Ben Lavender

There is no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life. Ask away.

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

Why Annual Mortgage Checkups Are a Smart Financial Habit: Your mortgage is one of the largest financial commitments you will ever make, yet many homeowners rarely review it after closing. Just as annual physicals help you stay healthy, an annual mortgage… https://t.co/ht8UOppBRh

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

What Documents Should You Keep After Buying a Home?: Buying a home comes with a significant amount of paperwork, and once the excitement of closing day has passed, it can be tempting to file everything away without another thought. However, keeping the… https://t.co/FeTORfDPd4

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

How Your Insurance Choices Affect Homeownership Costs: Buying a home is one of the biggest financial investments most people will ever make but protecting that investment is just as important. Homeowners insurance is often viewed as another monthly bill,… https://t.co/87NHFyGyVM

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – July 27th, 2026: The PCE Index inflation data is expected to come in lower this week than the previous month's reading. With the Federal Reserve's rate decision set to arrive soon, the prior week was relatively… https://t.co/f4653BR2pZ

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

How a Small Down Payment Can Still Lead to Homeownership: Many people believe they need a large down payment before they can buy a home. While making a larger down payment can have benefits, it is not the only path to homeownership. Today's mortgage… https://t.co/CPzRO3M7S6

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

Should You Lock Your Interest Rate Right Away?: Choosing the right mortgage involves more than finding the right home. One of the most important decisions during the loan process is whether to lock your interest rate. Many buyers wonder if they should… https://t.co/oOjMdIGYvJ

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

What Happens to Your Mortgage After Closing?: Closing day is an exciting milestone. You have signed the paperwork, received the keys, and officially become a homeowner. While it may feel like the mortgage process is complete, there are still a few… https://t.co/DAVV68bhLQ

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

Why Shopping for a Mortgage Does Not Hurt Your Credit the Way You Think: Shopping for a mortgage is one of the smartest things you can do when buying a home, yet many buyers hesitate because they believe multiple credit checks will seriously damage their… https://t.co/oPdFBQkhO7

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – July 20th, 2026: Inflation has shown signs of easing for the first time since the early days of the COVID pandemic. However, inflation remains higher than anticipated. Both the PPI and CPI data releases came in… https://t.co/oUtGpPgvyt

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

What If My Mortgage Pre-Approval Expires?: A mortgage pre-approval is one of the most valuable tools in your homebuying journey. It's not just a letter stating how much you're qualified to borrow; it's a written commitment from your lender that assures… https://t.co/gUMBmaGvXl

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

Understanding “Cash to Close” in Your Home Buying Journey: If you've received your Closing Disclosure from your lender, congratulations! You're almost at the finish line of your home buying journey, ready to celebrate with keys in hand. https://t.co/zDSAIpZ84f

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

Common Title Issues That Can Delay Your Home Closing: When you're in the final stages of buying a new home, it's easy to assume that everything will go smoothly from here on out. However, one of the most common obstacles that can arise in this final… https://t.co/kV2JlG0e4x

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

Understanding the Financial Power of Mortgage Points: In the world of home financing, mortgage points are a powerful yet often misunderstood tool that can significantly impact your long-term financial outlook. Whether you're purchasing a home or… https://t.co/M9uO576HAq

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – July 13th, 2026: The Trade Balance has offered little new insight, as it has largely returned to levels seen prior to the earlier period of unstable tariff policies. Consumer Credit had been trending upward… https://t.co/bFnNpQXgKL

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

Why Your Spending Habits Matter More Than Your Income When Buying a Home: Many people believe that earning a higher income automatically makes buying a home easier. While income certainly plays an important role, it is only part of the equation. How you… https://t.co/fuHbecyG0J

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

How Much Emergency Savings Should You Keep After Buying a Home?: Buying a home is an exciting milestone, but your financial planning should not stop once you receive the keys. While it is tempting to put every available dollar toward your down payment or… https://t.co/2P4SG8haKV

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

How to Build a Home Buying Budget That Still Lets You Enjoy Life: Buying a home is an exciting milestone, but it should not mean giving up everything you enjoy. A well-planned budget helps you become a homeowner while still making room for vacations,… https://t.co/mxgS9lb4TD

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

Should You Buy a Home Before Your Lease Ends?: Buying a home before your lease expires may seem like paying for two places at once, but in many cases it can actually make the transition smoother and less stressful. Every situation is different, and… https://t.co/p9EtfPErUL

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – July 6th, 2026: Unemployment data has shown some rather interesting statistics, with the lowest unemployment rates in the last 14 months being reported. Looking closer at the statistics shows that the… https://t.co/qGjHnXbnbK

[Ben Lavender @BLavenderMP]

Why Small Financial Changes Can Delay Your Closing: As closing day approaches, many homebuyers assume the mortgage process is nearly complete. While that is often true, lenders may continue reviewing your financial information until the final approval is… https://t.co/B7gfF1fRHJ