D'Ann McConnell - Loan Originator

02/19/2026

🏡 Why Buyers Should Be Touring Open Houses (Even If You’re “Just Looking”)

If you’re thinking about buying a home — now or later — open houses are one of the BEST free tools you have. Here’s why 👇

✨ 1. You learn the market fast
Seeing homes in person helps you understand what your budget actually gets you. Pictures can be deceiving… walking through tells the real story.

✨ 2. You spot value (and red flags)
You’ll start noticing things like layout flow, storage space, updates vs. cosmetic fixes, and neighborhood vibe.

✨ 3. You compare homes more confidently
After touring a few, you’ll quickly know:
👉 “This one’s overpriced.”
👉 “That one is a deal.”
👉 “This layout just works.”

✨ 4. Less pressure, more clarity
Open houses let you browse without committing to a showing appointment right away.

✨ 5. You’ll be ready when the RIGHT house hits
The buyers who win in this market? They’ve done their homework. They don’t hesitate because they already know what they want.

💡 Pro Tip: Even if you’re 6–12 months out, start walking through homes now. It builds confidence and strategy.

If you’d like a quick breakdown of what price range you should be shopping in before you go — message me “OPEN HOUSE” and I’ll run the numbers for you.

02/18/2026

If you’re planning to buy a house…
DO 👏 NOT 👏 USE 👏 AFFIRM 👏 AFTERPAY👏 KLARNA 👏 etc., any buy now - pay later credit.

“Yes but it’s 0% interest…”

Doesn’t matter.

Mortgage lenders count it.
Underwriters question it.
Your buying power shrinks because of it.

That $89/month Peloton payment?
That could cost you $15,000+ in purchasing power.

And if you open it while under contract?

You could lose the house.

Before you finance anything —
Text your loan officer first.

If you don’t have one… you do now!

— D’Ann

02/17/2026

🏡 Thinking about buying a home in 2026? Let’s talk strategy!

The market is always shifting, but opportunity is out there for buyers who are prepared. Here’s what matters most right now:

✔️ Strong pre-approval
✔️ Understanding your monthly payment comfort zone
✔️ Exploring down payment assistance options
✔️ Having a lender who communicates clearly and quickly

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, upgrading/downsizing or refinancing — the right plan makes all the difference.

If you have questions about credit, down payments, or what you can realistically afford, send me a message. I’m happy to run numbers and create a game plan tailored to YOU.

Let’s get you home. 🏠✨

02/15/2026

Check out this beautiful home in Princeton! It is USDA eligible and if combined with down payment assistance, minimal needed to purchase. Reach out for details!

02/14/2026

01/10/2026

Happy closing day to my 1st closing of 2026! 1st time homebuyers are so much fun as they are so excited to own a home! Mr. Hamm was such a pleasure to work with!

01/09/2026

Good morning!

Yesterday, President Trump directed GSE’s (Fannie and Freddie) to buy $200 Billion in mortgage bonds using their cash reserves to drive interest rates down and make homeownership more affordable. If you have been on the fence about buying or you bought with an interest rate that is at 6 1/2 or higher, be prepared to speak with me about the benefits of refinancing. As always if you want more information on what’s going on or how you can benefit from this, please reach out.

This is the immediate impact we are seeing:

*Bond market reaction: Mortgage-backed securities (MBS) prices jumped right after the announcement, which typically translates to lower yields and, in turn, downward pressure on mortgage rates. Average mortgage rates toward the end of 2025 were in the low 6’s and today’s move could bring average mortgage rates down into the high 5’s.

*Stock rallies: Home lenders and real estate stocks surged (e.g., up 2-5% across the board), signaling market optimism about boosted demand.

*Application surge potential: With purchase apps already trending up year-over-year, this could supercharge activity.

*Broader housing effects: This counters recent affordability crunches from high prices and rates. It's part of Trump's push to ban institutional home buying too, which could free up inventory for individual buyers.

01/08/2026

What a crazy few days! CTC issued after waiting over 3 weeks for title documents and survey. Waited a day and a half for an amendment to extend closing due to above mentioned delays. But… we are closing and another young buyer is closing on their first home! This is my cute picture for the day!

01/06/2026

If you are thinking of buying a home this year, this is what sellers are learning! For you as a buyer, starting the preapproval process early is important. Do that credit review to make sure there is no work to be done, get an estimate of what it will cost to purchase so you can start saving and learn what payment is comfortable for your budget to understand what house price you should be looking to purchase. Contact me to help with your financing needs.