familiar with private mortgage insurance (PMI). This insurance is typically required by lenders to protect themselves in case a borrower defaults. For a few recent tax years, homeowners had the opportunity to deduct PMI premiums on their federal returns, offering some relief on their overall tax burden. However, that deduction expired after the 2021 tax year, and currently, PMI is no longer tax-deductible.

Between 2018 and 2021, eligible homeowners who itemized their deductions could write off PMI premiums. This was a welcome break for many, especially those paying hundreds annually in PMI costs. If you didn’t take advantage of the deduction during those years, there’s still a chance: you may be able to file an amended return and claim those missed deductions. Just keep in mind that your mortgage must have originated (or been refinanced) on or after January 1, 2007, to qualify.

So, where does that leave us now? As of the 2022 tax year and beyond, the PMI deduction is no longer available. A new bill has been introduced in Congress to potentially reinstate it, but until it’s passed and signed into law, homeowners should plan their taxes accordingly. This change highlights the importance of staying up to date with tax law changes, especially if you’re navigating homeownership with a tight budget.

While the expired deduction may not have been a game-changer for everyone, it could have still saved you a few hundred dollars a year—money that adds up over time. If you’re unsure whether you missed out on this deduction in previous years or want to know if an amended return makes sense, it’s worth speaking with a tax professional or schedule a review with us on our website and we can help you decide.

Buying a home is often a team effort, whether it’s with family, friends, or business partners. A common question among potential homebuyers is how many people can join forces on a mortgage. Although there’s technically no legal limit, most lenders typically allow up to four borrowers on a conventional mortgage. This limitation usually comes down to underwriting software, which comfortably accommodates up to four borrowers without requiring manual handling.

Applying for a mortgage with co-borrowers offers several great benefits. It can make qualifying for a loan easier, as combined incomes and credit scores often increase your buying power and help secure more favorable mortgage terms. Plus, sharing costs makes homeownership more affordable and accessible. This arrangement works especially well for multi-generational households, co-living setups, or friends investing together.

However, having multiple borrowers can come with some challenges. Each borrower is fully responsible for paying back the loan. If one person struggles to contribute their share, the others need to cover the shortfall to avoid damaging their credit or facing foreclosure. Joint homeownership also involves shared decision-making, which can become tricky if co-owners disagree on maintenance, upgrades, or selling the property.

If you’re thinking about buying a home with others, it’s important to be prepared. Check with us of course, if you are in a situation similar to this and we may recommend chatting with a real estate attorney about the best legal structure for your situation, like an LLC or a partnership, which can protect everyone involved and clarify roles.

Refinancing a second home or investment property can be a smart financial move, but it’s essential to understand the process and requirements before making a decision. Homeowners and investors refinance for various reasons, such as securing a lower interest rate, reducing monthly payments, or accessing equity through a cash-out refinance. However, refinancing a second home or rental property comes with additional considerations compared to refinancing a primary residence. Lenders impose stricter qualification requirements, including higher credit score thresholds, lower loan-to-value (LTV) limits, and additional cash reserves.

One of the most common reasons to refinance a second home or investment property is to take advantage of lower interest rates or change the loan term. If your credit score has improved since you originally obtained your mortgage, you may qualify for a more competitive rate. Borrowers may also opt to refinance from an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) to a fixed-rate mortgage for greater stability in payments. For those with multiple mortgages, consolidating loans into one can simplify finances. Additionally, a cash-out refinance allows property owners to tap into their home’s equity to fund renovations, purchase additional properties, or cover other significant expenses.

The refinancing process for a second home involves choosing between a rate-and-term refinance or a cash-out refinance. A rate-and-term refinance replaces your current mortgage with a new one that has a different interest rate or loan term, potentially lowering monthly payments. Meanwhile, a cash-out refinance provides homeowners with a lump sum by replacing their mortgage with a larger loan, with the difference paid out in cash. Before refinancing, ensure you meet lender qualifications, including a sufficient credit score, stable income, and adequate cash reserves. Most lenders require a minimum of 20% equity in a second home or investment property and may limit cash-out amounts to 80% of the home’s value.

Refinancing a second home or investment property differs from refinancing a primary residence in a few key ways. Because lenders consider second homes and rental properties riskier, interest rates tend to be slightly higher, and eligibility requirements are stricter. Some lenders may also have more limited options for investment property loans. To maximize your savings, shop around and obtain at least three refinance quotes to compare rates and fees. Understanding these differences and being prepared with the necessary financial documentation can help streamline the process and ensure you secure the best refinance deal for your second home or investment property.

Saving for a down payment can sometimes feel like a constant uphill climb. Between rising home prices, elevated interest rates, and everyday financial demands, it’s easy to see why many would-be buyers feel stuck. Even with careful budgeting, unexpected costs and competing priorities can easily derail the goal of buying a home. The good news is that with a few strategic moves, you can get back on track and make homeownership a reality sooner than you might think.

One of the main roadblocks for many first-time buyers is simply keeping up with everyday expenses while trying to stash extra cash for a future house. Rents have climbed steadily in recent years, and credit card debt continues to be a burden for many households. On top of that, grocery bills, gas prices and other routine costs haven’t shown much sign of slowing down. All these factors can eat away at your income, leaving less to set aside in your savings.

Additionally, big-picture economic factors like inflation and student loan payments can squeeze your budget even further. When prices are climbing faster than paychecks, it’s only natural to focus on pressing needs before a future purchase. However, consistently putting off that down payment goal can delay your plans by months or even years. The key is to tackle these challenges step by step: carefully manage high-interest debts, create a realistic monthly budget, and look for ways to trim expenses or boost your income.

If homeownership is your goal, it’s worth exploring every strategy available. Consider opening a high-yield savings account or a certificate of deposit (CD) for your house fund, so you can earn more interest while you save. Investigate assistance programs that might be offered by your state, your local housing agency or certain nonprofits. And if you’re fortunate enough to have a relative who’s willing to help, a financial gift can make a meaningful difference. With a bit of planning, discipline and resourcefulness, you can sidestep the biggest pitfalls and make steady progress toward that down payment. After all, no matter how tough it gets, every dollar you save brings you one step closer to unlocking the door to your new home.

Mortgage rates edged lower recently, with the average 30-year fixed rate now hovering around 6.84 percent—down from around 7.0 percent just a short time ago. This slight drop marks one of the lowest levels seen in recent months, creating an opportune moment for buyers and those looking to refinance. At the same time, many lenders report that the average discount and origination points remain relatively manageable, offering further incentives for prospective borrowers to explore their options.

When it comes to mortgages, there’s no shortage of misconceptions—and believing them can cost you thousands of dollars or cause unnecessary stress. Whether you’re buying your first home, upgrading, or refinancing, it’s essential to separate fact from fiction. Here are some of the most common mortgage myths I hear—and the truth behind them.
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🏠 Myth #1: You Need a 20% Down Payment to Buy a Home

Truth: While putting 20% down helps you avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI), many loans require far less. First-time homebuyer programs, FHA loans, and VA loans often allow down payments as low as 3%. Waiting to save 20% might delay your dream of homeownership unnecessarily.

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💳 Myth #2: You Must Have Perfect Credit to Qualify for a Mortgage

Truth: While higher credit scores secure better rates, many lenders work with borrowers who have less-than-perfect credit. There are loan programs designed to help people rebuild their financial footing while still purchasing a home.

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🔑 Myth #3: Getting Pre-Approved and Pre-Qualified Are the Same Thing

Truth: Pre-qualification is a basic review of your finances, often without verifying your documents. Pre-approval, on the other hand, involves a deeper financial dive and carries more weight with sellers. If you’re serious about buying, pre-approval is the way to go.

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💵 Myth #4: Refinancing Isn’t Worth It Unless You Can Drop Your Rate by 1%

Truth: Even a 0.5% reduction in your rate can result in significant long-term savings—especially for larger loan amounts. Refinancing can also help you shorten your loan term, switch to a fixed-rate mortgage, or tap into home equity.

👉 See how much you could save with a refinance with our Refinance Calculators!

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📆 Myth #5: You Should Pay Off Your Mortgage as Quickly as Possible

Truth: While being debt-free sounds appealing, it’s not always the smartest financial move. You may be better off investing extra money elsewhere, especially if your mortgage rate is low. (Of course, this depends on your overall financial goals.)

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📝 Myth #6: Once You’re Approved, You’re Set—Nothing Can Go Wrong

Truth: Lenders recheck your financials before closing. Taking out a new credit card, buying a car, or changing jobs after approval can derail your mortgage. Keep your finances stable until the keys are in your hand.

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🏡 Myth #7: Refinancing Costs Too Much to Be Worth It

Truth: Refinancing costs vary, but many homeowners recoup expenses through lower monthly payments or improved loan terms. With us at Jumbo Loan Experts, we offer low-cost refinancing with maximum transparency—often with no upfront fees.

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💬 Final Thoughts:

Navigating the mortgage process doesn’t have to be overwhelming—but misinformation makes it harder than it needs to be. By busting these common myths, I hope to make your home buying or refinancing journey smoother and more informed.

👉 Got questions or need personalized advice? Let’s connect! I’m here to help you make the smartest mortgage decision for your needs.

🔑 Ready to take the next step?

✅ Homebuyers with a signed contract, start here!

✅ Looking to refinance? Check your options here!

#MortgageTips #HomeBuying #Refinance #MortgageMyths #Homeownership #FinancialWellness #JumboLoanExperts #FirstTimeHomebuyer #RefinanceSavings https://apply.jumboloanexperts.com/main/

A balloon mortgage is a unique type of non-qualified (non-QM) home loan that offers lower monthly payments upfront but requires a large lump sum—known as a balloon payment—at the end of the loan term. Typically structured for five, seven, or ten years, balloon mortgages are appealing for those looking for short-term affordability. However, they also come with risks, including higher interest rates and the potential for financial strain if the borrower cannot afford the final payment. Since these loans don’t conform to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s standards for a qualified mortgage, they are less common and often come with more flexible application requirements.

How Does a Balloon Mortgage Work?
Unlike traditional mortgages, balloon loans can have different payment structures depending on the lender. Some loans require both principal and interest payments calculated over a 15- or 30-year period, with the remaining balance due at the end of the term. Others may be interest-only, where borrowers make smaller monthly payments covering just the interest, leaving the full principal to be paid as the final lump sum. In rare cases, some balloon mortgages require no payments at all during the loan term, meaning the borrower must pay the entire principal and interest in one large final payment. Because of this structure, these loans are best suited for those with a clear financial plan to cover the final payment.

Managing a Balloon Mortgage Payment
When the balloon payment is due, borrowers generally have three options. The most straightforward is to pay the lump sum in full, but this requires significant financial resources. Another option is to refinance the mortgage, replacing it with a new loan—though approval for refinancing depends on factors like home equity and credit standing. Lastly, some borrowers choose to sell the home before the balloon payment is due, using the proceeds to cover the remaining balance. However, selling isn’t always a guaranteed solution, as market conditions can impact home values and the ability to find a buyer in time.

Is a Balloon Mortgage Right for You?
Balloon mortgages aren’t for everyone, but they can be beneficial for real estate investors, house flippers, or buyers who plan to sell or refinance before the balloon payment is due. Some sellers also offer balloon mortgages as owner financing for buyers who may not qualify for a traditional loan. While these loans provide flexibility and lower initial payments, they carry substantial risk if a borrower cannot secure funds for the final payment. If you are thinking about a balloon mortgage schedule a consultation on our website and we can see if its right for you!

Typically, sellers choose spring and summer as the time to list their homes, as most buyers are out in the market looking to buy a home.

👉 This blog post is to help anyone currently looking to buy a home and do it in the smartest possible way.

While every mortgage company provides more or less the same thing—a rate quote, loan costs, and a willingness to make themselves your new best friend so you don’t “shop elsewhere”—

We are different.

Yes, we’ll give you a rate quote and explain all the loan costs, but our focus is on helping our clients create wealth for their families by using the money in their pockets intelligently to buy real estate.

(And no, we don’t really care so much about being your new best friend—but we would like to be your “guy” whenever you buy real estate.)

🚀 We’ve helped over 1,000 clients in five states with their mortgages, and we’re ready to help you now.

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Three Areas That Matter Most When Buying a Home

(…things that the nice folks at Bankrate and Bank of America won’t have the foggiest idea how to do.)

1️⃣ Down Payment – Finding the Right Balance

How much you put down impacts your relationship with your house and your net worth now and in the future.

✅ Put too little down, and you’ll have sleepless nights about your mortgage payment.
✅ Put too much down, and you’ll stay in the poorhouse forever—no question.

Before I get a ton of hate mail from every man and his dog telling me how much better it is to pay off their mortgage, let me give you the stats:

📊 Over the last 25 years, real estate has grown at around 6–8% per year.
📈 Meanwhile, the S&P 500 (SPX) has grown 12–14% per year in the same period.

So, you are better off understanding how much you should put down—and investing the rest.

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2️⃣ Loan Costs – The Wealthy Do It Differently

This one drives me insane because I see the stark difference between how rich clients handle loan costs versus how middle-class and poor clients do.

Loan costs (one-time costs to buy a home—appraisal, lender fees, title fees) typically run between $3,000–$6,000 for a home under $1 million.

✅ Rich people happily choose a rate that covers all or most of their loan costs.
🚫 Middle-class and poor buyers chase the “shiny” low rate and pay points to buy their rate down, thinking they’re getting a deal when they’re actually spending thousands upfront when they could be using their money for better purposes, like investing it to grow their net worth.

💡 There’s a better way. You can get a low rate with some lender credit to cover a portion or even 100% of your costs—and we can help you find the right balance.

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3️⃣ Loan Type – Not Everyone Needs a 30-Year Fixed Loan

Every man and his dog gravitates toward the 30-year fixed loan, but it’s not right for everyone.

✅ In today’s rate environment, an ARM, 15-year, or 20-year fixed loan may be a better fit for you.
✅ We take the time to explore what’s actually best for you—not just push the standard option.

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💡 We Eat Our Own Cooking

I’m happy to share my own homebuying journey, including tips and tricks we have used to buy our own home and investment properties.

I constantly pull best practices from what I’ve done personally and from what my smartest clients have done—so that we can offer you the smartest and best way to buy a home.

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🔥 Our Focus: Helping You Create Wealth Through Real Estate When You Buy.

👉 That is what makes us different. (And better, in my humble opinion.)

📩 Happy to talk to anyone who has a signed purchase contract and is looking for the best way to buy their home.

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📍 116 Village Blvd, Suite 200, Princeton, NJ 08540

☎️ 877-545-8626

Recently, I helped a client refinance their mortgage by reducing their rate from 7.75% to 6.875%, saving them $373.10 per month—with zero dollars in loan costs.

Everything was going smoothly until the borrower reviewed the documents and saw the Cash to Close number.

Even though they could clearly see the no-loan-cost refinance, they were stunned by the cash to close amount and asked for further clarification.

This is a common concern, so I’m writing this post to clearly explain what loan costs are, how to use lender credits to reduce or eliminate them, and what to expect with cash to close.

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Loan Costs: The One-Time Fees That May or May Not Apply

When refinancing, lenders typically charge one-time fees that include:

✅ Appraisal Fees
✅ Lender Fees
✅ Title Fees

On a standard refinance, these costs usually total around $2,000 and must be paid out of pocket at closing.

However, in some cases, lenders cover 100% of the loan costs, like in my client’s situation, where loan costs were $0 because they were built into the loan structure.

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Cash to Close: Not a Fee, But Prepaid Expenses

Here’s where many borrowers get confused.

While loan costs are about securing the loan, Cash to Close is NOT an additional fee from the lender—it consists of prepaid expenses related to homeownership:

💰 Prepaid Interest – Covers interest on the loan from closing until your next monthly payment.

🏡 Property Taxes – You may need to prepay property taxes or fund your escrow account for future tax payments.

🔒 Homeowners Insurance – Lenders require prepayment of the first year’s insurance premium at closing.
 

What My Client Didn’t Realize

As part of the refinance, they had to fund a new escrow account with the new lender. However, their current lender would refund any escrow balance they had after closing.

So, while the cash to close amount seemed high, it wasn’t an extra cost—it was just moving money from one escrow account to another, with a refund coming shortly after closing.

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Key Difference Between Loan Costs & Cash to Close

📌 Loan Costs = One-time fees for getting the mortgage.
📌 Cash to Close = Prepaid expenses that ensure your taxes, insurance, and interest are covered.

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How to Reduce or Eliminate Loan Costs Using Lender Credit

If you want to reduce your cash to close amount, you can use lender credits to offset prepaids and insurance.

Example: Refinancing a $556,000 Loan Balance (30-Year Fixed Loan)

Here’s how different rate options impact loan costs and cash to close:

✅ Option 1: Lower Rate with No Loan Costs

• 6.875% interest rate
• Lender covers 100% of loan costs ($0 out of pocket for fees)
• Monthly savings: $373.10
• Full prepaids and escrow funding required in cash to close (~$5,000–$10,000), but refunded later by the current lender

✅ Option 2: Slightly Higher Rate with Lender Credit to Lower Cash to Close

• 7.125% interest rate
• Lender provides $2,500–$3,000 extra in lender credit (which can be applied toward prepaids and escrow funding)
• Monthly savings drop to $279 instead of $373.10
• Lower cash to close requirement since the lender credit offsets some prepaids

Which Option is Best?

• If you want maximum monthly savings, go with the lower rate (6.875%) and plan to cover the prepaid costs upfront, knowing you’ll get an escrow refund from your old lender.
• If you want to minimize cash to close, opt for the slightly higher rate (7.125%) and use lender credits to reduce your immediate cash outlay.

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Final Takeaway: What to Expect When Refinancing

✔️ Loan Costs may or may not apply—always check if your lender is covering them.
✔️ Cash to Close consists of prepaids & insurance—not extra fees.
✔️ Your previous lender will refund any escrow balance after closing.
✔️ Lender credits can help reduce both loan costs and cash to close.

Understanding these details before closing helps avoid last-minute surprises!

If you’re considering refinancing and have questions, feel free to reach out.

If you found this helpful, like, share, or tag someone who might benefit from this post! 🚀

📍 116 Village Blvd – Princeton Forrestal Village, Princeton, NJ 08540
☎️ 877-545-8626

No-doc loans (short for “no documentation” loans) can sound like a dream come true for borrowers who want to avoid the usual hassle of paperwork. Unlike traditional mortgages, which require reams of income and asset statements, pay stubs, and tax returns, no-doc loans promise a more streamlined process. But as easy as they might sound, these types of mortgages come with unique requirements, higher risks, and often steeper interest rates.

In a typical mortgage application, lenders scrutinize everything from your credit score to your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) and employment history. With a no-doc loan, the name says it all: You’re not asked to provide detailed paperwork to prove your income. Instead, you generally just state what you earn — though be aware, lenders still run credit checks and require some form of verification to reduce their risk. Because the lender is taking on more uncertainty, you can expect higher credit score thresholds and larger down payment demands in many cases.

These loans are popular among certain self-employed individuals, entrepreneurs, or those who might have complex finances that are difficult to document. If you have funds coming from multiple sources — or if you’ve gone through events like a bankruptcy in the recent past and your financial statements don’t paint the whole picture — a no-doc loan could be an option. However, it’s crucial to understand that just because you don’t supply the usual paperwork doesn’t mean you’re free of the usual mortgage obligations. You’ll still need to meet monthly payments, and if your lender perceives you as a bigger risk, you may pay a premium via a higher interest rate.

Before deciding on a no-doc loan, weigh the pros and cons. On the plus side, you skip the typical documentation hurdles and may be able to close more quickly. On the downside, you’ll likely need a hefty down payment, solid credit, and a willingness to pay a higher interest rate. Of course check with us to see if a no doc loan is the best prescription for you.