Castle & Cooke Mortgage, LLC

A simple 10-minute conversation could be the start of your journey to homeownership! By reaching out, we can help you understand how much home you can afford and provide the resources and knowledge to increase your buying power in the future. We’re here to support all of your home financing needs. Give your Castle & Cooke Mortgage loan officer a call today!

Between Q3 and Q4 of 2023, credit card debt climbed by $50 billion to $1.13 trillion! The past five years have seen household consumer debt increase, and with that, so have delinquency rates. With more and more Americans falling behind on their credit card bills, you might be worried about keeping up with yours. Don't wait! Review your cash out options with a Castle & Cooke Mortgage loan officer today and see if we can use your home's potential equity to help get rid of or lower your credit card debt.

At the end of last year, total household debt stood at $17.5 trillion. Of that, student loan debt made up $1.6 trillion of that figure. As of that calculation, we saw delinquency rates increase for all debt products except student loans. But that could quickly change with recent legal challenges to the SAVE Repayment Plan which could result in student loan repayments increasing. If you own a home and are wondering if you can use your home's potential equity to pay off your student loans, contact a Castle & Cooke Mortgage loan officer today to review your options as well as your FREE home equity digest.

There's a lot to say about our industry and things seem to change every day, but our industry is RESILIENT. There are plenty of people out there who have dreams of owning a home, and it's our vision to fulfill those dreams and build successful tomorrows through refreshingly uncomplicated home loan experiences.

Contrary to popular belief, we think homeownership is underrated! Why, you may ask? Because being a homeowner has MANY benefits, including the opportunity for:

-Having more control over your monthly mortgage payment
-Building potential home equity
-Improving credit history & score by keeping up with on-time payments
-Taking advantage of property & mortgage interest tax deductions
-Being able to stay in the same area for as long as you'd like

These benefits could be yours through homeownership; contact a Castle & Cooke Mortgage loan officer today to learn more!

Congratulations to Randy Whitaker from our Scottsdale Branch for a speedy loan transaction, and of course special thanks to our heroes behind the scenes from our amazing operations teams.

Many homebuyers will seek the advice of a real estate agent first and start looking at homes right away. But if you start with a loan officer and get pre-qualified first, you have a number to shop with, which can help your agent find homes in your price range, and also increase the chances of your offer getting accepted. START HERE!

You routinely check your credit card statements, so why ignore your mortgage statements? They offer valuable insights beyond your monthly payment, including a detailed breakdown of principal, interest, escrow (taxes & insurance), and fees like PMI or MIP. By staying on top of your mortgage statement, you'll gain a clear understanding of your current and future financial commitments. Curious about what your mortgage statement reveals? Contact a Castle & Cooke Mortgage loan officer today!

The average American moves 11 times in their lifetime. Why not make your next move the last? Invest in your forever home today and enjoy the stability and comfort you deserve. Contact a Castle & Cooke Mortgage loan officer today to get started!

We're excited to introduce our newest Loan Officer of the Stuart Branch, Al Cucuk! Welcome aboard to Team Castle!

Welcome to the Castle, Zachary! We're so glad that you're here.

As a tenant, you may see your security deposit again, but you're ultimately at the mercy of your landlord. Take charge by purchasing a home, where you could receive much more than the amount of a security deposit with your home’s potential home equity! Contact a Castle & Cooke Mortgage loan officer today to learn how.

Seller Concessions aren't going anywhere with the recent new requirements stemming from the NAR Settlement. In fact, Seller Concessions can be used to pay buyer agent commissions if the buyer chooses!
There's a lot more about the settlement, what's changing, and its implications - be sure to check out our webpage for more information: https://ccmtg.info/3LGjZ43

Yesterday we briefly mentioned buyer representation agreements... As part of the settlement with NAR, real estate agents are now required to utilize a signed buyer representation agreement that includes a set and agreed upon commission rate, before showing any houses to their clients. For more information, check out https://ccmtg.info/4fgX9xr

Part of the new requirements from the NAR Settlement going into effect this month state that real estate agents must disclose in any listing agreements, buyer representation agreements (more on that tomorrow), and pre-closing disclosures that commissions are fully negotiable and not set or bound by law, allowing both buyers and sellers to set the terms of agent-paid commissions, including who pays and how much. Click here to read more: https://ccmtg.info/46pNscg

The recent rulings from the NAR Settlement state that cooperative compensation can no longer be listed on Multiple Listing Service (MLS) websites. This means that listings will no longer show how commission is potentially being split, and sellers can make the decision to not offer any compensation to buyers agents. Click here to learn more: https://ccmtg.info/3yiw6kP

Today our Castle feels empty and our hearts broken as we sadly announce the passing of our Hawaii Regional Manager, Karl Smith.

Karl joined our team in 2022 to lead our Oahu branch and build out the Hawaii Region. He was an optimistic leader with passion for his family, friends, and profession. He always explored possibilities to build his business and quickly became one of the most out-of-the-box thinkers in our industry. He was proud to represent us in the Hawaiian Islands where our company’s roots were initially formed.

We mourn with Karl’s family and his friends. He was a dedicated father and always a friend first, co-worker second. There are many stories that make us laugh and cry. Please join us as we honor Karl’s legacy.

This month, new requirements go into effect as a result of the lawsuit about agent commissions settled by the National Association of Realtors. Stay tuned over the next few days as we review four major changes as a result of the settlement and how that could affect homebuyers. To read more about the settlement, its changes, and impacts, click here: https://ccmtg.info/4bZ8orx

We are thrilled to welcome Rich Williams as the newest member of our Corporate Team! Rich joins us as our new Senior Vice President of Capital Markets, and we are excited to see the outstanding contributions he will bring to our team. Welcome aboard, Rich!

A rate & term refinance could be worth your while, even in today's market. Here are three potential scenarios that could be beneficial to your wallet:

-Reducing Your Interest Rate—Reducing your interest rate by at least 1% will likely help you save on your monthly mortgage payment.
-Shortening Your Loan Term—If you have the funds to reduce your loan term, you could potentially save thousands of dollars in interest and qualify for a better interest rate.
-Removing Private Mortgage Insurance or Mortgage Insurance Premium - This move alone could save you hundreds on your monthly mortgage payment.

If saving money is your thing, we’re here to help! Contact a Castle & Cooke Mortgage loan officer today to learn more about your home financing options.

There's something about staying in a home during your vacation. Having a dishwasher, a communal space, and multiple bedrooms can be a game changer for many! As a homeowner, you could possibly use your home as a rental property when you're out of town. Alternatively, you can leverage your home's potential equity to invest in a rental property for short-term rentals. Either way, your path to more financial freedom could be around the corner! Call a Castle & Cooke Mortgage loan officer today to discuss your next steps!

We know we said we wouldn't speculate too much on rates, because who really knows where things will end up, but recent increases in housing inventory suggest that the market is in a good position for lower mortgage rates. Back in March 2022, we saw only 240,000 active single family homes listed, and this month inventory stands at more than 650,000 homes for sale. Pending home sales are also growing, with a 3.2% increase from last year. Could rising inventory help with prices and rates? Only time will tell, but you don't need to wait to get pre-qualified so you can act fast when you're ready! Contact a Castle & Cooke Mortgage loan officer to get started today!

We sat down with some of our top loan officers and some real estate agents to put together some tips to help first-time homebuyers demystify the home buying process. Check out our latest blog here: https://ccmtg.info/46ono19

Understanding the difference between a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) and a Home Equity Loan (HELOAN) can help you make smarter financial decisions. A HELOC works like a credit card, giving you access to funds as needed. A HELOAN provides a lump sum with a fixed interest rate. Interested in knowing which option would be best for your situation? Chat with a Castle & Cooke Mortgage loan officer today!