Yes, you may be able to buy a house while carrying student loan debt. Student loans do not automatically disqualify you from getting a mortgage. However, your monthly student loan obligation can...
By Sam Wax One of the quietest decisions you make in the home-buying process is who you trust to handle your loan. It's tempting to treat a mortgage broker like a one-time service: get the loan,...
By Sam Wax The moment you start searching for someone to handle your financing, it can feel overwhelming. Type "mortgage broker near me" into your phone, and you'll get a long list of names, all...
By Eric Yoder You found it. The right layout, the right street, a backyard in a Tampa Bay neighborhood you can actually picture yourself in. Then the deal slips away, and it has nothing to do with...
By Gilbert Bennett I talk to many service members and Veterans about their VA home loan benefits, and one thing comes up repeatedly: people leave money on the table without realizing it. Sometimes...
By Sam Wax If you're house-hunting in the Tampa Bay area, you've probably typed your income into an online calculator, gotten a big number back, and wondered whether you can really afford it. It's a...
By Gilbert Bennett If you’re a nurse, teacher, or first responder, you spend your days taking care of other people. Every day, people lean on you to help. So when it’s time to buy a home, don’t be...
By Sam Wax and Steven Hochak Buying a two-to-four-unit property in the Tampa Bay area can feel like a bigger leap than buying a single-family home. Here's the good news: financing multi-family...
By Eric Yoder You signed the closing papers, got the keys to your new place in the Tampa Bay area, and started hauling in boxes. Then a quiet question creeps in: when is my first mortgage payment...
By Gilbert Bennett Splitting a purchase into four easy payments feels harmless. You could be in line to buy furniture, or on a food delivery app in the checkout page, and a buy now, pay later option...
By Stephen Arthur You found the perfect Tampa condo. Your credit is strong, your income checks out, and your loan originator gave you a pre-approval letter. You write the offer, the seller accepts,...
By Sam Wax If your paycheck doesn’t come from a single salaried job, buying a home can feel unfair for you. Maybe you mix W-2 wages with freelance work, run a small business on the side, or count...