Entries by [email protected]

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Tips for Securing the Best Mortgage Rates

Securing the best mortgage rate can significantly impact your home-buying journey, potentially saving you thousands over the life of your loan. At BankSouth Mortgage, we believe that being informed and prepared is the key to unlocking the best rates. Here are some practical tips to help you understand what influences mortgage rates and how you […]

BankSouth Mortgage Augusta Named “Best Mortgage Lending Company” at Cyber City’s Best 2024 Community Choice Awards

BankSouth Mortgage is delighted to announce that its Augusta branch has been honored as the “Best Mortgage Lending Company” at the Cyber City’s Best 2024 Community Choice Awards. The Cyber City’s Best Community Choice Awards celebrate excellence across various industries, recognizing businesses that have made significant contributions to their communities. This esteemed recognition underscores BankSouth […]

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How to Lock in a Mortgage Rate: A Comprehensive Guide

Securing the best mortgage rate is a critical step in the home-buying process. Locking in a rate ensures you are protected against market fluctuations during the often lengthy process of finalizing your mortgage. Here’s a detailed guide to help you understand how to lock in a mortgage rate effectively. What Does It Mean to Lock […]

What Happens During a Home Appraisal?

The appraisal process is one of the most critical steps in a real estate transaction. This single assessment has the power to either make or break an entire deal and can be stressful for home buyers and sellers alike. Whether you’re buying or selling a home, it’s important to understand exactly how a home’s value […]

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Navigating New Construction: Insights & Opportunities in Today’s Market

Are you considering building your dream home? Navigating the new construction landscape can be thrilling, yet understanding the recent market trends is crucial. According to CoreLogic’s latest Quarterly Construction Insights, there’s much to be optimistic about! Key Market Trends Lumber Costs Decreasing: We’ve seen a significant drop in lumber prices, down by 23% in the U.S. […]

iBuyers: Turning Dream Home Purchases into Reality with Speed and Simplicity

In the dynamic realm of real estate, a game-changing trend has emerged, offering prospective homebuyers a direct route to their dream homes. iBuyers, innovative companies revolutionizing the home-selling process, provide a unique opportunity for individuals to expedite the sale of their current homes, enabling them to swiftly secure the funds needed for a down payment […]

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Unlocking Affordable Homeownership with Lender-Paid Buydowns

For those looking to buy a home, understanding the various mortgage options can feel overwhelming, especially in today’s ever-evolving real estate market. However, it’s essential to explore all the tools and options available to make the best decision for your future. One fantastic loan program that is gaining popularity among homebuyers is the Lender-Paid Buydown. […]

BankSouth Mortgage Opens New Branch in Gainesville, GA

BankSouth Mortgage proudly announces the grand opening of its new location at 100 Main Street, Gainesville, GA 30501, marking a significant stride in its continued commitment to serving its home state of Georgia. The expansion exemplifies its dedication to fostering quality service and expertise, ensuring residents of Gainesville and its surrounding regions access a first-class […]

Interest Rates vs. Homeownership: The Resilience of Real Estate

For many prospective homebuyers, the allure of historically low interest rates, particularly the coveted 3% mark, is a dream that seems to have slipped through their fingers as we transition out of the pandemic era. These rates were indeed remarkable, but it’s important to understand that they were a response to the potential economic disaster […]

BankSouth Mortgage Loan Officers Rank in the Top 1% for Customer Satisfaction by Experience.com

BankSouth Mortgage, one of the nation’s leading home loan originators, is proud to announce that four of its loan officers have been recognized among the top 1% performers in Customer Satisfaction by Experience.com, a leading provider of Customer Experience Management Software. The recipients of this prestigious accolade are Jessica Jakulski Bernstein, Kristy Ragsdale, Shannon Bradshaw, […]

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National Financial Awareness Day: Building Financial Security Through Homeownership

Happy National Financial Awareness Day! Today, we celebrate the importance of financial literacy and awareness, empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their money and investments. At BankSouth Mortgage, we believe that understanding finances and investing wisely is crucial, but today, we want to highlight the exceptional value that homeownership brings to financial security and […]

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Utilizing the VA Renovation Loan

Are you a veteran, an active-duty service member, or a surviving spouse looking to buy a home that needs a little TLC? Or perhaps you’re a current homeowner who wants to make some updates to your property to increase its value and improve your quality of life. Whatever your situation may be, the VA renovation […]

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Understanding How Lenders Estimate Property Taxes: What You Need to Know

When you’re applying for a loan, understanding the various costs involved is crucial. One of the significant components of homeownership is property taxes, which can have a significant impact on your monthly payments. However, it’s essential to be aware that property tax estimates can vary among lenders. In this blog post, we will provide you […]

What is an Escrow Payment?

When buying a home, navigating the complex world of real estate transactions can be overwhelming. One term that often arises in the process is “escrow.” But what exactly is escrow, what is it used for, and how does it work in a mortgage transaction? Escrow is an arrangement in which a third party holds funds […]

BankSouth Mortgage Launches Agent App to Empower Home Search

BankSouth Mortgage has partnered with MobilityRE to offer a new tool that allows their real estate partners to provide a custom, co-branded home search app to their clients. The customized agent apps include the real estate agent’s logo and information, as well as the mortgage loan officer’s information and logo, enabling both real estate professionals […]

Understanding Loan-Level Price Adjustments (LLPA): A Simple Guide

When navigating the mortgage process, you might come across a term called Loan-Level Price Adjustment, or LLPA. While it may sound complex, it’s essential to understand this concept to make the most informed decisions about your mortgage. In this blog post, we’ll break down the basics of LLPAs in easy-to-understand language, so you can feel […]

BankSouth Mortgage’s Fowler Team Awarded 2022 Affiliate of the Year

BankSouth Mortgage proudly announces that The Fowler Team, comprised of Kelli (Sr. Loan Officer) and Jerry Fowler (VP, Producing Production Manager), has been honored with the Affiliate of the Year award by the Lake County Board of Realtors (LCBR). The prestigious award recognizes dedicated service to the LCBR, the community, and the entire real estate […]

BankSouth Mortgage Strategically Grows Brand

BankSouth Mortgage announced it has made strategic hires to grow its team across Georgia. In Q4 of 2022, BankSouth Mortgage welcomed quality leadership and lenders to its team. BankSouth Mortgage’s CEO, Kim Nelson, stated, “Being a good employer and serving our customers is a priority. Our leadership team believes this is the perfect time to […]

April is National Fair Housing Month

National Fair Housing month is a time to reflect on the importance of fair housing and fair lending practices in the real estate and mortgage industries. Fair lending laws exist to ensure that all borrowers, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or other protected status, have equal access to credit and are treated fairly […]

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Revamp Your Home with Renovation Loans: A Head-to-Head Comparison of HomeStyle® vs CHOICERenovation®

Fannie Mae HomeStyle® and Freddie Mac CHOICERenovation® are two popular renovation loan programs offered by BankSouth Mortgage. There are similarities and differences between the two programs that borrowers should know before choosing which program to apply for. Eligibility: The eligibility requirements for both HomeStyle® and CHOICERenovation® loans are similar. Both programs require the property to […]

Essential Resources to Navigate the Mortgage Process in Your Preferred Language

Español | 中文 | Tiếng Việt | 한국어 | Tagalog  For those who feel more comfortable speaking a language other than English, the mortgage process can be an overwhelming task. Financial institutions often conduct their mortgage application and closing process in English, creating a language barrier that can be intimidating to navigate. However, there’s no need to worry, as […]

Interest Rates: How Are They Determined?

Did you know that mortgage interest rates vary from person to person? Interest rates are based on specific criteria, which can vary between financial institutions. Lenders use several factors to determine the interest rate for each borrower. These factors include loan terms, such as the loan-to-value, length of the loan, and program type. Lenders also […]

What is a Seller-Paid Buydown?

A seller-paid buydown allows the seller of a home to reduce the buyer’s monthly mortgage payment for an initial period, typically one or two years. To increase their chance of selling their home, sellers will offer this as an incentive to potential buyers.  A seller-paid buydown can be offered by the builder of a new […]

BankSouth Mortgage Launches New Website

As part of its ongoing effort to provide mortgage excellence, BankSouth Mortgage, along with its parent company, BankSouth, is proud to announce the launch of its new mortgage website. The strategic decision to launch www.banksouthmortgage.com was made to expand its digital capabilities in order to better support homebuyers and business partners in the vast number […]

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How Co-Signing Can Help You Become a Homeowner

We’ve all heard of the term co-signer, but what does it mean, and how can it serve you in purchasing a home? For the right situation, a co-signer can aid in securing a home loan for a purchaser so that he/she can move forward from renting and into home ownership. Here’s what you need to […]