Smarter Mortgage Series
September 11, 2001: 25 Years Later, I Still Remember Where I Was
A retired Air Force veteran reflects on September 11, 2001, five military deployments, the cost of freedom, and why 25 years later we must never forget. Twenty-five years ago today, I was a young Airman stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Northern California. I had been in the United States Air Force for just…
Read MoreMortgage Money Myths: How Much House Can I Afford Is Not the Same as How Much Can I Qualify For
Helping homebuyers and homeowners make smarter financial decisions, one mortgage question at a time. “Doug, how much house can I afford?” That’s one of the most common questions I hear from homebuyers. But that’s actually not quite the question I want you to ask me. As your lender, I can determine how much mortgage you…
Read MoreThe Machine Behind the Mortgage: What Rocket’s Record Growth Looks Like From the Inside
Rocket just reported its most profitable quarter in four years. The numbers are impressive. Rocket closed $49.1 billion in mortgage volume during the second quarter and reached record market share in both purchase and refinance business. Purchase market share climbed to 6.2%, refinance market share reached 14.3%, and Rocket now services approximately $2 trillion in…
Read MoreMortgage Money Myths: Should Self Employed Borrowers Write Off Everything?
The Smarter Mortgage Series Helping homeowners make smarter financial decisions, one mortgage question at a time. Every Realtor knows one. Every CPA has several. Every lender talks with them almost every day. The self-employed borrower. One of the hardest conversations I have starts with a sentence I’ve heard hundreds of times: “Doug, my business made…
Read MoreMortgage Money Myths: Should You Wait for Interest Rates to Drop Before Buying?
The Smarter Mortgage Series Helping homeowners make smarter financial decisions, one mortgage question at a time. Every week someone tells me, “Doug, we’re just going to wait until rates come down.” My response usually surprises them. I don’t know when rates will come down. Neither does anyone else. What I do know is there are…
Read MoreNew prescription available… it’s called VAL
@dougisyourlender 🚨 New prescription available… it's called VAL. 😄 Had a little fun filming this one with my team lead, Dr. Gabe Muñoz. Thanks, Gabe, for being a good sport and helping bring this idea to life! Humor aside, there's a great lesson here. A Verified Approval Letter (VAL) can help create a smoother transaction…
Read MoreThe VA Home Loan Roadmap: A Guide for Active Duty, Veterans, and Military Families
The Smarter Mortgage Series Helping homeowners make smarter financial decisions, one mortgage question at a time. After twenty years in the Air Force and multiple moves, I have learned that buying a home as a veteran is about much more than getting approved for a loan. Whether you are active duty, transitioning out of the…
Read MoreSeven Ways Buyers Are Making Homes More Affordable in 2026
The Smarter Mortgage Series Helping homeowners make smarter financial decisions, one mortgage question at a time. Welcome to The Smarter Mortgage Series. Every week, I answer one of the most common questions I hear from homebuyers and homeowners. My goal is not to sell you a loan. It is to give you the information you…
Read MoreShould You Buy Down Your Mortgage Rate? Here’s When It Makes Sense And When It Doesn’t
The Smarter Mortgage Series Helping homeowners make smarter financial decisions, one mortgage question at a time. Welcome to The Smarter Mortgage Series. Every week, I answer one of the most common mortgage questions I hear from homebuyers and homeowners. My goal is not to sell you a loan. It is to give you the information…
Read MoreWhat Credit Score Do I Really Need to Buy a Home in 2026?
The Number Most Borrowers Worry About Isn’t Always the Most Important One One of the first questions I hear from prospective homebuyers is: “What credit score do I need to qualify for a mortgage?” The answer may surprise you. Many people believe they need a 700 or 800 credit score to buy a home. While…
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