Blog Articles

What Homebuyers Should Know About Private Mortgage Insurance

Posted by Eric Skates on

EPM helps all kinds of consumers get the perfect loan for their new home. If you’re getting an FHA mortgage loan, or a conventional mortgage loan with a down payment of less than 20%, you’re going to be required to get PMI or Private Mortgage Insurance. This is insurance for your lender, and covers them in case buyers stop making payments on their mortgage loan....Read More

Our Guide to a Pet Friendly Home

Posted by Eric Skates on

Some of the most valued members of our family have four legs instead of two. Our pets are our best friends and most loyal companions. Our homes are their home, so we want our space to be a safe and functional space for them. We’ve broken this guide down to three areas every pet owner should consider when making your house a home for your furry friend....Read More

Should you List your Home as For Sale By Owner?

Posted by Eric Skates on

So, you’ve decided to sell your home! Now what? One big consideration that comes up for a lot of people early on is deciding if you want to sell your home yourself or hire a real estate agent to sell it for you. Both choices have pros and cons and we want to help you understand what choice is right for you. This week we’re outlining the pros and cons of selling your home yourself when it comes to three major aspects of the home selling process....Read More

Top Tips for Buying Your First Home in your 20s

Posted by Eric Skates on

The lenders at EPM specialize in helping first-time buyers become proud homeowners. With that said, there are some tips to make the task more accessible and less stressful for you. There is no reason you can’t find the perfect home in your 20s, but we’ve got some special considerations for you so you don’t end up with buyer’s remorse down the line....Read More

Tips On How To Get Your Mortgage Approved Faster

Posted by Eric Skates on

As a mortgage broker, your top priority is to get your clients’ mortgage applications approved. After all, their satisfaction is key to your success, strong reputation in the industry and profitability. One way to ensure that your clients are happy with the service they receive is to speed their mortgage approval. So, how can you achieve this for your clients? Here, we take a closer look at some top tips to streamline the process for your clients’ benefit....Read More

Our Favorite Must-Reads for Homeowners

Posted by Eric Skates on

Whether you’re preparing to own your first home or settling into the house of your dreams, you’ll want to equip yourself with lots of resources to help you along your way. We’ve compiled a list of great reads that will help you tackle any challenges you may face as a new homeowner....Read More

5 Ways to Increase Your Credit Score

Posted by Eric Skates on

Many of us start a new year with financial goals in mind. Some of us are looking ahead and preparing to make some big purchases. Whether it’s buying a new car, a house, or refinancing your current home- your credit score is going to be crucial in making your dreams become a reality. Here are five ways you can improve your credit score and be on your way to meeting your financial goals this year!...Read More

5 Things Home Buyers Can Expect After Your Loan is Clear to Close

Posted by Eric Skates on

Buying a home can be both exciting and stressful. You go from pre-approval, to finding the right home, and once you get through the initial purchase agreement and lending estimate your brain might already be buzzing with information overload. A good lending team like the trusted pros at EPM will make sure you understand all the terms of your loan, and you have the right information, advice, and documentation you need to feel prepared before the underwriting process begins. Your lending officer and underwriter will take you to that finish line, and get your loan Clear to Close!...Read More

5 Resolutions to Making Your Home a Happier Place in 2021

Posted by Eric Skates on

It’s that time again. The excitement of the holidays is over. We are taking down our decorations, online shopping with gift cards we received, and looking forward to all that a new year may bring. For many of us these next few days will be filled with thoughts of what we want to change, try, or be more intentional about in the new year. For those still searching for the right resolution we have a list of 5 resolutions that will make your home a happier place in 2021....Read More

The Best Christmas Cookie Recipe

Posted by Eric Skates on

This time of year, a lot of our holiday traditions are centered around baking. Especially in this social media era where people on Pinterest and Tik Tok make it look so easy. All of us have had those moments we were scrolling along and thought, “Oh, I can totally make that”. Even if it turns out you’re not going to be The Next Great Baker, you’ll still love the experience with your favorite people. This week we thought we’d share one of our favorite recipes to make this time of year....Read More

Christmas Light Displays

Posted by Eric Skates on

2020 has brought us the task of finding new ways of doing just about everything. Even though we may feel like we are constantly having to reinvent the wheel in this everchanging year, it has also given us the opportunity to get back to basics and revisit traditions of the past in a whole new way....Read More

Gifts for the Home

Posted by Eric Skates on

As we get closer to Christmas the rush to figure out the perfect gift for everyone on our list can be a little maddening. We want our favorite people to love what they receive, but finding that perfect gift can keep us searching for weeks on end, and who has time for that?!...Read More

DIY Holiday Gift Guide

Posted by Eric Skates on

2020 has made us think outside of the box and find new ways of doing just about everything. It looks like Christmas won’t be any different. For many of us, travel restrictions, tight budgets, and preparing for the unexpected has encouraged us to get creative when it comes to finding new ways to give gifts to those we love....Read More

Stress-Free Storage for the Holidays

Posted by Eric Skates on

Before you put any decorations up pull all of your holiday stuff out and look through all of it. Then, make piles for each holiday, and you can even make groups based on where things will be going in your home....Read More

Making your House a Home for the Holidays

Posted by Eric Skates on

Owning your own house is one of the greatest feelings in the world. You’ve set a goal, worked hard to achieve it, and now you’re reaping the rewards. But owning a house and having a home is quite different. A house is just the structure itself. Home is the place you and others love to be....Read More