Category: First Home News

Introducing First Home Heroes!

Posted on by Emily Andrews

We’re proud to announce the launch of our new First Home Heroes program! We want to recognize the heroes in our communities — including first responders, teachers, and medical professionals — and thank them for everything they have sacrificed to protect us, educate us, and keep us safe and healthy.

This new initiative reduces some of the out-of-pocket closing costs associated with the loan application process to help make homeownership a reality for these everyday heroes!

This reduction is made possible by eliminating certain fees during the lending process. Eligible borrowers will have their application, underwriting, and processing fees credited back to them at time of closing, up to a maximum of $1,585.

This new program builds on our efforts to help make homeownership a reality for all — especially those who most deserve it!

If you are a police officer, firefighter, educator, or medical professional (including nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers), you may be eligible! If you’re purchasing a new home, First Home Heroes is here for you.

Contact one of our qualified loan officers today to see if you’re eligible

Introducing First Home Advantage

Posted on by Emily Andrews

We’re excited to announce the launch of our new First Home Advantage program! We couldn’t be more excited about this chance to provide exceptional service to first-time homebuyers — this new program is an opportunity to level the playing field for those who may have been overlooked in the past due to issues with their credit score. 

Under the First Home Advantage program, eligible first-time homeowners will see substantial reductions in offered rates. Borrower eligibility is based upon both their annual income and geography, with different income limits in specific counties. In certain high-cost regions, annual incomes as high as $168,600 are eligible for this program. 

This new program builds upon First Home Mortgage’s commitment to delivering exceptional service to all potential borrowers, especially those engaging in the process for the first time. Despite a substantial increase in prevailing mortgage rates in 2022, over 40% of loans originated by First Home Mortgage have been to first-time homeowners. With the launch of the First Home Advantage program, you’re one step closer to your first home! 

Even as home prices continue to increase, First Home Mortgage is still able to offer competitive rates to borrowers like you, thanks to the new First Home Advantage program. While the current market presents a challenge, our loan officers can safely guide buyers through the process with confidence and ease. If you’re in the market to buy a home, get in touch with the experts at First Home Mortgage — let’s see if you’re eligible so we can help get you home! 

BREAKING NEWS: First Home Mortgage Offering New Conforming Loan Limits!

Posted on by Emily Andrews

It’s no secret that home prices are increasing nationwide. There is good news, however, the amount you can borrow is increasing, too!

Every year Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac evaluate the conforming loan limit, which can differ from county to county. In 2021, for example, the maximum conforming loan amount in most counties increased from $548,250 to $647,200 – an increase of roughly 18%. This annual evaluation, which often results in an increase, typically takes place in late November.

With home prices continuing to increase First Home Mortgage is getting ahead of the curve and is delivering a significant increase to the conforming loan limit now. Effective today, First Home Mortgage is now allowing for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans up to $715,000, an increase of more than 10%.

 

Contact us or one of our qualified Loan Officers to learn more!

Author: James Baublitz, VP Capital Markets

First Home Mortgage Makes Scotsman Guide Top Overall Lender Ranking

Posted on by Emily Andrews

Baltimore, MD — Scotsman Guide has released its annual Top Overall Lenders ranking for 2022. We are pleased to announce that out of 100 top lenders on the list, First Home Mortgage Corporation is ranked 46th nationally by total volume.

This is the eighth consecutive year First Home Mortgage has made the Top Overall Lenders list and marks a rise by one spot compared to 2021. Scotsman Guide’s Top Mortgage Lenders rankings has long been a trusted benchmark by the mortgage industry, and being ranked is a significant accomplishment signaling excellence.

The Top Overall Lenders ranking is available online and will appear in print in the June edition of Scotsman Guide.

Culture of Wellness

Posted on by Emily Andrews

For almost two years, First Home Mortgage has offered BurnAlong, a corporate wellness motivation platform, to its employees as a health and wellness resource. At First Home Mortgage, we are committed to offering our employees the best resources to improve their overall health and help them achieve their fitness and wellness goals. Throughout the year, our employees participate in Wellness Challenges as a friendly competition to encourage a more active lifestyle.

BurnAlong is offered as a free resource to all First Home Mortgage employees, making online classes available any time, any day!  BurnAlong offers a vast array of online video classes with more than 50 categories to choose from!

Some options available are:

  • Barre
  • Yoga
  • Cardio
  • Strength training
  • Boot camps
  • Kickboxing, and more!

There are thousands of classes offered, all taught by certified instructors from all over the country. BurnAlong even offers the option to create a subaccount for family members so that everyone can work out and stay active together. And everyone has access to programs and challenges!

Some Wellness Challenges that employees can participate in our Monthly Challenges, America’s Healthiest Company Challenge, Summer Ready Challenge, and more. BurnAlong is a great resource that encourages employees to get healthy and be active and the Challenges give a boost of motivation along the way!

Want to be part of the First Home Mortgage team to start earning these amazing benefits? Please visit our careers page to see our latest job opportunities! 

First Home Mortgage at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Festival of Trees

Posted on by Emily Andrews

First Home Mortgage was once again a proud silver sponsor of the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s annual Festival of Trees, for our sixth consecutive year! Our donated tree (pictured), was decorated and named “A Little Sparkle in the Season”.

The Festival of Trees was first held in 1990 and has been an annual Baltimore tradition for the past 30 years. It is a magical three-day family event that brings holiday spirit and fun to the community while benefiting the Kennedy Krieger Institute. This internationally recognized institution, located in Baltimore, Maryland, is dedicated to improving the lives of children with developmental disabilities and disorders. The Festival has grown enormously since its inception and has raised over $1.2 million in 2018 alone.

Per their website, as of 2018 festival of trees has:

  • $23 million raised for Kennedy Krieger Institute
  • Welcomed 975,000 guests (This year, they welcomed their millionth guest!)
  • Showed 5,741 decorated trees and 3,679 wreaths
  • Displayed 1,547 gingerbread houses

We are thankful for the opportunity to contribute to such a worthy community cause, and we look forward to doing so again next year!  To find out more about Festival of Trees and Kennedy Krieger Institute or how to donate, please visit: https://festivaloftrees.kennedykrieger.org/

Tom Draper Named BAAR Affiliate of the Year

Posted on by Emily Andrews

The Bay Area Association of Realtors has named First Home Mortgage’s own Tom Draper as the 2019 Affiliate of the Year! This association represents Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Caroline counties.

Tracy Cohee Hodges, First Home Mortgage VP/Area Manager, Eastern Shore Lending, stated “Affiliate of the Year is achieved by serving the real estate community above and beyond all affiliates of the board in every industry, not just mortgage banking.” This means Tom was chosen not only above other loan officers and mortgage companies, but was competing with affiliates from title companies, home inspection companies, attorneys, environmental labs, appraisal companies, builders, and more!

Tracy also shared that he is the youngest ever recipient of this award, and added, “to master relationships and garner trust in this short time is remarkable.”

Tom received his award on Wednesday, November 13th, during a BAAR event held at Bridges Restaurant in Chester, MD. When we asked his thoughts on this stellar achievement, Tom responded “I was honored to have been nominated, and to win the award is something I am very proud of. If you would have told me two years ago when I joined the association that I would be affiliate of the year, I would have called you a liar!”

Tracy speaks for all of us at First Home when she says “Thank you for all that you’ve done to earn this and for representing us all here at FHMC so well! Congratulations! Keep up the outstanding work!”

Find more information on Tom Draper at www.firsthome.com/tom-draper, or find a First Home Loan Officer in your area.

Scotsman Guide Names First Home Mortgage Top Mortgage Lender 2018

Posted on by Emily Andrews

Bothell, Washington — Scotsman Guide congratulates First Home Mortgage for ranking on Scotsman Guide’s seventh annual Top Mortgage Lenders rankings. First Home was ranked #37 for Top Overall Volume.

This is the seventh year that Scotsman Guide has compiled rankings for Top Mortgage Lenders, and the seventh year First Home has made the Top Lenders list. These rankings complement Scotsman Guide’s 10th annual Top Originators rankings. The list will appear in print in June’s Residential Edition. All rankings are online at scotsmanguide.com/rankings and in Scotsman Guide’s digital edition at sg-resdigital.com.

This is the industry’s most comprehensive verified rankings of the nation’s top-producing mortgage companies. To ensure that we publish the most accurate data possible, all submitted data undergoes an extensive verification and auditing process prior to the publication of the rankings.

Scotsman Guide Top Originators of 2018

Posted on by Emily Andrews

The Scotsman Guide has released its tenth annual Top Originator rankings for 2018. This guide provides the most comprehensive, intensely verified list of the top-producing mortgage professionals in the nation.

The rankings include not only the originators who are closing the most dollar volume and the most loans but also the leaders in niche areas, like the Federal Housing Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and U.S. Department of Agriculture loans.

We are excited to announce that First Home Mortgage Corporation had a total of 7 Loan Officers represented in this year’s rankings! Check out the list below to see which categories were represented by our branches:

Top Dollar Volume (Crofton, Bethesda)
Most Loan Closed (Crofton)
Top FHA Volume (Annapolis)
Top USDA Volume (Hollywood, Dunkirk)
Top Women Originators (Annapolis, McLean)

For the entire list of the Scotsman Guide Top Originators of 2018, click here.

Congratulations to all our Loan Officers on this outstanding achievement!

Top Loan Originators in the Country 2018- Mortgage Executive Magazine

Posted on by Emily Andrews

Once again, Mortgage Executive Magazine compiled a list of the nation’s Top 1% of Mortgage Originators. To be eligible for such an achievement, each Loan Originator was required to produce a minimum of $30 million in 2018. These leading mortgage professionals continually dedicated their time and energy and worked extremely hard to make sure their clients received the utmost service throughout the 2018 year.

For the 2018 year, 20 Loan Officers from First Home Mortgage were included in the list!

CONGRATULATIONS  to:

Mike Archer, Anne Borghesani, Heather Devoto, Ann Flaherty, Alex Jaffe, Tammi Lewis, Rob Mercer, Jim Moran, Mike Nadeau, Jason Nader, Matt Nader, Ryan Paquin, Todd Pede, Ayaz Rahemanji, Jake Ryon, Kari Story, Scott Story, Mike Taylor, David Toaff and Gabe Tuvek

Mortgage Executive Magazine also recognized the Top 200 Originators In America 2018. These Loan Officers were ranked by their total yearly mortgage volume. Congratulations to Ryan Paquin and David Toaff on this fine achievement!

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