Mortgage Education
Plain-English guides, weekly rate analysis, and real talk about mortgages from Jeff Shin — Chicago mortgage broker, NMLS #1041652.
Latest — March 20, 2026
Mortgage rates moved today. If you haven’t locked yet, here’s what to do right now — plus three quick actions every under-contract buyer should take before rates move again.
Read the ArticleQuick update on today's rate moves and three things under-contract buyers should do right now.
Redfin survey: 60% of Americans fear AI job displacement. If you’re buying, your income is provable today. Here’s why uncertainty is a reason to act, not wait.
Census Bureau data: 587,000 annualized units, down 17.6% month-over-month. Here’s what the pullback signals and what buyers should do with it.
Inventory is finally improving. Rates are near 6.36%. Here’s your spring buyer checklist and what under-contract buyers should do right now.
The Fed held at 4.25%–4.50%. Here’s what that actually means for your mortgage rate, your lock decision, and when relief might come.
Who owns the home, what heirs owe, and how the 95% rule works if the family wants to keep the property.
The formula behind mortgage pricing in Chicago — credit score, LTV, lock period, and what the advertised rate is actually hiding.
Zero down, no PMI, competitive rates — but only if your lender delivers. Here's what every Illinois veteran needs to know before choosing a lender.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins now qualify for mortgage financing through select wholesale lenders — no liquidation required in some cases.
LLPAs, lender margins, and what's actually inside the rate you were quoted — explained without the spin.
Jeff breaks down the Fed, economic data, and what it means for your rate lock decision — updated weekly.
Pre-qualification, down payment options, DPA programs, and what to expect at closing — all in plain English.
Rate/term vs. cash-out, break-even math, and the hidden costs most lenders don't explain.
Zero down, no PMI, competitive rates. Everything veterans and active-duty buyers need to know.
Real questions from real clients — answered with no jargon, no sales pitch, just the straight answer.
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Whether you're buying your first home or your fifth investment property — there's a guide for your situation.