Jeff Sipes's Blog

  America is built on its middle class, the brass ring of upward mobility we all reach for, but it seems we’re abruptly waking up from that dream.  Some facets of the economy – like housing – are showing signs of life after a prolonged national recession, but it leaves us wondering what the avera...

    Are you thinking about buying your first home?  You’re not alone – this year it’s estimated that hundreds of thousands of people will take that big step into the American Dream and purchase their first home.  That process can be at times confusing, overwhelming, and sometimes downright scary,...

    They say that buying a home is the largest purchase you’ll make in your life, and yet most people don’t really understand what it is they are buying.  Sure, we can look at the price tag of the house and know the dollar amount, but there’s a lot more that goes into the true cost.  In fact, th...

Whether you are a first time homebuyer or a seasoned investor, working with the right loan officer can make all the difference between a wonderful experience and a colossal – and expensive - headache.  With internet ads, news reports, and even bus stop benches advertising loan officers, all clai...

Last week bore tough news for the financial markets, with interest rates quickly following suit.  We all feel a little panic when that happens but it's the perfect time to reassess your marketing strategy and change with the times.  With a smart business plan and a lot of hustle, you can actuall...

    The Obama administration is urging banks to fund home loans to borrowers with weaker credit, trying to create momentum toward economic recovery.  White house officials say they are encouraging banks to start lending to borrowers with weaker credit again and to take advantage of taxpayer-back...

Have you heard the news?  No, not that Kim and Kanye named their new baby after a point on a compass, or that the government is looking at all of our emails (can we ask the government to please delete some of our spam?) but that the Sacramento real estate market is on the move.  Things are heati...

Men and women are different, that much we know, so divided that the most popular relationship book of all time is “Men are from Mars, Women from Venus.”  But do the sexes manage their credit cards differently, too?     We might have preconceived notions of how men and women use their credit card...

Have you ever wondered where and when the practice of credit scoring started?  Probably not, but I’m going to tell you anyway.  If you’re like me, you may have just assumed that credit scores have been around forever, but believe it or not the phenomenon of credit scoring started more recently. ...

  As we see the nation crawl out of the dark years of its housing bust, spearheaded by up to 20% appreciation in some formerly distressed markets like Phoenix, Arizona and Sacramento, California, we reflect on those who were less fortunate, who faced dire financial troubles and lost their humble ...