Broker’s Edge – Smarter Real Estate LendingBy Steven M. Hook, MBA, CMPS, CMAResidential & Commercial Mortgage Advisor – San Francisco Bay Area Holiday shopping for friends and family shouldn’t feel overwhelming—but it often is. Shopping for a mortgage shouldn’t feel overwhelming either—but for many borrowers, it is. Between online rate ads, conflicting advice from friends,…

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THE “DELAYED FINANCING EXCEPTION” MAY BENEFIT YOU1 WHAT IF YOU PAY CASH AND REIMBURSE YOURSELF LATER? Some homebuyers would benefit from paying cash for a new home now and doing a cash-out refinance later to get reimbursed for the funds used in the cash purchase. Here are three examples where this strategy may be useful:…

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Your Guide to the Housing & Mortgage Markets FOUR REASONS WHY HOUSE PRICES AREN’T LIKELY TO COME DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY1 ALTHOUGH HOUSE PRICES HAVE COME DOWN IN SOME MARKETS, THERE IS LIMITED HOUSING SUPPLY… AND THIS WON’T CHANGE ANYTIME SOON. We currently have a shortage of between 3 million and 5 million homes in the US,…

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The Federal Reserve controls the Fed Funds rate, the interest rate banks charge each other for borrowing short-term funds. The Fed Funds rate went down to 4% after the Fed cut rates on October 29, 2025. The Prime Rate is based on the Fed Funds rate. The Prime Rate is set by large banks and…

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This blog is your go-to resource for residential and commercial financing insights in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Here you’ll find:🔹 Professional Spotlights — interviews with trusted advisors and service providers who impact real estate decisions (appraisers, financial advisors, attorneys, contractors & more).🔹 Loan Insights — practical strategies and solutions I encounter as…

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