Laura Churchill, Mortgage Consultant At Empire Home Loans, Inc.

08/07/2024

Mortgage pre-qualification and mortgage pre-approval are not the same!

When it comes to the former, the applicant provides information to the lender, such as income, employment, existing debts, etc.

This information is enough, in most cases, to pre-qualify the applicant for a mortgage.

However, this information is not yet VERIFIED, which means the applicant is not yet approved, and information may arise to disqualify the applicant.

To avoid this, go after pre-approval – that is, have your information verified first.

Let us know if you have any questions or need any assistance – we are always here to help :)

08/07/2024

Mortgaging a home is a serious endeavor, one that requires extensive planning, strategizing, and commitment.

So for all the homeowners out there, please do us a favor and share your wisdom with the class:

What did your mortgage plan look like when you first bought your house, and how has it changed since then?

08/06/2024

“The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” - Maya Angelou

You deserve a safe place to retreat to, a soft place to land, a shelter during the harshest of storms.

We want to make sure that you do.

If you’re on the hunt for a home but need a little help getting your hands on the keys, send us a message or give us a call. We’re happy to tell you more about the lending services we have to offer :)

08/06/2024

Looking to borrow some cash to make that life changing purchase?

Could be a car, a pizza oven, a workspace, a fancy toolkit, or even a house…

Before you go rushing into the lenders office pen in hand, have a look at these tips for responsible borrowing:

-Spend time looking at your options, researching what offers are available and getting advice. Perhaps you need the loan quickly and you feel like there is no time – but the wrong decision can have you paying for years in the future.
-Always find out the total amount you will have to repay when borrowing. A shorter repayment period may beat a slightly lower Annual Percentage Rate (APR) amount.
-Know the difference between secured and unsecured loans. With a secured loan you can lose your home if you don't consistently make payments
-Make a budget to ensure you will be able to afford making payments
-Watch out for interest free deals. They seem great, but are only interest free if you pay them off within a certain time period. If you don't pay them off in time, the interest rate goes through the roof!

It's a dog eat dog world out there, so avoid the loan sharks and come out to see us. We will give you the assistance you need, without the shady hidden fees :)

08/05/2024

Ask pretty much any lender and they’ll tell you that a good credit score is crucial if you want to get a mortgage.

So, for all the homeowners and mortgage-owers out there, please, tell us:

[My credit score was _____ when I obtained my mortgage.]

08/05/2024

I had a dream last night where every time I took out a dollar from my wallet, it would fill up again with 100’s.

I went straight to a chocolatier and bought their entire stock.

08/03/2024

For all the mortgage moguls out there…

It’s time to put your knowledge to the test ;)

[The word ‘mortgage’ comes from the French word ‘mort gaige,’ which means ‘dead pledge’.]

08/03/2024

Mortgage mania!

For most people, the best option for buying a house is to take out a mortgage. But what exactly does that mean?

A mortgage is the agreement between you and a lender, which gives the lender the right to take your property if you are unable to repay the borrowed amount plus interest.

I know, right? Pretty heavy.

So it's very important that you take the time to get yourself the best deal possible! Here are a few things to look out for when taking out a mortgage:

-The size of the loan
-The interest rate
-The closing costs of the loan
-The lender's fees
-The Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
-The type of interest rate and whether it can change (fixed vs. adjustable?)
-The loan term (how long you have to repay the loan)
-Whether the loan has a prepayment penalty, a balloon clause, an interest-only feature, or negative amortization

Being educated about your decision is the first step to ensuring that you will be able to pay it off and own the house of your dreams!

Happy hunting!

08/02/2024

“Buying real estate is not only the best way, the quickest way, the safest way, but the only way to become wealthy.” - Marshall Field

Unless you win the lottery, of course ;)

All jokes aside, buying a home is the key to unlocking your wealth. Luckily for you, there’s nothing we love more than helping our followers find the home of their dreams ❤️

Interested in making that happen? Want to learn more about the lending services we have to offer? Shoot us a message or give us a call!

08/01/2024

How well do you understand lending lingo?

Let’s find out ;)

[APR is an acronym for ‘annual percentage rate’. It is the cost you pay annually to borrow money.]

08/01/2024

We find great fulfillment and satisfaction knowing that we are giving the people of our community the opportunity to move forward with their lives without the worry of losing their homes.
The sincerest thanks to every one of you for your business and for your trust!

08/01/2024

07/31/2024

Contrary to popular belief, even mortgages lend themselves to humor ;)

Take this one, for example:

How did the bag of fertilizer help the vegetable farmer pay his mortgage?

It raised his celery 😂

07/31/2024

Inflation giving you the blues?

We’re happy to help if you’re struggling to make those mortgage payments.

But we’d be even happier if you never needed to come to us in the first place – so here’s a tip you can use to save money on your mortgage:

Even though a 15 year mortgage will have a much lower interest rate than a 30 year mortgage, you are tasked with making monthly payments that are considerably more expensive – and that may be too much to handle.

So why not take out a 30 year mortgage, but pay it off quicker?

The great thing about this is, you can make payments as if it is a 15 year loan, but without the added stress and responsibility of the higher minimum payment.

That way if you ever find yourself in trouble, you’ll have a much easier time making those minimum payments.

Just watch out that your mortgage doesn’t include a prepayment penalty – that would put a serious damper on your plans.

Even though we would miss your company, we’d be happy to know that you are succeeding in building the life of your dreams, without any worry of losing your home.

After all, we are here to help :)

05/16/2024

Our online tools make it as easy as ordering takeout from your couch, your desk, or even the beach! Ready to make your dream home a reality? Slide into my DMs and let's get started! 🏡💻🌴 👈 👈

05/16/2024

Why keep lining your landlord's pockets when you could be investing in your own future? Let's chat about how you can kick that rent payment to the curb and start building equity in your very own home. Time to say goodbye to rent hikes and hello to homeownership! 🏡💰 👈

05/16/2024

Time to turn that side hustle from a fling into a serious relationship! Say goodbye to pay stubs and hello to Bank Statement loans - because who needs paperwork when you're on the road to financial freedom? Slide into my DMs and let's make those money moves together. 💰💼 👈

05/15/2024

They say home is where the heart is, and we couldn't agree more. Let us help you find the mortgage that meets your needs, for the house that steals your heart. Contact us!
👈

05/14/2024

Have we worked together on a home purchase or refi? They say a picture is worth a thousand words … leave your three below (the more creative the better)! 👈

05/14/2024

Tired of being limited to the boring choices banks offer? Say goodbye to the snooze-fest and hello to a smorgasbord of lending options with us, the cool independent mortgage brokers. Don't settle for basic, give us a call today and let's spice up your mortgage game! 👈

05/13/2024

🏡 Tired of renting and ready to adult like a pro? Say goodbye to your landlord and hello to homeownership with a little help from our BFF, FHA loans! Don't let a pesky credit score or a tight budget cramp your style. Give us a buzz today and let's make your homebuying dreams a reality! 💸🔑 👈

05/12/2024

Get ready to be the envy of all your friends with our quick and painless mortgage process. Say goodbye to endless paperwork and hello to your dream home in no time! Don't wait for your buddies to come up with lame excuses, invite them over for a move-in party they won't forget! 🎉🏡💸 👈

05/12/2024

Hey Veterans, did you know that your awesome service to our country comes with some sweet benefits on a home loan? Give us a call and let us show you how we can help. Because let's face it, you deserve it for keeping us all safe. 🇺🇸💪 👈

05/11/2024

Looking for the perfect castle to call home? Say no to compromises and hello to a jumbo loan! Let's chat about making your dream house a reality. 🏰💸 👈

05/10/2024

Who needs a cash offer when you've got delayed financing on your side? Don't let those speedy buyers win the race just yet - we've got tricks up our sleeves to get that cash flow back in your hands. Give us a call and let's make that dream home yours! 💸🏡 👈

05/10/2024

Who would've thought that closing credit accounts could actually hurt your credit score? It's like a bad breakup with your money! Don't be a heartbreaker, keep those accounts open and keep your credit strong. Reach out for some credit wisdom! 👈

05/09/2024

Tired of drowning in a sea of paperwork just to get into your dream home? Fear not, my friend! Slide into my DMs and let's chat about how e-signing can save the day. 🏠💻 👈

05/09/2024

Are you ready to take the next step after the honeymoon phase? It's time to put that wedding gift cash to good use and invest in your dream home! Let's talk about your options and make those newlywed dreams come true! 🏡💰 👈

05/08/2024

Tired of playing the field with home loans? Let us be your one-stop mortgage matchmaker! Call us now and let's find the perfect loan that sweeps you off your feet. No need to swipe right on shady lenders anymore! 👈