Are Your Loan Requirements Unconventional?

By jflores@relsgrp.com | April 19, 2025

When securing a loan, the traditional lending landscape often follows rigid guidelines. Conventional loans typically require W-2 income, strong credit scores, and a straightforward financial history. But what happens when your financial situation doesn’t fit these conventional molds? If you’re self-employed, an entrepreneur, a gig worker, or someone with unique income sources, you may face…

Can You Survive a Layoff or a Recession? How Your Home Can Strengthen Your Finances in Times of Uncertainty

By jflores@relsgrp.com | March 7, 2025

Economic downturns can happen unexpectedly, leaving many families facing financial instability. Whether it’s a layoff, rising living costs, or a slowdown in the job market, the key to economic resilience lies in preparation and strategic decision-making. If you own a home—especially if you purchased it before 2019—you may have a valuable financial tool: home equity.…

Learning from the Past: Implications for the Future of the U.S. Real Estate Market with a Focus on Sacramento

By jflores@relsgrp.com | February 12, 2025

The real estate market reflects the economy, politics, and investor confidence. Each Presidential administration leaves its mark on this sector through regulations, tax incentives, or larger-scale economic policies. But what happens when a president is re-elected? Continuity in leadership can bring stability or consolidate structural changes that impact how we buy, sell, and invest in…

How Changes in the Residential Lending Industry May Be Helping to Revive the Market

By jflores@relsgrp.com | January 16, 2025

In the third quarter of 2023, the housing affordability index in Sacramento County, California, was 23%, the lowest since late 2006. The affordability index measures the percentage of residents who can afford to purchase a typical single-family home in the region, and an index of 23% indicates that less than a quarter of local families…

First-Time Home Buyer Programs You Might Not Know About: Unlocking Hidden Opportunities

By jflores@relsgrp.com | January 16, 2025

The aspiration to own a home is a timeless cornerstone of stability, a strategic investment in the future, and a profound symbol of personal achievement and pride. The dream of homeownership in California is particularly notable as the state is known for its dynamic real estate market. According to the California Housing Market Update report…