Steve Hall's (affinity_mtg) Blog

With the untimely and unfortunate death of combo loans, buyers who have less than 20% down payment have been faced with the ugly truth about mortgage insurance.  It's here to stay, and it isn't cheap.  It's not unusual or uncommon to see mortgage insurance premiums in the $300 per month range, or...

I find myself surprised when I'm talking to clients, or real estate professionals, how little is actually known about how credit is scored.  Even people that deal with credit as a cornerstone of their living often have no real idea what the numbers mean, and how they work.  Without trying to get...

As all of us in the industry are aware, and consumers are becoming more aware, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has wreaked havoc on the real estate recovery and cost consumers billions by introducing HVCC regulations; and forcing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to comply. Some background on HVC...

I talk to a lot of clients who really don't understand how mortgage rates are determined; and why they fluctuate so wildly.  Of course it doesn't help that many industry professionals don't fully understand the process, either.  The first thing to understand is what mortgage rates are tied to.  W...

Annual income aside, there's not a person among us who wouldn't welcome the idea of having more money in their savings account. This is the money we use on everything from yearly vacations to family presents. Come holiday time, wouldn't it be nice to have an extra thousand or so dollars at your d...