Blog
How to Buy an Investment Property Using the Rent, Not Your Income
A DSCR loan lets you buy an investment property that qualifies on the rental income the property will produce, not on your personal income, tax returns, or job. If the rent covers the payment, the deal can work, and you can borrow up to 80 percent of the purchase price with an interest-only option available.…
Read MoreWhat Do You Need to Get Prequalified for a Home Loan? The 3 Cs, Explained
Knowing how to get prequalified for a home loan really comes down to three things: can you repay the loan, do you have the money to get in the door, and your credit. I’m Manny Solana, and I’ve been doing this for California homeowners for more than 25 years. Most people think qualifying is harder…
Read MoreHow Can I Improve My Credit Score Before Applying for a Mortgage?
To improve your credit score before a mortgage, focus on the two factors that matter most: pay every account on time and keep your card balances low. Payment history is about 35% of your FICO score and amounts owed are about 30%, per myFICO. Fix those two and most of the work is done. Here…
Read MoreBank Statement Loan for Self-Employed Borrowers: Your Tax Return Isn’t the Whole Story
Bank statement loans for self-employed borrowers solves a problem you probably know well. The business is doing fine, money is coming in, and then a lender pulls your tax returns and says you don’t earn enough for the house you can clearly afford. That’s this week’s Monday Minute, and it’s one of the most common…
Read MoreWhat Waiting on a Cash-Out Refinance Really Costs You
A cash-out refinance California homeowners keep delaying can feel like the safe choice. Most of the time, waiting costs more than they realize. “We’ll just wait and see.” I hear this a lot from people sitting on good home equity. Pulling cash out feels like a big step, and waiting feels safe. I get it.…
Read MoreShould You Refinance in Sherman Oaks Right Now?
I live in Sherman Oaks. I’m not watching this market from far away, I drive the same streets you do. So I get asked a lot: “Should I refinance in Sherman Oaks right now?” My answer is always the same. It depends on what you’re trying to do, not on whatever rate number is in…
Read MoreWhy Reverse Mortgages Are the Most Overlooked Tool in Real Estate
I want to talk about something that gets misunderstood more than almost anything else in our industry: reverse mortgages. Most people hear “reverse mortgage” and picture a desperate retiree signing away their house. That image is outdated, and it’s keeping a lot of homeowners from using a tool that could genuinely help them. How a…
Read MoreDenied for a Mortgage Loan? That’s Not the End of the Road
I get this call a lot. Someone’s voice is a little tight, like they’re admitting something embarrassing. “My bank denied my mortgage loan,” they tell me. Then they almost apologize for it. Most of the time, they have nothing to be sorry about. Being denied for a mortgage loan isn’t usually about your money. It’s…
Read MoreMortgage Broker vs Bank in Woodland Hills: What’s the Difference?
Most people pick their mortgage the same way they pick a gas station. Whichever one is closest. Their own bank. The lender their realtor mentioned in passing. The first quote that popped up online at midnight. Then they spend the next thirty years living with a decision that took them about thirty seconds. I’ve been…
Read More
