What Makes up Your FICO Score?

Feeling like your financial fate is being determined by pesky, confusing digits? Credit scores are based on complex algorithms that take multiple factors into account such as payment history and

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What Are Prepaids and Closing Costs?

When purchasing a home, knowing every fee and cost is at the forefront of the buyer’s mind. However, understanding the ins and outs of each cost can be difficult. Let’s

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Divorce loans concept with puzzle piece houses depicting family, car, dog, and money symbols, representing financial transition after divorce, branded with Mortgage Specialists logo.

As of the 2010 census, there were 56 million married couple households. Because the divorce rate ranges from 40-50%, a lot of people need divorce loans. That being said, we

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Three people discussing mortgage options at a table with documents, featuring the text "How to Choose a Mortgage Lender" and the logo of Mortgage Specialists, emphasizing guidance in selecting a mortgage lender.

You’ve decided you’re ready to buy a new home. The first step is choosing a mortgage lender. But how on earth do you go about finding the right lender for

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For sale sign in front of a house with text "Sellers Don't Like FHA Loans," representing challenges first-time homebuyers face with FHA loans in the mortgage market.

If you’re a first-time homebuyer, you may have heard that sellers don’t like FHA loans. You were probably left wondering why the seller would care about the type of mortgage

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Pre-approved mortgage document with a checkmark, titled "Why Does It Matter Where I Get My Pre-Approval?" featuring Mortgage Specialists branding.

As a consumer, you have a lot of choices when it comes to getting a mortgage pre-approval. You can go through your bank, go online, or go with a mortgage

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Woman reviewing documents with child at home, focusing on homeownership after divorce, Mortgage Specialists branding.

Deciding whether or not to purchase a home after a divorce is a tricky decision for most. We’ve found that when it comes to homeownership after divorce, many of our

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Couple receiving house keys from a representative, illustrating the decision of renting versus buying, with "To Rent or Buy?" text and Mortgage Specialists logo.

Deciding to purchase a home is a major commitment, which is why people often struggle with the decision of whether to rent or buy a home. There are many financial

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Hiring a Divorce Mortgage Professional, hands discussing paperwork, Mortgage Specialists branding, financial decision context.

In a divorce, the marital home is often the largest asset. In our experience, it can also be a large item of contention. This is often due to the emotional

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Blue and red game pieces balancing a house on a scale, representing the concept of escrow accounts in the context of divorce, with "Your Escrow Account and Divorce" text and Mortgage Specialists logo.

Divorcing your mortgage can be a tricky process. One of the most common questions we’ve received recently is about the escrow account and divorce. What happens to the money in

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Three-dimensional model houses, stacks of coins, and an hourglass representing time and finance, with "Three Things to Consider When Getting a Mortgage" text and Mortgage Specialists logo, emphasizing mortgage guidance for first-time homebuyers.

Have you been thinking about buying a home and getting a mortgage? We ask all of our clients to consider the following things when looking to buy. Doing so can

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Couple selecting paint colors for home improvement, highlighting the benefits of homeownership, with "7 Financial and Lifestyle Benefits of Home Ownership" text and Mortgage Specialists logo.

Owning a home is a large part of the American dream. According to a 2019 survey conducted by the National Association of REALTORS®, “Approximately 75% of non-homeowners believe homeownership is

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Modern residential home with landscaped lawn, featured in "Home Appraisal 101" by Mortgage Specialists, illustrating home appraisal concepts.

What is a home appraisal? Is it the assessed value or is it determined during the home inspection? It’s neither. A home appraisal is a qualified third-party’s educated opinion on

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Glossary of common mortgage, loan, and real estate jargon with the term "mortgage" highlighted in green, emphasizing financial terminology relevant to home buying and loans.

Diving into the realm of buying/selling a home or applying for loans can be a scary maneuver. There is money on the line and tons of jargon that you don’t

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Wooden houses with a downward red arrow, representing recession and interest rates impact on real estate, Mortgage Specialists branding.

We pride ourselves on being transparent and sharing up-to-date tips and information. With speculation of a recession on the horizon, we are here to share the statistics to help with

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Hand organizing documents in a file folder, emphasizing the importance of keeping paperwork in order for mortgage-related processes, with "Keeping Your Documents in Order" text and Mortgage Specialists logo.

As Tax Day has passed, you may have your W-2s, insurance forms, and other paperwork still laying around. Our tip to you is to file that paperwork away in a

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