We saw Ken Coury’s November 3, 2026 post on the GCA Mortgage Forums about protecting homeowners and their families after closing. Here’s our response from Gustan Cho Associates.

Thank you for bringing attention to a topic that often gets overlooked by both mortgage loan officers and homeowners.

We guide families through the mortgage approval…

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We saw Ken Coury’s November 3, 2026 post on the GCA Mortgage Forums about protecting homeowners and their families after closing. Here’s our response from Gustan Cho Associates.

Thank you for bringing attention to a topic that often gets overlooked by both mortgage loan officers and homeowners.

We guide families through the mortgage approval…

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Michelle, I have several questions that I think we need to get on the phone to discuss. Why are you about to lose the house, and why is it going through foreclosure? Balloon mortgage loans are normally not allowed and/or are rare on owner-occupied primary homes. Is this an investment property or an owner-occupant home? Have you considered…

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Hello Michelle,

Thank you for reaching out to Gustan Cho Associates and sharing your situation. Facing a sheriff’s sale is difficult, especially when your mortgage term has ended and your lender has not offered an extension or changes.

We are here to review your case and consider all possible financing options. Our team has experience…

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Congratulations again, Desiree. Remember getting your call on that Saturday and speaking with you. A lengthy conversation and conferencing you in with Toni. The bottom line your loan would not have closed without your diligent help and cooperation. You were proactive and were in full control throughout the entire mortgage process: Cool,…

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From Mortgage Denial to Homeownership: Congratulations to Major Desiree Wade on Closing on Her Maryland Home!

Sometimes the most rewarding mortgage closings are the ones that rarely happen.

Today, I want to recognize and congratulate Major Desiree Wade on successfully closing on her home in the beautiful state of Maryland yesterday!

Major Wade’s…

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Warmest congratulations to the Harding family as you begin this exciting new chapter in your beautiful Ohio home!

On behalf of Gustan Cho Associates, a DBA of Coast-2-Coast Mortgage Lending, LLC, NMLS 376205, I sincerely congratulate Johnathon and Michelle Harding and their family on successfully closing on their new home in Ohio. Johnathon…

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Appreciate you, Ken. Let’s talk tomorrow or early next week about streamlining how you get together with our borrowers for their homeowners and other insurance needs. Please have Raza help you list your business on our preferred-referred business directory so we can direct our borrowers needing an insurance quote. Marga and Sapna can help you…

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Like to introduce and welcome Allison Hill-Zapata, the President and Founder of The Madigan Group, a five-star nationwide credit and legal advisory and consulting firm. Fully endorsed by Gustan Cho Associates and GCA Mortgage Forums. Ms. Zapata and Gustan Cho Associates have a long-term third-party credit consulting partnership. Allison will…

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Good morning, Michael,

First and foremost, thank you for your service to our country as a United States Navy veteran. Thank you also for reaching out to Gustan Cho Associates and providing such a detailed explanation of your financial situation.

The good news is that the VA does not have a minimum credit score requirement, and a recent 30-day…

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Buying a House With More Than 20 Acres and Outbuildings: FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional, and Non-QM Mortgage Guidelines

Can You Get a Mortgage on a Home with More Than 20 Acres?

Mortgages can be obtained for properties with more than 20 acres, including barns, horse stables, detached garages, workshops, and other outbuildings. FHA, VA,…

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Where Are Mortgage Rates Headed? Should We Be Expecting a Correction in Late 2026 or 2027?

That’s the main question these days. I think mortgage rates could go down, but it probably won’t happen quickly.

On October 22, Freddie Mac reported the 30-year fixed rate at 7.32%, down slightly from last week’s 7.40%. That’s encouraging, but rates are…

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MLO Training e-Learning: Procedures Following Buyer’s Execution of Purchase Contract

GCA Mortgage Forums | Mortgage Loan Originator Training

Procedures following the execution of a purchase contract by the buyer. Once the buyer signs the purchase contract, the mortgage process moves from pre-approval to active loan processing. The MLO reviews the…

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Fannie Mae Automated Underwriting System (AUS) Findings

Fannie Mae’s Automated Underwriting System, called Desktop Underwriter or DU, reviews a borrower’s mortgage application to check if it meets Fannie Mae’s eligibility and underwriting rules.

DU reviews credit history, income, assets, liabilities, debt-to-income ratio (DTI), loan-to-value…

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Thank you for your post. Cryptocurrency wallet recovery is an area where consumers need to exercise extreme caution due to numerous recovery scams targeting individuals who have lost access to their Bitcoin or other digital assets.

Can you explain exactly what type of wallet recovery services you provide? For example, are you assisting…

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Will the Mortgage-to-Treasury Spread Normalize in the Fourth Quarter of 2026, or Are Mortgage Rates Likely to Remain Above 7%?

I think mortgage rates will likely stay steady through the end of 2026. Even if the gap between the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield and the 30-year fixed mortgage rate gets smaller, it probably won’t go back to normal before…

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10-year U.S. Treasuries recently surpassed the 5.5% mark and luckily dropped to 5.00%. However, it did not affect rates yet. What is bringing the 10-year Treasuries lower? What is causing Gold and Silver prices per ounce to plummet? Homebuyers and homeowners are still priced over 7.0% on government-backed and conventional loans with…

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The ten year treasuries are sliding just under 5% but the rates have not dropped. Guess we need to see what happens in the coming days.

Elevated Mortgage Rates, Increased Discount Points, and Limited Options for Homebuyers in 2026

Meta Description: Elevated mortgage rates, rising discount points, and affordability challenges are limiting homebuyer options in 2026. Examine financing strategies.

The Mortgage Market Is Becoming Increasingly Difficult for Homebuyers

Owning a home…

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Progress in this area has slowed, and 2026 will likely highlight ongoing gaps that still need attention. The main issue with showing the ‘true cost’ of credit is lender behavior, not just the disclosure rules. Some lenders recognize this, but most only follow the rules without helping consumers understand what they actually pay. For real…

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How Mortgage Lenders are Updating Their Underwriting in 2026 as High Rates, Inflation, and the Housing Affordability Crisis Continue

Find out how FHA, VA, USDA, conventional, and non-QM underwriting may change in 2026 as rates go up and housing affordability becomes a bigger issue.

How are Mortgage Lenders Adjusting to Today’s Challenging Housing… Read more

Is the 1% Rule for Home Maintenance Still Enough in 2026?

Homebuyers need to look beyond the sticker price and include ongoing maintenance costs. The 1% rule is a good starting point, but I encourage you not to see it as a one-size-fits-all answer, especially as repair costs, insurance rates, property taxes, and contractor fees continue to…

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The biggest barrier for first-time homebuyers in 2026 is the following: Higher rates are causing many to be first-time homebuyers with affordability issues. Inflation is surging like a runaway freight train. A $ 100,000-a-year salary used to be considered high-end. However, many with a $ 100,000-plus salary are barely paying their bills.…

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Mortgage Rates Above 7%: Rising Discount Points Worsen U.S. Housing Affordability Crisis

GCA MORTGAGE FORUMS DAILY NEWS EDITION-October 22, 2026 | National Mortgage, Housing, Financial and Economic News

Published by GCA Mortgage Forums News | http://www.gcaforums.com

America’s Mortgage Challenge: Elevated Rates, Increased Discount Points, and Limited… Read more

GCA MORTGAGE FORUMS DAILY NEWS EDITION | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2026

The American dream of homeownership is getting yet another reality check. Mortgage rates remain above 7%. For buyers, getting approved for a mortgage is just one step. The bigger challenge is finding a monthly payment you can afford, without draining your savings, cutting back…

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Silver Price Forecast 2026–2027: Is Silver a Great Buy Right Now?Silver Market Update: October 20, 2026

In 2026, silver experienced one of its most remarkable price swings on record. The price rose to approximately $121.79 per troy ounce in January, but by October 20, it had declined by more than 50% to around $57.77. This decline has led many…

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Before You Make an Offer on a Rental Property, Estimating the Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) is a Crucial First Move That Sets the Stage for Smart Investing.

Start by dividing your expected monthly rental income by your estimated monthly mortgage payment, which includes loan principal, interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and…

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Highly recommend Ryon Long of Village Capital. Ryon’s company, Village Capital, honored its no-lender-overlay policy on FHA loans. The borrower had a mid-score of 549 FICO, with recent late payments. However, the borrower had a 20% down payment and was approve/eligible per AUS findings. As with other mortgage lenders during tough economic…

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Special Community Announcement | October 16, 2026The New GCA Mortgage Forums: Building America’s National Mortgage, Real Estate, and Housing Community

GCA Mortgage Forums is entering a new phase with a broader vision to become a national online hub where homebuyers, homeowners, real estate professionals, mortgage experts, investors, and…

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Mortgage rates have shot up in recent weeks, and people with lower scores are being hit with significantly higher rates. It’s wrong to say there are no PAR rates or that anyone with a score below 700 will always get rates in the 7% range with points. Your rate will be determined by the type of loan, your LTV, whether you live in the property,…

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Can You Get Approved for a VA Loan After Chapter 13 Bankruptcy with Late Payments?

Yes, you can get a VA loan through manual underwriting after a Chapter 13 bankruptcy discharge, even with some late payments. Approval is not certain, but the VA underwriter will assess if your credit has improved and if you have enough income to manage the…

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If your credit score is 680 instead of 740, you might pay a higher mortgage rate, especially with a regular loan. How much you save depends on your loan amount, down payment, loan-to-value ratio, mortgage type, and the rate you lock in.

For example, saving $165 each month adds up to about $60,000 over 30 years ($165 x 360 = $59,400). This…

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🏡 VA homebuyers: did you know your appraisal could list repairs that would need to be done prior to closing?

A VA appraisal is not simply about arriving at the market value. The appraiser also checks that the property satisfies the VA’s Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs).

If there are any issues with safety, structure, or sanitation, then…

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Manual, here’s a clear look at your situation and some options that could help you keep your second property.

The Core Problem: The July 2026 Foreclosure

A foreclosure on one property does not always stop you from getting financing on another. It depends on how long ago it happened and how it shows up on your record. Here are the main things to…

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Thanks for your service. You’re up against it at the moment with just 30 days to sort your home and the added stress of the custody issue.

The good news is that a 566 credit score won’t automatically bar you from getting a VA mortgage. The VA doesn’t set a minimum credit score for these loans at all. Some lenders will of course have their…

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GCA MORTGAGE FORUMS DAILY NEWS EDITION | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2026

Mortgage rates are climbing toward 7.5%, leaving homebuyers facing higher payments, expensive points, and a growing affordability crisis.

Mortgage rates are nearing 7.5%, and homebuyers face costly points, rising inflation, and ongoing housing affordability challenges—news as of…

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Your 30-Day Action Plan: Navigating a 566 Credit Score When Custody Matters

It’s vital to understand that the VA doesn’t have a minimum credit score. That’s up to the individual lender. A 566 doesn’t automatically mean you’re going to be turned down. The issue is simply finding a lender who will work with you.

1. Target the Right Lenders… Read more

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have begun using VantageScore 4.0 for underwriting, marking a significant shift in the industry. This update directly impacts the ‘stalled but recoverable’ file issue you raised. The new credit score model is now a key factor in determining whether a file can be revived. Here’s a quick look at what’s changing and how…

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This part of mortgage operations doesn’t get much attention, so it makes sense to focus on the handoff process. Most public resources only talk about the ideal workflow: intake, verify, underwrite, and close. They usually leave out what happens when a file stalls but can still be saved. Here’s what actually happens in practice, based on how…

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Here’s the straight answer to all four of your questions, specific to your situation in Brownsdale, MN.

1. Manual underwriting with no credit score (yes, that’s possible), but you have to find the right lender.

This is the single most important gate in your file. The vast majority of lenders will run you through an automated system (Fannie…

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Most of the time, borrowers pay for their Verification of Employment (VOE) or Certificate of Employment (COE) through their employer, and this cost is included in the loan’s closing costs.

Here’s how these costs typically work:

Who usually pays the fee

• You’ll find this fee listed on your loan estimate or closing disclosure as a third-party…

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A credit supplement is a request you make via your credit reporting vendor asking them to add, verify, or update information that is missing, out of date, or inconsistent on the borrower’s tri-merge report. You’d do this if, for example, a trade line is missing from one of the bureaus, a paid collection or judgment is still showing as unpaid,…

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Mortgage rates are out of control. Borrowers with decent credit are paying discount points. Most rates are over 7% plus points.

Here’s the landscape as of today, October 13, 2026. One important framing first: “par” means zero points, zero lender credits — the base note rate. Most of what’s published online isn’t par; it’s either an average APR or a rate that already includes discount points. So I’ll give you the real rates, then flag which ones are…

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