Steve Tomaselli Mortgage Broker

10/14/2026

Buying in 2026? Your credit is being judged differently now.

Lenders are moving to scoring models that look at your last 24 months of behavior, not just a snapshot. Translation: consistency matters more than ever.

The 5 mistakes I see most:

1. Maxing out cards "temporarily." High utilization tanks your score fast. Keep balances under 30% of the limit (under 10% is ideal).
2. Opening new store cards before buying. Each one dings you and shortens your credit history.
3. Closing old cards. That 10-year-old card is an anchor helping you. Keep it open.
4. Ignoring small collections. Even an old utility bill can show up now.
5. Thinking rent does not count. On-time rent and utilities can now help your score. Missed ones hurt.

Pull your reports 6 to 12 months before you buy, not the week you find the house. Full breakdown here: https://homequalify.ai/credit-mistakes-2026/

10/12/2026

AGENTS: you've been to plenty of happy hours this year. How many taught you how buyers find you?

Try this before you scroll on. Ask ChatGPT: "Who are the top 3 real estate agents in New Braunfels?"

Were you named? If not, it's not because you're bad at your job. Google and the AI tools are reading old, mismatched info about you, and they're picking someone else.

Tomorrow morning I'm showing agents how to fix that in 60 minutes:

✅ Find the old info that's hiding you

✅ Get Google, Instagram, and AI saying the same thing about you

✅ Leave with a 14-day plan and the exact prompts

🗓 Tuesday, Oct 13 · 9:00 AM

📍 Granzin's Bar-B-Q, New Braunfels

🍳 Free · breakfast served · seats limited

No pitch, no fluff, just the stuff that brings in business.

Save your seat. Link to Register is below! 👇

10/12/2026

Rates hit 7.5%, and every buyer is asking me the same thing: should I wait?

Here is the honest answer I give: waiting costs you two ways. Prices do not pause while you wait, and every month you rent is a month you are not building equity. The buyers who win in this market buy the home they can afford today, then refinance if rates fall later. You are not locked in forever.

I broke down the three questions buyers are asking me right now on the blog: https://homequalify.ai/blog/

On the fence? Let us run your actual numbers. Call or text 830-590-1337.

10/09/2026

AGENTS: The market has shifted, which is why it is SO important for you to show up when your clients are searching for your services!

Your next client may be searching Google, Maps, Instagram, YouTube—or asking ChatGPT for a local real estate agent right now. The question is, can they actually find you?

09/24/2026

Great experience this morning teaching agents at Reliance Residential Realty New Braunfels how to get found with both SEO and GEO by presenting a unified profile online. Thanks to Jeff Robinson and Alamo Title for pulling this together!

09/23/2026

Locked in and ready to present this at a private training for a group of agents tomorrow, with a follow up public session coming up in October!

09/17/2026

Appreciate the opportunity to support Zach Allgeyer of Texas Property Inspections as he shared valuable information on post-tension foundations for CE credits for agents.

09/04/2026

AGENTS

Do you have a seller who wants to buy but can’t get their current home sold?

A new Fannie Mae guideline may give some homeowners another option.

Qualified borrowers may be able to convert their current home to a rental and use supported market rent to help offset the existing mortgage payment—without having a lease in place first.

In today’s buyer’s market, that could help some sellers move forward with their next purchase instead of waiting indefinitely for their current home to sell.

There are qualification and reserve requirements, so it won’t work for everyone—but it’s absolutely worth reviewing.

📲 Have a client who feels stuck between selling and buying?

Let’s run the numbers!

08/25/2026

Are you curious about living in New Braunfels?

Try my New Braunfels Interactive Home Guide. Ask any questions you have and get the answers at your fingertips.

A local information chatbot for people exploring life, neighborhoods, schools, lifestyle, and homebuying in New Braunfels, Texas.

07/15/2026

Free home-decision tools. No cost, no credit-score hit, no sales pitch.

Buying, selling, or refinancing, you can run your own numbers at homequalify.ai before you ever pick up the phone:

→ Buying: see what you qualify for, plus affordability and rent vs. buy calculators

→ Refinancing: run a no-cost break-even check

→ Selling: find out what you'd actually walk away with

→ Investing: DSCR and rental property tools

→ Veterans: a full VA section built around your benefit

Straight answers from someone who's originated mortgages for 33 years across three states.

Start wherever you are: https://homequalify.ai

Need reliable mortgage advice? Partner with a seasoned Mortgage Loan Originator dedicated to securing optimal rates and navigating complex lending processes seamlessly for your home purchase or refinance.