Direct: (818) 435-6560 | tgrey@equitysmartloans.com

Blog

12
Jul
By Todd Grey
Mortgage, ,

Financing Options For Home Improvement Projects: What To Know

Are you planning on updating your house? A home improvement project can be expensive, but you don't necessarily need to pay for the entire cost upfront. There are several loan options that can make it easier for you to get your home improvement project started right now. What are your options? A Personal Loan One of the most common options people use to finance a home improvement project is a personal loan. This could be a great option for you if you don't want to use your home as collateral or if you don't have enough equity in your home…
Read More
08
Jul
By Todd Grey
Mortgage, ,

You Closed On A House: Do You Or Your Lender Own It?

You were able to find a house and successfully close on it, so congratulations on becoming a homeowner! Then, you pause for a second and think: does your lender own your house? Some people believe that if they only put 20 percent down on a house, the lender actually owns the other 80 percent. Does this mean that your lender still owns a large portion of your house? This is not the case, but there are some caveats that you need to keep in mind. Your Name Is On The Title First, you are the one who owns the house.…
Read More
07
Jul
By Todd Grey
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

First Time Home-buyers: How to Properly Research Your Mortgage Options

For most consumers, buying a house is the largest purchase you'll make in your life. That's why it's important to ensure that you have the best mortgage terms available. With so much at stake, it's important to have full confidence in both your lender and your mortgage. So how can you ensure that the mortgage you choose is the right one for you? Here's how you can evaluate your mortgage options and find the best option for your individual circumstances. Make Sure You Actually Do Shop Around According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, half of borrowers consider just one…
Read More
06
Jul
By Todd Grey
Mortgage, ,

An Overview Of A Drive By Appraisal

If you are applying for a home loan of any kind, there is a high likelihood that your lender will require a home appraisal. An appraisal is done to figure out how much your home is actually worth because the lender does not want to lend you more money than you could theoretically sell the home for in the future. There are some situations where the lender might be fine with a drive/by appraisal. What does this mean? Comparing A Traditional Appraisal To A Drive By Appraisal A traditional appraisal is a very thorough process where the appraiser comes to…
Read More
05
Jul
By Todd Grey
Financial Reports, ,

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – July 5, 2022

Last week’s scheduled economic news included reports on home prices, pending home sales, and inflation. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. S&P Case-Shiller: National Home Price Growth Ticks Down in April Home price growth slowed in April according to the S&P Case-Shiller National Home Price Index as growth slowed by 0.20 percent to a 20.40 percent gain year-over-year. Slower growth in home prices suggested that affordability concerns have caught up with the rapid home price growth seen during the pandemic. The S&P Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index reported that Tampa, Florida home prices gained 35.8…
Read More