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Buying real estate is even more challenging for those of us whose eyes glaze over at the mere mention of decimals, percentages or anything else that even hints of mathematics.


The financial aspect of purchasing the largest investment of your lifetime, though, is the most important. Nobody wants to lose money. Nobody wants to leave money on the table.


If you're in the market for information on mortgages, credit scores and interest rates, you've come to the right place. The financial and mortgage pros here at ActiveRain even tell you how to shop for and compare lenders, how to raise your credit score, how to get a mortgage after a short sale or foreclosure and how to get pre-approved for a mortgage loan. Even Mom and Dad can't give the great advice you'll find here at ActiveRain.


Plan to spend some time here because ActiveRain's content library is massive. Lucky for you we've arranged it so that it's über user-friendly. You'll be amazed at how easy it is to put your finger on just the information you're looking for without having to surf a million other pages.

Recent blogs on Lending / Financial
By Bob Elliot, 30Yrs Experience
(RES Realty)
Unemployment data has shown some rather interesting statistics, with the lowest unemployment rates in the last 14 months being reported. Looking closer at the statistics shows that the unemployment rate hasn’t just dropped due to more people finding work, but also because a significant number of people have stopped looking for work, causing the numbers to appear more favorable.Among analysts, this is a pretty standout example, and currently, the Federal Reserve has made no indication that it plans to change its policies on interest rates, with many members of the board still favoring increasing rates again. Hourly wages have also seen a modest increase, but this growth has been overshadowed by the increase in inflation for quite some time.Unemployment ReportThe unemployment rate fell in...
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By Kimo Stowell, James "Kimo" Stowell - REALTOR®, ABR®, GREEN
(HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 )
               Latest rates, based on 20 percent down, $200,000 owner-occupant mortgages. The rates and terms may vary; check with lenders for details. Rates may have changed click here to verifyWednesday, July 1, 2026  Lender Term/Type Interest Rate % Points % *APR American Savings Bank808-593-1226NMLS#423168 15-YR Fixed 5.250 2.000 5.645 30-YR Fixed 6.125 1.875 6.359 5-YR ARM 5.250 1.875 6.162 Bank of Hawaii877-616-2636 15-YR Fixed 5.500 0.875 5.636 30-YR Fixed 6.000 1.625 6.153 5-YR ARM 5.500 1.625 6.185 Central Pacific Bank808-544-0500NMLS#416603 15-YR Fixed 5.375 2.000 5.823 30-YR Fixed 6.000 2.000 6.277 5-YR ARM 5.500 2.000 6.418 Finance Factors808-548-3300NMLS#449916 15-YR Fixed 5.250 2.125 5.804 30-YR Fixed 6.000 2.250 6.356 5-YR ARM 5.875 1.500 6.789 First Hawaiian Bank808-643-...
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By Bob Elliot, 30Yrs Experience
(RES Realty)
The latest Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, the Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation, has been released. The report indicates that inflation remains elevated across most sectors, although the overall reading came in slightly below expectations.However, this encouraging development has been tempered by a decline in consumer sentiment, which has fallen for the fourth consecutive month. Much of the pessimism has been attributed to concerns surrounding the conflict in Iran and rising fuel costs.Despite inflation coming in below forecasts, some members of the Federal Reserve have continued to discuss the possibility of raising interest rates further in an effort to keep inflation under control.PCE IndexThe core personal consumption expenditures price index sho...
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By LISA ORME, Mortgages-Self Employed-DSCR-Reverse-Manuf. Homes
(LOCAL Bank)
Very pleased to get this email from the President of LOCAL Bank Mortgage Andy Voyles this week:Big congratulations to the mortgage division! You all finished in 4th place, nationally, in the small bank division. This is entirely built on your servant minded leadership, as acknowledged by our consumers and vendor partners.Attached is the formal press release unveiling the four lender categories and Top 10 finalists in each segment. Excerpted from the Official Press Release from Experience.com announcing 2025 Top Performers.   Experience.com’s Mortgage Performance Report for 2025: The Lenders and Loan Officers Redefining TrustSan Ramon, CA — June 23, 2026 — Experience.com, the industry leader in mortgage reputation and visibility management and customer experience (CX) software, has offic...
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By Charles Stallions, 850-476-4494 - Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze, Fl.
(Charles Stallions Real Estate Services )
PUT Charles In Charge™ — Why VA Buyers Need an Agent Who Truly Knows the ProgramBuying a home with a VA loan is one of the most powerful benefits available to those who’ve served. But like any benefit with unique rules, you get the most out of it when you have someone in your corner who understands how to navigate it with precision. Along the Gulf Coast — from Pensacola to Pace to Gulf Breeze — that guidance can be the difference between a smooth, confident purchase and a stressful experience filled with missed opportunities.Everything starts with clarity on day one. Before you ever step foot in a home, the right agent connects you with a VA‑approved lender to confirm eligibility, entitlement, and purchasing power. This avoids wasted time, false starts, and surprises later in the proces...
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By Bob Elliot, 30Yrs Experience
(RES Realty)
The week was relatively light following the release of the prior inflation data and the FOMC rate decision. The Federal Reserve decided to keep its overnight borrowing rate unchanged and has indicated no plans to make changes in the near term.Many members of the Federal Reserve Board continue to watch economic conditions closely, as inflation remains elevated across many sectors and could warrant further policy action if price pressures persist.FOMC Rate DecisionThe Federal Open Market Committee voted unanimously to keep its benchmark overnight borrowing rate anchored in a range of 3.5%-3.75%. The federal funds rate has held there since the central bank lowered rates by three-quarters of a percentage point in the latter part of 2025.Primary Mortgage Market Survey Index 15-Year FRM rates...
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By Charles Stallions, 850-476-4494 - Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze, Fl.
(Charles Stallions Real Estate Services )
PUT Charles In Charge™ — The Hometown Heroes Program Is Changing the Game for Florida Buyers If you’re a teacher, first responder, healthcare professional, or part of our military community, the Florida Hometown Heroes Program was built for you — and it’s one of the most powerful paths to homeownership in today’s market. Across Pensacola, Pace, and Gulf Breeze, this program provides down‑payment and closing‑cost assistance to the people who keep our communities running. That means you can get into a home sooner, keep more cash in your pocket, and finally make the move you’ve been working toward. Here’s what makes Hometown Heroes such a standout option: Down‑payment & closing‑cost assistance to reduce your upfront expenses Flexible loan options that pair with FHA, VA, USDA, and Conventi...
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By Doug Haney, Springfield Ohio Real Estate Agent
(The Haney Group / Coldwell Banker Heritage)
Springfield & Dayton Housing Market Update Mortgage rates ease and inventory rises — what June 2026's numbers mean for buyers and sellers. Talk to The Haney Group Published June 2026 · Updated June 2026 · By The Haney Group, Springfield, OH Quick Answer As of June 2026, the Springfield and Dayton, Ohio housing market is shifting toward balance: the 30-year mortgage rate has eased to 6.52%, well below last year's 6.84%, while regional home sales, prices, and new listings are all climbing. For buyers, that means more homes to choose from; for sellers, it means steady price growth and sale prices still averaging 100% of list. If you've checked mortgage rates or browsed listings in the past few weeks, you've probably noticed something: the market feels different than it did even six months...
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By GilbertRealtor BillSalvatore, Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net
(Arizona Elite Properties )
Bill Salvatore of Arizona Elite Properties featured a post toRe-Blog today on Active Rain. Good post by Sam today, andworthy of our daily Re-B. Gilbert AZ GILBERT ARIZONA HOMES FOR SALE, Bill Salvatore, AZVHV / HelpingArizona Heroes, New-Construction Advantage, Realtor, sell my house, 2026Market, Chandler #Sellmyhouse #whatsmyhomeworth #homevalues#2026market #ArizonaEliteProperties #ChandlerAZ#yourValleyProperty #GilbertRealtor #AZVHV#buyingaHome #LiveinSunnyAZ #BillSalvatore What's the difference between using a JBLM-focused VA loan specialist and a generic lender for your PCS to Pierce or Thurston County, and how do you choose the right mortgage partner? A JBLM VA loan specialist understands VA rules, PCS timelines, and local Pierce and Thurston markets, helping you close on time with...
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By Ashleigh Camberg, Military relocation Specialist in Olympia/Tacoma
(PCS Home Group)
What's the difference between using a JBLM-focused VA loan specialist and a generic lender for your PCS to Pierce or Thurston County, and how do you choose the right mortgage partner?A JBLM VA loan specialist understands VA rules, PCS timelines, and local Pierce and Thurston markets, helping you close on time with fewer surprises. A generic lender may offer VA loans but often lacks the PCS, BAH, and local-base expertise you need.Why Your Lender Choice Matters More During a PCS to JBLMWhen you're PCSing to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, you don't have the luxury of "figuring it out as you go." You're juggling report dates, temporary lodging, school transfers, and possibly buying and selling at the same time—often from another state or overseas.The wrong lender can derail a smooth move. Missed...
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By Bob Elliot, 30Yrs Experience
(RES Realty)
With the inflation reports showing their cards, the Consumer Price Index has shown to be in line with expectations, but unexpectedly the Producer Price Index has come in substantially higher than expected.This may indicate that future core cost increases are headed for consumers, as rising costs are passed through producers and businesses down to the customer level.This is somewhat offset by Consumer Sentiment having risen, breaking a three-month downward trend. Largely due to the deal with Iran that took place this weekend, there appears to be considerable optimism that fuel prices will return to previous norms. This makes it very unlikely that the Federal Reserve will adjust rates either up or down in the coming week.Consumer Price IndexThe consumer price index rose at a seasonally ad...
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By Franz Sag, SBLC & Bank Guarantee Real Estate Exposure
(Bear Capital Ventures Limited)
International trade offers tremendous opportunities for businesses looking to expand beyond domestic markets. However, trading across borders also introduces risks especially when buyers and sellers may be working together for the first time. One of the most trusted tools for reducing these risks is the Letter of Credit (LC).Whether you're an importer purchasing goods from overseas or an exporter shipping products to international buyers, understanding how a Letter of Credit works can help protect your business and improve cash flow.What is a Letter of Credit?A Letter of Credit is a financial instrument issued by a bank on behalf of a buyer. It guarantees that the seller will receive payment as long as they meet the terms and conditions specified in the LC.In simple terms, the bank acts...
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By Charles Stallions, 850-476-4494 - Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze, Fl.
(Charles Stallions Real Estate Services )
By Charles Stallions | Stallions Real Estate GroupPUT Charles In Charge™Whether you’re building wealth or protecting it, two forces can quietly erode what you’ve worked for: tax drag and concentration risk. The dollar amounts may differ depending on your portfolio size, but the mission is the same — keep more of what you’ve built and position it to grow with intention.Below are four strategies I walk investors through here along the Gulf Coast, from high‑net‑worth families to those building their first meaningful portfolio. 1. Reducing Concentration Risk in Large Single‑Stock PositionsFor high‑net‑worth investorsWhen a large portion of your net worth sits in one stock — often from a business sale, equity compensation, or long‑term loyalty to a company — selling everything at once can tr...
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By Real Estate Broker Cape Cod Heath Coker Falmouth, Heath Coker
(https://capegroup.com)
Stable Markets Still Exist in 2026Not all housing markets are under pressure. Many remain stable, and that matters.Recent data shows that while some counties in Florida and California face higher risk, others across the country show strong balance. Areas in Tennessee, Virginia, and parts of the Midwest stand out.These markets share common traits. Employment is steady. Housing costs align with income. Foreclosure rates stay low.This contrast is important. It shows that today’s housing environment is not a repeat of the past, even though some patterns look familiar.In the 2007 housing correction, a small number of counties created widespread impact. Today, risk is still clustered, but it is more contained.That means opportunity still exists. Buyers can find stable markets. Sellers can ope...
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By Candy Stevens, EA, Helping Clients Resolve IRS Problems
(Number Cruncher LLC)
Every year, Congress changes tax laws.  Most of those changes are boring.  Some are confusing.  And occasionally, one comes along that makes taxpayers stop and pay attention.This is one of those.The IRS recently announced that more than half of the states in the country have joined a new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program.  If you qualify, you may be able to receive a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for making a donation to certain scholarship organizations that help students attend elementary and secondary schools.Before you start writing checks, though, let's talk about how this works.The new program was created under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill.  The idea is simple.  Taxpayers can contribute to an approved Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). These organizations provide s...
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Rates may have jumped but we are still better than we wereHere's a quick chart with current rates (from a week ago) and rates from June the past few years: (Let's focus on the Blue line that is the weekly average of 30yr fixed rate conventional loans, the FreddieMac net yield reported once a week)While rates are up significantly from the beginning of the year we are much better than the past 2 Junes with The weekly average in the beginning of June 2024 at 6.99%, June 2025 at 6.85% and currently 6.48%.That dip below 6 at the end of February was anticipated based on the economic data but of course the "Global Fun" in Iran became the springboard for rates to climb rapidly. Thankfully we seem to be in a tight range that really isn't all that bad when you look at the averages for the past fe...
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By Trish Cole, Where Financial Strategy Meets Home Ownership
(New American Funding)
VA Finalizes New Partial Claim Program: A Positive Step for Veterans Facing Financial HardshipThe Department of Veterans Affairs has finalized its long-awaited Partial Claim and Loss Mitigation policies, and the response from many industry organizations has been overwhelmingly positive.For veterans experiencing temporary financial hardship, these changes create an additional pathway to avoid foreclosure while preserving homeownership opportunities earned through military service.One of the most significant developments is that the VA removed an earlier proposal that industry groups feared could increase some borrowers' monthly mortgage payments by as much as 15%. Instead, the finalized program focuses on providing sustainable solutions that help veterans recover from financial setbacks ...
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By Bob Elliot, 30Yrs Experience
(RES Realty)
Unemployment data has been released, revealing an interesting trend: different demographic groups are facing varying, and in some cases significantly higher, levels of unemployment.While the overall unemployment rate has remained steady at 4.3%, some demographics are experiencing substantially higher unemployment within their respective fields. This comes alongside hourly wage reports which have met the expected growth level for this month.Historically, however, wage growth has been offset by inflation rising at a much faster pace. As a result, many Americans have found the cost of living increasingly difficult to manage as they attempt to economize and cope with rising fuel, energy, and consumer goods costs.Unemployment ReportsUnemployment rates for every major group: The lowest is 3.2...
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By Kimo Stowell, James "Kimo" Stowell - REALTOR®, ABR®, GREEN
(HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 )
               Latest rates, based on 20 percent down, $200,000 owner-occupant mortgages. The rates and terms may vary; check with lenders for details. Rates may have changed click here to verifyWednesday, June 3rd , 2026  Lender Term/Type Interest Rate % Points % *APR American Savings Bank808-593-1226NMLS#423168 15-YR Fixed 5.250 1.875 5.625 30-YR Fixed 6.125 2.000 6.372 5-YR ARM 5.250 2.125 6.185 Bank of Hawaii877-616-2636 15-YR Fixed 5.500 0.875 5.636 30-YR Fixed 6.000 1.750 6.165 5-YR ARM 5.375 1.750 6.148 Central Pacific Bank808-544-0500NMLS#416603 15-YR Fixed 5.375 2.125 5.843 30-YR Fixed 6.000 2.250 6.302 5-YR ARM 5.500 2.000 6.351 Finance Factors808-548-3300NMLS#449916 15-YR Fixed 5.250 2.125 5.804 30-YR Fixed 6.125 1.875 6.448 5-YR ARM 5.875 1.500 6.789 First Hawaiian Bank808-6...
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By Dennis Dahlberg Broker/RI 623-582-4444
(Level 4 Funding )
 Securing funding is a common challenge for new investors.Access to capital is now more attainable. Options include lines of credit, private lenders, retirement funds, credit cards, and traditional bank loans. The key is to identify the funding source that best fits your needs. According to a report from LegalClarity, hard money lenders in Phoenix may seem like a practical funding option, but they carry significant financial risks due to high costs, short repayment periods, and the risk of rapid foreclosure, which could result in the loss of an entire investment. If you have not yet worked with a hard money lender in Arizona, now is a good time to learn more about them.A hard money lender is an individual or group that provides financing based on the property and the borrower's financia...
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