Category: News

Best Mortgage Lenders in Clinton, Utah (2026 Buyer Guide) Choosing the right mortgage lender in Clinton, Utah isn’t just about finding the lowest advertised rate. The best lender for you depends on your situation — whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, using down payment assistance, purchasing with a VA loan, or moving up into your next home. Clinton buyers have access to national online lenders, large branch-based lenders, and local mortgage teams. This guide breaks down the best mortgage lenders in Clinton by buyer type, helping you understand which option may be the best fit for your needs. Buyers exploring their options for Clinton mortgage loans should understand how different lenders serve different buyer needs. How to Choose a Mortgage Lender in Clinton Before choosing a lender, it helps to consider…

Best Mortgage Lenders in Layton, Utah (2026 Buyer Guide) Choosing the right mortgage lender in Layton, Utah isn’t just about finding the lowest advertised rate. The best lender for you depends on your situation — whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, using down payment assistance, purchasing with a VA loan, or moving up into your next home. Layton buyers have access to national online lenders, large branch-based lenders, and local mortgage teams. This guide breaks down the best mortgage lenders in Layton by buyer type, helping you understand which option may be the best fit for your needs. Buyers exploring their options for Layton mortgage loans should understand how different lenders serve different buyer needs. How to Choose a Mortgage Lender in Layton Before choosing a lender, it helps to consider…

Best Mortgage Lenders in Clearfield, Utah (2026 Buyer Guide) Choosing the right mortgage lender in Clearfield, Utah isn’t just about finding the lowest advertised rate. The best lender for you depends on your situation — whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, using down payment assistance, purchasing with a VA loan, or moving up into your next home. Clearfield buyers have access to national online lenders, large branch-based lenders, and local mortgage teams. This guide breaks down the best mortgage lenders in Clearfield by buyer type, helping you understand which option may be the best fit for your needs. Buyers exploring their options for Clearfield mortgage loans should understand how different lenders serve different buyer needs. How to Choose a Mortgage Lender in Clearfield Before choosing a lender, it helps to consider…

A Simple Way to Calculate Your Mortgage Payment   Introduction: Calculating your mortgage payment doesn’t have to be complicated! Whether you’re budgeting for a new home or just curious about how much you can afford, understanding the basics of mortgage calculation will give you a clearer picture. This post will walk you through a simple method to estimate your monthly mortgage payment. And if you’re looking for a more in-depth guide, check out our complete mortgage calculation guide for more details! Step-by-Step Guide to Calculate Your Mortgage Payment There are a few important factors that affect your mortgage payment: Loan Amount (Principal): The total amount you’re borrowing. Interest Rate: The percentage of your loan that you’ll pay in interest each year. Loan Term: The length of time over which you’ll…

Understanding the Annual Gift Tax Limit and Its Benefits for First-Time Homebuyers When it comes to gifting money, understanding the current tax laws can help you make the most of your generosity. In 2024, the annual tax-free gift limit is $18,000, and the lifetime exemption amount is up to $13.61 million. These limits can have significant benefits, especially for first-time homebuyers. Annual Gift Tax Limit The annual gift tax limit refers to the amount of money you can give to an individual each year without needing to file a gift tax return (IRS Form 709). For 2024, this limit is set at $18,000 per recipient. This means you can give up to $18,000 to as many people as you want, and neither you nor the recipient will need to pay…

Transform Your Almost Perfect Home into Your Dream Home Are you dreaming of turning your almost perfect home into the perfect space you've always desired? With Cornerstone's Big Box Home Enhancement Loan, you can make that dream a reality. Offering options for as little as 3% down and the ability to roll the cost of improvements into your mortgage, this loan program is designed to help you enhance your home with ease. What is the Big Box Home Enhancement Loan? The Big Box Home Enhancement Loan from Cornerstone is a streamlined solution designed to help homeowners finance small-scale projects, design customizations, and minor repairs. Instead of paying upfront, you can conveniently finance the cost into your mortgage, making home improvement more accessible and affordable. How Does It Work? Here's a…

If you're a homeowner or considering buying a home, you may have heard of mortgage points. These points can help lower your interest rate, but you might be wondering if they're tax deductible. In this blog post, we'll explore what mortgage points are and the rules for deducting them on your tax return. What are Mortgage Points? Mortgage points, also known as discount points, are fees paid directly to the lender at closing in exchange for a reduced interest rate on your mortgage. One point typically equals 1% of your loan amount. For example, if you're taking out a $300,000 mortgage, one point would cost you $3,000. By paying points, you can lower your monthly mortgage payments over the life of the loan. Tax Deductibility of Mortgage Points The good…

Making the Dream of Owning a Home a Reality In the face of soaring home prices, which have risen by an eye-opening 87.6% from 2018 to 2022 in Utah, Davis County is taking a stand to support its residents. With wages only increasing by about 11% statewide, the disparity between income and the cost of housing has made homeownership an elusive dream for many low to moderate-income families. This is why Davis County's Community and Economic Development has launched an innovative Homeownership Assistance program aimed at bridging this gap. A Helping Hand Up to $50,000 The program offers a one-time homeownership assistance loan of up to $50,000 to help reduce the primary mortgage needed, thereby making monthly payments more affordable. This loan carries a minimal 1% interest and is repayable…

Introduction Welcome to the world of mortgage rates, where numbers can make or break your home-buying dreams! With mortgage rates on the move, it’s crucial for potential homebuyers to understand when these rates might go down. That’s where we come in! In this article, we’ll explore the latest predictions on when mortgage rates will go down and how it could impact your decision-making process. Get ready to dive into factors that influence mortgage rates, such as the Federal Reserve’s actions and the benchmark range. We’ll also gather expert opinions and discuss their reliability. Lastly, we’ll talk about timing your purchase and choosing the right loan type for you. So, without further ado, let’s embark on this journey to discover when those elusive mortgage rates may finally take a dip! Factors…

When shopping for a mortgage, you may have come across the terms "fixed rate" and "adjustable rate." But what's the difference, and which one is the best option for you? Here's a breakdown of the pros and cons of fixed and adjustable interest rate mortgages to help you make an informed decision. Fixed Interest Rate Mortgages With a fixed interest rate mortgage, the interest rate remains the same throughout the entire term of the loan. This means that your monthly mortgage payments will also remain the same. Pros: Predictability: With a fixed interest rate mortgage, you know exactly what your monthly mortgage payments will be for the entire term of the loan. This can make budgeting easier and can provide peace of mind. Stability: Because the interest rate is fixed,…