Mortgage Matters

Roland and Heidi discussed the current housing market trends in Las Vegas, highlighting a significant increase in housing inventory, with over 6,200 homes listed without offers in April. They noted the impact of economic factors like Moody's downgrade and tariffs on materials, which have pushed mortgage rates higher. The median home price dipped slightly to $480,000, offering potential buyers more...

Roland and Heidi discuss the upcoming online home ownership class, Home is Possible, on May 12th at 4 PM, covering Nevada Housing Division's down payment assistance programs, including a first-time buyer program, programs that allow ownership in other states, a $7,500 grant for teachers, as well as income limits up to $165,000. They also highlight the benefits of VA loans, which offer zero down pa...

Roland and Heidi discuss the Nevada Housing Coalition's efforts to promote affordable housing. Maurice Page, the coalition's Executive Director, highlights the state's shortage of 78,000 affordable housing units, with only 36,000 pre-COVID. The coalition's $500 million Home Means Nevada initiative aims to increase affordable housing by 3,400 units by 2026. They also discuss the Governor's housing...

Roland and Heidi discussed the importance of Fair Housing Month, emphasizing equity and access to safe housing. They were joined in studio by Gil Sanchez, Director and head of new membership efforts, and Allen Shelton, 1st Vice President and Political Advocacy Chair, with NAREB, who shared insights on the critical role of homeownership in building wealth and stability in Black and Brown communitie...

Roland and Heidi discuss the importance of Title and Escrow in home buying. They introduce guests Desiree Holmes and Brian Holland from Stewart Title. Desiree explains her role as an escrow officer, emphasizing the neutrality of Title and Escrow services. They address wire fraud prevention, stressing the importance of verifying wire instructions. Brian highlights Stewart Title's 132-year history a...

Roland and Heidi discuss various home-buying programs and upcoming educational opportunities. They sit down with Kevin Hickey, Homeownership Programs Manager with Nevada Rural Housing, to talk about exciting changes to the Home at Last down payment program, which offers down payment assistance up to 4% and permanent rate reduction through seller concessions and a 5-year forgivable term. Nevada Rur...

Roland and Heidi discuss the importance of Fair Housing Month in April, highlighting the Fair Housing Act's 1968 enactment and its significance in civil rights. They emphasize that discrimination can be subtle and affect access to wealth, safety, and stability. Upcoming classes include a down payment support class on April 18 and a VA home loan class on April 19. They debunk myths about VA loans,...

Roland and Heidi discuss upcoming educational opportunities in April, including a Path to Home Ownership workshop, a VA loan class for veterans, a down payment assistance class for realtors, and an A to Z class on down payment programs. They highlight the importance of fair housing, noting that April is Fair Housing Month. Fernanda Heki from Silver State Fair Housing Council explains the council's...

Roland and Heidi discuss upcoming educational classes and workshops in April, including the Path to Home Ownership workshop and a real estate class for realtors. They were joined by Kevin Hickey, Nevada Rural Housing's Homeownership Programs Manager, highlighting the Launch Pad program, which offers down payment and closing cost assistance for rural Nevadans, with options ranging from 2% to 5%. Th...

Roland and Heidi discuss the Las Vegas real estate market with Starla Jordan from Coldwell Banker. The median home price in January was $485,000, with approximately 5,600 homes on the market. The average days on the market is 47 days. The National Association of Realtors' settlement in August 2024 changed how commissions are negotiated, requiring buyers to sign a buyer brokerage representation agr...

The discussion on Mortgage Matters focused on the potential privatization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Aaron Vantrojen, CEO of Geneva Financial, explained the historical context, noting Fannie Mae's creation in 1938 and their role in providing inexpensive mortgages. He highlighted that privatization could increase interest rates, impacting home affordability. Currently, Fannie and Freddie handle...

Roland and Heidi discuss the potential impact of changes to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and HUD on the mortgage industry. Aaron VanTrojen, CEO of Geneva Financial, explains the CFPB's role in regulating the mortgage industry post-2008 financial crisis and the challenges of its current state. He highlights the necessity of consumer protection regulations and the potential risks...

Roland and Heidi discuss the importance of homeownership and the challenges faced by potential home buyers. They highlight the Path to Home Ownership workshop, which includes education on budgeting, mortgage processes, and credit improvement. Kevin Hickey from Nevada Rural Housing explains their programs, including down payment assistance and the Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC), which offers a t...

Roland and Heidi are joined by the Black Realtists of Southern Nevada (NAREB) discussing its mission to promote home ownership among Black and minority communities. Special guests, including Allen Shelton, Aprille Noble, Rhonda Tolbert, and Gil Sanchez, highlighting NAREB's efforts in advocating for fair housing, providing educational resources, and organizing events to support first-time home buy...

Roland and Heidi discuss the importance of generational wealth. They emphasize the need for financial education, starting with children, and the importance of credit and life insurance in building wealth. They also highlight the challenges of probate and the necessity of estate planning.  They talk about their upcoming class on Monday, February 10, 2025, with the State of Nevada Housing Division....

Roland and Heidi discuss upcoming homeownership education classes and address listener questions. They highlight the importance of down payment assistance (DPA) programs, debunking myths like the need for a 20% down payment. Upcoming classes include an online DPA session on February 8 and an in-person Nevada Housing class on February 10. They also address strategies for helping adult children buy...

Roland and Heidi discuss the upcoming HUD-certified home ownership workshop on February 1, 2025, at CPLC from 8:30am to 3pm. They address Quincy's question about whether to buy a home now or wait for lower interest rates, emphasizing that while rates are higher, home prices may also be lower compared to 2023. They debunk mortgage myths, such as the need for a 20% down payment, and explain the impo...

Roland and Heidi highlight upcoming homebuyer opportunities, including an online class with the Nevada Housing Division on Thursday, January 23, from 4-5 pm, and the Path to Homeownership Workshop on Saturday, February 1, from 8:30 am to 3 pm with CPLC. They discuss the advantages of using your 401(k) as an asset to help with down payment or closing costs and answer listener Cynthia’s Question of...

Roland and Heidi discuss strategies for self-employed individuals like truck drivers to qualify for home loans, emphasizing the use of tax returns and potential bank statement loans. They introduce Kevin Hickey from Nevada Rural Housing, highlighting his role and the agency's programs. Nevada Rural Housing offers down payment assistance up to 3% and a 6.17% interest rate through the Launch Pad pro...

Roland and Heidi discussed upcoming homeownership workshops and classes. The first Path to Home Ownership workshop of 2025 was held on January 1, with the next scheduled for February 1. Additional classes include a session on down payment assistance programs on January 13 and an online class on January 23. They emphasized the importance of HUD counselors and down payment assistance, which can help...

In the final episode of 2024, Roland and Heidi discuss strategies for financial planning in the upcoming year. They highlight upcoming workshops, including a Path to Home Ownership workshop on January 4th and a Down Payment Assistance class on January 13th. They emphasize the importance of building generational wealth through home ownership and the benefits of starting an emergency fund. They also...

Roland and Heidi discuss upcoming homebuyer education classes, including a workshop on January 4 and a class on January 13 at the Whitney Library, which will cover down payment assistance programs. They introduce Rhonda Tolbert and Janette Zambrano from Nevada Clean Energy Fund, who explain their programs to help homeowners with energy efficiency and solar installations. The fund offers budget-bas...

Roland and Heidi discussed the success of their December Path to Home Ownership workshop, which saw a full room and provided attendees with home buyer education certificates. Upcoming workshops are scheduled for January 4 and January 13. They highlighted the Clark County School District's Title 1 Homeless Outreach Program, which supports 13,000 homeless students. The hosts emphasized the importanc...

Heidi discusses VA loans, highlighting their benefits for veterans, including zero down payment, no mortgage insurance, and competitive interest rates.  Myths about VA loans, such as complexity and higher fees for sellers, are debunked. Heidi also explains mortgage insurance for conventional and FHA loans, contrasting it with VA loans. Additionally, she provides tips on setting financial goals for...

Heidi discusses the importance of planning for homeownership in 2025. She highlights down payment assistance programs like Nevada Housing Division and Nevada Rural Housing, which can help cover costs. Griffith emphasizes the need for a solid budget, financial discipline, and understanding credit scores. She advises against overspending during the holidays to avoid debt that could impact mortgage q...