Rick Simoneau - Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation NMLS # 1629205

09/08/2026

From a piece of land to the foundation of a future home.

It's been exciting watching my clients' vision begin to take shape. What started as an open lot has progressed through site work, excavation, and now a completed foundation.

Shoutout to Harris Construction Inc. of North Grafton, MA for the work being done to bring this project to life. Looking forward to seeing the next phase of the build take shape.

One thing many people don't realize is that this project was made possible through a One-Time Close Construction Loan. This type of financing allows borrowers to purchase the land, finance the construction, and transition into their permanent mortgage all through one loan and one closing. It can be a great option for those looking to build a custom home without navigating multiple loans throughout the process.

If building a home designed specifically for your family is something you've considered, I'd be happy to talk through your options and answer any questions.

Stay tuned for more progress updates. I can't wait to share the next phase of this build!

09/03/2026

Yesterday's American Warrior Real Estate Professional CE Boot Camp at Gillette Stadium was a reminder that continuing education can be about more than credit hours.

Realtors, lenders, and Fairway team members filled the room for a course built around a message worth carrying into every client relationship: remembering to serve those who served. Instructor Louise Thaxton walked attendees through the values and everyday realities of military families, and the specific challenges many face reintegrating into civilian life, giving real estate professionals practical ways to serve veteran clients with more understanding and care.

Gold Star mother Karen Vaughn followed with a perspective that shifted the tone of the room. She asked everyone to sit with something easy to overlook day to day: the freedoms we live with didn't come free, they came from sacrifice. Her story and presentation will stay with a lot of people in that room.

The most meaningful part of the day came near the close. AWI presented local military families with checks to support the ongoing care of their service dogs, funded in part by merchandise sales at the event. Watching that support reach the families directly, in the same room where everyone had just spent hours learning how to serve them better, tied the whole afternoon together.

It also meant a lot having my realtor partner Joe Sousa sit with me at the event. Days like this matter more when the people you work alongside choose to be part of them too.

September marks Su***de Prevention Awareness Month, and days like this are a clear illustration of why organizations like the American Warrior Initiative matter. The work isn't seasonal or symbolic. It's ongoing, and it's tangible.

I’m appreciative to have been in the room, and grateful to be part of a company that shows up for this cause, not just for one afternoon, but consistently.


***dePreventionAwarenessMonth

09/01/2026

CE CREDITS MATTER. BUT THIS MATTERS MORE.

For a Veteran or military family, buying a home can represent so much more than a transaction. It can mean finally putting down roots. Starting a new chapter. Building a home and a life after years spent serving our country.

When that moment comes, they deserve professionals who are prepared to serve them with the knowledge, understanding and care they deserve.
That’s why Fairway Home Mortgage and the American Warrior Initiative are bringing the AWREP Boot Camp to Gillette Stadium on September 2.

You’ll earn 2 hours of Massachusetts CE credit, and that matters. But this afternoon is about something bigger. It’s about making sure that when our Veterans need us, we know how to show up for them.

The details:
Wednesday, September 2
Gillette Stadium | Foxboro, MA
Registration: 12:00–12:45 PM
AWREP Training: 1:00–4:00 PM

Registration also includes a presentation from Gold Star Mother, Karen Vaughn, an autographed copy of Karen Vaughn’s World Changer: A Mother’s Story, a Veteran Giveaway Presentation, beverages and snacks.

Our Veterans answered the call to serve. This is one small way we can be better prepared to answer when they need us. Register today:

AMERICAN WARRIOR REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL CE

08/19/2026

REALTORS, COME FOR THE CE CREDIT. BE THERE FOR SOMETHING BIGGER.

On September 2, Fairway Home Mortgage and the American Warrior Initiative are bringing the American Warrior Real Estate Professional (AWREP) Boot Camp to Gillette Stadium. You’ll earn 2 hours of Massachusetts CE credit, making this time well spent professionally. But the reason we really want you in the room goes beyond the credit.

It’s an opportunity to better understand Veterans and the military families we have the privilege of serving and to make sure we’re equipped to give them the knowledge, care and support they deserve when it’s their turn to find a place to call home.

Registration includes:
2 hours of Massachusetts CE credit
A presentation from Gold Star Mother, Karen Vaughn
An autographed copy of Karen Vaughn’s World Changer: A Mother’s Story
Veteran Giveaway Presentation
Beverages and snacks
The details:
Wednesday, September 2
Gillette Stadium | Foxboro, MA
Registration: 12:00–12:45 PM
AWREP Training + Presentation: 1:00–4:00 PM

CE credits matter. Giving back to our Veteran community matters more. Register today: https://givebutter.com/c/AWREPNewEngland

08/04/2026

Working with condo buyers or sellers? This is one you don’t want to skip.

New industry-wide updates from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are changing condo eligibility, HOA requirements, and loan approvals — and the details matter more now than ever.

We broke it down for you: what’s already in effect, what’s changing this month, and what’s coming down the road in 2027. Whether you’re prepping a listing or guiding a buyer through financing, knowing these changes early can help you avoid surprises and keep deals on track.

Swipe through for the highlights ➡️

Catch the full webinar recording for the complete picture:
https://fairwaymc.zoom.us/rec/play/H9VY2ncdOWEKxUISYD9Ujls0LWomqR9xZu0C31TdDjYMJsmh_UQApc2i_RihYMKBLuTlSeQMXnuQCSk1.SSOHbzgBs3shw8uB?accessLevel=meeting&canPlayFromShare=true&from=share_recording_detail&continueMode=true&oldStyle=true&componentName=rec-play&originRequestUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffairwaymc.zoom.us%2Frec%2Fshare%2FOShimncvU59V81GtXGHVkx8PA1zhyQbkY9oG6UpVzfu_mE81e_7yWQO1xdfSZRp3.YSGaEcJ1X2QXCEje

If you have any questions, I’m happy to help!

08/03/2026

Condo rules are changing — is your deal ready?

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are rolling out major updates to how condos are reviewed and financed. If you're working with condo buyers or sellers right now, this could directly affect what you can sell, how you position your listings, and how smoothly your deals close.

📅 TODAY | Aug 3rd @ 12PM CST
🎙️ Condo Mastermind Call with Fairway's condo lending specialists

We'll break down what's changing, what it means for your deals, and how to stay ahead of it.

Register here: https://fairwaymc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aX9vW2HXSL-QarUToLoS3A #/registration

07/20/2026

One of the biggest reasons people become “house poor” isn’t because they bought the wrong house. It’s because they planned for the mortgage, not homeownership.

Here are a few things I encourage every buyer to think about before closing:

1. Budget for more than your mortgage payment.
Your monthly payment is only one piece of the puzzle. Property taxes, homeowners insurance, utilities, maintenance, and unexpected repairs all become part of the cost of owning a home.

2. Don’t buy at the top of your budget.
Just because you qualify for a certain amount doesn’t mean you have to spend it. I always encourage buyers to leave room for the rest of life - travel, date nights, saving for the future, and the unexpected. A home should support your lifestyle, not consume it.

3. Don’t spend every dollar getting the keys.
Between your down payment, closing costs, moving expenses, and furnishing your new home, it’s easy to use up your savings. But homeownership comes with surprises, and having a financial cushion can make all the difference when they happen.

4. Think beyond closing day.
Buying a home isn’t just about getting the keys - it’s about putting yourself in a stronger financial position for years to come. That’s why I don’t just look at what you qualify for today. I want to help you make a decision that still feels like the right one long after closing.

My goal isn’t just to help you buy a house.

It’s to help you buy a home you can truly enjoy without stretching your finances so thin that you can’t enjoy the life you’re building inside it.

If you’re thinking about buying, I’d love to help you understand the full picture so you can move forward with confidence.

07/15/2026

If you’ve been quietly wondering whether homeownership is even possible for you right now, you’re not alone.

So many first-time buyers in Massachusetts assume they need a perfect credit score, a huge down payment, or some magic number in savings before they can even start the conversation. So they wait. And wait. Maybe you scroll past someone else’s “we got the keys!” post and think you’ve missed some window — like homeownership is happening for other people, at another age, in another life, with more money than you’ll ever have. It starts to feel like something that happens to other people — never quite something for you.

Here’s what most people don’t realize: you don’t need to have it all figured out to ask questions. In fact, an early conversation — even one that happens months (or years) before you’re ready to buy — is one of the most useful things you can do. It’s not about pressure or a timeline. It’s about finally knowing where you actually stand: what your numbers look like, what options might fit your specific situation, and what steps (if any) could move you closer.

You may be closer than you think. Or you may need more time — and that’s okay too. Either way, you’ll know instead of wonder. Feeling behind doesn’t mean you are behind.

Asking questions doesn’t mean you’re committing to anything. It just means you’re giving yourself information. When you’re ready to talk it through, I’m here.