Since partnering with the American Warrior Initiative in 2015, Fairway Mortgage Company has helped financially support more than 300 service dogs through the nonprofit. AWI is a non-profit arm of Fairway and something team members can donate to through payroll to help fund these dogs. These service dogs are partnered with wounded military veterans. “It’s such a great program and I’m proud to work for a company that supports this initiative,” said Josh Kilty, Mortgage officer in Marshfield. “Exclusive to Fairway loan professionals is their Military Mortgage Specialist™ Designation. This Designation thoroughly trains and equips mortgage loan professionals, loan processors,...
LOCAL MORTGAGE PROFESSIONALS MAKE HOME BUYING PROCESS PAINLESS
When Rickie Schiffner and his wife Tina were ready to find a new home in Central Wisconsin, their realtor recommended reaching out to Josh Kilty at Fairway Mortgage. Kilty has been a longtime mortgage professional based in Marshfield and helped thousands of people navigate the complicated home-buying process. “We went in and talked to Josh and Josh was outstanding in helping us get the financing to get this house,” said Schiffner. “He’s very easy to work with and he explains everything. I would highly recommend him to anyone who wishes to purchase property.” Now settled in a beautiful farmland property...
FAIRWAY SPOTLIGHTS TEAL PUMPKIN PROJECT THIS HALLOWEEN
Halloween is right around the corner and children everywhere are looking forward to celebrating in some way. Unfortunately, children with food allergies miss out on the full Halloween experience as most types of candy are off-limits to them. In light of this, Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) has created the Teal Pumpkin Project to make sure all children will come home from trick-or-treating with something to enjoy. “The Teal Pumpkin Project, founded in 2014, is a movement whose goal is to create a safer and happier Halloween by raising food allergy awareness and encouraging the availability of non-food alternatives...
A 7-Step Guide for Saving to Buy a House
Saving for a new home is unlike any other savings experience. You’re not just filling a bank account and hitting a number. Instead, you’re preparing for what is likely the largest purchase of your life. Fortunately, there are professionals well-versed in helping buyers navigate the home-buying process. “In a competitive housing market where bidding wars are common, you’ll want to have every advantage when saving for a downpayment,” said Josh Kilty, Fairway Mortgage in Marshfield. “Let’s look at ways to shape your saving strategy around what is most likely to succeed. Here are seven essential steps to consider when saving...
FAIRWAY EXPLAINS: WHAT DOES A HOME APPRAISER DO?
When you are purchasing a home, an appraiser plays an important role. The appraiser’s job is to determine the current market value of the property. They will conduct many tasks on site such as room-by-room walkthroughs, property walks, and additional reviews of the property. A few key features of the home that the appraiser will be interested in are: Property size – The appraiser will consider the overall size of the home in their valuation. The number of bedrooms and bathrooms in addition to the home’s square footage will also be considered in the value. The home’s exterior – The appraiser will...
FAIRWAY SHARES TIPS ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A NEW HOME
Purchasing a home is not only a large financial decision, but also can be emotionally stressful. Fairway Mortgage’s Josh Kilty works with people every day to help them with their dream of home ownership. “Many buyers enter into the process without any idea of what they are really looking for in a home,” he said. “Before you begin your search, take some time to figure out what will make you happy in you new home.” He shares these top things to look for to make sure your search is off to the right start: Location. It is said that you...
5 Things to Know About the Housing Market Right Now
Home prices across the nation have reached record highs and continue to increase. But there are early signs that a slowdown in prices is in the cards, as newly built home sales tumbled over 16% in April 2022, according to the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. For senior economist and manager of economic research at Realtor.com, George Ratiu, these are the five most important takeaways from today’s market: Mortgage rates will likely continue to rise There aren’t enough homes for sale, which makes your choices more limited Home prices will likely keep going up in...
FAIRWAY EXPLAINS THE HOME APPRAISAL PROCESS
Those who have experienced the home buying process have likely heard of a home appraisal. Home appraisals allow the buyer, seller and lender to determine the fairest sales price possible for the home based on a variety of factors. Here are some basics about appraisals, courtesy of Josh Kilty, Fairway Mortgage in Marshfield: WHAT IS A HOME APPRAISAL? A home appraisal is a determination of a home’s true value. To ensure that this value is unbiased, a professional home appraiser conducts the appraisal. WHO REQUESTS THE HOME APPRAISAL? A home appraisal is requested by the lender to verify that the...
FAIRWAY MORTGAGE EXPLAINS ESCROW ACCOUNTS
An escrow account is a non-interest-bearing account that sets aside roughly one-twelfth of your annual property taxes and homeowners insurance each month with your regularly scheduled payments. An escrow account is not managed by the homeowner, but rather the loan servicer to ensure that there is enough money to pay taxes and insurance while maintaining an appropriate “cushion” to minimize shortages from unexpected increases when those bills come due. “When the home mortgage loan is obtained, the homeowner is often required to deposit several months’ worth of homeowners insurance and property taxes into the escrow account. The initial deposit is...
FAIRWAY DEBUNKS FOUR MYTHS ABOUT HOMEOWNERSHIP
FAIRWAY MORTGAGE DEBUNKS HOMEOWNERSHIP MYTHS Making the transition from renter to homeowner can be overwhelming. With so much information available to those looking to purchase, it can be hard to know what is accurate. Working with a trusted mortgage planner to determine when the right time is to purchase and how much house can be afforded is important. “There are some common situations and misconceptions that may seem like roadblocks to potential homeowners, but are indeed not things to be afraid of,” said Josh Kilty, Mortgage Loan Officer with Fairway in Marshfield. FOUR HOMEOWNERSHIP MYTHS When you purchase a home,...