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North Star Mortgage Network Blog – Florida Mortgage Tips & News
Welcome to the North Star Mortgage Network Blog, where Florida homeowners, buyers, and investors come for honest mortgage advice.
Each article is written to help you make smarter financial decisions. Whether you’re exploring loan options, comparing rates, or watching the real estate market, you’ll find simple explanations and practical tips you can use.
At North Star Mortgage Network, we believe in keeping things clear and personal — no jargon, no confusion, just the truth about what’s happening in Florida’s housing and mortgage world.
What You’ll Find on the North Star Mortgage Network Blog
The North Star Mortgage Network Blog covers everything you need to understand the mortgage process in Florida.
You’ll find:
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Rate updates and Federal Reserve insights.
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Guides for FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional, and Non-QM loans.
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Local market trends from Jacksonville, St. Johns, and across Florida.
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Credit and refinance tips to help you save money.
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Step-by-step explanations for first-time buyers.
We write every post with one goal — to help you feel informed and confident about your mortgage decisions.
For additional lending and housing resources, visit HUD.gov.
Expert Insights You Can Trust
Our blog is led by Nathan Young, founder and president of North Star Mortgage Network. With over 25 years of experience in Florida lending, Nathan brings real-world knowledge and straight talk to every topic.
We break down complex mortgage topics into easy-to-read articles so you can understand how rates, loan programs, and market changes affect you.
From Jacksonville to Miami, we’ve helped thousands of Floridians buy, refinance, and invest with confidence.
Popular Topics
Here are a few of the topics we cover on the North Star Mortgage Network Blog:
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FHA and VA loan guidelines made simple.
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Down payment assistance programs available in Florida.
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Rate trends and Fed updates that affect your payment.
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Home equity strategies and refinance opportunities.
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Tips for real estate investors using DSCR and Non-QM loans.
New posts are added weekly, so check back often for updates.
Why Readers Choose the North Star Mortgage Network Blog
Unlike national mortgage blogs, our content is built specifically for Florida homeowners.
We know the local programs, market conditions, and challenges that borrowers face here. Our advice is based on hands-on experience — not national averages.
When you read our blog, you get information that applies directly to your local market and your financial goals.
Subscribe and Stay Updated
Don’t miss the latest insights from the North Star Mortgage Network Blog.
Sign up for our free newsletter to receive new posts, rate updates, and home loan advice straight to your inbox.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) took steps today to meet one of the goals set forward in its 2022 Scorecard for the GSEs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, announcing targeted increases to the upfront fees for certain GSE high balance and second home loans. High balance loans (called super conforming loans by Freddie Mac)…
Freddie Mac’s first quarterly forecast for 2022 cites the need for improvement in the nation’s employment picture. Even though the December report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the unemployment rate down 0.3 percentage points from the prior month at 3.9 percent, Freddie Mac’s economists say that job openings remain high at 10.6 million…
Many files require the most recent year W-2 as part of the income documentation. At this time the 2021 W-2 would be the most recent year W-2, but most borrowers will not receive their 2021 W-2 until early February. In lieu of waiting for the 2021 W-2 to be provided by their employer, we can accept…
What happens when a borrower is or was in forbearance on an existing home but they want to KEEP THE HOME and purchase a new home. On conventional they have to make 3 payments once forbearance is complete. But on FHA if a borrower owns a home and completes the forbearance program which means either…
Higher mortgage costs on the way for some The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced it will increase fees on certain home loans starting Apr. 1, 2022. These new upfront fees will affect high-balance and second home mortgages sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. And, as is the case with most fee hikes, the cost…
Trying to compete in the market over the past two years has been a tough road for buyers getting a mortgage loan. Some buyers would have preferred to take out a mortgage and conserve their cash, but given market conditions, they felt pressured to make an all-cash offer to have a strong chance of winning. Not every…
Have you decided that you are ready to buy your own home this year, and are trying to determine how you will finance your purchase? You have probably done research about conforming and non-conforming loans and heard that there are certain loan amount limits for each type of loan, and you may be wondering how…
Looks like Americans will be able to start filing January 24th which is great for your SE borrowers you need to get a tax return rolling on and likely deadline of April 18th unless they extend again. Expect a rather large backlog and likely extended turn times. The IRS stated that the BEST and IDEAL…
WHEN TO USE ARMS VS. FIXED RATE With rates going in the tank ARM’s will become a topic of discussion with certain borrowers who have expectations of lower rates. But, if you are going to use an ARM product then you need to know when to use them. You see ARM’s are traded and sold…
One of the things I love about VA is they truly care about the Veteran and they do not want to over burden the Veteran with unnecessary obstacles. This is a great example of common sense when it comes to VA loans. Any time a Veteran is bringing 4% or less of the sales price…
