Mandy Phillips, Mortgage Loan Originator

10/17/2026

“I don’t want to pay all that mortgage interest”… but have you calculated what you’ll spend on rent? 👀 Starting at $2,800 a month, assuming a 5% annual increase, you’d pay approximately $422,617 in rent over 10 years. Renting gives you a place to live and flexibility. But before you rule out buying a home because of mortgage interest rates, compare the FULL picture: rent increases, down payment, closing costs, property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and the opportunity to build equity. Buying isn’t the right move for everyone. But the rent vs. buy conversation deserves more than “rates are too high.” 🏡 Want to see what buying could look like for YOU? Start at mandyphillips.com or use the link in my bio.

10/16/2026

Love them or hate them, manufactured homes can be an affordable housing option! 🏡

AND when they’re on their own land with a permanent foundation, eligible homes can qualify for conventional, FHA, VA and USDA financing. Yes, the mortgage programs you’d use for a traditional house! 👏

New federal changes aim to make manufactured housing easier to build and finance, but zoning and other hurdles remain.

I’m here for more paths to homeownership! Just check with your loan officer before falling in love—the home and property still need to meet the loan requirements. 😉

Legislation designed to expand manufactured housing supply faces a variety of challenges at the national, state and local levels

10/15/2026

Gift funds from Grandma

10/11/2026

Interest rates are up, but you can use that to your advantage!

10/10/2026

How to become a mortgage loan officer 👇 Save this if you’re considering a career in the mortgage industry!

Here’s the path to becoming a state-licensed mortgage loan originator (MLO):

1️⃣ Create an NMLS account and get your NMLS ID.

2️⃣ Complete at least 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensing education, plus any additional education your state requires.

3️⃣ Study for and pass the SAFE MLO exam. You need a score of 75% or higher!

4️⃣ Apply for your state license through NMLS, pay the required fees, and complete the background check, fingerprinting and credit review.

5️⃣ Join a mortgage company and obtain company sponsorship where required. Your license must be approved and active before you start originating loans.

6️⃣ Keep your license current with annual renewal and required continuing education.

My biggest advice? Choose a company with strong training and mentorship. Passing the test is one thing—learning how to structure loans and help buyers is where the real work starts! 👏

Requirements vary by state, and loan officers at banks and credit unions generally follow a federal registration process.

Send this to someone who’s been asking how to become a loan officer! 🏡

MortgageMandy

10/09/2026

Just don’t.

10/07/2026

Rooting for a housing market crash? Your future landlord might be rooting right along with you. 👀

A housing crash doesn’t automatically make buying a home easier for first-time homebuyers. Lower home prices can come with job losses, tighter mortgage lending, and more opportunities for cash investors to buy discounted properties.

After the 2008 housing crash, large investment companies bought homes and turned them into rentals. Cheaper houses don’t guarantee less investor competition—or that you’ll qualify for a mortgage.

We need better housing affordability. But hoping for another foreclosure crisis? Be careful whose buying opportunity you’re cheering for.

Would a housing crash help you buy—or help an investor buy the home you end up renting? 👇

10/06/2026

Turning your current home into a rental property with the new Fannie Mae guidelines

10/05/2026

When you tell the IRS you make one number, but tell your lender something else…

10/04/2026

“Wait… you’re hoping for a housing crash to get rid of the investors?

Because after the last crash, we saw the opposite. Big investment companies moved in and bought up discounted homes to turn into rentals.

So the crash you’re hoping will help you compete with investors could actually give them a shopping opportunity.

And I understand wanting a $700,000 house to become a $450,000 house. But you know who else would love that discount?

The investor with cash.

High prices and high borrowing costs can make the math harder for investors, too. If the rent won’t cover the expenses and leave enough profit, they may pass.

But when prices drop? Suddenly that same property can become a much more attractive investment. And if financing costs drop, too, the numbers can look even better.

They’re looking at the same discounts you are.

Except you might need a mortgage approval, stable employment, and time to save your down payment. Someone with cash can move without those financing hurdles.

And during a major economic crisis, keeping your job and qualifying for that mortgage could become harder.

Could lower prices help some first-time buyers? Absolutely.

But assuming a crash would push investors out and leave all the affordable houses for everyone else?

That’s a pretty big assumption—especially when the last crash helped create the opportunity for large investors to buy in.”