Can you have 2 VA loans at the same time? Yes, and you can often use your VA loan more than twice. In this video I walk through how your entitlement works the second time: getting it back when you sell, the one-time restoration when you pay it off and keep the house, having two VA loans at once when you get orders, the down payment math with the 2026 county limit, the funding fee on a second VA loan, and what happens when another veteran takes over your loan. Want me to look at your COE and run your numbers? If you're on orders, bring your report date, your PCS orders and your COE. Book a call: https://calendly.com/rebeccarichardson/mortgage-consult?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=va-twice-2026 Licensed in: AL, CA, FL, GA, IL, MD, MN, NJ, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA Chapters 0:00 Can you have 2 VA loans at once? 0:49 Step 1: Entitlement and your COE 1:46 Step 2: Selling and paying off 2:24 Step 3: Keeping the first house 3:05 Step 4: Two VA loans at once 4:14 Step 5: The down payment math 5:43 Step 6: The funding fee the second time 7:00 Step 7: When another veteran takes over 7:40 Back to the question All numbers in this video are examples: a first VA loan of $300,000, the 2026 standard county limit of $832,750, and a $600,000 second home with no disability exemption. Sources - VA.gov, VA home loan entitlement and limits: https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/loan-limits/ - VA.gov, Eligibility for VA home loan programs (restoring entitlement): https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/eligibility/ - VA.gov, VA funding fee and loan closing costs: https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/funding-fee-and-closing-costs/ - FHFA, 2026 conforming loan limits: https://www.fhfa.gov/news/news-release/fhfa-announces-conforming-loan-limit-values-for-2026 - 38 U.S.C. 3704 (occupancy): https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/38/3704 - 38 CFR 36.4302 (restoration of entitlement): https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/36.4302 Are you planning to sell your first house or keep it as a rental, and what state are you moving to? Tell me in the comments. 🏠 Not ready to talk yet? Start here → https://www.rebeccarichardsonmortgage.com/start-here ▶️ PLAYLISTS First Time Home Buyers → https://bit.ly/3gEbx61 Separation & Divorce → https://bit.ly/3Luv6Md The Loan Process → https://bit.ly/33jkVJ3 Choosing a Mortgage Strategy → https://bit.ly/3uNSe2q Choosing a Lender → https://bit.ly/33iGNo1 Homebuyer FAQs (Shorts) → https://bit.ly/3sAyvAj 💥 FIND ME ELSEWHERE Instagram → https://bit.ly/3rLy5rS TikTok → https://bit.ly/34VUTMB LinkedIn → https://bit.ly/3oJLuyq _________________________________ I'm Rebecca Richardson, The Mortgage Mentor. I translate mortgage jargon into everyday language so you can choose a loan strategy that fits your situation and understand why it fits. Rebecca Richardson, AMP Mortgage Loan Officer team@themortgagementor.co MLO NMLS ID# 91445 | Mpire Financial NMLS# 2108504 | Equal Housing Lender

The best cities for first-time home buyers in 2026, based on WalletHub's ranking of 300 cities. Palm Bay FL came out on top, followed by Surprise AZ, Gilbert AZ, Tampa FL, and Yuma AZ. The best city for first-time home buyers depends on what matters most to you. WalletHub also ranked every city on affordability, the housing market, and quality of life, and almost no city wins all three. Closer to home, Raleigh ranked 9th and Charlotte 17th among large cities. If you want help figuring out what this looks like where you're buying, send me a message. #firsttimehomebuyer #makeitmakesense Rebecca Richardson | NMLS 91445 Powered by Mpire Financial | NMLS 2108504

Whose name is on the deed decides who keeps the house and Mary Ellen Pleasant learned that the hard way. She put her San Francisco mansion in a man's name to protect it and still lost it. Had you heard of her before this? Tell me in the comments. More of her story: She came to San Francisco in 1852 and worked as a cook and housekeeper. She put her money into real estate and businesses. A Black woman buying property in her own name back then would have drawn attention she didn't want so much of what she bought went in the name of her business partner Thomas Bell. When Bell died in 1892 his widow took Pleasant to court and the mansion ended up in the widow's name. Pleasant died in 1904 with most of her fortune gone. AMERICAN Her Story is a series on women and the history of American housing, land, banking, and credit told from the ladies' side. Sources: BlackPast, Mary Ellen Pleasant: https://blackpast.org/african-american-history/pleasant-mary-ellen-1814-1904/ KALW, "The real history behind Mary Ellen Pleasant" (2015): https://www.kalw.org/show/crosscurrents/2015-09-09/the-real-history-behind-mary-ellen-pleasant-san-franciscos-voodoo-queen New Fillmore, "Mary Ellen Pleasant's legendary life": https://newfillmore.com/fillmore-classics/dont-call-her-mammy/ Photos: Bell Mansion (UCLA Library Special Collections, Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection); Old Bell home, 1925 (Bancroft Library); portrait, 1901 (UCLA); Portsmouth Square, about 1851. #blackhistory #womenshistory Rebecca Richardson | MLO NMLS ID# 91445 | Mpire Financial NMLS# 2108504 | Equal Housing Lender

How much do you need to make to buy a $250,000 house with a VA loan? VA actually checks two things: your debt-to-income ratio and your residual income, the money your family has left over each month. In this video I build the payment step by step, run both tests, and show a family that's over 41% on paper and can still qualify. Want me to run your actual numbers, both tests, including disability compensation if you have it? Book a call: https://calendly.com/rebeccarichardson/mortgage-consult?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=va-income-250k-2026 Licensed in: AL, CA, FL, GA, IL, MD, MN, NJ, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA Chapters 0:00 How much income for a $250,000 VA loan? 1:01 Step 1: The payment 2:08 Step 2: The 41% benchmark 3:24 Step 3: The second test, residual income 4:21 Step 4: A family over 41% 5:55 Step 5: Working backwards from your income 6:49 Step 6: What moves your number 7:26 Step 7: Your questions 8:53 The answer All numbers in this video are examples: a $250,000 home with no down payment, the 2.15% funding fee rolled into the loan, an example rate of about 7.2%, taxes of 1% a year and $125 a month for insurance. Sources - VA.gov, VA funding fee and closing costs: https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/funding-fee-and-closing-costs/ - VA.gov, VA purchase loan: https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/loan-types/purchase-loan/ - VA Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), Chapter 4, Credit Underwriting - 38 CFR 36.4340, VA underwriting standards: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/36.4340 What price range are you shopping in, and what state are you buying in? Tell me in the comments. 🏠 Not ready to talk yet? Start here → https://www.rebeccarichardsonmortgage.com/start-here ▶️ PLAYLISTS First Time Home Buyers → https://bit.ly/3gEbx61 Separation & Divorce → https://bit.ly/3Luv6Md The Loan Process → https://bit.ly/33jkVJ3 Choosing a Mortgage Strategy → https://bit.ly/3uNSe2q Choosing a Lender → https://bit.ly/33iGNo1 Homebuyer FAQs (Shorts) → https://bit.ly/3sAyvAj 💥 FIND ME ELSEWHERE Instagram → https://bit.ly/3rLy5rS TikTok → https://bit.ly/34VUTMB LinkedIn → https://bit.ly/3oJLuyq _________________________________ I'm Rebecca Richardson, The Mortgage Mentor. I translate mortgage jargon into everyday language so you can choose a loan strategy that fits your situation and understand why it fits. Rebecca Richardson, AMP Mortgage Loan Officer team@themortgagementor.co MLO NMLS ID# 91445 | Mpire Financial NMLS# 2108504 | Equal Housing Lender

Her parents were splitting up and selling the house she grew up in, and she had just put her savings into her business. Here's how she got into her childhood home with essentially no money out of pocket, using her real numbers on a $300,000 house. In this video: - What a gift of equity is, and who counts as family on conventional and FHA loans - How the gift covered her 3.5% FHA down payment - How seller-paid closing costs covered her closing costs, and the limits on them - What her parents walked away with, plus Medicaid, appraisal and gift tax questions - What a gift of equity can't pay for Buying from family, or you're the parents and want to see your side first? Book a call: https://calendly.com/rebeccarichardson/mortgage-consult?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=gift-of-equity-2026 I'm licensed in over 13 states: AL, CA, FL, GA, IL, MD, MN, NJ, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA Chapters 0:00 Her story 0:42 What it is + who counts as family 1:48 Her down payment 2:48 Her closing costs 4:18 What her parents walked away with 5:43 What it can't cover 6:43 Recap Watch next: How to Buy a Home for Your Parents With 5% Down (Family Opportunity Mortgage) Sources - Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-4.3-05, Gifts of Equity: https://selling-guide.fanniemae.com/sel/b3-4.3-05/gifts-equity - Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-4.3-04, Personal Gifts: https://selling-guide.fanniemae.com/sel/b3-4.3-04/personal-gifts - Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-4.1-02, Interested Party Contributions: https://selling-guide.fanniemae.com/sel/b3-4.1-02/interested-party-contributions-ipcs - HUD Handbook 4000.1 (FHA): https://www.hud.gov/hud-partners/single-family-handbook-4000-1 - IRS, gift tax FAQ (2026 annual exclusion): https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/frequently-asked-questions-on-gift-taxes Who are you buying from, and what state is the house in? Leave a comment. 🏠 Not ready to talk yet? Start here → https://www.rebeccarichardsonmortgage.com/start-here ▶️ PLAYLISTS First Time Home Buyers → https://bit.ly/3gEbx61 Separation & Divorce → https://bit.ly/3Luv6Md The Loan Process → https://bit.ly/33jkVJ3 Choosing a Mortgage Strategy → https://bit.ly/3uNSe2q Choosing a Lender → https://bit.ly/33iGNo1 Homebuyer FAQs (Shorts) → https://bit.ly/3sAyvAj 💥 FIND ME ELSEWHERE Instagram → https://bit.ly/3rLy5rS TikTok → https://bit.ly/34VUTMB LinkedIn → https://bit.ly/3oJLuyq _________________________________ I'm Rebecca Richardson, The Mortgage Mentor. I translate mortgage jargon into everyday language so you can choose a loan strategy that fits your situation and understand why it fits. Rebecca Richardson, AMP Mortgage Loan Officer team@themortgagementor.co MLO NMLS ID# 91445 | Mpire Financial NMLS# 2108504 | Equal Housing Lender

If you're a single woman buying a home on your own, you're part of a long history. Under the Homestead Act of 1862, a woman who was single, widowed, divorced or deserted could file for 160 acres of free federal land in her own name. A married woman couldn't, unless she was the head of her household. More than 100,000 women got land this way, like the four Chrisman sisters in Nebraska, who each filed homestead claims and took turns living together to meet the rules. In 1909, Elinore Pruitt was a single mom when she filed a homestead claim in Wyoming. That May she married the rancher next door and kept the wedding out of her letters for over three years. In 1912 she signed her claim over to her mother-in-law rather than lose it, and her letters became the 1914 book Letters of a Woman Homesteader. AMERICAN Her Story is a series on women and the history of American housing, land, banking and credit, told from the ladies' side. Sources: National Park Service, Women Homesteaders: https://www.nps.gov/home/learn/historyculture/women-homesteaders.htm Elinore Pruitt Stewart, Letters of a Woman Homesteader (1914): https://archive.org/details/lettersofwomanh00stew James E. Potter, "Postscript: The Chris man Sisters," Nebraska History 89 (2008): https://history.nebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/doc_publications_NH2008PSChrisman.pdf Saturday Evening Post, "Missing in History: Letters of a Woman Homesteader" (2026): https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2026/01/missing-in-history-letters-of-a-woman-homesteader/ #womenshistory #homesteadact Rebecca Richardson | MLO NMLS ID# 91445 | Mpire Financial NMLS# 2108504 | Equal Housing Lender

If you're single or divorced and own your home, here's how new that right is for married women. In early America, a single woman could own and control her own property, but the day she married, her husband took control of everything she owned. That law was called coverture, and it's spelled out in William Blackstone's 1765 Commentaries on the Laws of England.

Redfin says "normal" means a mortgage payment that takes about 30% of household income. Here's when we could get back there, and what it depends on. Sources: Redfin (Oct 2026), NAHB (Q2 2026). These are hypothetical scenarios, not predictions. Rebecca Richardson | NMLS 91445 #homebuyer #homes #realestate Mpire Financial | NMLS 2108504

When is the best time to buy a house? According to Redfin's 2026 seasonal data, it depends on what you want most. Late April brings the most homes to choose from and the most competition, while late summer into early fall brings the biggest price cuts and the most room to negotiate. If you're shopping this fall, you're walking into one of the best buying windows of the year. In this video I walk through the three buying windows in the data, what each one means for you as a buyer, how to work out which window fits your timeline, and why a full pre-approval matters in every season. 📱 Want a plan for your timeline? Book a free 15-minute call → https://calendly.com/rebeccarichardson/mortgage-consult?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=best-time-to-buy-2026 Chapters 0:00 When is the best time to buy? 0:42 Choice vs. price 2:01 Window 1: April (the most choice) 3:27 Window 2: Mid-summer (the freshest listings) 4:30 Window 3: Late summer to fall (the best deals) 6:27 Real estate is local 6:58 Which buyer are you? 7:37 Get pre-approved before you look Data Redfin, "Late April Is the Best Time to List a Home for Sale" (April 20, 2026) Realtor.com new listing count via FRED: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NEWLISCOUUS Realtor.com price-reduced listing count via FRED: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PRIREDCOUUS 🏠 Not ready to talk yet? Start here → https://www.rebeccarichardsonmortgage.com/start-here ▶️ PLAYLISTS First Time Home Buyers → https://bit.ly/3gEbx61 Separation & Divorce → https://bit.ly/3Luv6Md The Loan Process → https://bit.ly/33jkVJ3 Choosing a Mortgage Strategy → https://bit.ly/3uNSe2q Choosing a Lender → https://bit.ly/33iGNo1 Homebuyer FAQs (Shorts) → https://bit.ly/3sAyvAj 📍 LICENSED IN AL, CA, FL, GA, IL, MD, MN, NJ, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA 💥 FIND ME ELSEWHERE Instagram → https://bit.ly/3rLy5rS TikTok → https://bit.ly/34VUTMB LinkedIn → https://bit.ly/3oJLuyq _________________________________ I'm Rebecca Richardson, The Mortgage Mentor. I translate mortgage jargon into everyday language so you can choose a loan strategy that fits your situation and understand why it fits. Rebecca Richardson, AMP Mortgage Loan Officer team@themortgagementor.co MLO NMLS ID# 91445 | Mpire Financial NMLS# 2108504 | Equal Housing Lender

Are higher rates awesome? No, not at all. Are they here to stay for a while? Maybe. But there is a silver lining I want to share. #realestate #homes #homebuyer #housing #mortgage

Buying a condo in 2026? On August 3, 2026, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac changed how most condo loans get approved. The limited review is gone for most condo purchases, so your lender now has to run a full review of the building's finances, insurance and legal health before your loan can close. Your credit can be fine, your income can be fine and your down payment can be sitting in the bank, and the loan can still be denied because of the condo itself. In this video I walk through what changed, who it affects most, the condo reserve rule set to start January 4, 2027, the four questions to ask before you go under contract, and your options if the condo isn't approved, including FHA, a non-QM loan, or walking away. 📱 Buying a condo? Book a free 15-minute call → https://calendly.com/rebeccarichardson/mortgage-consult?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=condo-rules-2026 Chapters 0:00 Why a condo loan can get denied 0:30 What changed on August 3 3:47 Who it hits 4:10 The January change 5:37 4 questions to ask before you buy 7:12 If the condo isn't approved 9:25 Good news on condo insurance 10:00 Wrap-up and a tip for sellers Sources Fannie Mae Lender Letter LL-2026-03, Updates to Project Standards and Property Insurance Requirements (March 18, 2026) Fannie Mae Selling Guide B4-2.2-02, Full Review Process: https://selling-guide.fanniemae.com/sel/b4-2.2-02/full-review-process Fannie Mae Form 1076, Condominium Project Questionnaire: https://www.fanniemae.com/content/guide_form/1076.pdf HUD FHA-approved condo search: https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/condlook.cfm TheMortgagePoint (Aug 3, 2026): https://themortgagepoint.com/2026/08/03/buying-a-condo-with-a-mortgage-becoming-more-difficult-for-shoppers/ WTOP (Aug 2026): https://wtop.com/news/2026/08/patience-is-going-to-be-necessary-condo-buyers-face-hurdles-under-new-mortgage-rules/ 🏠 Not ready to talk yet? Start here → https://www.rebeccarichardsonmortgage.com/start-here ▶️ PLAYLISTS First Time Home Buyers → https://bit.ly/3gEbx61 Separation & Divorce → https://bit.ly/3Luv6Md The Loan Process → https://bit.ly/33jkVJ3 Choosing a Mortgage Strategy → https://bit.ly/3uNSe2q Choosing a Lender → https://bit.ly/33iGNo1 Homebuyer FAQs (Shorts) → https://bit.ly/3sAyvAj 📍 LICENSED IN AL, CA, FL, GA, IL, MD, MN, NJ, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA 💥 FIND ME ELSEWHERE Instagram → https://bit.ly/3rLy5rS TikTok → https://bit.ly/34VUTMB LinkedIn → https://bit.ly/3oJLuyq _________________________________ I'm Rebecca Richardson, The Mortgage Mentor. I translate mortgage jargon into everyday language so you can choose a loan strategy that fits your situation and understand why it fits. Rebecca Richardson, AMP Mortgage Loan Officer team@themortgagementor.co MLO NMLS ID# 91445 | Mpire Financial NMLS# 2108504 | Equal Housing Lender

The Family Opportunity Mortgage lets you buy a home for a parent who can't qualify on their own and finance it as owner-occupied instead of as an investment property. In this video I show the difference in down payment and rate between owner-occupied and investment property financing on the same house, cover who meets the standard, answer whether you can use it while you already have a mortgage, and walk through the documentation your lender will ask for from you and from your parent. If you're an adult child working out housing for an aging parent, or a parent buying for an adult child with a disability, this where things stand in 2026. If you're trying to buy a home for a parent who can't qualify on their own income, or for an adult child with a disability, let's talk. Rebecca Richardson | MLO NMLS ID# 91445 | Mpire Financial NMLS# 2108504 | Equal Housing Lender 📱 Book a free 15-minute call → https://calendly.com/rebeccarichardson/mortgage-consult 🏠 Not ready to talk yet? Start here → https://www.rebeccarichardsonmortgage.com/start-here ▶️ PLAYLISTS First Time Home Buyers → https://bit.ly/3gEbx61 Separation & Divorce → https://bit.ly/3Luv6Md The Loan Process → https://bit.ly/33jkVJ3 Choosing a Mortgage Strategy → https://bit.ly/3uNSe2q Choosing a Lender → https://bit.ly/33iGNo1 Homebuyer FAQs (Shorts) → https://bit.ly/3sAyvAj 📍 LICENSED IN AL, CA, FL, GA, IL, MD, MN, NJ, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA 💥 FIND ME ELSEWHERE Instagram → https://bit.ly/3rLy5rS TikTok → https://bit.ly/34VUTMB LinkedIn → https://bit.ly/3oJLuyq _________________________________ I'm Rebecca Richardson, The Mortgage Mentor. I translate mortgage jargon into everyday language so you can choose a loan strategy that fits your situation and understand why it fits. Rebecca Richardson, AMP Mortgage Loan Officer team@themortgagementor.co MLO NMLS ID# 91445 | Mpire Financial NMLS# 2108504 | Equal Housing Lender

Would you buy your grandma's house? There are some special mortgage guidelines that apply if you're buying from a family member. One of the big ones is that the seller can gift you money toward your down payment and closing costs. Depending on the loan program and your situation, that could mean bringing very little, or potentially nothing, out of pocket. So if Grandma, Mom, Dad, your sibling, or another relative has offered to sell you their home, let's talk!