Kurt Kessler, Mortgage Broker

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United States
Danville, CA
Kurt Kessler, Mortgage Broker

Mortgage Broker | NMLS 365130 | 1082 Allegheny Drive, Danville, CA 94526

09/25/2026

Townhome, PUD, Condo: What's the difference and why does it matter

09/18/2026

I’m excited to introduce KurtsBuydownGuide.com, a new resource designed to help Realtors and homebuyers understand temporary and permanent rate buydowns.

A buydown can be a powerful tool for both listing agents and buyer’s agents. Listing agents can use a seller funded buydown to make a home stand out, address payment concerns, and market the property with a lower introductory monthly payment.

It can also become a valuable tool for moving inventory. If a property has been sitting on the market, offering a buydown may attract more buyers without immediately reducing the price. Instead of only advertising a price improvement,

Realtors can show buyers how a seller credit could create meaningful monthly savings during the first few years of homeownership.

For buyers, today’s lighter competition may create an opportunity to negotiate a seller credit toward a buydown. This can help buyers secure a home with less competition while reducing their initial monthly payments.

The site includes an easy to use Temporary Buydown Calculator covering these popular options:

• 3/2/1 Buydown

• 2/1 Buydown

• 1/1/1 Buydown

• 1/1 Buydown

• 1/0 Buydown

Simply enter the loan amount, loan term, and interest rate. The calculator instantly displays:

• The reduced payment and interest rate for each year

• The regular principal and interest payment

• The buyer’s monthly savings

• The total cost of the buydown

• The cost as a percentage of the loan amount

• A clear monthly payment comparison chart

Use the calculator when preparing a listing presentation, developing a strategy to move existing inventory, responding to payment objections, or structuring an offer with seller concessions.

Visit KurtsBuydownGuide.com to explore the guide and run a personalized scenario. If you have a buyer or listing that could benefit from a buydown strategy, send it my way and I’ll help you structure the numbers.

09/15/2026

Markets are pricing in a 92% chance that the Federal Reserve will raise its benchmark rate by 0.25% tomorrow. Investors currently expect four additional rate increases over the next year.

The Fed will also release updated economic projections and its interest rate forecast. These announcements could create significant movement in mortgage rates.

Stocks and mortgage bonds are lower this morning. Oil remains above $100 per barrel.

The 10 year Treasury yield is near 5%, its highest level since July 2007.

This is putting upward pressure on mortgage rates.

Employment Update

ADP estimates that the economy added an average of 16,250 jobs per week during the four weeks ending August 29. That equals approximately 70,000 jobs for the month.

The job market is performing better than some recent reports suggested, but overall hiring remains slow.

09/10/2026

Big Credit Score Change Could Help More Buyers Qualify

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have made a significant change to mortgage credit scoring.

Effective immediately, approved lenders can now use VantageScore 4.0 as an alternative to the traditional Classic FICO score on eligible conventional loans.

Why does this matter?

VantageScore 4.0 looks at credit differently than Classic FICO. Because of those differences, some buyers may receive a different credit score under VantageScore than they do with FICO.

That could create opportunities for buyers who previously had trouble qualifying or who received less favorable loan terms because of their FICO score.

A few important things to know:

• Lenders can choose between Classic FICO and VantageScore 4.0 on eligible Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans.

• If there is more than one borrower, the same scoring model must be used for everyone on the loan.

• Lenders cannot use a FICO score for one borrower and VantageScore for another.

• Manually underwritten loans must still use Classic FICO.

What This Means for Realtors

Don't assume a buyer's old credit score tells the whole story.

If you have a buyer who was previously turned down, had a borderline credit score, or was told they needed to improve their credit before purchasing, it may be worth having their financing reviewed again.

This doesn't mean every buyer will suddenly qualify. But it does give lenders another tool to potentially find a better path to homeownership.

💬 Weekend Talking Point

If you're talking with a buyer this weekend, try:

"There was just a major change to mortgage credit scoring. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now allowing lenders to use a newer credit scoring model called VantageScore 4.0. If credit has been holding you back from buying, it may be worth having your financing looked at again."

Have a buyer you're unsure about? Send them my way. I'll take a look at both the financing and the strategy before you count them out.

09/04/2026

September 4, 2026
Big Fannie Mae Update!

Getting a mortgage while converting your current home into a rental just got easier.

If your client is buying a new home while still owning their current residence, lenders traditionally required a signed lease to document rental income from the departing property.

That has changed.

Here’s what’s new:
Fannie Mae no longer requires a lease to document rental income from the departing residence. In fact, Fannie Mae specifically states that a lease is not permitted for this purpose.

Instead, rental income can be supported by:

• A rental estimate from sources such as Zillow or Redfin • A rental analysis from an appraiser

There is one important requirement: the borrower must have an additional six months of reserves to cover the payments on the departing residence.

But here’s where it gets interesting...
This guideline could potentially create a new strategy for buyers who want to buy before they sell.

This revised guideline opens the door to misuse. Some in the real estate community will use this rule to help buyers achieve a buy before they sell strategy, when the intent was always to sell the departing residence, not rent it.

How will lenders police the intent behind the transaction?

It'll be interesting to see how lenders interpret and implement this change—and whether additional overlays start showing up.

Bottom line: Fannie Mae just removed one of the biggest hurdles for borrowers converting their current home into a rental. And this could have a much bigger impact on the buy-before-you-sell strategy than it appears on the surface.

07/30/2026

U.S. home prices increased 0.6% from April to May, bringing the three-month gain to 2.1%. After adjusting for seasonal trends, however, prices were essentially flat. Even so, home values remain 1.1% higher than they were a year ago.

07/29/2026

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺… 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲.

That’s a problem.

Because when rates drop, the opportunity to refinance and save thousands can come and go quickly.

That’s why we created the www.RefiRateWatchlist.com.

Instead of constantly checking the market, you can simply set your target rate and let the system do the work. When the market hits your number, you get notified. No guessing. No obsessively refreshing rate charts.

Here’s how it helps homeowners:

✔ Get instant alerts when rates reach your target
✔ Track opportunities based on your loan balance, goals, and timeline
✔ Know when refinancing could lower your payment or save interest
✔ No spam. Just clear updates when it matters

Smart homeowners don’t chase rates.

They let the rates come to them.

If you’d like to keep an eye on refinance opportunities without watching the market every day, you can sign up here in less than a minute:

🔗www.RefiRateWatchlist.com

Your future self (and your monthly payment) might thank you.

07/21/2026

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗦𝗖𝗥 𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗻𝘀

The traditional mortgage process can be a hurdle for self-employed investors or those with complex tax profiles. DSCR loans simplify the equation: if the rental income covers the mortgage payment, the deal makes sense.

Key Advantages for Your Next Acquisition

No Personal Income Verification: We don’t look at your W2s or pay stubs. Qualification is based on the property’s cash flow.

Faster Closing Times: Without the need for extensive personal financial auditing, the bridge from application to funding is significantly shorter.

Scale Your Portfolio: Since these loans don't impact your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio in the same way as conventional financing, you can continue to acquire multiple properties simultaneously.

Entity Lending: Close in the name of an LLC or corporation to protect your personal assets and organize your business effectively.

The market is moving quickly, and having a specialized financing tool in your belt is the best way to stay competitive. Whether you are looking at long-term rentals or short-term vacation stays, the cash-flow-first approach is built for the modern investor.

Visit www.TheDSCR.Loan to run your numbers or start an application.

07/16/2026

Pending home sales (signed contracts on existing homes) slipped 5.4% from May to June, ending a streak of four consecutive monthly increases. All four U.S. regions posted declines.

07/14/2026

𝗩𝗔 𝗜𝗥𝗥𝗥𝗟 𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗠𝘆𝗩𝗔.𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗻

Veterans and active duty service members can lower their monthly mortgage payment through the VA's streamlined IRRRL program.

It's fast, simple, and free to start.

✅ Simple & Fast - No Income Documentation
💰 No Lender or Title Fees
📉 No Impound Option with 680 mid score.
🚫 No Appraisal

Stop paying to much go to www.RefiMyVa.Loan

Address

1082 Allegheny Drive
Danville, CA
94526

Website

https://kurtkessler.com/, https://www.youtube.com/@MortgageDadKurt, https://www.tiktok.com/@mortgagedadkurt, https://www

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