How to Get Your Best Mortgage Rate

Get Your Best Mortgage Rate

Trying to get your best mortgage rate is often frustrating. You are about to ask for more money than you've seen in your life. Your hopes and dreams are riding on a stranger's decision.

I had the opportunity to look through your website and was overwhelmed with the wealth of information. -- Kristina in Florida
Ask Kate about your mortgage!

For many, the thought of applying for a mortgage is nerve wracking because the process can feel mysterious.

Hi, my name is Kate Ford. I am also known as Ask Kate or Super Kate.

You may have heard of me. I was employed by one of the largest lending institutions in the United States where I oversaw millions in funding and managed sales teams.

After a number of financial mergers, I launched my own mortgage company.

Perhaps you've even run across my mortgage publications on the web.

Let me put your mind at ease. You see, as a former mortgage broker for more than 20 years, I helped people finance their homes.

Yes, I became very adept at solving problems!

So even though your banker's lingo may be unfamiliar, I know how to translate the secret language of mortgage lending. Welcome to my website. I will be your guide!

Here's the first secret. Shopping for the lowest quote does not necessarily result in getting your best mortgage rate.

Kate's Mortgage Basics

Let's start with the fundamentals.

  • Improve and preserve your credit score ratings
  • Blueprint to a home buyer's dream team
  • How to refinance your mortgage
  • Reverse mortgage income for seniors
  • Fixed rate mortgage options
  • Crack the code of adjustable rate mortgages
  • Untangle VA and FHA loan guidelines
  • Nuts and bolts of lender's mortgage insurance (PMI)
  • Successfully lock interest rates
  • Avoid the dreaded home foreclosure
Kate, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for encouraging me to be more responsible with my credit. -- KB

Kate's Tips and Techniques

Many of the following techniques are the exact methods I used when I was helping people refinance and buy homes. You are invited to use them too.

  • Calculating house payments with ease
  • Stay current with today's mortgage rates and trends
  • Your banker doesn't know how much you can afford
  • Insist on pre-approval before buying a home
  • What to do if your loan approval develops hiccups
  • Get your ducks in a row with my checklist
  • Understanding good faith estimates
  • How to reduce mortgage closing costs
I often frequent your site because of the valuable tips and articles. It's clear you truly love what you do and it's contagious! -- Rob N.

Ask Kate About Your Mortgage

Ask Kate™ is a question and answer forum. It's also become the heart and soul of Get Your Best Mortgage Rate. People with questions write to me and I respond with personalized answers. Afterward, I publish the letters on this website for the benefit of all.

I'm often asked about...

Ask Kate for mortgage answers!
  • HARP 2.0 refinance
  • HAMP loan modification
  • Credit score ratings
  • Buying a first home
  • Refinancing a home mortgage
  • Reverse mortgage refinancing
  • Adjustable rate home mortgage
  • VA and FHA loan requirements
  • Canceling the cost of PMI
  • Locking mortgage rates
  • Comparing rates and closing costs
  • Finding the best lender

You can also Ask Kate!

You are an awesome advocate for consumers and responsible homeowners. This is a very rare qualification. -- Marlene from Colchester, CT

Ask Kate Making Home Affordable HARP & HAMP Newsroom

Ask Kate about Making Home Affordable mortgage news.

HARP 2.0 Refinance Program - Updated April 2013

New! HARP 3 Proposal of February 2013

HAMP Tier 2 Mortgage Modifications

Ask Kate's Underwater Mortgage Answers

News and updates at Best Mortgage Rate Blog

Does Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Own My Mortgage with names of participating HARP 2.0 lenders.

Making Home Affordable Local Community Events

Immediate and free face-to-face help! Meet with loan servicers and Making Home Affordable housing counselors on...
June 28, 2013 in Columbia, South Carolina

Learn about Making Home Affordable Local Community Events with checklist to get your ducks in a row.

The Mortgage Freedom Project by Kate Ford

Would you like to systematically pay off your mortgage, all debt for that matter, without changing your lifestyle?

Feels too complicated, doesn't it? Compounding the difficulty, most people don't know the mortgage game is rigged.

I don't mean lenders are doing anything illegal. It's just that mortgages are set up to pay the lender first.

But I can show you how to beat the bank at their own game with my magical 6-step system to paying off your house faster and easier than you ever thought possible!

Discover how you can be living debt free at The Mortgage Freedom Project, a new book by Kate Ford.

How to Contact Washington DC and Your State Government

Be a part of national mortgage news.

You have the power to make a change! Contact your elected representatives to tell your story, express an opinion, and request changes that affect homeownership.

1. Go to WhiteHouse.gov, 'Contact Us' to reach Corresponding with the White House. This is is a quick and simple way to write the President, telling about your struggles with homeownership and ask for specific change.

2. Go to Senate.gov, 'Find Your Senators', scroll down to your state and click. You will be given your US Senators with contact information. Send the same letter you sent to the White House.

3. Go to House.gov, 'Find Your Representative' and fill in your zip code. You will be given your House of Representatives with contact information. Send the same letter you sent to the White House and Senate.

4. Go to State.gov Of course, first fill in your state's name. Then on your state website, do a search (for example, 'mortgage help') to find contact information. Send the same letter you sent to the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives.

Tell a Friend

Please tell your friends about Best Mortgage Rate, Low Mortgage Payments, Ask Kate Unlocks the Secrets. I hope you'll come back and visit often.

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Ask Kate Your Mortgage Questions

Borrow a mortgage insider's brain.

Ask Kate your mortgage questions.

Ask Kate for answers!

Knock Your Socks Off Best Mortgage Rate Blog

Stay tuned for mortgage news, updates, and overviews!

Ask Kate's Best Mortgage Rate Blog.

Follow Kate's time-tested Best Mortgage Rate Blog.

Fast and Easy Access to Get Your Best Mortgage Rate

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You Can Borrow My Brain

HARP and HAMP Loan Modification Answers - Unique help for modifying your mortgage, HARP refinancing, and understanding the Making Home Affordable Program.

Rate Lock Answers Part I - Learn the nitty gritty inside story of locking your mortgage rate.

Rate Lock Answers Part II - The dilemma of locking mortgage rates continues with the most recent letters.

Refinance Answers Part I - Refinancing brings out opinions, for sure! Get the facts here.

Refinance Answers Part II - The most recent questions on refinancing a mortgage.

Home Buying Answers I - Learn how to buy a house. Unusual facts to aid your home buying experience.

Home Buying Answers II - Home buyers ask questions and tell their stories.

Credit Score Answers - Improving credit could change your life. Find how to get more than temporary results.

FHA and VA Answers - Clear the fog. The low down on VA and FHA loan requirements.

PMI Answers - Private mortgage insurance, friend or foe? Do you know how to get rid of it?

ARM Answers - Do you have an adjustable rate home mortgage? You can ask me for help.

Reverse Mortgage Answers - A unique source of income for Senior Retirees.

How To Compare Mortgage Rates Online - You'll enjoy this collection of homeowner questions and experiences while shopping for lenders.

Mortgage Advice Forum - Savvy home mortgage questions and tips from readers to my website.

Mortgage News - Bold opinions of Joe Public regarding mortgage and real estate news.

Website Answers - Yes... I'm even asked how to build a website.