In highly competitive real estate markets, it's not uncommon to hear Realtors advocating for a strategy that involves offering the highest price, waiving contingencies, and closing the deal faster than other buyers. But is this approach suitable for everyone, or even advisable? In this episode, we'll uncover the strategies and techniques you can em…

Many areas around the country are experiencing an inventory crisis where there are simply not as many houses for sale as there are buyers. As a result, it is not uncommon to see 5-10 people bidding on the same house. In this episode of Mortgage Secrets, John will give you a unique perspective on what it takes to write a winning contract. You’ll rea…

You don’t want to find yourself blindsided by more fees than you bargained for when you sit down to close the deal. In this episode of Mortgage Secrets, John Downs of Downs Capital talks all about closing costs. What are they? What kinds are there? How much does it vary? From insurance options to title company costs, John breaks down the nitty-grit…

Mortgage rates can be pretty confusing, particularly if you’re a first-time home buyer being overwhelmed with “lowest rates available.” It doesn’t seem to help that many lenders use misleading marketing tactics! Do you wonder how loan officers even come up with those numbers that make up your mortgage quote? In this episode of Mortgage Secrets, Joh…

While you might think that the mortgage rate is the most important aspect of your loan shopping experience, there are several things to consider before jumping for the cheapest available. In this episode of Mortgage Secrets, John Downs of Downs Capital shares stories from his 17 years of experience in the mortgage lending industry to illustrate how…

What if we said that everything you’ve been told lately about how “buying a house is not an investment” wasn’t true? In this episode of Mortgage Secrets, John Downs of Downs Capital shares three real-life examples of ordinary people building wealth through real estate—and it all started with doing the numbers, taking a leap of faith, and buying tha…

There’s more that goes into choosing the right house than the perfect neighborhood and curb appeal. You might be ambitious enough to want to take on a fixer-upper as your first home. Before you jump to any quick decisions on buying (or not), take a look at your finances—and not just what you're making and spending today! In this episode of Mortgage…

One of the biggest conversations you will have about buying a home is around how much money you should or shouldn’t put down on your home loan. Putting a chunk of money down on a mortgage is a pretty impactful decision, of course. Once you sign the dotted line and hand over the check, the money you put down is no longer easy to access. If you’re th…

We’ve all heard the word “mortgage,” but what’s really included in all of that? Why do homeowners find themselves surprised when their monthly bill ends up being way more than they bargained for? In Episode #2 of the Mortgage Secrets podcast, John Downs of Downs Capital breaks it all down for you, sharing nuggets from his 17 years of experience in …

Think you can't get a mortgage? Blow up the top six mortgage myths (from not having enough of a down payment to why your credit score is probably just fine the way it is) and learn why virtually everyone can get a mortgage to start building wealth right now.Autor: John Downs