Review Your Insurance Policies

You May Qualify for Lower Rates in 2026

The start of a new year is the perfect time to take a closer look at your insurance coverage. Many homeowners don’t realize that rates, discounts, and underwriting guidelines can change from year to year—and 2026 may offer opportunities to save.

Whether it’s homeowners insurance, auto insurance, rental property coverage, or umbrella protection, a quick review with your insurance agent can help you:

• Identify newly available discounts
• Adjust coverage based on recent property improvements
• Compare carriers for more competitive pricing
• Ensure your coverage still matches your current needs
• Spot gaps that may have developed over time

Even small premium reductions can add up, especially if you’re carrying multiple policies or have investment properties.

A simple call to your insurance company or broker could reveal better rates, updated options, or ways to fine-tune your coverage for 2026.

Starting the year with clarity—and potentially lower expenses—is always a smart move.

Investors: Looking to Purchase Under Your LLC?

 We Can Help.

If you’re expanding your real estate portfolio, now is a great time to explore financing options that allow you to purchase investment properties directly under your LLC. This approach can offer clearer liability protection, streamlined bookkeeping, and a more professional structure for growing your holdings.

Whether you’re acquiring rentals, short-term properties, or long-term assets, we can walk you through:

• Loan programs designed for LLC-owned properties
• Requirements and documentation you’ll need
• How to structure your purchase for smoother underwriting
• Opportunities to leverage equity for your next investment
• Ready to grow your portfolio with confidence?

Let’s review your goals and find the right financing strategy for your LLC.

NMLS ID 394275 | DRE ID 01769353

Rates Are Down

A Great Time to Revisit Your Options!!!

Good news: mortgage rates have dropped and are significantly lower than this time last year. That means better buying power, improved monthly payments, and new opportunities for refinancing.

Curious what today’s rates could mean for you?

Let’s take a quick look at your options.

Work and Associates Home Loans,

 1350 Old Bayshore Hwy Ste. 520, Burlingame, California, 94010, 

916-847-3090

Buying or Refinancing in 2026?

If purchasing a home or refinancing your mortgage is on your radar this year, your credit score should be front and center. In today’s rate environment — where every fraction of a percent matters — strong credit can help you qualify, secure a lower rate, and ultimately save thousands over the life of your loan.

1. Pay Every Bill on Time — No Exceptions

Payment history remains the top factor in your credit score calculation.

Just one 30-day late payment can cause a significant dip, especially if you’re preparing to apply for a mortgage. Set automate payments or digital reminders so nothing slips through the cracks.

2. Tackle Balances and Reduce Your Credit Utilization

• Using too much of your available credit signals risk to lenders.
• Aim to keep balances below 30% of your limits, and lower is better. Even small, steady paydowns can make a measurable difference by spring or summer.

3. Monitor Your Credit Reports for Errors or Fraud

You can request free reports from all three major bureaus each week at AnnualCreditReport.com.

Checking consistently helps you catch:

• Late payments
• Duplicate accounts
• Identity theft or unauthorized credit
• Disputing errors early helps protect your score before you apply.

4. Skip New Credit Until After Your Loan Closes

• Credit card approvals, car loans, and store financing all trigger hard inquiries and may temporarily lower your score.
• If a mortgage or refinance is coming, press pause on new accounts and let your history continue working in your favor.

5. Preserve Older Accounts

• Length of credit history still counts.
• Closing long-held cards shortens your profile and can increase utilization overnight. So keep older accounts open when you can — especially those with no annual fees.

6. Postpone Major Purchases and Big Debts

Large new loans can change your debt-to-income ratio, which lenders analyze closely in today’s tighter lending environment. If it’s not urgent, wait until after closing day for car upgrades, personal loans, or furniture financing.

Whether you’re gearing up to buy a first home, upgrade your space, or refinance for better terms, your credit score plays a crucial role. Maintaining consistent, careful credit habits today can put you in a stronger position to unlock better rates, lower payments, and more lending options — whenever you’re ready to make your move in 2026. Source

The Power of getting Pre-Approved

Buying a home is exciting — but let’s be honest, it can also feel overwhelming. As we move through 2026, buyers will need to navigate a housing market shaped by shifting inventory, evolving buyer demand, and fluctuating mortgage rates. In this environment, preparation isn’t just helpful — it’s essential.

One of the smartest first steps you can take? Getting pre-approved for a mortgage.

Why is a pre-approval so powerful?

A pre-approval isn’t just another box to check — it’s a strategic advantage. Here are five key ways it sets you up for success in today’s market:

1. Know Your Budget and Shop With Confidence

A pre-approval shows you exactly how much home you can afford, helping you set realistic expectations before you start touring properties. That clarity saves time, reduces stress, and keeps you focused on homes that truly fit your financial picture.

2. Stand Out to Sellers and Strengthen Your Offer

In competitive markets, sellers want certainty. A pre-approval shows that your finances have already been reviewed and verified by a lender, positioning you as a serious, well-prepared buyer. When multiple offers are on the table, that credibility can be the difference between winning and missing out.

3. Move Faster When the Right Home Comes Along

Much of the financial legwork is completed during the pre-approval process, which means fewer hurdles once you’re under contract. That efficiency can help you close faster — an advantage sellers often prioritize when choosing an offer.

4. Protect Your Rate and Save Over Time

Depending on market conditions, a pre-approval may allow you to secure a more favorable interest rate. And even small rate differences can add up to significant savings over the life of your loan.

5. Catch Potential Issues Early

A pre-approval includes a review of your credit and financial documentation. If there are any errors or red flags, you’ll have time to address them before they can delay — or derail — your purchase later in the process.

Source

NMLS ID 394275 | DRE ID 01769353

The Pros and Cons of Adding a Co-Signer to Your Mortgage Application

If you’re hoping to buy a home but finding it difficult to qualify for a mortgage due to credit challenges, limited employment history, or higher debt levels, adding a co-signer may seem like a practical solution. In today’s housing market, many buyers — especially younger and first-time purchasers — are exploring this option as a way to get into the market sooner. While a co-signer can offer meaningful benefits, it’s important to understand the risks involved for both parties before moving forward.

How a co-signer can help

A co-signer is someone who agrees to share legal responsibility for your mortgage. When a co-signer is added to your application, the lender reviews both borrowers’ credit, income, employment history, and overall financial profiles.

This combined financial picture can:

• Increase your chances of qualifying for a mortgage
• Help offset a higher debt-to-income ratio or limited credit history
• Potentially allow for better loan terms or interest rates

For many buyers, a co-signer provides the additional support needed to meet today’s lending standards.

Co-signers help buyers enter the market — not buy bigger homes

Recent data continues to show that co-signers are most often used as a pathway into homeownership, rather than as a way to purchase more expensive homes.

According to the National Association of REALTORS® 2022 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report:

• First-time buyers accounted for 34% of all homebuyers, up from 31% the year prior.
• 81% of Younger Millennials and 48% of Older Millennials were first-time buyers, followed by 22% of Gen X buyers.
• Older Millennials made up the largest share of buyers at 25%, with a median age of 36.
• Gen X buyers followed at 22%, with a median age of 49.
• Gen X households reported the highest median income at $125,000, while Older Millennials had a median household income of $110,300.

Data from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) further reinforces that younger buyers typically use older co-signers to qualify — not to stretch their budget. Median home prices and down payments for young buyers with older co-signers are similar to those without, and both groups fall below the overall median for all homebuyers.

The risks of adding a co-signer

While the benefits can be meaningful, co-signing a mortgage comes with serious responsibility — especially for the co-signer.

If you miss payments, your co-signer is legally obligated to make them. This can:

• Create financial strain for the co-signer
• Negatively impact their credit score
• Affect their ability to qualify for future loans, credit cards, or housing

In severe cases, missed payments could even impact employment or rental opportunities, as credit reports are often reviewed by employers and landlords. Beyond financial risk, there’s also emotional risk. Late payments or financial hardship can strain — or even permanently damage — personal relationships if expectations aren’t clear from the start.

Where co-signers are most common;

Co-signers are more prevalent in regions with higher home prices. States in the West and Northeast tend to see more young buyers relying on older co-signers, while more affordable markets in the Southeast and Central U.S. see fewer. This trend highlights how housing affordability continues to influence buying strategies in 2026. Source

NMLS ID 394275 | DRE ID 01769353

5 Real Estate Takeaways for the New Year

January is a time of perspective, a great time for reflecting. Whether it’s for personal or professional goals, many of us ask the same question: what worked and what didn’t work last year? If you’re a prospective homeowner, it’s helpful to ask this question with the housing industry. You’ll want to know when to seriously dive into the market, how to time any potential rate drops, and begin strategizing your 2026 game plan...

1.) Improved Affordability

Realtor.com®’s chief economist cited three factors that have enhanced affordability for home buyers in the last year.

• Pricing sensitivity and balance-- There was a push and pull effect in 2025. With about 6% of sellers pulling their listings off the market, it’s reflective of a more balanced economy. While sellers have had to adjust property prices or delist altogether, buyers have been gifted with a little more room to negotiate. This is a big change considering that sellers had the upper hand throughout the pandemic.
• Monthly payments loosening-- It’s been forecasted that monthly payments are going to decrease for the first time since 2020. This prediction could mesh nicely with another forecast: incomes are expected to grow in 2026.
• Seller concessions, temporary buy downs, and loan programs-- The economic hurdles of the last few years have created exceptionally savvy home buyers. Throughout 2025, many turned to creative methods to boost housing affordability, including concessions with sellers, buy downs, and down payment assistance programs. They worked with knowledgeable lenders and agents to uncover options to keep costs down. This savviness will only continue in 2026.

The Takeaway: Link up with loan professionals to keep tabs on the economy and make a game plan, marking what conditions need to be met before you leap off of the sidelines.

2.) Rate Dips Boosted Competition

While rates didn’t drop below 6% in 2025 like many had optimistically predicted, the small nudges and dips still created size-able boosts in mortgage applications. With every dip, the markets began moving faster. Admittedly, this meant that negotiating power was reduced for buyers, and fewer sellers were likely to offer concessions. A good note to keep in mind for rate dips in 2026!

The Takeaway: Buyers should prepare early and get pre-approved ahead of time so that they’re better positioned to hop on rate drops when they happen. The early bird catches the worm!

3.) Emerging First-Time Buyers

With gradually increasing inventory and improving affordability conditions, first-time home buyers are emerging. They understand homeownership as a wealth-building tool and desire the stability it provides, wishing more than ever to kick their landlords to the curb. 2026 is predicted to entice first-time buyers off the sidelines even more, with forecasted rate drops and more homes on the market.

The Takeaway: Research first-time home buyer programs, many exist! There are regional down payment assistance options as well as ones for specific occupations.

4.) Home Sales Predicted to Rise

Redfin predicts that home sales will rise 3% in 2026, believing that a stronger home buying season awaits this spring. However, they’ve tempered this prediction with a realistic expectation: “sales will increase only slightly because affordability will improve just enough to lure some on-the-fence buyers.”

The Takeaway: While home sales may rise, more inventory is needed to match the incoming demand. A lot can happen between now and the spring. Again, pay attention to the market and keep your savvy loan officers on speed dial.

5.) A Much Needed Housing Reset

Redfin has predicted that 2026 will be the year of the Great Housing Reset. They’re forecasting a “years long period of gradual increases in home sales and normalization of prices as affordability gradually improves.” They’re optimistic that incomes will rise faster than home prices, for a potentially prolonged period not seen since the Great Recession.

The Takeaway: As mentioned, Redfin is touting a more optimistic prospective for 2026. While all those predictions could happen, it’s best to be realistic. As they say, prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

Source

NMLS ID 394275 | DRE ID 01769353