Prime Time for Home Buyers – Notes from Tracy Shaw of Prestige Capital Memorial Day weekend is coming up soon, which kicks off the summer real estate season! Many prospective homebuyers will take advantage of this three-day weekend to explore open houses and view listings. Here are a few tips to enhance the house-hunting adventure.…
FHFA Implements Long-Awaited Credit Score Modernization- Info from Tracy Shaw at Prestige Capital It’s been years in the making – but finally – as of April 22, 2026, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA will allow lenders to use VantageScore® 4.0 to determine credit worthiness in mortgage applications. According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency…
Spring Home Buying Tips from Prestige Capital Spring is typically the busiest season for real estate sales. This year, the market has shifted to favor buyers, giving them more negotiating power. Here are a few tips to make the home buying process easier! Get Full Pre-Approval There’s no doubt about it, getting full pre-approval from…
Buy Now or Wait and Save? Tips from Tracy Shaw of Prestige Capital Interest rates have stabilized, down to the lowest rates we’ve seen since February 2023. Still, many potential buyers are asking, “Is now a good time to buy a home?” Why Buy Now? If you’re in a good financial position to buy a…
Tips on Saving for the Down Payment from Tracy Shaw at Prestige Capital First-time buyers often feel that saving for a down payment on a home is a daunting task. It’s not out of reach if you set up a savings plan, and stick to it. Set Your Price Range We can do some quick…
Holiday Shopping Without Credit Cards We’re getting into the holiday season, and all of us are tempted to use credit cards more at this time of year. Given the current economy we’re living in, I wanted to share some shopping tips that you may find useful. Breaking Down the Facts Nationwide, Americans rely heavily on…
Rates Have Eased – See if a Refi with Prestige Capital Makes Sense for You A quick market update: mortgage rates have eased recently as inflation data continues to show gradual improvement. That shift is giving many homeowners a new opportunity to lower monthly payments, shorten their term, or access cash for projects—without overpaying to do it.…
In the News from Prestige Capital – Fed Rates and New Hope for Veterans The Federal Reserve’s July FOMC meeting resulted in maintaining the benchmark interest rate of 4.25% to 4.5%, despite increasing pressure from the White House. The same rate has been in place since last December, as the Fed continues to monitor the…
HELOC Offers Financial Flexibility – Info from Prestige Capital and Tracy Shaw Home equity levels are at historic highs, with the average American homeowner having access to $212,000 in tappable home equity, while still leaving 20% equity intact. This increase in accessible funds combined with lower interest rates has spawned an uptick in Home Equity…
Mortgage Rate Updates from Tracy Shaw of Prestige Capital The Federal Reserve met last week, and announced they would hold the Federal Funds Rate steady for now, as most investors predicted. The benchmark rate has been 4.25% to 4.5% since last December, as the Fed awaits more data to evaluate the impact tariffs will have…