Rick Elmendorf

VA Loan Expert, top 1% originator since 2003. NMLS 485091, Guaranteed Rate #2611

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

Most people pick the wrong real estate agent.

Before buying a home, ask these 4 questions:

• How much experience do you have?
• Is this your full-time job?
• Do you charge upfront fees?
• How will you keep me informed during the process?

This can save you thousands.

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

VA homeowners: Be careful with those “3.99% refinance” mailers. 🚨

Most come with heavy closing costs or get flipped into a cash-out refinance that may not meet true VA IRRRL guidelines.

If it sounds too good to be true… it probably is. 🇺🇸

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

Watch my full YouTube video here: https://t.co/2AbuN7OpJy

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

Closed on a VA loan… then got your disability rating?

You might be owed a VA funding fee refund. 💰

And yes... in cash.

The effective date is everything.

#VALoan #Veterans

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

Think VA offers can’t compete with conventional? Flat-out wrong.

📉 Over 10% of conventional loans fall through.
🇺🇸 Less than 5% for VA loans.

I ran the numbers myself in DC. VA buyers are more likely to close.

Don’t let myths cost you the deal. #VALoan #RealEstate

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

Buy a 500k house with $0 using This VA Loan Hack https://t.co/i8xsLLdpyy via @YouTube

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

You don’t need $50K to buy a $500K home.

I show VA buyers how to do it with $0 out of pocket. Yes, really. ⬇️⬇️

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

30-year fixed just hit 6.07%.

Rates have already moved, and the Fed is now on pause.
Timing matters again.

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

If I were buying a home in 2026, I wouldn’t start with Zillow.

Rates are moving. Inventory is tight.

The best deals go to buyers who are fully prepared.

I break down exactly how I’d buy (or sell) in 2026 👇

Watch the full video on YouTube: https://t.co/8ntE6eRDPZ

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

Buying or selling a home in 2026 isn’t about waiting for 3% rates.

Those days are gone.

The real edge is knowing when to move, what to keep, and how to structure the deal. 👇

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

Every year I get asked the same thing:
“Do the new loan limits actually matter?”

Short answer: yes — just not how most people think.

2026 conforming loan limit: $832,750
High-cost areas? It jumps to $1,249,125

This affects pricing, not what you’re “allowed” to buy.

Watch 👇

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

My expert housing market predictions for 2026.
(I've been in the mortgage industry for 30+ years 🤫)

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

Trump’s 50-year mortgage idea may be dead...
but something bigger could be coming.

Using 401(k), TSP, or 529 funds for down payments could change everything.

Huge upside.
Real risks.
Bigger impact on home prices.

Watch the breakdown on YouTube 👇
https://t.co/LSxA6BKK6w

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

Mortgage rates don’t move randomly.

When Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac increase purchases of mortgage-backed securities...

bond demand rises → yields fall → mortgage rates can come down.

This is one of the real mechanics behind rate movement.

Not headlines, not hype.

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

Mortgage rates don’t move randomly.

When the government directs Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac to buy mortgage-backed securities, demand goes up.

Higher demand → lower bond yields → lower mortgage rates.

That’s how rates can fall even when the economy feels uncertain.

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

Rent vs. buy isn’t an emotional decision.
It’s a math problem.

Most people only compare monthly payments. That’s a mistake.

Real analysis includes:
• Appreciation
• Equity from principal paydown
• Tax benefits
• Total cash flow

One number never tells the whole story.

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

I keep having the same VA loan conversation.

It always comes down to one misunderstood phrase:
“0% down.”

It means no down payment (not no costs).

Full breakdown here 👇
https://t.co/DVYLH55WIM

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

Final mortgage update for 2025 🎄

Rates improved since mid-2025, but MBS is hitting a key “brick wall” level—next move could get choppy fast.

If you’re buying, refinancing (VA 5.75%+), or selling in 6–12 months, watch this 👇
https://t.co/Uvbnr8MGQN

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

If you’re buying, the window is now before demand spikes.

🎥 Watch the short breakdown: 👉 https://t.co/yvQg9I6PAl

[Rick Elmendorf @loanwithrick]

A 50-YEAR mortgage would completely change housing affordability.

$300K loan at 6.5%:
• 30-yr payment: $1,529
• 50-yr payment: $1,366

Lower payment = millions more buyers instantly qualify.

That means one thing: home prices will jump.