Blog – Mark Feder

18 Jun 2025

Celebrating National Homeownership Month and How First-Time Buyer Programs Make It Possible

Home Buyer Tips

June is National Homeownership Month, a time to celebrate the dream of owning a home and spotlight the many programs designed to help first-time buyers turn that dream into reality. For many Americans, the biggest challenge to buying a home is coming up with the funds for a down payment or qualifying for a loan. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of mortgage options and assistance programs available to make homeownership more achievable. FHA Loan One of the most widely used mortgage programs for first-time buyers is the FHA loan, backed by the Federal Housing Administration. FHA loans typically require lower…

17 Jun 2025

By Mark Feder

The Emotional Rewards of Homeownership and Why It’s Worth Celebrating in June

Real Estate

June is National Homeownership Month, a time not only to talk about the practical steps toward owning a home but also to reflect on the emotional rewards that make the journey worth it. As a mortgage professional, I spend a lot of time working with numbers such as credit scores, down payments, and interest rates. But the most powerful part of homeownership is what cannot be measured with a calculator. Pride in OwnershipOwning a home brings pride. There is something deeply satisfying about unlocking your front door and knowing that it belongs to you. Whether it is your very first…

16 Jun 2025

By Mark Feder

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 16th, 2025

Financial Reports

The CPI and PPI have yet to reveal the impacts of the tariff policies that were placed temporarily, which gives some potential insight that there might be a path forward for the Federal Reserve to look at potential rate cuts. However, economists across many industries are expecting inflation to increase temporarily as an impact for the policies that were put in place. Significant uncertainty remains across many import and export markets, with major players opting to err on the side of caution while awaiting a final decision from the administration regarding its policies. Consumer sentiment has shown a slight improvement…

13 Jun 2025

By Mark Feder

Creative Strategies for Saving on Closing Costs

Mortgage Tips

When you are budgeting for a new home, it’s easy to focus on the down payment, but do not forget the closing costs. These fees typically range from 2% to 5% of the home’s purchase price and cover things like the appraisal, title search, loan origination, and other administrative expenses. For many buyers, especially first-timers, they can feel like an unwelcome surprise. The good news? There are creative, effective ways to reduce these expenses and make homeownership more affordable. 1. Negotiate With the Seller In a buyer-friendly market, you may be able to negotiate for the seller to cover part…