Practical guidance for homebuyers, realtors, and anyone navigating the mortgage process. No jargon, no hype. Just honest expertise from someone who has been doing this since 1994.
Builders are using rate buydowns and price cuts to move inventory as rates hold at a three-year high. What the October 2026 numbers mean for new construction buyers across the Portland metro, and how to make sure an incentive actually helps your financing.
Read articleThe average 30-year rate hit 7.28 percent in the first week of October 2026, the highest since November 2023. What changed, what it means in Portland and Lake Oswego, and what still helps.
Read articleMortgage rates reached a one-year high in late September 2026, yet Lake Oswego prices are holding steady. A calm look at the local numbers and what they mean for buyers this fall.
Read articleThe Fed raised rates on September 16, yet mortgage rates barely moved. A calm look at why the Fed doesn't set your mortgage rate, and what the local market is actually doing.
Read articleRates moved from the mid-6s back toward 7% in September 2026. What changed, what it means for Portland and Lake Oswego, and how to think about locking, buydowns, and timing without the panic.
Read articlePortland DPAL, OHCS programs, and this year's higher FHA and conforming loan limits, plus the truth about the 20 percent down myth. What first-time buyers should actually know.
Read articleRates are holding in the mid-6 percent range with Portland and Lake Oswego prices roughly flat. What this actually means for your payment, your timeline, and whether to buy now or wait.
Read articleA practical breakdown of current conditions across Lake Oswego, West Linn, Tualatin, Wilsonville, Canby, and Oregon City. Rates, inventory, construction trends, and what buyers need to know.
Read articlePortland metro new construction permits dropped to a 15-year low. What this means for buyers planning to build, plus how to navigate construction financing in today's market.
Read articleMost people think a construction loan is just a regular mortgage with a longer timeline. After three and a half decades, I have learned it is a completely different animal.
Read articleA clear, step-by-step walkthrough of what actually happens from application to closing. Reduce the overwhelm before you start.
Read articleTrusts, unique properties, seller credits, earnest-money structuring. How an experienced loan officer finds a path forward when others see dead ends.
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