You’ve made the decision to buy a new home or refinance your current home, so your next step is to get in touch with a mortgage professional for help. Whether this is your first or fourth loan, the key to a smooth process is having a clear way to communicate what you are looking for with your mortgage professional. To … Read More
Which Loan Program is Right for You?
A little education can go a long way! With so many loan programs to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you? Here are the differences between a few of the most common loan programs to determine which best fits your situation and needs.
What Drives Mortgage Rates?
Ever wonder what makes interest rates go up or down? Here are the SIX MAIN FACTORS that drive home loan rates.
Finding a Good Loan Officer
Finding a mortgage lender is easy through an online search or referrals from friends or associates, but finding a loan officer that fits your specific needs and goals takes a little more time. When selecting a realtor for your new home, you meet with multiple realtors to make sure you find one that has your best interest in mind and … Read More
Meet John: VP & Partner
John Zydowsky is a Vice President and Partner at Tradition Mortgage. The Portage, Wisconsin native graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire and has been with Tradition Mortgage for over 15 years. Here are a few quick questions to get to know John a little better:
FHA vs. Conventional Loans
There are multiple different loan options that are available to homeowners. Two of perhaps the most common types of loans are FHA and Conventional loans. We’ve put together a list of some pros & cons to each type of loan to help you better understand what might be a good match for you.
Historical Mortgage Interest Rates
The past seven years have been an economic anomaly. We had the greatest run-up of housing prices in history from 2001 to 2008, followed by a massive home price crash that took the economy with it. The Federal Reserve pumped trillions of dollars into the economy starting in late 2008, which have kept rates low for a long time.
HOW TO: Build Your Credit Score
Your credit score is an indication of how you handle your financial commitments. Most Americans have a debt-to-credit ratio that is too high! Your score helps lenders decide whether or not to loan you money. The higher your score, the lower risk you are to lenders, and therefore often the cost to borrow money is lower. Your score consists of … Read More
MEET JIM KRANTZ: VP & Partner
Jim is a Vice President and Partner at Tradition Mortgage. He is a great asset to our mortgage team with a background in the mortgage banking industry since 1996 and a degree from the University of St. Thomas. Jim believes that honesty and integrity are the cornerstones of any successful relationship and he loves being able to help people fulfill … Read More
Renting Vs. Buying
The choice between buying or renting a home is one of the largest financial decisions any adult will make in their lifetime. Renting is nice for short term living if you are uncertain about where you want to settle down, however, you are most likely paying more monthly than you would if you purchased your own home. Here are a … Read More