Escrow is one of those mysterious-sounding aspects of home mortgages that seem designed to confuse new home buyers. But if you look at it carefully, the benefits of escrow often outweigh the extra complexity. What is escrow? The legal definition is quite broad: “A deed, […]

Your loan officer tells you that a home appraisal is required before they’ll sign off on the mortgage. Or the shoe is on the other foot: You’re selling a house and a buyer requests a home appraisal. What should you expect? Whether you’re buying, selling, […]

You’ve found a house you love. Why do you need a home inspection? In this article, we’ll explain the what, why, when, and how of a real estate home inspection. Many home buyers place a home inspection contingency in their offers. Some mortgages (such as […]

To help home buyers make the most of their opportunities in the coming year, we gathered a roundtable of Mortgage 1 loan officers and asked for their insights and advice for 2022. These officers represent all Mortgage 1 regions, from Michigan to Ohio to Florida. […]