Brent Diebert, Real Estate Educator

07/24/2026

Community lending is all about making homeownership happen! 🏡✨

Whether it’s securing land and bridge loans, tapping into down payment assistance and grants, or setting up a repair escrow to turn a fixer-upper into the perfect home, we have the tools to pull it off.

As a local community lender with decades of experience, we don't just offer loans—we deliver solutions. Reach out today!

05/17/2026

Tax deduction vs Tax credit & how it effects your bottom line. If your a first time homebuyer find out the tax credit programs I've shared with my clients for over a decade.

💰 A $2,000 tax deduction saves about $440 if you're in the 22% bracket. A $2,000 tax credit saves exactly $2,000 regardless of your bracket.

Most tax credits are nonrefundable, meaning they reduce your federal income tax bill to zero but no further.

Four credits are refundable: the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit (partially), the American Opportunity Credit for college, and the Premium Tax Credit for ACA marketplace coverage.

The Earned Income Tax Credit reaches up to $8,231 for families with three or more qualifying children in 2026, and $664 for workers without children who earn below the income limit.

The Child Tax Credit pays $2,200 per child under 17, with up to $1,700 per child refundable if the credit exceeds what you owe. A separate $500 Credit for Other Dependents covers older children, some college students, and qualifying relatives who do not meet the Child Tax Credit rules.

The Lifetime Learning Credit covers $2,000 for any year of college, graduate school, or job-skills training, but it is nonrefundable and cannot generate a refund beyond your tax liability.

The Retirement Saver's Credit gives low- and moderate-income workers up to $1,000 (single) or $2,000 (married filing jointly) for contributing to a 401(k) or IRA. The top eligibility limit for single filers in 2026 is $40,250.

The Child and Dependent Care Credit covers up to $1,500 for one qualifying person or $3,000 for two or more, based on work-related care expenses paid while you or your spouse worked or looked for work.

IRS Free File and VITA sites provide free federal tax preparation for households under $84,000.



P.S. Every Friday I send a short email with the week's top post, my take on the best article I read, and what I'm writing about on the site. Link in the comments.

*The content shared here is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not personalized investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on your specific situation.*

03/05/2026

Big news for homebuyers! 🏠 As of today, March 5, 2026, the "Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act" is officially in full effect.

If you’ve ever applied for a mortgage and been immediately bombarded by 50+ phone calls, texts, and emails from random lenders you’ve never heard of—that ends now. 🚫📞

What’s Changing?
For years, credit bureaus were allowed to sell your data as a "trigger lead" the moment you applied for a loan. This new law puts a stop to that practice to protect your privacy and sanity.

No More Unsolicited Spam: Credit bureaus can no longer sell your information to third-party lenders just because you had your credit pulled for a mortgage.

Existing Relationships Still Matter: You might still hear from your current bank or mortgage servicer, as the law allows for "existing relationships" so they can still provide you with relevant offers.

You're in Control: If you actually want to receive offers from multiple lenders, you can still "opt-in," but the default is now your privacy.

Why This Matters
Applying for a home is stressful enough without a non-stop vibrating phone. This is a huge win for consumer privacy and makes the path to homeownership a lot less noisy.

Are you planning on buying or refinancing soon? I’d be happy to explain how these new privacy rules protect you during your application process. Feel free to reach out!

07/21/2025

OHFA has significantly dropped their mortgage rates, However, you might have heard that their down payment assistance amount has been lowered. We know that first-time homebuyers often need help covering up to 102% of the purchase price for down payment AND closing costs.
That's where Heartland Bank's Affordable Seconds program comes in! We've got you covered. Our program can bridge that gap, helping you get the full assistance you need to make your homeownership dreams a reality. 🏡✨
Don't let upfront costs stop you from finding your perfect home. Contact us today to learn more about how Heartland Bank can help you buy your first home! https://6145713554.com/102.pdf

Don't forget: OHFA implemented changes to its homebuyer assistance programs. For more info., check out this podcast from the featuring OHFA Executive Director Bill Beagle: https://bit.ly/3UomSL2

04/30/2025

We have a great event coming up on May 14th. I'll be teaching a CE on Simplifying Condo's followed up by current intel on Intel

Send a message to learn more

02/10/2025

I'm hosting a 3 hour CE class for real estate agents -- Fair Housing Foundations next week (3 Hours of Civil Rights Credit) Feb 19th from Noon to 3:15 p.m.
Scan the QR code to register!

01/28/2025

I will be hosting a 3 hour CE class -- Fair Housing Foundations
(3 Hours of Civil Rights Credit) Feb 19th from Noon to 3:15 more info on the flyer and you may scan the QR code to register or post a comment

08/16/2024

Thinking of home improvements? Check out the Home improvement tour next weekend and stop by Nordine & Associates home at 120 Ceramic Dr in Clintonville.

05/31/2024

The Rise Up Program is available now- designed to assist first generation, first-time buyers achieve homeownership by providing grants of $25,000 in Franklin Co. Reach out for details and qualification!