Lora Behm

Why Your Mortgage Approval Amount Isn’t the Same Everywhere A lot of people walk into their bank, get an approval amount, and assume that’s it — that whatever number they’re given is the same number they’d get anywhere else. But that’s simply not the case. Different...

“What’s Your Best Rate?” — The Million-Dollar Question I Get Asked All the Time If there’s one question I hear more than anything else, it’s this one: “What’s your best rate?” And honestly… it’s a fair question. But it’s also one I can’t answer based on a quick phone...

Have someone helping you out with the bills every month? Here’s something most people have no idea about — and it can make a huge difference when you’re trying to qualify for a mortgage: Some lenders actually allow us to use contributory income to help boost your...

Probate timelines aren’t always the same — here’s why… When it comes to settling an estate, people are often surprised by how different the timelines can look. Some move quickly, some take much longer — and it’s not always for the reasons you’d expect. There are...

What You May Not Know About Title Insurance Title insurance is something every homeowner has—yet people don't really understand what it is. Title insurance plays a big role in protecting both you and the lender from potential issues tied to your property. And it's...

Retired? There Are Still Ways to Qualify for a Mortgage! Just because you’re retired doesn’t mean your options for getting a mortgage are gone. While it can sometimes be easier to qualify with traditional employment income, there are still plenty of solutions...

Why Paying Cash Doesn’t Always Mean You’ll Qualify for a Mortgage Just because you can buy a house in cash doesn’t mean you’ll automatically qualify for a mortgage later. I’ve had clients come to me saying, “I have enough cash to buy the property outright, but I want...

Don’t Have Money for a Deposit? You Have Options When you get an accepted offer on a house, you’ll need to provide a deposit—usually within 24 hours. This is typically around 5% of the purchase price, though your realtor will confirm the exact amount. This is not the...

Make Your Mortgage Work for You When it comes to choosing a mortgage, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The right option depends on your goals, your budget, and your lifestyle. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common choices—and what they actually mean....