Fairway's First Team News & Updates

From market forecasts to the latest tips to increasing your home’s value.

Fairway Independent Mortgage - What to Consider When Buying a Second Home
Home Buying

What to Consider When Buying a Second Home

Considering a second home offers an opportunity to diversify investments and generate extra income. You might consider selling it later for profit, or keeping it as a rental for a steady income stream. Regardless of your objectives, purchasing a second home differs from acquiring your primary residence. Here are key factors to consider when deciding

Prepare Your Home For Hot Weather
Other

How To Keep Your Home Cool This Summer

Keep Your Home Cool This Summer Heat waves are becoming increasingly common in various parts of the country, including the west coast. Unfortunately, experts predict that summers will not become any cooler in the foreseeable future. The prolonged exposure to high temperatures poses significant risks, especially for young children and older adults. Enduring extreme heat

5 Common Questions About Mortgage Insurance
Mortgage

5 Common Questions About Mortgage Insurance

It is not unusual for individuals who are purchasing a new home to experience some degree of stress and anxiety during the process, especially when it involves securing a mortgage. There are numerous new phrases and concepts to grasp, as well as various expenses to dissect and comprehend. Many new buyers have questions about mortgage

Home Design Trends 2023
Home Improvement

Home Design Trends 2023

Did your New Years resolutions include home design changes? The days are getting longer as we move further into 2023. This is a good time to start thinking about spring cleaning, redecorating and home renovations (big and small). With more people still working from and spending more time at home, maximizing that space remains important.

New home 2023 - A couple is shown decorating their new home
Home Buying

New Home, New You – Ringing in 2023 As a Homeowner

A new year often brings the opportunity and motivation to make positive changes in your life. Maybe that’s vowing to eat better and go to the gym, or perhaps pursuing new, creative endeavors outside of your comfort zone. With the calendar shift to 2023 also comes the opportunity to end the financial drag of renting

Home Buying Red Flags - home before and after
Home Buying

What Are Home Buying Red Flags

5 Potential Issues that Shouldn’t Stop You From Buying a Home – And 5 that Definitely Should   Things You Can Overlook When Buying a Home Buying a home can be an overwhelming process. There are so many things to consider, it can be hard to know which issues are home buying red flags and

Woman in kitchen holding toddler - Housing market trends 2022
Home Buying

Housing Market Forecast 2022

Home Prices – What Does the Housing Market Look Like From Here? What does the housing market forecast look like as we head into the second half of 2022? Between the pandemic and uncertain economic conditions, a lot of the past few years has been unpredictable. Now, with housing prices and interest rates steadily climbing,

Row of suburban homes - Portland housing market 2022
Market Conditions

Portland Area Housing Market Not Cooling Off

Portland Area Housing Market – Buying a Home in 2022 Are you wondering about the Portland area housing market? If you’re thinking about buying a home in Portland, this might be a good time to jump. Housing prices continue to rise, although we may not see quite as dramatic increases as in the past two

Home Improvement

How to Stay Cool Without Wasting Energy

Many places across the country, including here on the west coast, are beginning to see unprecedented heat waves. Experts don’t expect summers to get any cooler. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can lead to heat edema, heat stroke and other health problems. It can be especially dangerous for older adults and very young children. It

Get Your Home Summer Ready
Home Improvement

How to Get Your Home Summer Ready

With days getting longer and brighter, it’s time to start thinking about spring cleaning – Namely, preparing your home for warmer weather and getting the interior and exterior summer ready. Early spring is the perfect time to start chipping away at these tasks, before the oppressive summer heat.  Here are some things to consider around

How to Improve Your Credit Score
Credit Repair

How to Improve Your Credit Score

Your credit score is a key piece to getting approved for a mortgage. Along with your income and DTI (debt-to-income ratio), credit score is probably the most important thing that lenders look at. Your credit score is, ideally, a reflection of your reliability in making timely payments and paying back debts. That said, it can

Mortgage

Self-Employment Mortgage Criteria

How to Qualify for a Mortgage as a Self-Employed Worker or Business Owner Applying for a mortgage can feel especially daunting if you are self-employed, whether you’re a gig worker or run your own business with employees. While the self-employment mortgage criteria is the same (same income, credit, debt and down payment requirements), proving financial