Homebuyer Blog by Joel Richardson

Government Shutdown and Home Loans

How Does A Government Shutdown Impacts Home Loan? That Depends… Though there are some areas of our lives that a government shutdown could impact, many home buyers will experience minimal impact on an existing mortgage application.  The answer is dependent on the type of loan in question. Here is a quick reference to help understand […]

Hot Housing Market Tips

Hot Housing Market Tips for Homebuyers   Recently, I was interviewed about Austin’s hot housing market by Sarah Wheeler, Editor in Chief of Housing Wire. We talked specifically about what homebuyers need to know as we look at Austin and surrounding areas. Here are some tips from that interview.   Prepare your finances. A hot housing market means […]

Austin Holiday Events 2020

Austin Holiday Events 2020 Style: In-Person and Virtual There is no shortage of Austin Holiday Events. This time of the year is always a favorite because Austin loves a good celebration. However, we know things will look a little different as we work as a community to maintain our health and safety for ourselves and […]

Jumbo Mortgage Discount Points

Jumbo Mortgage Discount Points, A Thing Again. Jumbo mortgage discount points are in the news. As a matter of fact, The Wall Street Journal published an article discussing the jumbo mortgage discount points. Wall Street writer Katie McLaughlin interviews Joel Richardson, your local Austin home loan officer, for this article. Summary of My Jumbo Mortgage Discount […]

30 Year Fixed Rate at Historical Lows

Historically Low Interest Rates Now Is a Good Time for House Hunting House hunting these days? You will be happy to know that the 30-year fixed rate is at one of the lowest historical levels. The key driver is a healthy economy with low unemployment, stable growth with low risk of inflation. Consequently, homebuyers will […]

The Federal Reserve and Interest Rates

The Federal Reserve Announces Rate Decrease In late July, the Federal Reserve announced a rate decrease. Many customers wanted to know how that affected their mortgage interest rates. What is “The Federal Reserve”? Not the exact definition: The Federal Reserve is our central bank. As a matter of fact, there are several Federal Reserve banks, […]