Sydney Evans, Loan Officer NMLS 2135939

05/13/2026

Congrats on the new house! 🎉 Now for the next 30 days please live as boring as possible 😉

05/07/2026

I am so happy for Juan and Yadira! 🥳

Thanks Sara Sneed, Real Estate Agent at Jim Hughes Real Estate for your hard work!!

✨ Congratulations to Juan and Yadira on the closing of their new home! ✨If you see these two at El Porton, make sure to tell them congrats and maybe celebrate with a margarita (or two) 🤩

And of course, always a pleasure to work with Sydney Evans, Loan Officer NMLS 2135939 ! She always makes closings as smooth as possible!

03/19/2026

Once you're under contract on a home, your finances should stay as stable as possible until closing. Here are a few things that can cause problems if they happen before your loan closes:

1️⃣ Opening a new credit card
Even a store card can lower your credit score or change your debt-to-income ratio.

2️⃣ Buying furniture or appliances on credit
That new couch or refrigerator payment could affect your loan approval.

3️⃣ Financing or leasing a vehicle
A new car payment can dramatically change your debt ratios.

4️⃣ Changing jobs
Job changes can delay or even require the loan to be reapproved.

5️⃣ Large deposits into your bank account
Lenders must document where large deposits come from, which can slow things down.

The safest approach during the homebuying process is simple:

👉 Don’t open new credit, don’t take on new debt, and don’t move money around without talking to your lender first.

If you're planning to buy a home this year and want to know what to expect during the loan process, feel free to reach out anytime.

03/17/2026

You don’t need the luck of the Irish to buy a home… but it doesn’t hurt! 🍀

The real secret?
✔️ Good credit
✔️ A solid plan
✔️ The right lender on your side

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 💰🏡

03/10/2026

💳 Your credit score isn’t random… here’s what actually affects it:

Most people think checking their credit or paying off a loan will hurt their score. That’s usually not true.

Your credit score mainly comes down to 5 things:

1. Payment History (35%)
Did you pay your bills on time?

2. Credit Card Balances (30%)
How much of your credit limits are you using?
👉 Example:
$5,000 balance on a $10,000 limit = 50% utilization (this can drop your score).

3. Length of Credit History (15%)
Older accounts help your score.

4. Credit Mix (10%)
Credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, etc.

5. New Credit (10%)
Opening several accounts at once can temporarily lower scores.

✅ Quick tip - Keeping credit card balances below 30% of the limit can make a big difference in your score.

Credit scores can change month to month, which is why understanding how they work is so important.

If you ever have questions about your credit while preparing to buy a home, I’m always happy to help.

03/09/2026

Tax season is here, and did you know your return can bring you one step closer to homeownership? Visit My Home to learn more about the various ways you can apply your refund toward your homebuying budget. https://myhome.freddiemac.com/blog/homebuying/how-use-your-tax-refund-buy-home?sf230999339=1

02/19/2026

REMINDER: Half of your property taxes are due next month if you own a property in Iowa! Time to double check your plan to make sure these get paid on time.
➡️ If you have an escrow set up in your monthly mortgage payment, your mortgage lender will pay those automatically.
➡️ If you do NOT have an escrow account set up in your mortgage payment, you will need to pay those yourself at the county treasurer's office.

02/13/2026

If you're out and about for the next few Saturdays, stop by our parking lot to support Troop 1101!

02/11/2026

You can lower borrowing costs with grants for homebuying (covering closing costs and/or down payments). This means less out-of-pocket at the closing table, and more in your pocket for the future. Let's see if you qualify!

02/06/2026

Your clients are watching the market right now, and they’re thinking spring is the best time to move, right? But what they don’t realize is that what happens in the few weeks before spring can be even better. ✅

Why? Mortgage rates are near 3-year lows, there are more homes to choose from, and sellers are still open to negotiating. And that window may not be there a few weeks from now when more buyers get their plans in motion.

So, if you want to be the agent your database turns to in 2026, now's the time to show up and start that conversation - before they miss out.