NMLS #244111 · DRE #01477745
Learning Center
Straightforward explanations of the things that cost people money: credit, down payments, closing costs, rate locks, refinancing and pricing a home to sell.
Guides
First-Time Buyers
Conventional loans start at 3% down and FHA at 3.5%. Waiting to save 20% often costs more in rent and lost appreciation than the mortgage insurance you were trying to avoid.
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5 min read · Updated August 3, 2026
Credit
Paying down revolving balances, leaving old accounts open, and not opening new credit while you are in process. Small changes 60 days out can shift you into a better rate tier.
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5 min read · Updated August 3, 2026
Costs
Expect 2%–5% of the purchase price: origination, appraisal, title, escrow, recording, and prepaid taxes and insurance. Seller credits can offset much of it.
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6 min read · Updated August 3, 2026
Rates
A lock protects you during processing but costs more the longer it runs. Points only pay off if you hold the loan past the break-even month.
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5 min read · Updated August 3, 2026
Refinancing
Look at total cost against monthly savings, not just the rate. Dropping mortgage insurance or shortening the term can beat a rate reduction on its own.
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5 min read · Updated August 3, 2026
Reverse Mortgages
How the line of credit grows, what obligations remain yours, how heirs are protected by the non-recourse rule, and the situations where it is the wrong tool.
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7 min read · Updated August 3, 2026
Selling
Homes priced above the comps sit, go stale, and eventually sell for less than if they had been priced correctly on day one. Days on market is the enemy of your net.
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5 min read · Updated August 3, 2026
Self-Employed
Bank statement and asset-depletion programs can qualify you on deposits or reserves rather than adjusted gross income. Documentation matters more than the write-offs.
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5 min read · Updated August 3, 2026
Escrow
Inspection, appraisal, loan conditions, title work, insurance, final walkthrough and signing — with the deadlines that matter and what happens when one slips.
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6 min read · Updated August 3, 2026
Tools
Reading about payments helps. Seeing yours helps more. The calculators estimate a full monthly payment including taxes, insurance and mortgage insurance.
Questions
Yes. Send me your question by text, email, or the contact form and I'll answer it directly — no application required.
I do one-on-one walkthroughs that cover the same ground as a class, tailored to your income, credit and target neighborhoods.
