Jeff's Orange County Register Column
Jeff Lazerson writes a weekly column for the Orange County Register and the Southern California News Group, which includes 11 southern California newspapers.

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• How and how much homeowners can transfer tax base to their next home (11/07/24)
• How to calculate your base year value under Proposition 19 (10/31/24)
• 56% of Prop. 19 property tax transfer applications approved statewide (10/25/24)
• Hot real estate topics: Rates, high payments, all-cash buyers (10/17/24)
• California offers 3.5% down payment program for first-time homebuyers (10/10/24)
• Homebuyers: Here are your do's and don'ts for a smooth transaction (09/26/24)
• Lazerson: Rate cut means home prices will moderate as inventory rises (09/19/24)
• How homeowners can choose between a fixed-rate second or HELOC (09/12/24)
• FHA has loan option for low-FICO homebuyers (09/06/24)
• How homebuyers can use 'pledged' assets and put just 10% down (08/29/24)
• Do you have the three Cs necessary for homebuying? (08/22/24)
• Refinance applications jump 35% as rate drop encourages homeowners (08/15/24)
• As mortgage rate tumbles, will buyers rush in? Not so fast, they say (08/08/24)
• Are California homebuyers really going to pay Realtor commissions? (08/02/24)
• California Realtors gear up for changes in August (07/25/24)
• In California, a homebuyer can snare 30-year mortgage at 5.99% (07/18/24)
• Looking for a housing deal with lower rates? Economists say not so fast (07/11/24)
• Homeowners can get cash-out second mortgages to fund small rental properties (06/27/24)
• What exactly is an average mortgage rate? (06/20/24)
• Loan payments for Orange County's record-high median-price house tops $10,000 (06/13/24)
• Buy now? Wait? What homebuyers are asking in today's high-price market (06/06/24)
• Array of mortgages cover hard-to-qualify properties, borrowers (05/30/24)
• Sellers can help buyers with permanent fixed rate buydown to 5.99% (05/25/24)
• What's holding up your home loan? Avoid these pitfalls to speed the process (05/17/24)
• With mortgage rate topping 7%, what will it take to soften the market? (04/18/24)
• Will a mortgage rate spike squash home price hikes? (04/11/24)
• How will house hunters find and buy homes, post-NAR settlement? (04/04/24)
• Housing market malaise hasn't cut options for equity rich homeowners (03/29/24)
• NAR settlement creates daunting challenges for homebuyers, agents (03/22/24)
• Warning signs, including foreclosures, reverberate across housing economy (03/14/24)
• No relief this year for homebuyers, industry insiders predict (03/08/24)
• Can't afford to buy a home? Here's a plan of action to make it work (02/29/24)
• How no-cost mortgages save buyers money when rates come down (02/22/24)
• 10 creative ways to income-qualify for a home loan (02/19/24)
• Cash-strapped, 55-and-older homeowners can weigh no-payment reverse second (02/08/24)
• How a bridge loan can help homebuyers avoid dreaded contingency (01/25/24)
• Should homebuyers consider an Attorney Opinion Letter to reduce closing costs? (01/19/24)
• Freddie Mac adds California programs to its down payment assistance website (01/12/24)
• With credit card debt rising, homeowners can borrow to ease payment pain (01/05/24)
• 2024 housing predictions: Title insurance and commission rates will tumble (12/15/23)
• Freddie Mac unveils tool to help clear condo financing reviews faster (12/08/23)
• Government-backed mortgage loan caps rising to $1,149,825 in OC, LA (12/01/23)
• Can you buy a home with nothing down? FHA has zero-down loan (11/24/23)
• Homebuying fires back up as rates decline 3rd week in a row (11/16/23)
• Want to split your lot and sell an ADU or two? Here's how (11/09/23)
• ADU loan program has $100,000 for OC homeowners who rent to low-income tenants (10/27/23)
• California reinstates ADU sales separate from primary home (10/19/23)
• Why house payments will likely soar along with rising insurance rates (10/13/23)
• Homebuyers hit the brakes, 'smothering' the mortgage marketplace (10/06/23)
• Is relief in sight for priced-out homebuyers? Don't hold your breath (09/28/23)
• As homebuyer contracts collapse, expectations tumble, too (09/21/23)
• After redlining settlement, City National Bank launches home loan grants for underserved (09/15/23)
• Tips for inflation-bitten budgets to conquer mortgage payment struggles (09/07/23)
• Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac fixed rates hit 8% for qualified borrowers (08/30/23)
• Priced out of housing market? Zero-down loans, downpayment grants available (08/24/23)
• Why are mortgage fees so much higher for mom-and-pop investors? (08/17/23)
• How low is home inventory? Rocket Mortgage now chasing Realtors (08/11/23)
• Where are all the home listings? Some are selling before hitting MLS (08/03/23)
• Mortgage industry, homebuyers pinched by high rates, declining cash (07/27/23)
• Retirement funds may qualify for purchase of short-term rentals, ADUs (07/20/23)
• Buying a new construction home? Beware the fine print in upgrades (07/13/23)
• Will homeowners' insurance crisis upend home sales in California? (06/15/23)
• Proposition 19's death tax needs to die, readers say (06/08/23)
• Prop. 19's property tax transfer a 'godsend' for Southern California seniors (06/05/23)
• How LLCs can protect heirs from property tax reassessments under Prop. 19 (05/26/23)
• FAIR Plan seeks nearly 50% premium hike from California Department of Insurance (05/19/23)
• California's FAIR Plan may save condo associations blacklisted by Fannie Mae (05/11/23)
• Are homeseller and buyer escrow accounts safe at local banks? (05/04/23)
• Fannie, Freddie increasing 'debt' fees on borrowers this summer (04/28/23)
• Home sellers can finance their low-rate mortgage and generate income (04/20/23)
• Mortgage rates fall for fifth consecutive week to 6.27% (04/13/23)
• Need a down payment? 300-plus assistance programs available in California (04/06/23)
• Fannie Mae squeezing out appraisers with new automated program (03/30/23)
• Homebuyers who want a low rate can assume the sellers' FHA mortgage (03/23/23)
• Will Silicon Valley, Signature bank crashes send mortgage rates plummeting? (03/16/23)
• How seniors can tap their home's equity in tough times (03/10/23)
• Fannie Mae halts financing for 6,102 condos in Laguna Woods (03/03/23)
• FHA's lower mortgage insurance fees could save borrowers $1,500 annually (02/23/23)
• Want to buy a house - in a year? Here's your financial checklist (02/16/23)
• First-time homebuyer pickle: Sparse inventory, high rates, looming recession (02/09/23)
• Hard-money loans can turn a 10% return for rental-shy investors (02/03/23)
• Lower rates coming for low down payment buyers with riskier credit scores (01/26/23)
• Why are mortgage applications spiking 25% even as home sales collapse? (01/19/23)
• Why no Costco-like discounts for real estate services? It's illegal (01/12/23)
• Home equity lines, second mortgage lending spikes as consumer debt soars (01/05/23)
• 2023 predictions: Southern Californian median home price to slide 10% (12/22/22)
• Buyer beware: Hefty broker referral expenses may limit home, mortgage choices (12/13/22)
• California Realtor's new purchase contract could upend buyer's agent commission (12/08/22)
• Fannie, Freddie now a better deal than FHA financing for certain first-time buyers (11/28/22)
• Homebuyers face 91% increase for credit reports starting Jan. 1 (11/23/22)
• Will these zero-down loans for homebuyers doom real estate again? (11/17/22)
• Are layoffs and the stalled housing market signs to tap equity now? (11/10/22)
• As prices fall, homebuyers can weigh agent bonus for even more discounts (10/20/22)
• Homebuyers can lock a rate for 150 days ahead of a sales contract (10/13/22)
• How a temporary rate buydown can help lower house payments (10/06/22)
• 30-year mortgage rates soar to 6.7%, highest in 15 years (09/29/22)
• 30-year fixed mortgage hits 6.29%, double last year's average (09/22/22)
• Fannie Mae fee unfairly hurts borrowers using mortgage brokers (09/15/22)
• Lenders announce higher conventional loan limits early (09/08/22)
• Adjustable-rate-mortgage applications highest in 15 years (09/01/22)
• Market opening up for first-time, low-down payment buyers (08/25/22)
• Reverse mortgage market may be teetering on collapse (08/04/22)
• New ‘second mortgage’ could help self-employed borrowers weather a recession (07/31/22)
• Home seller discounts can include more than just price drops (07/23/22)
• Mortgage relief plans may help struggling borrowers stay put (07/16/22)
• Freddie Mac credits on-time rent payments for first-time buyers (07/10/22)
• FICO score simulator paves approval path for borderline homebuyers (07/08/22)
• Market shift opens door for buyers to make demands of sellers (07/02/2022)
• Adjustable-rate mortgages can lower payments as interest rates soar (06/20/22)
• Freddie Mac eases granny flat financing (06/12/22)
• Vulnerable borrowers should pull cash-out before inflation sinks economy (06/04/22)
• Unique loan offers no income threshold for underserved homebuyers (05/28/22)
• As interest rates rise, lenders offer creative mortgages, incentives (05/14/22)
• Adjustable mortgages now hugely more affordable than fixed rates (05/07/22)
• 5 easy ways to get your hands on $1 million (05/01/22)
• Market hitting peak for cash-out refinancing (04/23/22)
• Reverse mortgage knockoff available for seniors 55 and over (04/16/22)
• Negative adjustable-rate mortgages are back (04/09/22)
• Could mortgage rates soon hit 5%? We’re not that far off (04/02/2022)
• Biden administration unveils plan to curb racial bias in home appraisals (03/26/22)
• Freddie Mac ending automated appraisal waivers on cash-out refinances (03/20/22)
• Condo shoppers beware: Balcony law could cost you thousands of dollars after you buy (03/12/22)
• Mortgage rate drop may be temporary response to Russian invasion (03/05/22)
• Condo questionnaire causing some boards to boycott Fannie, Freddie financing (02/26/22)
• Agents share how homebuyers with a loan can top all-cash offers (02/19/22)
• ‘No credit report, no job’ is 2022’s exotic mortgage winner (02/13/22)
• Harsh COVID-19 rules rescinded for self-employed borrowers (02/05/22)
• Adjustable mortgages may see a 3.5% rate increase by 2025 (02/01/22)
• New HOA questionnaire could torpedo condo financing under Fannie, Freddie (01/22/22)
• Appraisal pre-approvals can level the home-buying playing field (01/15/22)
• Fannie, Freddie raising fees on high-balance and second home loans (01/08/21)
• Freddie Mac’s 15-year fixed rate ends 2021 near all-time low (01/01/22)
• Next year’s predictions: Low mortgage rates and high home prices (12/25/21)
• Despite inflation, mortgage rates remain inexplicably flat (12/18/21)
• Wish list for a mortgage system makeover: Build your own mortgage, easier appraisals (12/11/21)
• Are new loan limits for Fannie and Freddie too high? (12/04/21)
• Count your pandemic-related mortgage blessings (11/27/21)
• iLender offers Calif. home sellers up to $3 million guaranteed if buyer falters (11/21/21)
• For the first time ever, mortgage rates plunge as inflation soars (11/14/21)
• Yes, there are ‘marijuana mortgages’ for California borrowers (11/06/21)
• Millennial homeownership rates lag the national average (10/29/21)
• Fannie, Freddie give green light for remote appraisals (10/24/21)
• Home price gains will shrink to 3-5% in 2022, experts say (10/17/21)
• Mortgage lenders boosting jumbo loan limits 2 months before regulator (10/10/21)
• Fannie, Freddie flip makes rental acquisitions enticing again (10/03/21)
• State grants helping low-income homeowners build granny flats (09/26/21)
• You, too, could own a McMansion thanks to low jumbo rates (09/19/21)
• Some homebuyers balking at unreasonable seller demands (09/12/21)
• Record home-price gains zapping mortgage insurance (09/05/21)
• Mortgage market nearly crashed in early COVID-19 days (08/28/21)
• Freddie Mac combines mortgage and renovation financing (08/22/21)
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgage remains near all-time low (08/14/21)
• 10 years of mortgage news: ADUs and IRA home loans are hot topics (08/07/21)
• 15-year fixed mortgages drop to record low of 2.1% (07/31/21)
• Will lenders refund fees paid for a market downturn that never materialized? (07/25/21)
• Ten steps than can improve housing affordability (07/23/2021)
• Zero-down mortgages are back a decade after mortgage meltdown (07/17/2021)
• Can a 40-year mortgage save failing borrowers? (07/14/2021)
• Buyer beware: Appraisers bidding up fees after loan applications (06/26/21)
• Fed’s Decision to Keep Interest Rates Low May Sink Home Prices in 2022 (06/19/21)
• Self-employed borrowers still struggle to qualify for government-backed loans (06/12/21)
• HUD issues mortgage underwriting rules favoring temporary foreign workers (06/05/21)
• Credit scores don’t predict mortgage default risk (05/28/2021)
• 30-year mortgage rates may climb to 3.5% by year end (05/23/21)
• Fannie and Freddie face price competition from mortgage investors (05/15/21)
• Fannie, Freddie shrink mortgage menu during COVID (05/08/21)
• Creative mortgages can help elderly parents keep their homes (05/01/21)
• First-time homebuyers are getting outbid by big companies (04/25/21)
• Fannie adjustables dive to 1.75% for first 5-10 years (04/18/21)
• Agency plan would postpone foreclosures until 2022 (04/11/21)
• How much higher can home prices go? (04/04/21)
• Lenders accepting Bitcoin as down payment on home purchases (03/27/21)
• Loan costs for second homes, rentals to spike under new Fan-Freddie rule (03/21/21)
• Mortgage originators get high marks from borrowers (03/14/21)
• Fannie, Freddie’s old FICO standards squeeze millions of would-be homebuyers (03/07/21)
• 30-year fixed-rate nears 3% for first time in 6 months (02/25/21)
• Fannie, Freddie reap billions from ‘adverse market’ fee (02/21/21)
• Fannie, Freddie extend COVID-19 forbearance up to 15 months (07/14/21)
• How to reduce the high cost of title insurance (02/07/21)
• California lawmakers, lenders step up to help landlords (01/31/21)
• Top 3 mortgage approval obstacles in the COVID-19 pandemic (01/24/21)
• Mortgage payment forbearance must be expanded (01/17/21)
• Applications surging for 15-year mortgages as rates plummet (01/10/21)
• New law expands California’s homestead equity protection to $600,000 (01/01/21)
• Top 10 predictions: More rate drops in store for 2021 (12/24/20)
• Regulator ends debt-ratio standard for mortgage approvals (12/17/20)
• COVID pandemic helps push mortgage rate down 35% in 2 years (12/10/20)
• Pandemic making it harder for self-employed borrowers to get a mortgage (12/4/20)
• Regulator for Fannie, Freddie has raised the maximum loan limits for a fifth straight year. (11/25/20)
• PROP 19 CREATES CONFOUNDING QUESTIONS, GOTCHA RULES (11/19/20)
• Bidding wars, outdated appraisals hamstring first-time homebuyers (11/12/20)
• Volatile coronavirus and no stimulus means lower mortgage rates ahead (11/6/20)
• New mortgages predicted to break all-time record in 2021 (10/29/20)
• Reverse mortgages available to borrowers as young as 60 (10/22/20)
• Laguna Woods co-op ends decade-long lender monopoly (10/15/20)
• Southern California mortgage brokers suspected in fraudulent loan applications (10/8/20)
• Are banks trying to squeeze out mortgage brokers? (10/1/20)
• Tips for landlords going without rental income (9/24/20)
• Why are the lowest mortgage rates so hard to capture? (9/17/20)
• Borrower distress is opening opportunities for private mortgage investing (9/10/20)
• How many refinances are you allowed during a pandemic? (8/27/20)
• Coming soon to your refi: A half-point fee that could add $2,500 or more to costs (8/20/20)
• Will home values tank post pandemic? (8/13/20)
• Survival for some mom and pop landlords hangs in the balance (8/7/20)
• Self-employed landlords battle harder for home-loan approvals (7/30/20)
• Super-low mortgage rates: A blessing or ominous sign of next housing downfall? (7/23/20)
• 720 mortgage companies took PPP money, claiming jobs saved (7/16/20)
• How soon will fixed mortgage rates fall below 2%? (7/9/20)
• Will foreclosures explode once the moratorium is lifted? (7/2/20)
• Banks should match rate discounts for low-wealth Blacks (6/25/20)
• How to boost Black Homeownership (6/18/20)
• Self-employed borrowers face new scrutiny from Fannie, Freddie (6/11/20)
• Risky mortgages back 10 weeks after dramatic crash (6/4/20)
• Virus-impacted borrowers missing out on today’s record-low rates (5/28/20)
• Wraparound mortgages can help home sellers boost their prices (5/21/20)
• Borrowers risk losing their homes as unpaid mortgage bills pile up (5/1/20)
• Cash-out refinancing, home equity lending may come to a halt (5/14/20)
• California homeowners can get up to 10 months to make up missed payments or sell (5/7/20)
• Borrowers risk losing their homes as unpaid mortgage bills pile up (4/30/20)
• How to navigate mortgage application landmines during a pandemic (4/23/20)
• Will mortgage servicers get a Hail Mary line of credit like borrowers? (4/16/20)
• Home values may fall as jumbo loans vanish (4/9/20)
• Will coronavirus outbreak slam U.S. home prices? (4/3/20)
• Those working in battered industries may not get their mortgages approved (3/26/20)
• Lenders throwing lifeline to borrowers impacted by coronavirus (3/20/20)
• Mortgage rates rise sharply from last week’s record low (3/13/20)
• Can coronavirus sicken our healthy housing market? (3/5/20)
• Democratic presidential candidates answer 3 hot housing questions (2/27/20)
• Mortgage qualifying rules get creative (2/13/20)
• Coronavirus may drive mortgage rates to new lows (2/6/20)
• New FICO scoring model focuses on 24-month look back (1/30/20)
• FHA Commissioner Montgomery, leave down payment assistance alone (1/23/20)
• What’s driving this week’s spike in mortgage applications? (1/16/20)
  
• Prediction: Home values will drop by 25% to 50% in decade ahead (1/3/20)
• Mortgage prediction for 2020: a 30-year fixed at 2.875% without points (12/26/19)
• Will new granny flat laws ruin nice neighborhoods? (12/19/19)
• Getting a granny flat loan is easy peasy (12/12/19)
• 2020 may be a good time to build a granny flat (12/5/19)
• Fannie, Freddie high-cost loan limits raised to record $765,600 (11/27/19)
• Will Fannie and Freddie comply with new privacy law? (11/21/19)
• Should credit bureaus sell your data when you apply for a mortgage? (11/14/19)
• Reporter’s notebook: Fog the mirror mortgages are back (11/7/19)
• Could Fannie and Freddie soon have competition? (10/31/19)
• Mortgage assoc. chair uses scaremongering speech to wedge brokers against Quicken Loans (10/24/19)
• State regulators don't second guess low-ball appraisals (10/17/19)
• Are appraisal waivers good news or bad news? (10/10/19)
• 17% of young homebuyers regret their purchase, Zillow survey shows (10/4/19) 
• Robots could replace loan officers in the future (9/26/19)
• Mortgage rates for borrowers with damaged credit are dropping (9/19/19)
• Deal allows risky home loans 'business purpose' (9/12/19)
• Home equity borrowing down dramatically since housing crash (9/6/19)
• Mixed economic signals could spell a choppy housing market ahead (8/29/19)
• How low will fixed-rate mortgages go? (8/22/19)
• FHA to ease access to loans in unapproved condo complexes (8/15/19)
• New FHA cash-out refi rule curbs financing for moderate-income borrowers (8/8/19)
• Tax cedits could help foreclosure victims buy homes again (8/1/19)
• Fractional ownership provides alternative For priced-out home shoppers (7/25/19)
• Laguna Woods residents complain about the lack of co-op lenders (7/18/19)
• Laguna Woods disputes co-op lending monopoly (7//11/19)
• New program offers hard-money mortgages at half the rate (7/3/19)
• Mortgage rates lowest in 3 years; Fannie, Freddie lower income requirements for downpayment program (6/27/19)
• Low mortgage rates trigger more loan applications - and longer delays (6/20/19)
• Experian Boost may help risky borrowers buy a home (6/13/19) 
• Refi opportunities revive as 30-year mortgage rate drops to 3.82% (6/6/19)
• New piggy-back loans can lower your payments when buying a home (5/30/19)
• Fannie, Freddie appraisal secrecy hurts first-time buyers (5/23/19)
• Mortgage competition banned at Laguna Woods co-ops (4/25/19)
• 6 turbo-charged ideas for boosting your home purschasing power (4/18/19)
• Energy loans plunge in California after income-qualifying laws took effect (4/11/19)
• Fannie Mae's decision to use real estate agents as appraisers is risky (4/4/19)
• Mortgage rate plunge lowers a no-cost, 30-year fixed refi to 3.9% (3/28/19)
• Are agents getting kickbacks for mortgage, escrow referrals? (3/21/19)
• Client gets new mortgage after failing to pay 2nd for eight years (3/14/19)
• Mortgage brokers' share of home loans on the rise (3/7/19)
• Patient buyer gets $35,000 discount waiting out overconfident seller (2/28/19)
• New loan allows 85% cash out with less documentation (2/21/19)
• New "opportunity zones" give investors tax breaks (2/14/19)
• Congress must act in wake of massive mortgage data breach (2/7/19)
• Consider a bridge loan to avoid a fire sale (1/31/19)
• Trump tax law gives landlords 20% tax break (1/24/19)
• Housing slowdown creates opportunities for first-time buyers (1/18/19)
• Lenders coming to aid of workers affected by government shutdown (1/10/19)
• Will new mortgage regulators in D.C. keep your home safe? (1/3/19)
• Lazerson's predictions: Mortgage rates, home prices and sales to go down in 2019 (12/27/18)
• Why mortgage brokers must give rebates to borrowers (12/20/18)
• Angelo Mozilo, ex-CEO of failed Countrywide Financial, praised at mortgage conference (12/13/18)
• Mortgage rates drop: How soon until the next recession? (12/6/18)
• Conventional loan limits increase for a third year in a row (11/29/18)
• What if you could trade sweat equity for a cash down payment and closing costs? (11/21/18)
• Wildfire victims get extra time for mortgage payments (11/15/18)
• Stated-income loans with easier standards assists wage earners and self-employed (11/8/18)
• Affordable jumbos: 40-year fixed rates, easy qualifying, interest-only for 10 years (11/1/18)
• New frontier in mortgage lending: Automation (10/25/18)
• Fannie, Freddie looking to increase mortgage limits (10/18/18)
• 30-year mortgage rate nears 5%, jumping to 7½-year high (10/11/18)
• Should you buy or rent a home? It depends on the math (10/4/18)
• 30-year mortgage rates hit 7-year high: 4.72% (9/27/18)
• Mortgage show offers smart options for mortgage and escrow payments (9/20/18)
• Small borrowers, pot providers and gun dealers need more access to lending (9/13/18)
• Mortgage issues that Congress should act on to help consumers (9/6/18)
• Proposed self-employment mortgage act will allow risky loans (8/30/18)
• Sales slowdown gives homebuyers more leverage (8/23/18)
• Check your home's fire risk before you buy it (8/16/18)
• First time ever: Standalone fixed-rate second mortgages allow 100% cash-out (8/9/18)
• Fannie, Freddie helping borrowers ditch their mortgage insurance (7/26/18)
• Thirty-year mortgage rates level off at 4.5% (7/19/18)
• Is the housing market changing course? Seven signs of a possible slowdown (7/12/18)
• VA offers up to $50,000 for home renovations with 0 down, 0 equity (7/5/18)
• Tariffs, possible recession spell end to rising mortgage rates (6/28/18)
• Self-employed can get seconds and HELOCS with bank statements (6/21/18)
• Fed rate bump moves prime rate to 5%; is it time to unHELOC? (6/14/18)
• FICO now has competition. But will that improve credit scores? (6/7/18)
• Mortgage rates see first decline in a month (5/31/18)
• 30-year fixed mortgage rate reaches highest sustained increase in 40 years (5/25/18)
• Credit reports lower lending bar, increase default risks (5/17/18)
• Alimony payments to help borrowers to qualify for loans under new tax law (5/10/18)
• Fannie and Freddie impeding more affordable adjustable-rate mortgages (5/3/18)
• Debt, bad credit keep renters from becoming homeowners, Fed survey shows (4/26/18)
• Mortgage rates highest since 2014; lenders allowing up to 85% cash-out mortgages (4/19/18)
• Are points still deductible under new tax rules? (4/12/18)
• Payments for adjustable mortgage rising again (4/5/18)
• California raises price cap on state loans to first-time homebuyers (3/29/18)
• Thought you were finished? There's another tax bill due in April (3/22/18)
• Financing for profitable property flipping (3/15/18)
• How self-employed borrowers can get the best rates (3/8/18)
• With mortgage rates at 4-year highs, look for discounts (3/4/18)
• Dead people on title, trust issues can derail mortgages (2/22/18)
• Want to be a landlord? Financing is available for apartments (2/15/18)
• Little known formulas can help you qualify for a bigger mortgage (2/8/18)
• Act now to avoid the pain of a sharp interest-rate spike (2/1/18)
• Are lenders doing enough to prevent mortgage fraud? (1/25/18)
• Are Fannie and Freddie accepting riskier loans? (1/18/18)
• Mortgage insurance is up for large FHA loans (1/11/18)
• Seven last-minute obstacles to closing escrow on time (1/4/18)
• HELOC loans may still be deductible under new tax plan (12/28/17)
• 2018 Predictions: Rates will rise, but loans will drop as home sales decline (12/21/17) 
• International credit reports can help foreign workers buy a U.S. home (12/14/17)
• Here are five ways to improve the CFPB (12/7/17)
• Uncle Sam just said yes to higher 'conforming loan' limits (11/30/17)
• Wells Fargo formula shows recession looming in the next 18 months (11/22/17)
• GOP tax plays could be painful for Orange County homeowners (11/16/17)
• Payment hike possible for a fifth of all home-equity loans (11/9/17)
• Borrowers beware: Abusive lenders are out there (11/2/17)
• Mortgage bankers unveil lots of tricks and treats (10/27/17)
• Down payment insurance cuts you risk if your home value drops (10/20/17)
• Borrowing against your home can be tricky during financial emergencies (10/13/17)
• Congressional bills could fuel a new race to the bottom (10/6/17)
• Options expanding for safer non-prime mortgages (9/29/17)
• How Equifax hackers could steal your home (9/22/17)
• Low refinance activity defies low interest rates (9/15/17)
• Seniors, not lenders, to pay for FHA losses on reverse mortgages (9/8/17)
• New 'silent second' could be your best shot at homeownership (9/1/17)
• Appraisal waivers, alimony revisions will make mortgages easier to get (8/25/17)
• Orange County homes can be 27% more affordable than Realtors say (8/18/17)
• Stated-income loans are back (8/11/17)
• New mortgage rules raise privacy concerns (8/4/17)
• Buying vs. Renting: First-Time Buyers should not give up the Hunt (7/28/17
• Revised Rates might make Earthquake Insurance more Feasible (7/21/17)
• Loan Helps Investors Beat the Clock on Property Swaps (7/14/17)
• Lenders Lower the Bar as Business Slows (7/7/17)
• Federal Regulators Mull Appraisal-Free Mortgages for Some Loans (6/29/17)
• Will Fed Rate Hikes Trigger a Recession in 2018? (6/23/17)
• Despite their stigma, adjustable mortgages can save borrowers big bucks (6/20/17)
• Mortgage Rates Tick Down; Fannie May Plans to OK Newly Self-Employed Borrowers (6/9/17)
• Lenders Wary of Fake Rental Property Investments (6/2/17)
• Family, Friends and Co-Workers are your Best Souces for Finding a Loan Officer (5/26/17)
• Does Federal Law Discriminate against Homeowners with Poor Income or Credit? (5/19/17)
• Cash-out refinances can pay off student debt (5/11/17)
• Wells Fargo denies customer claim of aggressive sales tactic (5/5/17)
• Federal Reserve's Decisions may put U.S. in a Deeper Recession (4/22/17)
• Early Tax Filers more likely to get the deal in a seller's market (4/15/17)
• Online Tool helps you decide whether to buy a home now or wait (4/10/17)
• Mortgage Rates Drop on Heels of Fed Hikes (4/1/17)
• Mortgage firms lend a hand in financing flips (3/25/17)
• FICO scores for risky borrowers to rise under the new rules (3/17/17)
• Now's a Good Time to Pull Cash out of your Home (3/11/17)
• Your Protections will Vanish if Mortgage Police Go Away (3/4/17)
• Is Housing Market Correction on the Horizon? (2/25/27)
• Creative Mortgages make Comeback for Credit-Challenged Borrowers (2/17/17)
• How to Beat the Crowd in a Seller's Market (2/11/17)
• Trump's Travel Ban Causes Buyer to Cancel Pending OC Sale (From "Lazerson's Blog (2/3/17)
• No Down Payment Loans Available in CA - But at a Price (1/27/17)
• Loan Options for Vacation Rentals getting Better (1/22/17)
• A Parting Gift from HUD Chief Julian Castro: An FHA Fee Cut (1/15/17)
• Lenders take hard line on your creditworthiness (1/7/17)
• 3 Ways to Delay your Capital Gains (12/30/16)
• Forecast: Rising Rates will curb 2017 Mortgage Volume (12/25/16)
• Forecast Scorecard: 2016 Housing Market Defied Predictions (12/17/16)
• Rates are rising, but you can beat payment hikes with alternative loans (12/10/16)
• What new loan limits mean for O.C. borrowers, vets (12/3/16)
• Mortgage Broker: One Agent can't fairly represent buyers & sellers (11/25/16)
• Post-Election Rate Will Reverse Course (11/18/16)
• Cheaper Mortgages and Taxpayer Bailout Ahead (11/11/16)
• Homebuyer Homeruns found at the Mortgage Convention (from "Lazerson's Loan Log")  (11/4/16)
• Mortgage application process to get easier (10/28/16)
• Lawsuits or loopholes protect buyer deposits (10/21/16)
• Why the U.S. needs a housing czar (10/14/16)
• More creative loans for hard-to-qualify borrowers (10/8/16)
• Loans for hard-to-qualify borrowers are back (9/30/16)
• Fannie Mae's newest software widens mortgage credit (9/23/16)
• Paying points can yield jumbo savings (9/17/16)
• The 'parent loan' can yield a mother lode of savings (9/10/16)
• Landlords are trading up to $1M rentals (9/4/16)
• Public adjusters can boost insurance claims after a disaster (8/26/16)
• Using credit scores for rents and utility payments would dramatically expand homeownership (8/19/16)
• Title insurance, hidden defects among readers' chief complaints (8/12/16)
• Shacking up? Business partners? Your deduction is double (8/5/16)
• Mortgage credit can make first home affordable (7/29/16)
• Energy loans lower utility bills ---- but at a price (7/22/16)
• Beware of mortgage 'gotcha' charges (7/16/16)
• Blame or cheer Brexit as 30-year rates expected to drop below 3% (7/2/16)
• Tips for buyers facing a seller's market (6/24/16)
• 5 cash-saving tips for mortgage refi's (6/18/16)
• How credit disputes delay mortgage credit decisions (6/12/16)
• Never give up trying to get better loan terms. You might get lucky. (6/4/16)
• How to deal with low-ball appraisals (5/28/16)
• New loans give buyers more options (5/20/16)
• Fannie Mae trying to rule in more borderline borrowers (5/14/16)
• Fannie Mae to offer no-credit-score mortgages (5/6/16)
• Don't get snookered on title and escrow fees (4/29/16)
• Is a recession coming next year? (4/22/16)
• Will Trump or terrorists drive down home prices? (4/15/16)
• Several loans can help cut utility bills (4/8/16)
• How closing funds get hijacked by fraudsters (4/1/16)
• Is Fannie Mae profiteering off riskier borrowers? (3/25/16)
• Piggyback seconds making a comeback (3/18/16)
• Best options for mortgage insurance for those with small down payments (3/11/16)
• Mortgage insurance rising for some borrowers (3/4/16)
• Fannie relaxes rules for refinancing mortgages (2/26/16)
• Reverse mortgage can be cure for a cash flow crunch (2/22/16)
• How Disasters Affect your Chances of Getting a Mortgage (2/12/16)
• Borrowers Shun Bubble-Era Mortgages (2/5/16)
• Tips For Making it Easier to get your Home Loan Approved (1/22/16)
• Rate drops could spur new refi mania (1/15/16)
• Become a landlord with as little as 15% down (1/6/2016)
• Forecast: Mortgage rates won't rise, Fan-Fred will survive (12/25/15)
• Grants can help you make your down payment (12/11/15)
• An alternative to stocks: Buying rentals through an IRA (11/27/15)
• Room addition may benefit you more than moving (11/14/15)
• Will Fannie loan lead to more foreclosures? (10/23/15)
• How to close your mortgage faster (10/11/15)
• No procrastinating under new mortgage rules (9/25/15)
• It's never too late to start a real estate empire (9/18/15)
• Fixes needed for flawed mortgage licensing system (9/12/15)
• Will Fed start buying mortgages again? (8/28/15)
• Slowdown could create homebuying opportunities (7/31/15)
• A quicker mortgage payoff saves big bucks (7/24/15)
• Give your kids the gift of equity (7/9/15)
• 2015 home prices: Second half looks even better (6/26/15)
• New mortgage rules are coming (6/11/15)
• Appraisal hypocrisy hits home
• Ditching FHA mortgage insurance no easy task
• California contracts termite trouble
• An alternative to stocks: Buying rentals through an IRA
• Splitting up property is hard to do
• New credit check tool could make loans easier to getMortgage industry expands the credit box
• Give your kids the gift of equity
• Decision engine helps borrowers get loans
• Bankruptcy? Foreclosure? This loan's for you