John Meussner's Blog

Optimizing Your Workspace Have you ever thought about your workspace in terms of how it relates to your neurological processes and functions?  Your focus, energy levels, and other physiological reactions to the place you inhabit for a large chunk of your days?   Many people think about their work...

Mortgage Secrets "They" Don't Want You To Know About - Part 2You Can Buy Trophies "I used to play sports.  Then I realized you can buy trophies.  Now I am good at everything" - Demetri Martin This one could strike some nerves.  But it's important for consumers to know that in the mortgage industr...

Who is your loan officer? In the digital world, mortgage shopping is a little different than it used to be.  What hasn't changed over the years, though, is that a mortgage loan is a big decision.  It's often the biggest chunk of debt someone will ever have, tied to their most valuable asset (whic...

The 'Local Lender' Myth Real estate is local!  Out of area lenders are terrible!  Online lenders are the worst! "______(insert lender/bank name here) stinks!".  These statements are thrown around pretty often in the real estate arena, and sadly, the perception is in some cases translated to reali...

While You Were Shopping We've known, and have shared, for quite some time now that mortgage rates would be heading up.  What we didn't know, was that they were going to go up all in one week.  Happy 2022!  While rate is an important factor when getting a mortgage, it's important to note that rate...

Mortgage Secrets 'They' Don't Want You To Know About - Part 1 When the Lowest Rate Makes the Most Sense The lowest rate never makes the most sense.  Or, hardly ever.  Sounds like something a lender with high rates would say, huh?  Well, hear me out.  First, the rates I offer are extremely competi...

Home prices are at all time highs!  There's a dip coming!  This is a bubble!  Wait to buy until prices come down!  These are some of the things headlines have been touting for....well, years now, as appreciation in the housing market has marched higher.  And yes, home prices are higher - much hig...

They're here!  Every year around this time the Federal Finance Housing Authority (FHFA) announces loan limits for the next calendar year.  These limits are adjusted based off of year over year home appreciation metrics usually noted by 3rd quarter results from appreciation reports. For 2022, loan...

Ah, the holiday season.  The season of lights.  The season of decorations.  Celebrations.  Religious reflections and joy.  Family time.  Real estate agents reminding others just how miserable they can be...We're in a seller's market.  A heavy seller's market, and we've been here for a while.  How...

Thankful For My Team Katerina, Erica, and Corliss.  You may not have seen these names on ActiveRain, but if you've worked with our team in the past 12 months, odds are good you're familiar with at least one of them (most likely my right hand woman, Erica).  In 2020, I decided it was time to grow ...