Lynn’s blog
Straight talk on mortgages & credit
Practical articles from Lynn Marie Oates on navigating credit, down payments, and the mortgage process.
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More Women Are Buying Homes on Their Own…And It’s Changing Everything!
More women than ever are choosing to buy homes on their own and it’s changing the way we think about homeownership. What was once seen as a milestone for couples has become a personal financial decision, with many wom…
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Why Your Phone Blows Up After a Mortgage Credit Check (And What Just Changed)
Applying for a mortgage should feel exciting not overwhelming. But for many homebuyers, a simple credit check can trigger a flood of unwanted calls, texts, and emails from lenders they’ve never heard of. The good news…
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Hourly vs Salary vs. Self-employed: What you’ll need to buy a home
If you’re planning to buy a home, your income type plays a bigger role than you might think. Whether you’re salaried, working variable hours, or self-employed, lenders look at your income differently and require speci…
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Debt-To-Income: A Simple Detail That Can Affect How Much Home You Can Buy
When people think about qualifying for a mortgage, credit scores usually get all the attention. While credit is important, there’s another detail that often plays an even bigger role in how much home you can actually …
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Mortgage Terms Made Simple: A Friendly Guide for Anyone Feeling a Little Lost
If you’ve ever dipped a toe into the world of home loans and felt like you were suddenly swimming in alphabet soup—LTV, DTI, PMI—you’re not alone. Even seasoned pros stop and blink at these acronyms sometimes. The goo…
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What Today’s Debt Trends Tell Us About Tomorrow’s Opportunities
This month, I want to talk about something that might sound a little dry at first—but is actually very relevant right now: the Federal Reserve’s Q3 2025 Household Debt and Credit Report. You might be wondering, “Why Q…
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Your Go-To Guide on Buying a Home After a Credit Setback
Life has a way of throwing curveballs, and sometimes those curveballs hit our finances hard. Bankruptcy, foreclosure, a short sale—these moments can feel like the end of the road for homeownership. But here’s the part…
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How Gifted Money Can Help With Your Mortgage
In the world of mortgages, “gift funds” can be a powerful tool to help make homeownership more accessible, especially for first-time buyers. What Are Gift Funds? Gift funds are sums of money given by one person to ano…
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The 50-Year Mortgage: Is It Helpful or Hype
If you’ve been watching housing headlines, you’ve probably noticed all the talk about affordability. With fast-rising prices, low inventory, and mortgage rates that haven’t exactly been kind, it’s no surprise buyers a…
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The Hidden Power of Homeownership: Why It’s the Cornerstone of Wealth
There’s a reason homeownership is called the American Dream – and the numbers back it up. According to Barry Habib from MBS Highway and data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR): Two-thirds of an individual…
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