Chris Smith - Luminate Bank

10/21/2026

Did you know a retirement loan can help you buy a brand new home, not just stay in your current one?

Homeowners 62 and older can use a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their current home to purchase the home they actually want for the next chapter of their life while skipping a monthly mortgage payment altogether. That means more of your retirement savings stays invested and working for you instead of going toward a monthly payment.

Whether you want to move closer to family, downsize into something more comfortable, or simply start fresh somewhere new, this option can make that transition significantly easier financially.

I am Chris Smith and I would love to walk you through exactly how this works. Follow along for more retirement home strategies.

10/20/2026

If your Zillow saves are getting a little out of hand, I have a suggestion: let's talk before you find "the one."

I can help you understand your budget, walk through your mortgage options, and figure out what makes sense for your situation. And you definitely don't need to have a house picked out to get started.

Keep sending yourself listings. I'll help you get a plan together.

Apply Here: https://applynow.goluminate.com/homehub/signup/Chris.Smith%40luminate.bank
#𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘛𝘪𝘱𝘴 #𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘓𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 #𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 #𝘓𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘬

10/19/2026

Here is something every retiree deserves to know about their monthly income.

A retirement loan allows you to access the equity in your home and turn it into a reliable source of extra cash flow without selling your home or taking on a monthly payment.

That means your Social Security and any pension income can go further. More freedom to travel, help family, or simply enjoy the life you worked hard to build without financial stress. You still own your home. You still live in it. And you keep that flexibility for as long as you want it.

I am Chris Smith and I love helping retirees discover options they never knew existed. Reach out anytime to see what this could look like for you.

10/16/2026

Most people think a retirement loan means giving up their home. That could not be further from the truth.

A retirement loan lets homeowners 62 and older turn the equity they have built up over decades into cash they can actually use while keeping full ownership and continuing to live in their home. No monthly mortgage payments required.

That means extra breathing room in the budget every single month. Those funds can go toward healthcare costs, helping grandkids with school, or simply enjoying the retirement you worked so hard to earn.

I am Chris Smith and I help homeowners understand exactly how this works so they can make a confident and informed decision.

Have questions? Reach out and let’s talk through it.

10/14/2026

One of the most common misconceptions I hear from buyers: you need 20 percent down to purchase a home. And for many people that belief is the single biggest thing holding them back from homeownership.

The reality is very different.

There are many different loan programs with low down payment requirements. There are down payment assistance programs that can cover some or all of your upfront costs. There are seller concessions that can reduce the cash you need to bring to closing. And there are creative strategies that combine multiple options to make the numbers work for buyers who assumed they were years away.

Every buyer's situation is different. The right solution depends on your income, your credit, your savings, and your goals. Which is exactly why the most important step is having a real conversation before assuming homeownership is out of reach.

You may be much closer than you think. The first step is not saving forever waiting to reach a number that may not even be required. The first step is understanding what options are actually available for your specific situation.

Reach out today and let's find out where you actually stand.

10/09/2026

Twenty percent of listings just cut their price. That is the highest we have seen in years and it changes everything for your buyers this fall.

Rates are back above 7 percent which scared off the casual shoppers and left your serious buyers with real negotiating power. Inventory is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels so buyers actually have choices again. Sellers are saying yes to concessions, buydowns, and closing cost help. And with contract cancellations at their highest since 2022 prepared backup buyers are winning homes right now.

Here is how your buyers win in this market.

A smart buydown strategy can turn today's payment into tomorrow's refinance win. Reframe the conversation around payment instead of rate. Reframe it around opportunity instead of fear.

The agents who win this season are the ones having that conversation right now while everyone else waits for perfect conditions that are not coming.

If you have buyers sitting on the sidelines send them my way. I will run the numbers that get them off the fence.

07/31/2026

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟯𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.66 percent this week according to Freddie Mac. The housing market continues to benefit from more available inventory, giving prospective homebuyers additional options and helping support buyer activity even as rates fluctuate.

Here is where rates stand as of July 30th per MND's Daily Rate Survey.

30-year fixed: 6.77 percent, down 0.01 percent. 15-year fixed: 6.31 percent, down 0.01 percent. 30-year jumbo: 6.90 percent, unchanged. 7/6 SOFR ARM: 6.33 percent, down 0.01 percent. 30-year FHA: 6.33 percent, down 0.01 percent. 30-year VA: 6.34 percent, down 0.02 percent.

Rates are moving in a favorable direction and inventory is improving. If you have been watching the market and waiting for a reason to start the conversation, now is a good time to reach out.

𝘓𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘬. 𝘕𝘔𝘓𝘚 1281698. 2523 𝘚. 𝘞𝘢𝘺𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘉𝘭𝘷𝘥., 𝘚𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 100, 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘴, 𝘔𝘕 55405. 952-939-7200. 𝘙𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺. 𝘚𝘶𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘥𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.

05/21/2026

5.0 star review received on Experience.com for Chris Smith by Heber M - Chris was super helpful and made the loan process easy to understand, he was thorough with the details. Really appreciate his help.

Click to see all 63 reviews of Chris Smith - Northpointe Bank, Sales Manager | NMLS # 9831

05/08/2026

5.0 star review received on Experience.com for Chris Smith by Virginia B - Chris was the best part. He was straight forward and told us exactly what was needed. He was understanding and reliable. He always had things done a quickly as possible and was always in touch with us. He was amazing to work with!

Click to see all 62 reviews of Chris Smith - Northpointe Bank, Sales Manager | NMLS # 9831

05/05/2026

5.0 star review received on Experience.com for Chris Smith by Kelly H - It all went smooth with no unexpected issues. Everything was ready to go when closing. Fanastic work!

Click to see all 61 reviews of Chris Smith - Northpointe Bank, Sales Manager | NMLS # 9831