Making Mortgages Sexy
At GoPrime Mortgage of West Asheville, we have long said that it’s our goal to make mortgages sexy. But what does that mean? We know that buying a house is, for lack of a better word, sexy. It’s exciting and thrilling to walk through a home and imagine yourself living there, decorating it to your taste, and building a future. We have also seen the heartbreak when someone can’t afford the house of their dreams. If we shift the perception of homebuying to make the mortgage process just a little more exciting, we believe more people can find what they truly want in any market. How do we propose making mortgages sexy?
Reframe the Conversation
One reason mortgages aren’t considered sexy is few people are encouraged to talk about money. This comes from years of conditioning. We are taught to believe that we don’t discuss money and that our feelings about money can be shameful.
But money is an essential part of our world and, instead, we should be encouraged to communicate about it in a healthy way. For that, we need to reframe the entire conversation about what we earn, what we save, and our debts. It’s not an easy task to undo years of ingrained thinking, but we believe it’s necessary.
Make Finances Fun
Because of advances in technology, we can actually make money fun. We now have easy access to apps and other tools at our fingertips every day. When we are ready to be serious about money, we can download an app and start working.
If you don’t think financial planning is fun, consider something called zero balance budgeting. You can use any system you want, but we like the app, “You Need a Budget,” or YNAB. It provides a roadmap to help you rethink your budget altogether. In zero balance budgeting, you assign every dollar that comes in a job. If you’re saving for a mortgage down payment, create a category for that in your budget along with your regular expenses like rent, utilities, credit card payments, and even entertainment. Each week or so when you get paid, divide up your money into all of these virtual envelopes so your balance is at zero. It can be fun to see exactly where your money goes and help you feel accomplished when you make progress on your goals.
Be Less Technical
Of course, some of the onus comes from the mortgage, finance, and real estate side of the process. One of the reasons people shut down when they start talking about mortgages is all of the technical jargon that experts tend to use.
But technical jargon isn’t the essential part. We believe that independent mortgage lenders should take the time to educate the public and find ways to better communicate choices, avenues, and products so everyone can understand and feel comfortable with the available options, process, and solution.
Know Where to Start
It’s important that individuals know where to start in terms of shopping for homes. And we believe the best place is with an independent mortgage lender. When buyers know their budget at the beginning of the homebuying process, they’re better informed to look for homes that fit not only their needs but also their financial picture.
For realtors in the area, encouraging buyers to talk to a lender first is a great way to build trust and help the community become more informed. Make it a fun part of the process to want to have the pieces in place first before starting to look for a home.
To learn more about making mortgages sexy in Asheville, call Zachery Adam at GoPrime Mortgage of West Asheville today. Feel free to send us a message or call us.
