07/02/2026
Mortgage Monthly News
Brought to you by Amy Costa-Bigler
In This Issue:
Can AI Get Me a Mortgage?
Inflation Busters to Stretch Your Budget
Give Your Home a Summer Facelift
Can AI Get Me a Mortgage?
Can AI Get Me a Mortgage?
REALITY CHECK: AI is catching on rapidly and infiltrating our daily lives, but can it get you a mortgage? While many lenders have incorporated Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to speed up their business operations, it still takes real human beings to underwrite a loan and get it through to closing – especially if complex tax returns or self-employed income are involved.
We take pride in providing personalized service to each of our clients. So, when you need advice about obtaining a mortgage, just give us a call. We’ve got our eye on the market, and we’re ready to help you reach your goals!
Inflation Busters to Stretch Your Budget
Inflation is currently at 4.2%. This is the highest rate in three years, and we’re all painfully aware of the increase in gas and food prices. Here are a few inflation-fighting tips to stretch your budget.
Cut Unnecessary Spending – Consider cutting monthly expenses that you don’t actually use or may be able to live without. Do you have subscription services or a gym membership that you don’t use? Cancel them to free up cash in your budget!
Optimize Grocery Spending – Take inventory of what you have to work with before you go shopping and check the local ads to plan meals around what is on sale. Make a shopping list and stick to it, to avoid making impulse buys.
Lower Utility Bills – Adjust your thermostat to use less energy, switch to using cold water for laundry whenever possible, unplug devices that are not in use, and switch to LED lightbulbs. If you’re a homeowner, replace filters in your HVAC system, seal cracks, and clean the refrigerator coils to reduce energy waste.
Hack the Pump – Take advantage of reward programs to lower your cost per gallon on gasoline and plan on running errands to get more done at one time, instead of making multiple trips. You can also adjust your driving habits. Speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking uses more gas, while maintaining the speed limit and gently accelerating can increase your fuel economy.
Did you know? Owning a home is one of the strongest ways to hedge inflation, by eliminating rent hikes and building long-term equity. If you’re interested in buying a home – or refinancing to pay off debt or make home improvements – my team and I are the experts you need to help you succeed.
Give Your Home a Summer Facelift
Pressure washing your home boosts your curb appeal, and takes away years of mildew, soot, and dirt from your home’s exterior. You can rent a pressure washer, or hire a company to do it for you. Either way, the results are amazing.
Make Your House Shine
Pressure washing does an excellent job of cleaning up wood, vinyl, aluminum siding and masonry. This is best to do on a partly cloudy day, so the sun doesn’t dry out the cleaning solution before you give it a thorough rinse.
Make sure to protect your gardens, plants, grass, windows and doors (that might leak) with plastic sheeting secured with duct tape. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for choosing the correct nozzle and how to use the machine. Done correctly, your house will look spectacular!
Things You Should Never Pressure Wash
It is important to know what you can and cannot do with a pressure washer. Avoid pressure washing the following surfaces, because it can cause more harm than good.
Wood siding
Bottle-dash or rock-dash stucco
Fiber cement siding
Electrical panels
Asphalt shingles
Air conditioners
Lead paint
Old mortar
Humans, pets, or plants
If you decide to DIY and rent a pressure washer, plan on renting it for at least one full day – and don’t forget me any day you need a mortgage pro!
We love referrals! If you know anyone who needs a qualified mortgage professional, please give me a call. My team and I have our eyes on the market at all times, and we specialize in mortgage planning to build wealth for a healthy financial future.
