Whoops I married my rate

Here’s one of my least favorite mortgage sales cliches: You marry the house but you date the rate. Every loan officer when rates are high If you’ve never heard this before, it’s trying to convey to a nervous buyer that they’re keeping the house for the long term (marriage) but can refinance out of the…

Naples Long Beach: A Local’s Guide to Fun in the Canals

Naples in Long Beach is a truly special place in Southern California and many life long Angelenos still haven’t experienced all that it has to offer. After a few years of living in Naples and a few more living in nearby Belmont Shore, I’m sharing all my recommendations so you can enjoy Naples Island like…

Refresh Your Home (and Life) with Friluftsliv

What is Friluftsliv? Say “Hallo!” to the Norwegian concept of friluftsliv, which translates to “open air life” in English. It’s a way to create a year-round outdoor gathering space that’s going global. Pronouncing it seems hard (but not really, see below) but utilizing it in your home is not! Intrigued? Let me tell you more……

Monica Geller Friends Cleaning Checklist

Monica Geller’s Move-In Cleaning Checklist

Congratulations! You’ve bought your new home. Also, gross! You’re moving into a space that has had a bunch of people walking through, inspecting every nook and cranny, and movers coming in and out of the home in their outside shoes. The horror! Even if on your move-in day, your place looks clean, chances are it’s…

Home Buying Commandments as Told Through ’90s Hip Hop

If I didn’t mention it yet– we added a new member to the Aragon Lending team. My adorable daughter, who, in addition to being stinking cute, requires a lot of late-night attention. (Believe me, this will be brought up at her annual review. 😉) One of the things that have been getting us through the…

Common Real Estate Problems (and What to Drink When You Encounter Them)

There are two types of calls I field at Aragon Lending most often. The most common (and my favorite) are the follow-ups after we score a client a great mortgage and get them into their dream home. Those make you feel fantastic and really make my day. The second most common is the panicked ones…

What Michael Scott Can Teach You About the Home Buying Process

I love The Office. It’s one of the shows I binge the most, so you won’t be surprised to know one of my favorite episodes is the one where Michael Scott buys his condo. I mean, duh. Probably because he does the exact opposite of what you’re supposed to do, and yet somehow it still…