The Day Team - NMLS 208034

05/27/2026

Home affordability at a national level has moved to it's most affordable levels in 3 years. Partially due to increased wages and partially due to slowed down appreciation levels. Locally in the Seattle area, we are still considered a cost burdened market with the median home buyer spending 41% of their gross income on prospective mortgage payments. That compares to 32% nationally.

While housing affordability remains out of reach for millions of Americans, particularly first-time and entry-level buyers, conditions have improved modestly in the last year, according to the latest data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index (CHI).....

05/22/2026

One of the BIGGEST reasons VA home loans get beat out is because of speed! Well not anymore the VA has updated their turn times on VA homes loans across the country and it’s a game changer! Our team SPECIALIZES in closing fast in order to win offers. Let’s make it happen for you. 👇
https://www.benefits.va.gov/HOMELOANS/appraiser_fee_schedule.asp

Kerry Day NMLS #208034
Caleb Janowski NMLS #1768191
📨[email protected]
📲206.660.0367

Cornerstone Home Lending, a Division of Cornerstone Capital Bank, SSB.
NMLS ID #2258 |MEMBER FDIC | EQUAL HOUSING LENDER.

Dayteamlending.com

05/21/2026

Not every homebuyer fits into the traditional mortgage box—and that’s okay. 🏡

If you don’t receive regular paystubs or have non-traditional income, an asset-based mortgage may be a smart solution. Instead of qualifying solely on monthly income, this program allows eligible assets to help demonstrate your ability to repay a home loan.

Eligible assets may include:
✔️ Checking, savings, and money market accounts
✔️ Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and CDs
✔️ Retirement accounts like IRA and 401(k)
✔️ Cash value of life insurance

This program can be a great fit for:
• Retirees
• Self-employed professionals
• High-net-worth individuals
• Borrowers with irregular income streams

Additional benefits:
✅ Traditional income sources can still count toward qualification
✅ No immediate liquidation of assets required
✅ Depending on asset type, up to 100% of value may be considered

Kerry Day NMLS #208034
Caleb Janowski NMLS #1768191
📨[email protected]
📲206.660.0367

Cornerstone Home Lending, a Division of Cornerstone Capital Bank, SSB.
NMLS ID #2258 |MEMBER FDIC | EQUAL HOUSING LENDER.

05/15/2026

Alarm bells are ringing as we head into the weekend. Mortgage rates have hit an 8 month high after the 10 year treasury hits their highest levels since May of 2025. It’s a rough start to Kevin Warsh’s start as chair of the Federal Reserve!

Kerry Day NMLS #208034
Caleb Janowski NMLS #1768191
📨[email protected]
📲206.660.0367

Cornerstone Home Lending, a Division of Cornerstone Capital Bank, SSB.
NMLS ID #2258 |MEMBER FDIC | EQUAL HOUSING LENDER.

Dayteamlending.com

05/12/2026

Inflation rose in April, with headline CPI increasing 0.6%, driven largely by higher food, energy, and gas prices. On an annual basis, inflation reached 3.8%. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.4% month over month and 2.8% year over year.
Kerry Day NMLS #208034
Caleb Janowski NMLS #1768191
📨[email protected]
📲206.660.0367

Cornerstone Home Lending, a Division of Cornerstone Capital Bank, SSB.
NMLS ID #2258 |MEMBER FDIC | EQUAL HOUSING LENDER.

05/07/2026

Your credit score plays a major role in your financial future, influencing everything from mortgage approvals and interest rates to credit card offers and auto loans. But many people don’t realize what actually makes up their score.

Your score is calculated using 5 main factors:
✔️ Payment History (35%) – Paying your bills on time is the single biggest factor impacting your score. Even one late payment can have an effect.
✔️ Amounts Owed (30%) – This looks at how much debt you’re carrying compared to your available credit. Keeping balances below 30% of your credit limits is generally recommended.
✔️ Length of Credit History (15%) – Older accounts can help your score by showing a longer history of responsible borrowing.
✔️ New Credit (10%) – Opening several new accounts or having too many inquiries in a short period can temporarily lower your score.
✔️ Credit Mix (10%) – A healthy combination of credit types like mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards may help strengthen your profile.

Understanding how these factors work puts you in control of your financial health. Small habits—like paying on time, reducing balances, and avoiding unnecessary new accounts—can make a big difference over time. Whether you’re planning to buy a home, refinance, or simply improve your financial standing, your credit score matters.
Kerry Day NMLS #208034
Caleb Janowski NMLS #1768191
📨[email protected]
📲206.660.0367

Cornerstone Home Lending, a Division of Cornerstone Capital Bank, SSB.
NMLS ID #2258 |MEMBER FDIC | EQUAL HOUSING LENDER.

Dayteamlending.com.

04/29/2026

We LOVE helping out military clients and when this client needed to be competitive we shrunk our close date to make it happen. This timeline takes buy in! Everyone has to be on board to make it happen, but don’t let obstacles like slow mortgage lending stop you from achieving your dream.

Kerry Day NMLS #208034
Caleb Janowski NMLS #1768191
📨[email protected]
📲206.660.0367

Cornerstone Home Lending, a Division of Cornerstone Capital Bank, SSB.
NMLS ID #2258 |MEMBER FDIC | EQUAL HOUSING LENDER.

Dayteamlending.com

04/21/2026

Not all loan approvals are created equal—and understanding the difference can make or break your homebuying journey.

Here’s a quick breakdown 👇
🔹 Prequalified: Based on info you provide, this is the starting point—but it’s not fully verified.
🔹 Preapproved: Your lender has reviewed your credit, income, and assets to determine what you can afford. Stronger, but still may have conditions.
🔹 Preunderwritten: The gold standard. Your file has already been reviewed by an underwriter, with most conditions cleared upfront—giving you a serious edge in competitive markets.

Before you make an offer, ask your lender:
✔️ What documents have been reviewed?
✔️ How long is my approval valid?
✔️ Are there any remaining conditions?

The stronger your approval, the smoother your path to closing.

Have questions or want to level up your approval? Reach out—happy to help guide you through it.

Kerry Day NMLS #208034
Caleb Janowski NMLS #1768191
📨[email protected]
📲206.660.0367

Cornerstone Home Lending, a Division of Cornerstone Capital Bank, SSB.
NMLS ID #2258 |MEMBER FDIC | EQUAL HOUSING LENDER.

Dayteamlending.com.

04/20/2026

As we continue to search for a resolution to the conflict in the Middle East the mortgage and real estate markets are indicating they are ready to resume normal activity. Mortgage rates are responding to a steadier treasury environment and the real estate market is starting to see more activity. Mortgage applications are always a good way to track activity in the market as you need home buyers to match those sellers! Application data had its worst month in a long time in march, but seems to be rebounding by in April.

Kerry Day NMLS #208034
Caleb Janowski NMLS #1768191
📨[email protected]
📲206.660.0367

Cornerstone Home Lending, a Division of Cornerstone Capital Bank, SSB.
NMLS ID #2258 |MEMBER FDIC | EQUAL HOUSING LENDER.

Dayteamlending.com.

04/10/2026

Last week mortgage rates were under pressure after two jobs reports indicated a strong labor market. However, the main driver of mortgage rates was still the war in Iran and that proved to be the case. This week after news of the ceasefire mortgage rates improved over shadowing the impact of normal jobs data.

Kerry Day NMLS #208034
Caleb Janowski NMLS #1768191
📨[email protected]
📲206.660.0367

Cornerstone Home Lending, a Division of Cornerstone Capital Bank, SSB.
NMLS ID #2258 |MEMBER FDIC | EQUAL HOUSING LENDER.

Dayteamlending.com

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