Blog – Mark Feder

08 May 2025

The Impact of Rental Income on Mortgage Qualification

Mortgage

For real estate investors and homeowners looking to purchase additional properties, rental income can play a crucial role in mortgage qualification. Lenders often consider this income when assessing a borrower’s ability to repay a loan, but the way it is calculated and applied varies based on different loan programs and underwriting guidelines. Understanding how rental income factors into mortgage approval can help buyers maximize their borrowing potential and secure favorable financing terms. How Lenders Assess Rental IncomeLenders typically evaluate rental income based on documentation such as lease agreements, tax returns, and property appraisals. The amount of income they recognize depends…

07 May 2025

By Mark Feder

The Impact of Homeowners Associations (HOAs) on Mortgage Approval

Mortgage Tips

When purchasing a home in a community with a Homeowner’s Association (HOA), it’s important to understand how this organization can impact your mortgage approval. While HOAs provide benefits like maintaining neighborhood amenities and enforcing community standards, they also add financial obligations that lenders consider when evaluating your loan application. How HOA Fees Affect Mortgage QualificationMortgage lenders assess a borrower’s total debt-to-income ratio (DTI) to determine affordability. Since HOA dues are a required expense for homeowners in these communities, lenders include them when calculating your monthly obligations. Even if you meet standard mortgage qualifications, high HOA fees could push your DTI…

06 May 2025

By Mark Feder

The Benefits of Online Mortgage Calculators for Borrowers

Mortgage Tips

Buying a home is one of the most significant financial decisions a person can make, and understanding the costs involved is essential. Online mortgage calculators have become a valuable tool for borrowers, helping them estimate monthly payments, compare loan options, and determine affordability, all from the convenience of their computer or phone. Understanding Mortgage Costs Before You ApplyOne of the biggest challenges homebuyers face is understanding how different factors impact their monthly mortgage payment. Loan amount, interest rate, loan term, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and private mortgage insurance (PMI) all contribute to the final cost. Mortgage calculators allow borrowers to…

05 May 2025

By Mark Feder

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – May 5th, 2025

Financial Reports

Last week featured a slew of releases, but the most important one as of this writing is the GDP estimates. Both the GDP and GDP deflator data have started to reverse their previous trends, raising serious concerns that the economy may be experiencing deflationary effects. This is somewhat offset by the Personal Income and Spending reports, which showed favorable numbers, as well as the Non-farm Payroll figures, which have also increased during this period. The impact of the latest tariffs and trade wars has already appeared in estimates and data releases across numerous markets. There is strong expectation that the…