Stephen SteakleyWhy a fixed-rate mortgage payment jumps: the annual escrow analysis. What federal Regulation X actually says about escrow shortages, why a servicer usually cannot demand a lump sum, the two-month cushion cap, and the Texas homestead exemption most ho
Stephen SteakleyFannie Mae and Freddie Mac now allow VantageScore 4.0 alongside Classic FICO — but only through a limited lender rollout, the choice belongs to the lender rather than the borrower, all three credit bureaus are still required, and FICO Score 10T is no
Stephen SteakleyFannie Mae retired Limited Review for established condo projects on August 3, 2026 — but the 10%-to-15% reserve increase everyone reported with it is not effective until applications dated on or after January 4, 2027. Plus the two condo changes that
Stephen SteakleyWhat the 2026 HECM figure of $1,249,125 actually is — HUD calls it the Maximum Claim Amount, and the regulation defines it as the lesser of that number and your home's appraised value — plus the spouse protection that must be set up at closing.