Mortgage Tips

California mortgage rate trends over the past year reveal an interesting change that began a few months back. For years, short-term adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) loans tended to offer lower rates than the more commonly used 30-year fixed mortgage. But…

California homeowners who are thinking about refinancing their mortgage loans in 2020 have a new incentive for doing it sooner rather than later. A new government-imposed refinancing fee will take effect on December 1 of this year. This fee could…

Summary: This article explains the pros and cons of using a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage when buying a home in California. In short, you'll have a larger monthly payment but pay a lot less interest over time, compared to a 30-year…

Highlights from this mortgage industry update: Most first-time buyers in California opt for a low down payment.That's based on a recent report from an industry group.In this context, "low" means putting less than 20% down on a home purchase.Private mortgage…

This article provides an overview of the minimum down-payment requirements for conventional loans in California. We've covered this subject in the past. But mortgage trends and requirements can change over time. So we thought it was time to revisit the…

Did you know it's possible to use a first and second mortgage loan to buy a home in California? It's true. And in some situations, this kind of strategy can work to the borrower's advantage? But what does it mean…

Is the spring home-buying "season" finally ramping up in California? Sort of. While real estate activity is down overall, a new report showed a significant week-to-week increase in California home loan applications. This could be a sign that the real…

Is now a good time to refinance a home in California? For many homeowners across the Golden State, the answer is yes! Mortgage rates are hovering near historic lows, and home prices have risen over the past year. So 2020…