Justin Halsey

10/15/2026

Think about someone you know who is retired or getting close.
Do they still have a mortgage payment they would love to get rid of?
Do they have a lot of equity in their home, but not much access to it?
Do they want to stay in their home but would like more room in their monthly budget?
Do they want to use some of their equity for repairs, travel, helping family, or just more financial flexibility?

Those are all situations where a reverse mortgage may be worth looking at.
Reverse mortgages are not just for people in financial trouble. In the right situation, they can be a very useful retirement planning tool.

And if your first thought is, “Reverse mortgages are the devil,” call or text me first.
Give me 10 minutes to show you why I think they can be a very good program in the right situation.

10/14/2026

When rates are high, a mortgage buydown can help lower your payment, but temporary and permanent buydowns work very differently.

In this video, I break down:
How a temporary buydown works
How a permanent buydown works
What the same seller credit can do with each option
Why you should not assume you can refinance later
How a price reduction compares

A temporary buydown can give you more savings upfront. A permanent buydown can give you a lower rate for as long as you keep that mortgage.

Neither option is automatically better. It depends on your goals, how long you expect to keep the loan, and the pricing available at the time.

Example shown is for educational purposes only. Rates, payments, discount points, seller contributions, and loan terms vary based on borrower qualifications, property details, loan program, lender, and market conditions. Payment examples shown are principal and interest only unless otherwise stated and do not include taxes, insurance, mortgage insurance, HOA dues, or other costs. Future interest rates are not guaranteed. Refinancing requires a new application, qualification, approval, and may involve additional closing costs.

Justin Halsey | Mortgage Loan Officer | NMLS #1500072
Licensed in VA, MD, NC, and FL
Edge Home Finance, LLC | NMLS #891464 | www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org
Licensed in all U.S. states & D.C., EXCEPT New York. Edge Home Finance, LLC is a mortgage broker, not a direct lender or creditor.
Equal Housing Opportunity

10/13/2026

Temporary buydown or permanent buydown?

They are not the same thing.

A temporary buydown lowers your payment for a set period of time. A common example is a 2-1 buydown, where your payment is lower for the first two years before moving back to the full payment.

A permanent buydown uses discount points to lower the actual interest rate on the loan. That lower rate stays in place for as long as you keep that mortgage.

The tradeoff is pretty simple:

Temporary buydown = bigger savings upfront, but the payment increases later.

Permanent buydown = usually less savings upfront, but the lower payment stays with you.

And one important reminder: do not choose a temporary buydown just because someone says you can refinance later. Rates may go down, but they are never guaranteed, and neither is your ability to refinance.

The right option depends on your goals, how long you expect to keep the loan, and how the numbers compare at the time.

Educational purposes only. Rates, pricing, seller contributions, buydown options, and program guidelines vary by loan program, lender, borrower qualifications, and market conditions. Refinancing requires a new application and approval and may involve additional costs.

10/09/2026

Did you know you don't have to be a Veteran to assume a VA mortgage?

A qualified non-Veteran may be able to take over an existing VA loan. But the seller needs to understand what happens to their VA entitlement.

I explain this and more in my full mortgage assumption breakdown.

**Watch here:** https://youtu.be/Cvyn1BoTnqw?si=Pqv0FMMLDWKKVaQm

Justin Halsey | Mortgage Loan Officer | NMLS #1500072
Licensed in VA, MD, NC, and FL
Edge Home Finance, LLC | NMLS #891464 | Equal Housing Opportunity

10/07/2026

If you’ve been told your credit score is too low to qualify for a mortgage, it may be worth taking another look.

Most lenders have minimum credit score requirements, even when the loan program itself may allow more flexibility.

I now have access to conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA options with no lender-imposed minimum FICO score in certain situations.

The loan still has to meet the program requirements and receive the required underwriting approval.

But a low credit score alone may not automatically mean you’re out of options.

If you’ve been turned down because of your score, reach out and let me take a look.

10/06/2026

Mortgage Assumption - Explaining the Equity Gap

A low-rate assumable mortgage can sound great, but there can be a big catch.

If the seller owes $305,000 on an assumable loan and the home sells for $500,000, there is a $195,000 equity gap.

You may be able to assume the existing $305,000 mortgage, but the seller still needs the other $195,000 at closing.

That equity gap is one of the biggest reasons mortgage assumptions are not always as simple as they sound.

If you want a more detailed breakdown on mortgage assumption, check out my full video on Youtube. And be sure to like, comment, and subscribe:
https://youtu.be/Cvyn1BoTnqw?si=7nqsMLCmbBC0RO8x

09/23/2026

08/12/2026

Plenty of assets, but not enough monthly income to qualify for a mortgage?

There may be another way to look at it.

Have you been told you don’t qualify? Tell me what the roadblock was below, or message me if you’d rather keep it private.

06/01/2026

VantageScore® can generate a score with as little as 1 month of credit history. Your on-time rent, utility and even phone bill payments could help build your score. Call me to learn more!