Home Loans

With costs on the rise due to inflation, many people are having a tough time making ends meet. This obviously puts a strain on savings and makes it difficult to be prepared for winter, the holiday gifting season, and unexpected emergencies. Here are tips that may help you.

The average home in the US spends more than $2,000 a year on energy; 55% of that is for heating and cooling. Midwest winters can be freakishly cold. All joking aside,   

Are you in the market for a car, apartment, or your very first home? If you answered yes to any of these, then you should focus on understanding credit scores and why they are essential.

A credit score is a 3-digit number (between 300 to 850) that your lender will use to determine your creditworthiness. Think of your credit score like a report card – it shows whether you've been meeting your debt payments on time. The lender uses...

House hunting can be one of the most exciting times in your life. Searching for the home with the perfect back yard, one with just the right kitchen counter space, or one where you can see your children or grandchildren making memories is both exhilarating and sometimes perplexing. How much house can you afford? After all, it’s probably one of the biggest investments you’ll make. So how can a mortgage pre-qualification set your mind at ease? Let’s see how.

We understand that this can be frustrating for you as a consumer. It's natural to assume that the bank sold your information to a third-party vendor. However, it's important to know that the bank did not sell your information.

The credit bureaus sold your information as a trigger lead.

Trigger leads are consumer reports created and sold by the credit bureaus and include data on...

Effective May 1st, 2023, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is making changes to the Loan-Level Price Adjustment Matrix.

These fee structure changes will impact all whole loans purchased on or after May 1, 2023, and for loans delivered into MBS with issue dates on or after May 1, 2023, unless otherwise noted here.

No, this mortgage fee structure change will impact only those loans that are sold directly to...

Remodeling a home can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it also requires a considerable amount of time, effort, and money. Carefully consider the pros and cons of remodeling before taking on such a project. Homeowners typically consider remodeling when their current living space no longer meets their needs, or if they want to make improvements that will increase the value of their property.

You’re officially a first-time home buyer. Congratulations! Now the hard parts over, right? Not necessarily. What happens after you move into your new home? Costs associated with upkeep, improvements, and other expenses can and will pop up. If you aren't educated in these areas, you leave yourself open to making costly mistakes.

This article will help provide a step-by-step education for first time home buyers to help...

Our Wisconsin winter’s average low temperature is 5 degrees in February, and the high temperature is below freezing. These temps can lead to a constant humming from your furnace during winter months. Cold temperatures not only affect your heat bill compared to warmer months but also put stress on your vehicle and possibly your wallet.

So, what can you do to save on home energy during the winter? And what can you do to be kind to...

When you build home equity, you're growing your total net worth. In our latest MLO feature blog, Mike discusses what equity is, why it's good, and 5 ways to build equity in your home.

Home equity is the difference between the balance on your mortgage and the current value of your home. For example, if you have $225,000 left on your mortgage and the present value of your home is $310,000, you have $85,000 of equity in your home.

You found the perfect home, saved for a down payment, and applied for a mortgage. Now it’s time to finalize the paperwork and pay the mortgage closing costs. But what types of expenses might you incur in your closing costs?

Sue Ruesch, NMLS #675057, Wisconsin Rapids Mortgage Lender, provides possible expenses you may incur in your home closing costs, helping you better prepare.