Russ is here to check in with our community! Keep reading to get his rundown on the Silicon Valley Bank Failure, Interest Rates, and more:
I bought a horse last weekend. Even though I have 4 other ones already. More on that and how it relates to today's topics later.
So, I have begun to REALLY LIMIT my "news intake." Not because I want to be out of touch....but because I want to be out of touch with "agenda driven news." In fact, so much of it is not really news, it's op-ed, crafted to look like broadcast news. People in suits, behind desks, with endless talking points about how "that other side" is out to ruin the country. I think politics ruins EVERYTHING it touches.
That said, there are some news items that ARE important to watch and so I have limited myself to reading the WALL STREET JOURNAL and to a podcast I enjoy called "The World and Everything In it." I recommend both.
I also listen to people smarter than me in their fields of expertise. This blog is about some of what ...

Did you know that first-time homebuyers make up 31% of the current market? June is National Homeownership Month so we wanted to take this time to help our first time home buyers out there! The home-buying process can be hard and perplexing, especially if this is your first time. If you're looking to buy a home in 2022, check out the following tips to remain on track and achieve your real estate goals. 
1. Set A Budget
Examine your finances thoroughly, including your monthly income and obligations, to determine how much house you can afford.
Following are some general recommendations to keep in mind:

If you’re debt-free: You can consider houses that are up to 5x's your total household income.
If less than 20% of your income goes to pay down debt: You can shop for a home that is no more than 4x's your income.
If more than 20% of your monthly income goes to pay down debts: Shop for houses that are 3x's your income or less.

To make it easier to calculate how much yo ...

Our very own President, Russ Phillips teamed up with Legacy Mutual Mortgage's Nick Pronsky again to talk what to do when there's multiple offers on the table. Nick has an extensive knowledge and understanding of the industry after spending time in underwriting, processing, and origination, both in wholesale and in retail. Nick really found his calling when he moved to Austin and became a full-time loan originator, where his knowledge of mortgage underwriting guidelines and his commitment to providing excellent customer service helped him grow his business through a trusted network of referral sources. He is very accessible and straightforward with all of his clients, he always works diligently to make sure clients are comfortable throughout the process of obtaining a home loan, and his goal is to provide each homebuyer with the best possible loan program and terms to fit his/her individual financial goals.Nick has been voted by industry peers as a Top 10 Mortgage Profession ...

Opening your annual property tax bill is typically frustrating. It always seems too high, and most homeowners just pay it without realizing they can lower it. You pay enough in government taxes. Don't give up more than you have to.
Sometimes homeowners don't protest because they don't know they can or don't know how. And then there are those who don't think a small reduction is worth their efforts.
Using a tool like Home Tax Shield helps you easily decipher what you actually owe in property taxes, putting money back in your pocket. Home Tax Shield works on your behalf to save you as much as possible on your property tax bill. All you have to do is give them a little information upfront, then they take care of the rest. It’s also guaranteed every year.
Don’t leave money on the table! Check out Home Tax Shield and let The Russ Phillips Team know if you have any questions or need more assistance.
PS: I sourced this extremely informative video below that discusses a mor ...

This is an hour long presentation on local economics, given this week by David Tandy, CEO of Texas National Title.  For those of us who enjoy geeking out on economics (and like them presented in layman's terms), this is pretty awesome.