by Summit Mortgage Corporation | May 11, 2018 | appraisals, appraiser, Dewey Haney, home appraisal, home financing, home value, homeownership, Oregon, Portland, real estate, Vancouver, Washington
Whether you are purchasing or refinancing, appraisals matter. If you are a homeowner trying to sell or refinance your property, here are a few tips to get your home in shipshape for that appraisal. What is the Appraiser Looking For? Exterior
An...
by Summit Mortgage Corporation | Apr 17, 2018 | Andrew Lamont, Home Buying Process, home loans, homeownership, local lender, mortgage banker, pre-qualification, real estate market, Vancouver, Washington
Up until the past few weeks, my only personal experience with a real estate transaction was with purchasing my first home four years ago. However, as a local mortgage banker and licensed transaction coordinator, I’ve spent the past 12 years helping...
by Summit Mortgage Corporation | Feb 16, 2018 | home financing, home loans, homeownership, mortgage interest deductions, Mortgage Myths, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, tax law, taxes, TCJA
Mortgage Myth: “The new tax law is going to impact the value of homeownership. Owning a home won’t provide the same tax benefits.” The new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is bringing plenty of changes for homeowners. However, the rumor that these changes will take away...
by Summit Mortgage Corporation | Dec 12, 2017 | energy efficiency, energy efficient mortgages, Home Energy Assessment, Home Energy Score, Home Energy Score Assessor, home selling, homeownership, Oregon, Portland, Portland City Code Chapter 17.108
If you’re planning to sell your home in Portland this coming year, there’s an important change taking effect starting January 1, 2018. All homes being sold within Portland city limits will now be required to obtain a Home Energy Score prior to being put on the...
by Summit Mortgage Corporation | Jul 24, 2017 | condominiums, condos, condos in Portland, Home Buying Process, homeownership, Oregon, Portland, Sue Weaver, Trulia, Vancouver, Washington
With so many home options available, it can be hard to choose the right one. Often times overlooked are condos and townhomes. Condos in Portland or Vancouver are great for investors or even retirees, but why not a condo for a first-time home buyer or even a...
by Summit Mortgage Corporation | Jun 28, 2017 | buying a home, equity, home buying, Home Buying Process, homeownership, mortgage, Oregon, Portland, rent vs. buy, Sue Weaver, Trulia, Vancouver, Washington
The economy is strong and jobs are plentiful in Portland. In fact, the current unemployment rate here as of April 2017 was 3.4 percent, a full 1.3 percentage points lower than the national average. So why be a renter? Not only is it cheaper to buy than rent in...
