Carolina Coastal Realty Group & Mortgage Solutions

Carolina Coastal Realty Group & Mortgage Solutions Carolina Coastal Realty Group formerly known as Claude & Associates Real Estate is a full-service Brokerage proudly serving our community with all of

06/24/2026

Recovery timelines matter. Set the right expectations so you don’t rush into a loan you aren’t ready for — or wait longer than necessary. A low-500s credit score can reach ~620 in 12–18 months with focused action: dispute errors, pay down high-utilization balances, build clean on-time payments, and add positive tradelines. Know the fixed waiting periods after major events: FHA — 2 years after Chapter 7 discharge, 3 years after foreclosure; VA — 2 years after bankruptcy; USDA — 3 years after foreclosure; Conventional — 4–7 years depending on the event and loan terms. Identify which event applies to your file, start the clock, and follow a deliberate plan to rebuild. Ken Claude | SC Real Estate Broker-in-Charge & Licensed Loan Officer | Carolina Coastal Realty Group, LLC | Summit Lending Group | NMLS #2476547 | 843-900-1254 | Equal Housing Lender | Powered by C2 Financial Corporation.

06/23/2026

Many agents stop showing once an offer is accepted — but that can leave sellers vulnerable if the primary contract falls apart. This quick video explains why accepting a backup offer is a smart, low-risk move: it costs nothing, keeps a vetted buyer ready, avoids a new marketing cycle, prevents extra days on market, and skips restarting negotiations. A backup does not obligate the seller unless the primary contract terminates, yet it allows an immediate transition to closing if inspection, financing, or appraisal issues derail the first buyer. In volatile markets, a backup offer protects your timeline and price. Ask your agent to keep showing after acceptance and accept backups to safeguard your sale. Ken Claude | SC Real Estate Broker-in-Charge & Licensed Loan Officer | Carolina Coastal Realty Group, LLC | Summit Lending Group | NMLS #2476547 | 843-900-1254 | Equal Housing Lender | Powered by C2 Financial Corporation.

06/23/2026

Think a single credit score cutoff decides mortgage approval? Think again. This quick explainer breaks down real thresholds: FHA can approve at 580 (3.5% down) and some lenders go to 500 with 10% down; USDA and VA have no official floor but lenders often set around 620; conventional loans usually start at 620 with best pricing at 740+. Learn why the score in your consumer app (often FICO 8 or VantageScore) can be 30–50 points higher than the mortgage scores lenders pull (FICO 2, 4, 5 — one from each bureau; lenders use the middle score). Don’t rely on your app alone—get a lender to pull your mortgage scores before deciding. Presented by Ken Claude, SC Real Estate Broker-in-Charge & Licensed Loan Officer, Carolina Coastal Realty Group / Summit Lending Group. NMLS #2476547. Equal Housing Lender. Powered by C2 Financial Corporation. Call 843-900-1254.

06/23/2026

Multigenerational homebuying can work—if the rules are set before signing. This video explains the must-ask questions: who’s on the loan, who’s on title (and in what share), how monthly costs are divided, and what happens if someone needs to exit. Learn why being a co-borrower means full mortgage liability, why being on title alone doesn’t remove financial risk, and how a real estate attorney can draft a co-ownership agreement to cover exits, maintenance, and decision-making. Start with the family money conversation, document the outcome, and protect everyone before closing. Ken Claude | SC Real Estate Broker-in-Charge & Licensed Loan Officer | Carolina Coastal Realty Group, LLC | Summit Lending Group | NMLS #2476547 | 843-900-1254 | Equal Housing Lender | Powered by C2 Financial Corporation.

06/23/2026

An assumable mortgage lets a qualified buyer take over a seller’s existing FHA, VA, or USDA loan — including that lower interest rate — which can mean hundreds saved each month compared with today’s higher rates. For sellers, an assumable loan is a powerful marketing advantage most conventional sellers can’t offer. The process is less familiar: it requires a servicer that handles assumptions, a lender to bridge the gap between the loan balance and the purchase price, and patience for a longer-than-usual closing timeline. Despite the extra steps, for the right buyer and seller the financial upside is compelling. Need expert help navigating an assumable? Ken Claude, SC Real Estate Broker-in-Charge & Licensed Loan Officer with Carolina Coastal Realty Group and Summit Lending Group, can guide you. NMLS #2476547 | 843-900-1254 | Equal Housing Lender. # # / / # #

06/22/2026

Many sellers believe they can spot buyers using down payment assistance (DPA) and discount those offers — but that’s a myth. On a standard residential offer, sellers see the pre-approval, offer price, and terms, not the source of the down payment. A buyer using a DPA grant looks the same to the seller and listing agent as a buyer using family savings at the offer stage. DPA appears later in loan paperwork and the closing disclosure, which sellers only review at or after closing. If the loan is properly structured and the pre-approval is solid, an offer at list price from a DPA buyer is just as strong as one from a buyer with 20% down. Don’t let misconceptions about DPA cost you a competitive offer — understand how it really works and present a strong, well-documented pre-approval. Ken Claude, SC Real Estate Broker-in-Charge & Licensed Loan Officer, Carolina Coastal Realty Group & Summit Lending Group, NMLS #2476547. Contact: 843-900-1254. Equal Housing Lender; Powered by C2 Financial Corporation.

06/22/2026

Your DTI isn’t just about loan approval — it often tells us which program is the best fit. In this video I explain how different programs treat DTI: a 50% back-end DTI may be unlikely for conventional loans but could work with FHA if you have reserves, low LTV, or a strong credit score; VA cases hinge on residual income, not just ratios; USDA generally prefers DTIs around 41–44%. Lenders use different thresholds and compensating factors, so a skilled loan officer won’t force a program on your file but will read your DTI profile and match you to the program that gives you the best path forward. For guidance, reach out: Ken Claude | SC Real Estate Broker-in-Charge & Licensed Loan Officer | Carolina Coastal Realty Group, LLC | Summit Lending Group | NMLS #2476547 | 843-900-1254 | Equal Housing Lender | Powered by C2 Financial Corporation.

06/22/2026

Many buyers avoid shopping lenders because they fear credit inquiries will hurt their score — but that hesitation usually costs far more. FICO treats multiple mortgage inquiries within a 14–45 day window as one inquiry (depending on the version), so checking rates with three lenders in the same two-week period counts the same as one pull. The score impact is minimal (typically 5 points or less) and recovers within months. That small, temporary dip is a small price to pay compared with accepting a rate just 0.25% higher — which can add thousands over the life of the loan. Protecting your credit is valid, but it shouldn’t keep you from shopping and saving. Ken Claude, SC Real Estate Broker-in-Charge & Licensed Loan Officer, Carolina Coastal Realty Group | Summit Lending Group | NMLS #2476547 | 843-900-1254 | Equal Housing Lender | Powered by C2 Financial Corporation.

06/22/2026

Non-QM doesn’t mean risky — it means the loan doesn’t fit agency rules from Fannie, Freddie, FHA, VA or USDA. Those programs target a narrow borrower profile, leaving out millions of creditworthy people: self-employed owners, retirees with assets but no salary, investors, or borrowers who recovered from a credit event. Non-QM products — bank-statement loans, asset-depletion, DSCR, interest-only, and recent-credit-event programs — serve those buyers. Yes, rates can be higher and down payments larger, but for someone shut out of conventional financing, non-QM isn’t a downgrade; it’s the right tool for a real file. If conventional won’t work, there are smart alternatives to get you into the home you deserve. Ken Claude | SC Real Estate Broker-in-Charge & Licensed Loan Officer | Carolina Coastal Realty Group, LLC | Summit Lending Group | NMLS #2476547 | 843-900-1254 | Equal Housing Lender | Powered by C2 Financial Corporation.

06/21/2026

Lenders may advertise a 1.0 DSCR minimum, but that’s just the floor — deals at exactly 1.0 often come with higher rates, bigger down payments, or extra reserve requirements and collapse if the property sees a vacancy. Aim for a 1.25 DSCR before making an offer: rent covers the payment plus a 25% cushion to absorb one missed month, a management fee increase, or tax adjustments without you covering the gap. Remember: a non-negotiable 1.0 property is usually worse than a negotiable 1.3 property. Buy the math, not the address. Ken Claude | SC Real Estate Broker-in-Charge & Licensed Loan Officer | Carolina Coastal Realty Group, LLC | Summit Lending Group | NMLS #2476547 | 843-900-1254 | Equal Housing Lender | Powered by C2 Financial Corporation.

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Summerville, SC
29483

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
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Thursday 9am - 5pm
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