BrightSide Lending

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BrightSide Lending Making mortgages easy, stress-free, and personalized. Let’s find your bright side! Serving Michigan homebuyers and refinancers. NMLS #1946102

🎃 Two Halloween events, lots of candy, and a whole lot of fun! 👻🍬What a great week getting out and celebrating Halloween...
10/23/2026

🎃 Two Halloween events, lots of candy, and a whole lot of fun! 👻🍬

What a great week getting out and celebrating Halloween with our community!

Last Saturday, BrightSide Lending joined the festivities at Downtown Rochester’s Trick or Treat, and last night we kept the fun going at the RE/MAX First Trunk or Treat!

From some incredibly creative costumes and decorated trunks to seeing all the excited kids (and plenty of adults!) enjoying themselves, both events were an absolute blast!

One of our favorite things about being a local business is getting to be part of moments like these. It’s not always about mortgages. Sometimes it’s just about showing up, handing out candy, sharing a few laughs, and supporting the communities we’re proud to serve. 💙💚

A big thank you to Downtown Rochester and RE/MAX First for putting together two fantastic events, and to everyone who stopped by to say hello!

We had a great time and are already looking forward to next year!

🎃 Now we have to ask: Which Halloween costume or trunk decoration was your favorite this year?

🏡 **Would you rather get $10,000 OFF the price of a home or $10,000 toward your closing costs?**Most homebuyers automati...
10/20/2026

🏡 **Would you rather get $10,000 OFF the price of a home or $10,000 toward your closing costs?**

Most homebuyers automatically choose the price reduction. But that might not be the smartest financial move!

Here's an example using a $350,000 Michigan home purchase with 5% down and a 6.5% interest rate:

💰 **Option 1: $10,000 Seller Credit**
You could save approximately $9,500 in upfront cash compared with taking the price reduction.

🏠 **Option 2: $10,000 Price Reduction**
You could save approximately $60 per month on your mortgage principal and interest.

So what's better?

It depends! If you're trying to preserve savings, a seller credit could be a game changer. If you're focused on long-term savings, the lower purchase price might make more sense.

And sometimes, the smartest strategy is a combination of both.

**The important thing is knowing your options BEFORE you make an offer.**

At BrightSide Lending, we help Michigan homebuyers understand the numbers so they can negotiate with confidence.

👇 **What would YOU choose?**
💵 More money in your pocket at closing?
🏡 Or a lower monthly mortgage payment?

Read our latest article for the full comparison:
https://www.brightsidelending.com/seller-concessions-vs-price-reduction-which-saves-michigan-homebuyers-more-in-2026/



*Example assumes a 30-year fixed conventional mortgage and sufficient eligible closing costs. Actual results vary.*

{NMLS 1946102}

🏡 **REMEMBER WHEN BUYING A HOME FELT IMPOSSIBLE?**Multiple offers. Bidding wars. Waiving inspections. Offering thousands...
10/16/2026

🏡 **REMEMBER WHEN BUYING A HOME FELT IMPOSSIBLE?**

Multiple offers. Bidding wars. Waiving inspections. Offering thousands over asking price.

For a while, buying a home in Metro Detroit felt like an uphill battle.

**Well, things are changing. And if you gave up looking, you might want to pay attention.** 👀

📊 September 2026 housing data shows inventory increasing across all three counties:

🏠 **Oakland County:** 3.2 months of housing supply

🏠 **Macomb County:** 3.0 months of housing supply

🏠 **Wayne County:** 4.0 months of housing supply

We're not quite in a true buyer's market yet, but buyers are gaining something they haven't had much of in recent years: **NEGOTIATING POWER.**

More homes to choose from. More opportunities to negotiate. Potentially fewer bidding wars.

Now, I know what you're thinking...

💰 **"But mortgage rates are higher!"**

You're absolutely right.

Here's how I look at it after 20+ years in the mortgage business:

**Buy a home you can comfortably afford TODAY. If rates come down and refinancing makes financial sense later, that's a BONUS.**

Don't buy based on a refinance you might never get. But don't overlook an opportunity simply because rates aren't where you'd like them to be.

If you were priced out, outbid, or simply frustrated with the market a few years ago, this might be the time to take another look.

I put together a new article breaking down the latest Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne County housing numbers and what they mean for buyers.

👇 **Read it here:**
https://www.brightsidelending.com/michigan-homebuyers-the-market-is-finally-giving-you-more-negotiating-power-in-2026/

And if you're wondering what you could comfortably afford in today's market, I'd be happy to help you run the numbers.

Jeff Kaltz| BrightSide Lending
📍 Rochester, Michigan

{NMLS 21363}
{NMLS 1946102}

VA or FHA: Which is actually the better mortgage?If you’re eligible for a VA loan, the answer may seem obvious, but ther...
10/06/2026

VA or FHA: Which is actually the better mortgage?

If you’re eligible for a VA loan, the answer may seem obvious, but there are situations where it’s worth comparing both.

I put together a new 2026 FHA vs. VA Loan Guide covering zero-down VA financing, mortgage insurance, the VA funding fee, credit, entitlement, and when each option may make sense.

If you’re a veteran or service member thinking about buying a home in Michigan, make sure you understand the benefit you’ve earned before choosing your financing.

👇 Full guide in the comments.

Questions about VA eligibility or financing? Feel free to reach out.

{NMLS 1946102}

🏡 FHA vs. Conventional, which one is actually better?I get this question all the time, and the answer isn’t as simple as...
10/02/2026

🏡 FHA vs. Conventional, which one is actually better?
I get this question all the time, and the answer isn’t as simple as “Conventional is better if you can qualify.”

I’ve seen situations where a buyer qualifies for both and FHA makes more sense. I’ve also seen plenty where Conventional is clearly the better fit.

The important thing is comparing the whole loan, not just the interest rate or down payment.

Things like:
✅ Credit score
✅ Down payment
✅ Mortgage insurance
✅ Monthly payment
✅ Cash needed at closing
✅ Debt-to-income ratio
✅ Property condition
✅ How long you plan to keep the mortgage

I just completely updated our FHA vs. Conventional Loans guide for 2026 to break down the differences and give some real-world examples of when each option may make sense.

If you’re thinking about buying, it’s worth understanding both before deciding.

I’ll put the full guide in the comments.

And if you want me to run both options using your actual numbers, just reach out.

{NMLS 1946102}

🏡 **Thinking about buying your first home in Macomb Township?**One of the biggest misconceptions I still hear is, *“I ne...
10/01/2026

🏡 **Thinking about buying your first home in Macomb Township?**

One of the biggest misconceptions I still hear is, *“I need 20% down before I can buy a house.”*

For many buyers, that simply isn’t true.

Depending on your situation, there may be Conventional options with as little as 3% down, FHA financing with 3.5% down, VA financing with no down payment for eligible buyers, and other down payment assistance options.

But the down payment is only part of the equation.

I put together an updated **2026 First-Time Home Buyer Guide for Macomb Township** that covers the things I think buyers should understand *before* they start seriously looking at homes:

✅ How much you may actually need for a down payment
✅ FHA vs. Conventional financing
✅ Credit score considerations
✅ Closing costs and cash needed at closing
✅ Property taxes and escrow
✅ Getting preapproved
✅ Buying new construction in Macomb Township
✅ Common first-time buyer mistakes to avoid

Even if you're several months away from buying, it's never too early to start figuring out the numbers. Sometimes a 10-minute conversation can give you a much clearer idea of what you need to do next.

👇 Read the full Guide here:
https://www.brightsidelending.com/first-time-home-buyer-loans-in-macomb-township-what-you-should-know/

And as always, if you have a mortgage question, feel free to reach out. I'm happy to help.

{NMLS 1946102}

🏡 If you have a fixed-rate mortgage, why can your payment still go up?This is something that confuses a lot of homeowner...
09/29/2026

🏡 If you have a fixed-rate mortgage, why can your payment still go up?

This is something that confuses a lot of homeowners, and most of the time the answer has nothing to do with your interest rate.
It may be your escrow account.

If your property taxes or homeowners insurance increase, the amount your mortgage company needs to collect each month can increase too. You can even end up with an escrow shortage, which can make the payment jump more than you expected.

I put together a new guide that breaks down:

✅ What a mortgage escrow account actually does
✅ Why you pay into escrow at closing
✅ What causes an escrow shortage or surplus
✅ Why a fixed-rate mortgage payment can still increase
✅ Why Michigan property taxes can change after you buy a home
✅ How homeowners insurance affects escrow
✅ Whether escrow is required
✅ When you may be able to waive or remove escrow
✅ What happens to your escrow money when you sell or refinance

There are also a few things Michigan homebuyers should understand about property taxes before buying, especially if you're looking at the current owner's tax bill and assuming yours will be the same.

It may not be.

👇 Check out the full guide below.
https://www.brightsidelending.com/mortgage-escrow-accounts-explained-what-michigan-homebuyers-need-to-know-2026/

And if you're buying or refinancing in Michigan and have questions about what your actual monthly payment could look like, feel free to reach out.

BrightSide Lending | 586-270-5070

More Than a Mortgage. A Brighter Tomorrow.

{NMLS 1946102}

🏡 Can you buy a house with a 620 credit score?I hear some version of this question all the time, and a lot of people ass...
09/28/2026

🏡 Can you buy a house with a 620 credit score?
I hear some version of this question all the time, and a lot of people assume they need a 700+ credit score before they should even think about buying a home.

That simply isn't always the case.

A 620 credit score may be enough to qualify for a mortgage, and depending on the rest of your financial picture, you may even have multiple options to consider.

But there’s a lot more to mortgage approval than one number.
I put together a new guide explaining:

✅ FHA vs. Conventional options with a 620 score
✅ What lenders look at besides your credit score
✅ How your score can affect mortgage pricing
✅ Whether paying down credit cards could help
✅ Why paying off every debt isn't always the best move
✅ Whether it makes sense to improve your credit before buying
✅ What to do if your score is actually below 620

If you're thinking about buying a home but your credit score has been holding you back from even exploring it, don't assume you can't qualify.

You might be closer than you think.

👇 Check out the full guide below, or reach out and I can take a look at your specific situation.

https://www.brightsidelending.com/can-you-buy-a-house-with-a-620-credit-score-in-michigan-2026-guide/

BrightSide Lending | 586-270-5070

More Than a Mortgage. A Brighter Tomorrow.

{NMLS 1946102}

🏡 “You’re Clear to Close!” 🔑Those might be the best four words you can hear when buying a home. 😂But what does clear to ...
09/23/2026

🏡 “You’re Clear to Close!” 🔑

Those might be the best four words you can hear when buying a home. 😂

But what does clear to close actually mean? Are you officially approved? How soon do you get the keys? And most importantly… can you still screw something up between clear to close and closing day?

The answer to that last one is yes — which is why I put together a new guide explaining exactly what happens during the final stretch of your mortgage.

I cover:

✅ Clear to close vs. conditional approval
✅ How long it usually takes to close after CTC
✅ Whether your credit or employment can be checked again
✅ Why you probably shouldn’t go finance a new car or a house full of furniture 😬
✅ What happens on closing day
✅ When you finally get the keys 🔑

If you're buying a home — or planning to soon — this is a good one to bookmark.

Read the full guide here:
https://www.brightsidelending.com/clear-to-close-what-does-it-mean-when-your-mortgage-is-clear-to-close/

📞 BrightSide Lending | 586-270-5070
{NMLS 1946102}
More Than a Mortgage. A Brighter Tomorrow.

Address

307 East Street
Rochester, MI
48307

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 7pm
Wednesday 9am - 7pm
Thursday 9am - 7pm
Friday 9am - 7pm
Saturday 9am - 7pm
Sunday 9am - 7pm

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