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If you’re putting less than 20% down on a conventional home purchase, you’re going to hear about PMI. Private mortgage insurance is one of the most misunderstood costs in homebuying — and one of the most manageable, once you understand how it works. Here’s what every Utah homebuyer needs to know: what PMI is, what […]

If you’re a veteran or active-duty service member looking to buy a home in Utah, the VA loan program is one of the most significant benefits available to you. It was designed specifically to make homeownership more accessible for those who’ve served — and it delivers on that promise in ways no other loan program […]

Buying your first home in Utah is one of the most exciting things you’ll do — and one of the most complex financial decisions you’ll make. There’s a lot to understand: loan options, down payments, credit scores, closing costs, inspection contingencies. If it feels like a lot, that’s because it is. But it’s also manageable, […]

Mortgage rates are one of the most-searched topics in real estate, and for good reason: even a half-point difference in your interest rate affects your monthly payment, your total interest paid, and how much home you can afford. If you are buying or refinancing in Utah this spring, here is what you need to understand […]

Credit score is a very important metric for virtually all of us, and particularly within the realm of mortgage loans and mortgage refinancing. A common question we receive down these lines from current mortgage owners considering a refinance of their home loan: Can doing so negatively impact their credit score? At Integrity First Lending, we're […]

There are a few components of any homebuying situation that are relatively well-known, and one of these is the down payment. Referring to the amount of money that the homebuyer is putting toward the purchase price of their home in a lump sum at the closing of their purchase, down payments will typically be the […]

One of the single most exciting points in any homebuying journey, at least for most buyers, comes when they receive word that a seller has accepted their home offer. This is a major moment in the process, one that moves you from the searching phase to the buying phase quickly -- and while you should […]

You'll often hear homeownership referred to as a form of investment, and one of the positive sides of this theme is the common ability for homeowners who have built up equity in their home to tap into said equity for their own purposes. What are some of the reasons you might consider doing this, and […]

There are a few suggestions you may receive from your mortgage lender, realtor or other advisors during the homebuying process, and several of these will be in the financial realm. One that you may already be aware of, as it's common advice for new homebuyers: It's best to avoid making any major, life-altering purchases during […]

One term you've likely heard a number of times in the mortgage world, but may not totally understand how to take advantage of, is equity in a home. Equity is the difference between what you owe on the mortgage and the value of your home on the market, and high equity allows you to do […]