MORTGAGE BLOG

Balancing Family Goals and Homeownership Dreams in Today’s Market

Blog posted On October 10, 2025

Housing prices are influencing how people think about family size, timing, and lifestyle choices. The American Dream of owning a home is intrinsically tied to the idea of family, and it’s affecting parents deciding between having one more child or buying a bigger home. Let’s examine the affordability factors at play with the modern family and establish how homeowners can still get ahead with smart planning and support from us, their reliable lender.

CMG Home Loans Announces the Opening of New Vancouver Central Branch

News posted On October 09, 2025

Vancouver, WA – CMG Home Loans, the retail arm of the well-capitalized and privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, announced today the opening of a new branch in Vancouver, WA. Leading the Vancouver Central location is Branch Manager, Edward “Ed” Barbier (NMLS ID# 674096), an industry veteran with nearly three decades of leadership in Washington’s mortgage market.

CMG Financial’s Melissa Harbourne Named to “Powerful Women in Mortgage Banking” List by National Mortgage Professional

News posted On October 07, 2025

San Ramon, CA — October 6, 2025 — CMG Financial proudly announces that Melissa Harbourne, Chief of Staff, has been recognized as one of National Mortgage Professional’s Powerful Women in Mortgage Banking for 2025. This honor celebrates ten women nationwide who are driving meaningful change and impact across the mortgage industry.

Flex HELOC: Harvest Your Home Equity This Fall

Blog posted On October 02, 2025

Who’s ready to tackle unexpected fall expenses? With our Flex HELOC, homeowners can turn their equity into cash in just 3 days! This autumn is a time of change in many ways: the leaves changing color, the warmer weather shifting into cooler temps, and potentially the perfect time to harvest your home equity.

CMG Home Loans Announces the Opening of New Tacoma Central Branch

News posted On September 30, 2025

Tacoma, WA - CMG Home Loans, the retail arm of the well-capitalized and privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, announced today the opening of a new branch in Tacoma, WA. Leading the Tacoma Central location is Area Sales Manager, Per Moerkeseth (NMLS ID# 518869), a veteran mortgage professional with nearly three decades of experience serving home buyers in the Puget Sound region.

There and Back Again: The Charm of Hobbitcore Living

Blog posted On September 25, 2025

Are you ready to go on an adventure? In honor of National Hobbit Day on September 22^nd, we’re diving into the cozy home design styles of hobbitcore and cottagecore. We want to celebrate the themes of warmth, community, and contentment and explore the ways that you can incorporate those aesthetics into your home!

Starter Homes: The Rising Star in Today's Housing Market

Blog posted On September 19, 2025

Despite some lulls in recent years, starter homes are beginning to see an uptick with inventory lately due to builders creating more entry-level homes. The hope is that this will inject some much-needed energy into the housing market and attract first-time buyers off of the sidelines. In addition, we’ll be unpacking the conventional definition of starter homes and examining the pros of buying old versus new. Ready to learn how starter homes are about to take the spotlight this season?

CMG Home Loans Announces New Hire of Scott Cummins, Sales Manager

News posted On September 18, 2025

SAN ANTONIO, TX – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, is pleased to announce the appointment of Sales Manager, Scott Cummins (NMLS# 208602). With over two decades of mortgage industry experience and a proven track record of leadership and client service, Cummins will play a key role in expanding CMG’s presence across Texas.

Market Update: Fed Cuts Interest Rates as Labor Market Weakens

Blog posted On September 17, 2025

The long-awaited September Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting took place yesterday and today. As expected, the Committee voted to cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point (0.25%), bringing the benchmark rate to a range of 4% to 4.25%. While majority of the Committee voted for this reduction, two members voted to bring the benchmark rate even lower. What does this mean for mortgage rates? Let’s explore.

Fall Starts Here: Your Essential September Home Checklist

Blog posted On September 11, 2025

Do you feel that? That crisp chill in the air is signaling the start of fall! With every season comes a change in homeownership responsibilities. However, this seasonal shift doesn’t have to entail just home maintenance. Autumn is a great time to dive into fall-themed design trends, anything to get hyped up for the coziest season of pumpkins, flannels, and colorful leaves. The fall frenzy is about to begin, and we want to make sure you’re ready to dive right into the flannel festivities!

Market Update: Job Market Weakens; Rates Plummet to Lowest Levels in 11 Months. Here’s What it Means for You

Blog posted On September 10, 2025

As Summer draws to a close, mortgage rates are beginning to feel the chill of Fall. Rates kicked off September by dropping to the lowest levels in nearly a year. The cause? Employment data is showing significant signs of a weakening job market, which typically signifies an economic slowdown. A bad economy coincides with a stronger bond market which leads to lower mortgage rates. So as the weather and the economy continue cooling down, mortgage rates offer the silver lining of hope for homeowners and home buyers alike.

National Preparedness Month: Safeguard Your Home, Build Your Fund

Blog posted On September 04, 2025

September is National Preparedness Month, which has been observed since 2004 to encourage Americans to prepare for emergencies. It’s an important month for homeowners specifically; we want to spread awareness about disaster preparation and on setting yourself up with a family emergency plan. Below, we’ve provided some tips to better prepare yourself should the worst happen.

CMG Financial’s Charlie Rogers Named a HousingWire Vanguard

News posted On September 02, 2025

San Ramon, CA – Charlie Rogers, EVP, Head of Production for CMG Financial, one of the nation’s top mortgage lenders, has been recognized as a 2025 HousingWire Vanguard. The HousingWire Vanguard Awards program honors business leaders who have become experts in their respective fields and whose leadership is moving markets forward, each and every day.

Buydowns vs. Price Reductions: Which Saves Buyers More?

Blog posted On August 29, 2025

In the current housing market, savvy home buyers are saving money in clever ways, such as temporary buydowns and price reductions. However, what if there was a third option that could help you save even more money down the line? Let’s examine the pros and cons of buydowns and price reductions in comparison to our innovative program, List & Lock™.

Back to Basics: Homeownership 101

Blog posted On August 21, 2025

School is back in session and so is homeownership! We have multiple home loan options and products tailored for students and recent grads. Are you a med school grad? Great! We have something for you! Worried about getting a mortgage with student loans? Don’t worry, we have something for that too! Even if you’re a parent looking for ways to help fund your college-aged kid’s education, we have options for you too. It’s time to go back to basics and step into Homeownership 101. Get ready to take notes!

Market Update: Rates Drop to Fresh 10-Month Lows; Refinance Demand Surges to 2-Year Highs

Blog posted On August 15, 2025

Your Friday Market Update is here! A lot happened this week, so we’re back at it again to catch you up and keep you in the loop about all things mortgage. Let’s dive in.

The Jumbo Loan Advantage: Think Bigger, Borrow Smarter

Blog posted On August 07, 2025

The saying is “go big or go home,” right? But wouldn’t you like to go big AND go home? With the help of a Jumbo Loan, you can do just that! If you’re a home buyer looking to either finance a more expensive property or you live in a high-cost area, we offer a suite of Jumbo Loan programs tailored to your specific needs and situation, including the brand new Elite Jumbo!

Market Update: Mortgage Rates Slide to 10-Month Lows

Blog posted On August 05, 2025

Big news for mortgage rates! Over the past couple of months, they were relatively unchanged. But over the past week, they’ve been on the sharpest downward trend since April, bringing them to the lowest levels since October 2024. Could this be the shift we’ve been waiting for? Will rates continue their descent? Why are they trending lower? Let’s talk about it.

CMG Financial's Colleen Schofield Honored as 2025 HousingWire Insider

News posted On August 01, 2025

SAN RAMON, Calif., August 1, 2025  - CMG Financial, one of the nation's top mortgage lenders, is proud to announce that Colleen Schofield, SVP of Post Closing Operations, has been honored as a 2025 HousingWire Insider. This is Colleen's second Insider recognition; her first dating back to 2019.

3 Unexpected Advantages for Today’s Home Buyers

Blog posted On July 31, 2025

With the current fickle market, it’s natural for home buyers to feel hesitant right now. Interest rates aren’t providing much wiggle room, so the uncertainty is giving everyone pause. We get it! However, we’re here to challenge the question: “Should I wait this one out?”

First-Time Homeowner Tips: What to Do After You Move In

Blog posted On July 24, 2025

If you’ve just purchased your first home, congratulations! You’ve signed the closing papers, you’ve moved all your boxes and furniture inside, you’ve got your keys, and maybe you’ve already been living there for a few months. But…now what? Perhaps you’re wondering what a first-time homeowner needs to know after they’ve moved in. Maybe you’re worried about taking care of your home without a landlord and their maintenance crew helping out. If you live in an area that experiences all four seasons, how can you properly maintain your home throughout the year? Well, never fear! We’re here with tips and tricks to help you obtain your sea legs as a savvy homeowner.

Summer Snapshot: The Latest on Housing Trends & Rates in 2025

Blog posted On July 17, 2025

Now that the summer is in full swing and we’ve hit our mid-year stride, why don’t we check in with the latest housing trends and see what’s sizzling on the market. With stubborn, unbudging rates and fickle home buyers, the year thus far has been a tumultuous one for the housing and real estate industry. Can we glean any useful insights from the first six months to predict any changes for the second half of 2025? Let’s get into it.

The New Build Boom: Why Buyers Are Shifting Towards New Construction

Blog posted On July 10, 2025

Buying old versus new, especially if you’re a first-time buyer, seems to have an automatic choice: older homes are likelier to be more affordable than brand new properties with fancy appliances. Does that long-held belief still hold true though? Due to recent trends, the pricing gap between existing homes and new construction has narrowed considerably. Let’s dive into this new build boom and the rising popularity of new construction, tackling how home buyers can benefit from these trends.

CMG Welcomes David Schwartz, Area Sales Manager

News posted On July 08, 2025

New York, NY – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, is pleased to announce the appointment of Area Sales Manager, David Schwartz (NMLS# 66288). With a distinguished mortgage career spanning nearly two decades, Schwartz is guaranteed to bring his years of lending experience to the homeowners of the New York City Metropolitan Area.

How to Declare Independence from Your Landlord in 2025

Blog posted On July 03, 2025

Renters, are you tired of your lack of independence? Tired of getting ghosted by your landlord when you have an urgent issue, like a leaking ceiling or broken AC? If you’ve had enough, it’s time to declare your independence from your landlord and pave your own way toward building your own equity. With fireworks flooding our night skies this holiday, it’s time to celebrate the 4^th of July by diving into the freedom of homeownership — you’ve earned it!