Not Ready for a Reverse Mortgage? A More Flexible Way to Access Your Home Equity A lower age threshold, potentially more usable equity, and a smaller required monthly payment may create another path forward. Access Your Home Equity Series This is Blog 2, created to help older homeowners compare practical ways to use the equity […]
Your home may be one of your most valuable retirement assets. Learn how home equity, mortgage choices, downsizing, and legacy planning can work together to support your future.
VantageScore 4.0 now appears on full mortgage credit reports obtained through First Capital Mortgage Inc. It is not accepted for every loan, but when it benefits a borrower, we may be able to select a lender that accepts the newer credit score model.
Taxes, insurance, escrow accounts, mortgage insurance, emergency reserves, and risk management all play an important role in protecting home wealth. Learn how homeowners can review the full mortgage picture and protect what they have built.
Not all debt is bad. A well-planned mortgage can help you build equity, protect cash flow, and create long-term financial stability. In Blog 5 of the Home Wealth Blueprint series, we look at good debt, bad debt, 15-year vs. 30-year mortgage choices, debt-to-income ratios, refinancing, HELOCs, and ways to remove PMI or MIP faster.
Home Wealth Blueprint #4: Credit Management – Unlock Better Mortgage Rates and Terms in 2026 Home Wealth Blueprint Series This is Blog 4 of 9 – Financial Literacy for Confident Homeowners → View the full 9-part series here Your credit score is one of the most powerful levers for getting lower interest rates and better […]
Saving for a home is about more than building a down payment. In this Home Wealth Blueprint article, Steve McNeal shares practical saving strategies for homebuyers in 2026, including emergency funds, closing costs, reserves, and low or zero-down mortgage options.
Home Wealth Blueprint #2: Budgeting and Cash Flow – Know What You Can Comfortably Afford in 2026 Home Wealth Blueprint Series This is Blog 2 of 9 – Financial Literacy for Confident Homeowners → View the full 9-part series here In 2026, housing costs (PITI) now average close to 45% of gross income for many […]
Home Wealth Blueprint #1: Financial Literacy and Homeownership – Building Wealth with Confidence Home Wealth Blueprint Series This is Blog 1 of 9 – Financial Literacy for Confident Homeowners → View the full 9-part series here We’ve covered the complete “Home Wealth Blueprint” – from budgeting and saving to credit, debt, taxes, retirement, and estate […]
If you are paying $50,000 or more in federal taxes each year, your mortgage strategy may need to go beyond rate shopping. This article explores how high-income professionals, business owners, and real estate investors can start proactive conversations around tax planning, 1031 exchanges, energy-related tax credit strategies, and coordinated mortgage planning with qualified advisors.