Smart Loans

02/18/2025

Smart Loans WA Blog out 2/17/2025

Inflation Above Estimates, Retail Sales Plummet

Inflation began the year hotter than anticipated, while Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized that the Fed is not “in a hurry” to implement further rate cuts. Continue reading for these insights and more.

Inflation began the year hotter than anticipated, while Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized that the Fed is not “in a hurry” to implement fur

02/03/2025

Smart Loans WA Blog 2/3/2025

Fed Presses Pause on Rate Cuts

The Fed held rates steady, inflation aligned with projections, and low existing home inventory boosted signed contracts for new homes. Read on for these stories and more.

The Fed held rates steady, inflation aligned with projections, and low existing home inventory boosted signed contracts for new homes. Read on for these stories and more.

01/30/2025

Are you a real estate agent looking to attract more investors? Check out our latest blog on how to market yourself effectively! Transform your business today.

How to Market Yourself as an Investor-Friendly Real Estate Agent

08/08/2024

Thinking about buying a new home or refinancing? Perfect timing! Mortgage rates have dropped due to market expectations of the Fed cutting rates. Douglas Duncan from Fannie Mae says the drop is already factored in, but we're all waiting to see what's next. Timing can be everything in real estate. Want to know more? Click on our website link for a detailed analysis. Have questions? Drop them below!

06/12/2024

Yes, a higher interest rate means a larger monthly payment. But it's not that simple. You need to understand what type of mortgage and associated closing costs you're selecting. For example, you may see a low "teaser" rate, but when you dive into the closing costs there are a ton of discount points associated with the loan. Also, Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) often have lower initial rates than fixed-rate mortgages (mainly w/ Jumbo). But interest rates on these mortgages reset periodically. So when that happens, your rate could rise, and sometimes more than you're prepared for. Got mortgage questions? I've got answers. Let's talk!

06/10/2024

Curious about how common it is to finance your dream home? 🏡 You're not alone! In fact, most homebuyers rely on financing options to make their homeownership dreams a reality. Let's explore the best financing solutions tailored to your needs—reach out to get started today!

06/07/2024

May’s job growth came in well above forecasts, as the BLS reported that 272K new jobs were created. However, revisions to the data for March and April shaved 15K jobs from those months combined. In addition, the unemployment rate rose from 3.9% to 4%, which is the highest since January 2022. The impact on Mortgage rates likely will be negative following mostly good news this week. This truly is a precursor to the big meetings next week with the Fed's interest rate decision and press conference. Stay tuned and let's keep our fingers crossed :).

05/23/2024

Throwback Thursday: Let’s Talk Rates

Thinking of buying a home but feel like you need a crystal ball to understand mortgage rates? Let's take a stroll down memory lane to when shoulder pads and neon were in. Back then, mortgage rates were like your embarrassing yearbook photo (peaking at over 18%)—better left in the past! But the recent rates? They're like a fine wine, getting better with age (or at least more...predictable?). So, don't let the fear of rates gone by spook you out of house hunting today.

30 yr Fixed Rate Mortgage avg 1971-Present:
https://tinyurl.com/30yr19712024





NMLS ID # - 1585236
www.smartloanswa.com

05/22/2024

New Blog Post out today - Mortgage 101

Making Mortgages Less Yawn-InducingEver feel like explaining and understanding mortgages is about as exciting as watching paint dry? Well, buckle up! I'm here to give you the lowdown on mortgage types, without the snooze fest.Get this: Conventional Loans are like vanilla ice cream - reliable and pop...

05/21/2024

Remember playing Monopoly? Time to pass Go, collect a house, and stop handing out rent like it's Community Chest money!