Robby Oakes Mortgage

Chapel Hill Mortgage Lender | Robby's Blog about Mortgages in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and Crystal Coast area of NC

  • Home
  • Our Main Site
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Mortgage Calculator
    • First Time Home Buyer Tips
    • First Time Home Seller Tips
    • Home Appraisal
    • Home Inspection
    • Loan Checklist
    • Loan Process
    • Loan Programs
    • Mortgage FAQ
    • Mortgage Glossary
  • Contact Us
Block
Robby Oakes Mortgage Team
A North Carolina Mortgage Originator Committed
to Service and Transparency

Serving Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, Greensboro, Wilmington, Charlotte, Morehead City and all of North Carolina.

Rate Quote Icon
Get a Rate Quote
Want a quick quote? Fill out this form
Get Pre-Approved
Get Pre-Approved Now
Ready to get started? Click here!

Why a Home With a Private Septic System May Need Extra Mortgage Review

November 5, 2026 by Robby Oakes

A house with a private septic system may offer the space and privacy many buyers want, especially outside areas served by public sewer lines. Yet septic systems are an important part of a property’s infrastructure, and their condition can affect both the purchase decision and the mortgage process. Buyers who understand the basics before making an offer are better prepared for inspections, documentation requests, and possible repairs.

Filed Under: Home Buyer Tips Tagged With: Home Buyer Tips, Mortgage Approval, Septic System

How an Unfinished Basement Can Affect Your Mortgage Appraisal

November 4, 2026 by Robby Oakes

An unfinished basement can look like an opportunity. Buyers may imagine a future family room, guest space, home gym, or office. But when a home is being financed, the appraiser has to evaluate what exists today, not what the basement might become after a renovation. That distinction can affect the home’s reported living area, comparable sales, and ultimately the value used by the lender.

Filed Under: Mortgage Tips Tagged With: Mortgage Appraisal, Mortgage Tips, Unfinished Basement

Why a Shared Well Can Complicate a Mortgage Approval

November 3, 2026 by Robby Oakes

Buying a home with a private well can feel straightforward until you discover that the water source is shared with a neighboring property. Shared wells are common in some rural and semi-rural communities, but they can introduce questions that buyers of homes with municipal water may never encounter. A lender may need to understand not just whether the water works today, but whether the property has a dependable legal right to use it in the future.

Filed Under: Mortgage Tips Tagged With: Home Buying, Mortgage Approval, Mortgage Tips

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – November 2nd, 2026

November 2, 2026 by Robby Oakes

The FOMC rate decision has been announced, and the Federal Reserve has decided to keep interest rates unchanged. In a press statement, the Federal Reserve stated that inflation risks have eased in recent months.

Filed Under: Financial Reports Tagged With: Financial Report, Jobless Claims, Mortgage Rates

Why the Square Footage in a Listing May Not Match the Mortgage Appraisal

October 30, 2026 by Robby Oakes

A home’s advertised square footage can influence which properties buyers tour, how they compare asking prices, and what they expect from an appraisal. But the number in a real estate listing is not always the same as the living area reported by a mortgage appraiser. Differences can occur even when nobody intended to provide misleading information. Understanding why can help buyers evaluate a home more accurately.

Filed Under: Home Buying Tips Tagged With: Home Buying Tips, Mortgage Appraisal, Square Footage

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 599
  • Next Page »

Robby Oakes


Robby Oakes

CIMG Managing  Director
NMLS# 91606

How can we help?

Connect with Us

CIMG Residential Mortgage

Quick Links

  • Our Main Site
  • Accessibility Statement
  • NMLS Consumer Access
  • Privacy Policy
©2025 Robby Oakes Mortgage Team
Corporate Investors Mortgage Group
NMLS# 39460.
Licensed to Do Business in the State of NC

Equal_Housing_Opportunity

Copyright © 2026 · Powered by MySMARTblog

Copyright © 2026 · Genesis Sample Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in