Paul Schouest

NMLS ID 164767

678-524-2518 

paul@smcbrokers.com

Blog

New FICO “Resilience” Credit Score Could Help Borrowers

New FICO “Resilience” Credit Score Could Help Borrowers

As the U.S. economy reels from record-high unemployment and continued COVID-19 shutdowns, the Fair Isaac Corp. (FICO), a global analytics company and producer of the FICO credit score, released a new credit index recently it hopes will keep mortgage

Jul 15, 2020 | Credit

Buying a First Home in an Expensive Area

Buying a First Home in an Expensive Area

For Americans living and working in the nation’s most expensive real estate markets, homeownership can seem like the impossible dream. Prices are high and options can be limited. It may feel like home values rise faster than your ability to save up

Jul 01, 2020 | Purchasing a Home

What is an ARM loan?

What is an ARM loan?

While fixed-rate loans are one of the most popular choices for mortgage loans, there is another choice: the adjustable-rate mortgage or ARM loan. If you’ve ever wondered what an ARM loan is or why anyone would want one, here is what you need to know

Jun 17, 2020 | Adjustable Rate Mortgages

Understanding Mortgage-related Insurance

Understanding Mortgage-related Insurance

When you buy a home with a mortgage, you will be required to pay all sorts of insurance, including homeowner’s insurance, title insurance and private mortgage insurance. What are all these policies and why do you have to pay for them? Homeowner&rsq

Jun 03, 2020 |

Is Now a Good Time for a Reverse Mortgage?

Is Now a Good Time for a Reverse Mortgage?

As the COVID-19 pandemic has roiled stock markets over the past few months, many Americans in or nearing retirement may be worried about their investment portfolios. Without the possibility to earn more money, more retirees, seeing a reduction in their ne

May 20, 2020 | Reverse Mortgages

How Long Does a Pre-Approval Letter Last?

How Long Does a Pre-Approval Letter Last?

Getting pre-approved before shopping for a new home is a smart idea, but what if you don’t find the right home quickly? How long does that pre-approval last? Pre-approval Defined Before going out with a real estate agent to look for the perfect pr

May 06, 2020 | Purchasing a Home Preapproval