Fairway Independent Mortgage - Jeremy Schachter & Zac White

05/07/2026

Is a larger down payment needed? Our very own Jeremy Schachter talked to CBS National News.

A big down payment can make a lot of sense in certain situations, but it's not the right move for homebuyer.

05/02/2026

Our very own Jeremy Schachter talked to CNBC about the current situation with the Iran War and how it affects mortgages.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Schachter, branch manager at Fairway Independent Mortgage, a national mortgage lender based in Madison, Wis., is processing applications as usual but does fear a longer economic shock from the war could result in a credit contraction like the one experienced during Covid. “When there is instability in the world for a long period of time, lenders do tighten up their guidelines as well as their risk tolerance,” Schachter said.

During Covid, lenders started implementing stricter guidelines, especially in the jumbo mortgage arena. Investors started having higher credit score requirements, more documentation for stability of income as well as more verifications, he said.

The U.S.-Iran war and Strait of Hormuz closure have caused a global economic ripple effect, your credit score included as banks and lenders get tighter.

04/09/2026

Halt payments on your landlord's mortgage... commence creating your own wealth.

04/09/2026

Our very own Fairway Independent Mortgage - Jeremy Schachter & Zac White talked to CBS News on some mortgage traps to avoid this Spring.

One mortgage loan trap you might encounter is a no-closing-cost mortgage. These mortgage loans can sound appealing because closing costs run 2% to 5% of the loan amount. But not so fast, says Jeremy Schachter, branch manager at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation.

"With a 'no cost option,' you pay a higher rate for the lender to pay for your costs," Schachter says.

While minimizing closing costs could be beneficial, a higher mortgage rate of 6.75% to 7% may cost you significantly more over the life of your loan. Accepting a higher rate might have made sense one year ago because rates were expected to drop, giving you a higher chance of refinancing quickly. That's not the case in 2026, though, with the Fed generally expected to hold rates steady through much of the year.

"Don't count on a refinance in the near future due to the volatility in the market," Schachter says.

These traps can make a mortgage loan look enticing, but it's important to take a closer look before making any move.

02/27/2026

Thinking about refinancing or purchasing a new home. Rates are now below the 6% threshold since 2022.

Our very own Jeremy Schachter talked to The Independent on how this changes the real estate market today.

“We have been hovering in the [6’s and] low 7's since 2022, more or less,” Schachter said in an email to The Independent. “Dropping the rates to almost 2 [percentage points] will start buyer activity, especially in the busiest time frame, which is the spring to summer.”

‘It’s important to understand that even modest rate declines can make a big impact over the life of a loan,’ one expert said

02/25/2026

Our very own Jeremy Schachter talked to the New York Post about staggering debt and how it impacts first time home buyers.

https://nypost.com/2026/02/24/real-estate/heres-why-record-1-28-trillion-in-credit-card-debt-is-a-problem-for-first-time-homebuyers/?utm_campaign=nypost&utm_medium=referral

“Many homebuyers have extensive amounts of debt. And the payments that are associated with these various debts can hinder their debt to income ratios, making mortgage approvals tricky,” says Jeremy Schachter branch manager at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. in Phoenix.

Schachter points out that first-time homebuyers are often juggling excessive student loan debt paired with credit card debt, reducing borrowing power even further, and in some cases, disqualifying them from a mortgage altogether.

“Ideally, you want to keep your credit card balances at no more than 20% to 30% of your maximum credit limit. For example, if you have a $1,000 limit, don’t go over a balance higher than $200 to $300. Anything that exceeds that amount can lower your credit score and make it difficult to get approved for a mortgage with a good rate,” explains Schachter.

The latest household debt report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that credit card balances rose by $44 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025.

02/12/2026

Our very own Jeremy Schachter talked to CBS National News on what the spring buying season will look like with lower rates.

"Many buyers are slowly realizing that rates in the 3s are not coming back and rates below 6% are the new normal," says Jeremy Schachter, branch manager at Fairway Home Mortgage. "Keep in mind, rates are about 1.75% lower than in spring 2025. If a buyer was looking for a $500,000 mortgage a year ago, the payment would be over $300.00 higher than it is today."

"I am seeing many sellers who tried to sell their homes without success in 2025, putting it back this Spring for a second try," Schachter says.

Between an uptick in home listings and lower mortgage rates, there could be more homebuying activity this spring.

01/26/2026

Our very own Jeremy Schachter spoke to U.S. News and World Report on whether to refinance or not in 2026.

How to decide if a new home loan makes sense for you.

01/18/2026

Our very own Jeremy Schachter spoke to The Independent about how to improve your credit with these steps.

If you don’t have a credit card or loan you can use to build up a solid payment history, consider asking your landlord if they can report your rent payments to credit bureaus, said Jeremy Schachter, branch manager at mortgage lender Fairway Independent Mortgage.

“If you are renting, you can have your landlord provide your payment history as well,” Schachter told The Independent in an email. “Normally, I see this on large rental properties and not mom and pop owners.”

Schachter recommends doing the same for your utility companies and your cell phone company.

Taking the first step in building your credit is critical ‘if you intend to purchase a home or car with credit, or otherwise intend to apply for credit in the future,’ one expert said

01/09/2026

Our very own Jeremy Schachter talked to FOX10 News tonight about home affordability and suggestions on what actually may work.

Schachter suggests other factors might help more, such as higher wages and lower interest rates. He pointed to specific fees from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that affect rates based on credit risk and occupancy. "If you limit those or eliminate those, interest rates will dramatically drop," he said.

President Donald Trump's announcement that he wants to block large institutional investors from buying single-family homes is met with skepticism from one expert, who has cast doubt that the proposal will have much impact.