Kaleb The Loan Officer

03/02/2026

💡 Did You Know?

Even a 1% difference in your mortgage interest rate can make a huge impact on your finances. For example:

On a $250,000 home with a 30-year loan, a 6% interest rate gives a monthly principal & interest payment of about $1,499.

Drop that rate to 5%, and your payment drops to about $1,342—that’s $157 less per month or nearly $56,500 saved over the life of the loan!

📌 Takeaway: Shopping for the best rate isn’t just a small detail—it can save you tens of thousands of dollars.

02/24/2026

Before you start house hunting, know these 3 numbers:

1️⃣ Your monthly income
2️⃣ Your total monthly debt
3️⃣ Your credit score

That’s it. That’s the foundation..

02/17/2026

02/17/2026

Renting vs owning gets debated nonstop. This graphic compares real monthly expenses so you can see what cash flow actually looks like today The goal is not to prove one choice is better but to help you make a smarter housing decision When you rent your monthly payment is usually predictable Rent often includes property taxes maintenance repairs and sometimes insurance This simplicity helps with budgeting and protects you from surprise expenses Owning a home comes with more moving parts Mortgage payments are only one piece of the puzzle Property taxes insurance utilities maintenance HOA fees and PMI can stack up quickly Many people compare rent to a mortgage payment and stop there That misses the full picture of total housing costs Cash flow matters just as much as long term equity 🧠 Homeownership can build equity over time But equity does not pay monthly bills unless you sell or refinance That means owning only works when it fits your income stability and lifestyle goals Renting can be a smart financial move depending on location timing and flexibility Lower upfront costs can free cash for investing saving or career growth There is no single right answer for everyone 🌎 The best choice depends on how long you plan to stay It also depends on interest rates home prices and personal finances Housing is both a lifestyle choice and a money decision 🏡 If you want to see how I personally focus on building income producing assets alongside housing decisions

02/16/2026

Every extra payment made on and above of your regular mortgage payment reduces your Principal directly.

02/16/2026

This is a simple mortgage "hack" that can save you THOUSANDS and YEARS of payments! Of course I'm exaggerating calling it a "hack" as it's really just math, but let me explain.

You know how if you get paid every 2 weeks, every now and then you get 3 paychecks in the same month? This is the same structure that helps you save so much on your mortgage over the term of the loan. Ever so often you will make an extra payment in the month, equating to a full extra monthly payment each year.

By aligning your mortgage payment with your bi-weekly pay cycle and not a standard monthly cycle, you're effectively budgeting in an extra mortgage payment each year. Simple as that.

Alternatively, you could also just make a fully payment extra each year to accomplish the same thing.

The nice part is that this can easily be worked into your pay schedule. Set up the bi-weekly payments and every time you get paid, you will make a mortgage payment without thinking about it.

Some mortgage lenders actually won't let you do this, or will charge you a fee to do it. If that's the case, you need to do the math as to whether or not this is worth it. There is also an alternative method of sending a full extra payment dedicated fully to principal each year that will do effectively the same thing. The idea here is just to take down the principal of the loan quicker than the normal payment schedule.

Just remember, small changes can make differences over a long period of time!

- Matt

02/12/2026

3 things that determine how much home you can buy:

1️⃣ Income
2️⃣ Debt
3️⃣ Credit score

Not your savings alone.

If you want a quick breakdown of what you’d qualify for, I’m happy to help!

02/10/2026

Buying a home doesn’t have to be confusing.

I’ll be using this page to share:
• Clear mortgage education
• First-time homebuyer tips
• Loan programs & down payment assistance
• Common mistakes that cost buyers money

Whether you’re planning to buy soon or just want to be informed, this page is here to help you make smarter decisions before you ever submit an application.

Follow along—and if you ever want a quick, honest mortgage question answered, feel free to reach out!

Kaleb Negussie
Loan Originator | NMLS #2715221