Entries by Courtney Coon

How do interest rates impact your home buying power?

If you’re researching mortgages, you know that they come with interest rates. What exactly is a mortgage interest rate, and how much does it impact your buying power? What can you do to improve the interest rate you’re offered? We answer those questions in this article. Your mortgage interest rate has a direct impact on […]

Hometown Highlights: Tri-Cities Area Habitat for Humanity

The Tri-Cities Area Habitat for Humanity is so much more than building homes! Based in Grand Haven, they are also able to service the southern Muskegon areas of Norton Shores, Roosevelt Park, and Fruitport. With the support from donors and volunteers, they continue to help those with priority home repair needs and can provide families […]

10 Things to Do Before You Buy a House

Are you ready to start shopping for your first home? Before you begin, take a look at these 10 tips to make your home-buying journey successful! Few things are as exciting as making a real estate purchase – and few things cause more stress! To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of 10 tips […]

MSHDA First-Time Home Buyer Assistance Programs

If you’re a first-time home buyer, getting enough money for a down payment can seem like a major hurdle. But there’s good news! The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) has a program that helps home buyers afford their down payment by loaning them up to $10,000 towards it. This is what you need to […]

Hometown Highlights: Love in Action

This was written by the staff at Love in Action and submitted for our Hometown Highlights feature. This story shows the power of connection and the importance of Love in Action’s mission. It was 2 a.m. in the middle of a dark church parking lot. Light shone on a couple of women lounging in lawn […]

3 Tips to Buy a Vacation Home

Have you always dreamed of owning a cottage by the lake or a cabin in the woods? Buying a second or vacation home can make that a reality – but there are some things to know before you start shopping. Maybe you love heading Up North every weekend and want your own place on the […]

Success Story: Jeff & Jessica

The home-buying process often starts months before the home is actually purchased. That was the case for Jeff and Jessica. “We started the process initially in September of 2021,” Jessica said. “We decided that our home, a 500-suqare-foot rental, was too small for our growing family.” “I knew that we would need to build some […]

Who’s responsible for paying closing costs?

More often than not, buyers and sellers are responsible for covering the costs of their respective closings. Buyers can expect to pay 3 – 6% of the loan amount in closing costs. Sellers, on the other hand, typically pay 5 – 6% of the sale price to their Realtor. But that’s not always the case. Here are a few […]

What is a Reverse Mortgage?

A Reverse Mortgage is a home loan for seniors, age 62 or older, where they are able to use the equity in their home to get cash income and have the security of not having to pay monthly mortgage payments back. In the past, Reverse Mortgages were viewed in a negative light. That’s changing! There […]

Second 2022 Service Scholarship Winner Announced

In conjunction with our #MMGivesBack and Service Rewards programs, we’ve launched the Michigan Mortgage Service Scholarship in hopes of recognizing High School Seniors with dreams of pursuing a career in service. Careers Include: Military Teachers & Educators Government & Politics Police Firefighters First Responders Doctors & Nurses We received dozens of applicants and examined each one closely. We learned about […]