2005001