About Peter G. Miller

Peter G. Miller is a nationally-syndicated real estate columnist who appears in dozens of newspapers as well as the author of seven books published originally by Harper & Row. You can find him on Twitter, MuckRack, The Mortgage Reports, Huffpost, Linkedin, Think Realty and more.

Will COVID-19 Push Mortgage Rates Even Lower?

At the very same time we have the COVID-19 pandemic we also have historically-low mortgage rates. Has the virus caused the interest levels we’re seeing today, rates in the 2% range for many borrowers? Freddie Mac reported that for the week of August 6th the typical 30-year mortgage was priced at 2.88%, the lowest rate… Read More »

Can The COVID-19 Pandemic Give You A Higher Credit Score?

The COVID-19 pandemic is here and it divides American mortgage borrowers. For some it means higher credit scores and record low mortgage rates. For others the result has been job losses and a growing stack of unpaid bills. We now face a virus that has brought illness to millions, shut down much of the economy,… Read More »

COVID-19: Can You Still Get FHA Mortgages?

Can You Still Get FHA Mortgages?

COVID-19 is here and yet the FHA mortgage program just keeps chugging along. It allows borrowers to buy real estate with as little as 3.5% down and it’s been the go-to mortgage option for first-time buyers for decades. More than 40 million FHA-backed mortgages have originated since the program started in the 1930s. But now… Read More »

Good Income, Little Savings? Mortgages with Little Down

Down payments are a big hurdle for many home buyers. Monthly mortgage costs are affordable but down payments are a hurdle. The good news is that there are ways around down payment roadblocks, you don’t have to be a victim of old-fashioned down payment requirements. The 20% standard Down payments have been a barrier to… Read More »

How To Engineer Lower Mortgage Rates

When it comes to mortgage rates no one knows what the future will bring. There is no better example than 2019. Many economists forecast mortgage rates of 5.5% and even more. What really happened was that rates went down. According to Freddie Mac, for the first 11 months of 2019 mortgage rates averaged 3.95% and… Read More »

Should You Get a Bank Statement Mortgage?

Mortgage Refinancing up to 100%

Bank statement mortgages are becoming more common, loans where monthly bank statements can be used instead of tax returns to support a mortgage application. There is new evidence that bank statements can lead to better credit scores for many borrowers, especially those with lower credit scores. In turn, better credit scores can mean reduced mortgage… Read More »

Shouldn’t FHA Mortgages Be Cheaper?

Can You Still Get FHA Mortgages?

FHA mortgages should cost less. This is a government program that churns out billions of dollars in annual surpluses, money that comes from borrowers. If FHA mortgage loans were less costly then more people – especially first-time buyers – could buy homes. That would be great for buyers and also sellers, lenders, and brokers. It… Read More »