HomeBuying Made Easy

Here's a common myth: you always need a home warranty when you buy a house. The reality is much more nuanced. In this Mythbuster Monday episode, Michael Dendy breaks down when home warranties are actually worth the money and when they're a waste of cash. A home warranty covers the everyday breakdowns of your HVAC system, water heater, appliances, and plumbing. When a heating and air system needs r...

Inheriting a house sounds great until you realize you don't know what to do next. In this episode, Michael Dendy walks through everything that happens when you inherit property from probate and death certificates to refinancing, appraisals, and the credit process. Plus, learn the tax strategies that could save you thousands if you plan ahead with a CPA before inheritance happens. Reach out to our...

One of the biggest myths in homebuying? That appraisals and home inspections are the same thing. They're not. In this Mythbuster Monday episode, Michael Dendy breaks down the critical differences between a home inspection (which looks at the condition of everything in your house) and an appraisal (which determines the property's value). Learn why you need both, which ones are required, and why ski...

Ever wondered what equity really is? In this episode, mortgage broker Michael Dendy breaks down one of the most important homebuying concepts with help from his 8-year-old daughter, Zuzu. Using the piggy bank metaphor, we explain how equity works, why it matters, and how paying your mortgage is literally putting money in a house you live in. Perfect for first-time homebuyers who want to understand...

Happy Labor Day! As we move into the fall season here at Home Buying Made Easy we have another Mythbuster Monday and today's myth is one that catches a lot of homeowners off guard after they close. The myth: your mortgage payment stays exactly the same for the life of your loan. The truth: it can change and it has nothing to do with your interest rate. In this episode, Michael Dendy breaks down wh...

Most people have never actually read their credit report. And that's a problem. In this episode, Michael Dendy breaks down exactly what's on your credit report, what it means, and what you should be looking for as a consumer. From payment history and balances to collections, judgments and creditor contact info, we walk through all of it in plain English. We also cover how often you should be check...

Ever wonder what an appraiser is actually doing when they walk through a home? It's a lot more than just taking pictures. In this episode, Michael Dendy breaks down the entire appraisal process what appraisers look for, how they measure and rate a property, how long it takes, and why the requirements are different depending on your loan type. We're also covering what happens when an appraisal come...

Mythbuster Monday is here and today we're tackling the myth that keeps a lot of buyers from even starting the mortgage process. The myth: every time someone pulls your credit, your score drops significantly. The truth: it doesn't and Michael Dendy breaks down exactly what actually happens when a lender does a hard pull, how long any impact lasts, and why shopping multiple lenders in a short window...

You know what makes the mortgage process smoother, faster, and a whole lot less stressful? Being a great client. In this episode, Michael Dendy flips the script and shares what he actually wishes borrowers knew before the process starts. We're talking about getting documents in on time, asking questions without apologizing for it, being honest about your financial situation upfront, and the one th...

You're about to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a home. Do you actually know who owns it? In this episode, Michael Dendy breaks down you need a title company and title insurance at closing. What they do, why they matter, and how they protect your property rights long after closing day. We're covering the role of the title company in the closing process, what title insurance actually cove...

Most people put off starting the mortgage process because they think they need to have everything perfectly in order first. They don't. In this episode, Michael Dendy walks through exactly what documents you need before applying for a mortgage — pay stubs, W-2s, bank statements, ID — and more importantly, what you don't need to stress about before making that first call. We're also covering how to...

Mythbuster Monday is back and today we're taking on a myth that trips up a lot of homebuyers before they even get started. Your loan officer has to be local. Myth two: you always need a title company to close. Michael Dendy breaks down both what's actually true, what doesn't matter as much as you think, and what really does matter when you're building your mortgage team. Spoiler: it's not about zi...

What if you find the perfect home — but yours hasn't sold yet? In this episode, Michael Dendy breaks down bridge loans: what they are, how they work, and when they actually make sense. We're covering how much you can borrow, what interest-only payments look like, the equity requirements you need to qualify, and the risks of using a bridge loan in a slow market. Whether you're relocating for a job,...

If you're buying in a rural area, there's a loan option that could save you thousands — and most buyers have never even heard of it. In this episode, Michael Dendy breaks down USDA loans from top to bottom: what they are, who qualifies, where the properties need to be located, and how they stack up against conventional and FHA options. We're covering income limits, funding fees, and the scenarios...

You've probably heard the term "buying down your rate" — but do you actually know if it's worth it for you? In this episode, Michael Dendy breaks down everything you need to know about mortgage points: what they are, what they cost, and how to calculate whether paying upfront actually saves you money in the long run. We're walking through the breakeven point, what market conditions mean for your d...

Mythbuster Monday is back and today we're tackling one of the most misunderstood topics in real estate: investment properties. A lot of people think investing in real estate is only for the wealthy, requires a massive down payment, or is just too complicated to figure out. Michael Dendy is here to bust all of it. In this episode, we're breaking down the real rules around investment property loans,...

Did you know Tennessee has programs specifically designed to help first-time homebuyers cover their down payment and closing costs and some of it doesn't even have to be paid back? In this episode, Michael Dendy breaks down everything you need to know about Tennessee's first-time homebuyer programs: who qualifies, what the income limits look like, and how to actually use these benefits when you're...

Everyone's waiting for rates to drop. But what if waiting is actually costing you more? In this episode, Michael Dendy breaks down 40 years of mortgage rate history to reveal what most buyers don't realize: 6% isn't the exception it's closer to the norm. We're talking about the real cost of sitting on the sidelines while home prices keep climbing, how refinancing works and what it actually costs,...

Buying a home isn't a solo sport and the team you build around you can make or break the entire experience. In this episode, Michael Dendy walks through every professional you need in your corner before you start the home buying process: the right loan officer, the right real estate agent, the right home inspector, and a few key players most buyers never think about until it's too late. We're also...

Mythbuster Monday is here! Today's myth: "A 30-year mortgage is always the smart choice." In this episode, Michael breaks down the real difference between a 30-year and a 15-year mortgage: the monthly payment tradeoff, the interest you actually pay, and the situations where a shorter term wins every time. We'll also cover why a 30-year isn't always wrong — and the one question you should be asking...

Choosing between a fixed rate mortgage and an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) can cost ... or save ... you thousands over time. In this episode, Michael breaks down the real differences between the two, when an ARM actually makes sense, and when locking in your rate is the smarter move. Not all loans are created equal and picking the wrong one could hurt you long-term. Subscribe, review and comment...

Let's be honest. Moving to a new state is stressful. Nobody's going to tell you otherwise with a straight face. But there's a difference between the kind of stressful that grinds you down for six months and the kind where you've got a plan and you're just doing the work. Michael busts the myth that interstate moves have to be chaos — because most of the stress isn't inevitable, it's just unprepare...

There's a quiet assumption out there that once you retire or hit a certain age, the door to homeownership closes. That lenders won't touch you. That without a paycheck coming in every two weeks, you don't qualify. That ship has sailed. It hasn't. Michael busts the myth that age or retirement status disqualifies you from getting a mortgage — because it doesn't, and the law actually has something to...

Escrow might be the most used and least explained word in the entire home buying process. Your lender mentions it. Your agent mentions it. Your closing disclosure is full of it. And most buyers just nod along hoping it'll make sense eventually. It doesn't have to be that confusing. Michael breaks down what escrow actually is, where your money goes when it disappears into that account every month,...

Private mortgage insurance exists for one reason — to protect the lender, not you. And yet somehow buyers just accept it as a fact of life, like a toll you pay because the road is there. It is not inevitable. Michael busts the myth that PMI is unavoidable and walks through the legitimate ways to get around it, eliminate it early, or structure your loan so it never shows up in the first place. One...