Topics to Discuss with your Loan Officer

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.

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

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

What is Financial Wellness?

To consistently achieve our high levels of customer satisfaction, Tradition Mortgage embraces the concept of Financial Wellness as a key component to our loan services. Financial wellness is achieved only by having a holistic understanding of all aspects that impact your own personal balance sheet.

Credit Score Tips for During the Loan Process

During the loan process, there are some Do’s and Don’ts. Being qualified for a lower rate and locking in the best loan for you are all dependent on your credit history and risk. Some reasoning’s may be more obvious than others, but below is a list of Tradition Mortgage’s Top 9 credit score “Don’ts” during the loan process.

Tradition Mortgage: WHY US?

From our start in 1998, Tradition Mortgage has grown into one of the top independent mortgage lenders in Minnesota. As an entirely referral based mortgage company with an industry leading percentage of repeat customers, we keep a high level of customer satisfaction through our dedicated career professionals. Here are a few reasons why Tradition Mortgage is the right lending company … Read More