Blog - Robby Oakes Mortgage

How Does Making Lump Sum Payments Affect Your Mortgage? Let’s Take a Look

April 7, 2015 by Robby Oakes

Periodically, many homeowners will receive a rather sizable amount of extra cash. This may be from a bonus from your employer, a refund on your tax return, a financial gift from a relative or something else altogether. Before you make your decision about how to spend your money, consider what impact your lump sum payment will have on your mortgage.

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 6, 2015

April 6, 2015 by Robby Oakes

Mortgage rates ticked upward for fixed rate loans and were unchanged for 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages according to Freddie Mac. Weekly jobless claims were lower in spite of slower job growth reports.

Get Rid of Wi-Fi and Cellular Dead Zones in Your Home with These Easy Tips

April 3, 2015 by Robby Oakes

If you have a dead zone in your home, this issue can easily cause you considerable frustration on a daily basis, and you may be wondering what steps you can take to overcome the problem.

Four Ways That Being Diligent with Your Mortgage Payments Can Seriously Improve Your Credit

April 2, 2015 by Robby Oakes

The unfortunate reality is that many individuals have a lower credit rating than they would like. For many, this is caused by issues related to high debt balances, late payments and other related issues.

S&P Case-Shiller: Home Price Growth Slows in 2015

April 1, 2015 by Robby Oakes

According to the S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index report for January, home prices grew by 4.50 percent year-over-year as compared to January 2014âs year-over-year price growth rate of 10.50 percent. This was the lowest rate of home price growth since 2012.

3 Huge Mortgage Mistakes Made by First-time Home Buyers – and How to Avoid Them

March 31, 2015 by Robby Oakes

As a first-time home buyer, you may actively be seeking out information about your upcoming purchase. Buying a home is a huge financial move to make, and it can impact your financial situation and even your lifestyle for many years to come.

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – March 30, 2015

March 30, 2015 by Robby Oakes

Last week’s economic reports included reports on new and existing home sales and FHFA’s monthly home price index for properties associated with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages. The details:

Spring DIY Projects: How to Build a Treehouse That the Kids Will Love

March 27, 2015 by Robby Oakes

If you have children, no home is complete without a treehouse. Besides the fact that treehouses provide kids with hours of entertainment, they can also confer ancillary benefits that are hard to quantify. When building any type of treehouse, keep the following tips in mind.

3 Reasons Why Your Mortgage Lender Might Ask for Your Tax Returns – And Why You Should Provide Them

March 26, 2015 by Robby Oakes

Typically, a mortgage lender will include a request for least the last two to three years of your income tax returns with this documentation. There are several reasons why a lender may need to review your tax returns and why you should provide requested documentation as soon it is requested.

FHFA: Home Prices Rise 0.30 Percent in January

March 25, 2015 by Robby Oakes

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) reported that home prices rose by a seasonally-adjusted rate of 0.30 percent in January, and were 5.10 percent higher as compared to home prices in January 2014. FHFA oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and its home price report is based on sales of homes financed by mortgages owned or backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.