Doug Jones's (dougj) Blog

 Clients don’t know our language. We talk about escrow, appraisal, closing, contingencies, inspections, loan approval, underwriting, title, disclosures, pre-approval, credit checks, lender conditions, escrow instructions, inspection reports, and funding as if everyone understands. To most buyers ...

On Thursday afternoon with less than an hour left to trade, Trump announced he would be directing his representatives to buy $200bln in mortgage-backed securities (MBS). No matter what one's personal opinions may be regarding bold announcements from the President, this one is definitely serious.H...

JUST FOUNT OUT THE LINK IS NOT WORKING.. I AM WORKING TO CORRECT I wrote a post about Homebot and the only replies I received are 'I looked at it and the home value was wrong..." I do not work for Homebot and receive no benefit if a Realtor uses it or not but it is not simply a Zillow to show hom...

 We all know the value of a home inspection when someone buys a house. But here’s something we don’t emphasize nearly enough:Home inspections shouldn’t only happen at purchase.They should happen every 5 years throughout ownership.And when we encourage homeowners to do this, we’re not just protect...

 I expect interest rates to dip just under 6% soon. For homeowners who’ve been watching the market like it’s a Netflix cliffhanger, this could be their moment: lower payments, a shorter loan term, maybe even a little extra cash to finally get that kitchen remodel…or just fund more coffee. Here’s ...

 This is my best marketing tool. One of the biggest threats to repeat business isn’t competition — it’s silence.Clients close on a home, life moves on… and quietly, they wonder:“Am I making the right financial decisions with my home?”Most never call. They worry in private — and eventually, they l...

As we wrap up 2025, I’ve been reflecting on what I’ve learned after helping with hundreds of real estate transactions over the years…Real estate is not peaceful.Real estate is not calm.Real estate is cardio. 🏃‍♂️💨There’s always that moment when something “simple” suddenly isn’t: The appraisal com...

 Different Roles — Same Goal: Helping People Become HomeownersOne of the most common questions I hear from homeowners and buyers is:“What exactly is the difference between my Realtor and my lender?”It’s a great question, because while both professionals are deeply involved in the home buying expe...

Most people don't think about repairs, life changes, or financial surprises until they are staring them right in the face. As a mortgage and real estate professional, I talk to a lot of homeowners—and one lesson shows up over and over again:It’s not the emergency that creates the stress… it’s not...

  During the pandemic, when mortgage rates were incredibly low, I was processing loans 10–12 hours a day. Part of that job meant reviewing homeowner insurance policies… and I noticed something surprising: Most people were paying far less for insurance than I was.   I’d been with the same company...