Janice Nugent - Mortgage Planning Specialist

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United States
Walnut Creek, CA
Janice Nugent - Mortgage Planning Specialist

NMLS #289353, California

Divorce Mortgage Planning Specialist helping clients navigate life transitions with clarity and confidence, guiding homebuyers and homeowners with thoughtful, long-term mortgage planning.

09/24/2026

The Fed Raised Rates. What Does That Actually Mean for You?

You may have heard that the Federal Reserve raised rates by 0.25% last week.

One important distinction: that doesn't mean mortgage rates automatically increased by 0.25%.

Mortgage rates are influenced by the bond market and broader economic conditions.

A Fed rate change can have a more direct impact on things like HELOCs, credit cards and some business lines of credit.

So when you hear that “rates went up,” it helps to know which rates are actually being discussed.

If you're considering buying, refinancing or using your home equity, let's look at what's happening with the financing that actually applies to you.

📩 [email protected]
☎ 925-683-0787 | 🌐 JaniceNugent.com

09/22/2026

If you're going through a divorce, protecting your credit and your identity is easy to overlook while so much else is changing. These four steps are worth saving.

Two points stand out to me as a Certified Divorce Lending Professional.

Your divorce decree divides responsibility between you and your spouse, but it does not change your contract with a lender. If your name is on a joint account, the lender can still collect from you.

And after years together, your spouse likely knows your passwords and the answers to your security questions. Updating those protections is a routine step, not an accusation.

Here is where to start: check your credit reports for free every week at AnnualCreditReport.com, freeze your credit at all three bureaus, change your passwords, PINs, and security questions, and report any account you did not open at IdentityTheft.gov.

If you plan to buy or refinance, keep in mind that a credit freeze must be lifted before a lender can review your credit. Just as important, talk with a Certified Divorce Lending Professional before you apply. As a CDLP®, I am trained specifically in how the terms of a divorce, from joint debts to the timing of your settlement, can affect your mortgage options.

Contact me directly to start your Divorce Mortgage Plan.

09/21/2026

Weekly Market Thoughts: September 21–25, 2026

After several weeks of pressure on mortgage rates, this week could bring a little relief.

The Fed raised its short-term rate by 0.25% last week, while mortgage rates reached their highest levels since January 2025. Now oil prices are easing, which could help calm some inflation concerns and give the bond market some room to recover.

It’s a lighter week for economic reports, so we’ll be watching how the markets respond.

💡 If you’re buying, refinancing, or wondering what these changes mean for your plans, let’s have a conversation. The market is only one part of the decision, and I can help you look at the whole picture.

☎ 925-683-0787
📩 [email protected]
🌐 JaniceNugent.com

09/19/2026

Before deciding who keeps the house, ask the question that actually matters:

Is the home financially sustainable post-divorce?

A court can award the property.
A settlement can define the terms.
But neither determines whether the mortgage will work.

Post-divorce income, debt structure, and support all impact qualification.

Without that analysis, the decision isn’t a strategy—it’s a risk.

As a CDLP®, I help ensure housing decisions are built on structure, not assumption.

Read more:
https://www.divorcelendingassociation.com/blog/why-a-structured-mortgage-capacity-framework-changes-everything-in-divorce.cfm

If you’re navigating divorce or advising clients who are, connect with me.

09/15/2026

Two appellate decisions, nearly identical facts, opposite results. The Divorce Lending Association's article on what a decree can compel walks through both, and the difference came down to a single drafting choice.

In the first, the agreement made the transfer of the departing spouse's interest conditional on the refinance closing. The refinance never closed, the parties were still co-tenants, and partition was available.

In the second, the agreement granted exclusive possession and required only that the parties cooperate with a refinance. The transfer was not conditioned on anything. When the loan did not happen, the court found no enforceable obligation to sell.

Same fact pattern. Same failed refinance. One party had a remedy and the other did not, and it was decided at signing rather than at the hearing.

The article also explains the distinction underneath both outcomes: a court can execute a deed, but it cannot execute a loan approval. Refusal it can reach through Rule 70, an elisor, or contempt. Inability it cannot reach at all.

https://divorcebriefings.com/4xn4raE

I am a Certified Divorce Lending Professional. Reviewing this language while it can still be changed is the work I do with counsel, and I am glad to look at a provision with you.

09/14/2026

Weekly Market Thoughts: September 14–18, 2026

Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting will be the big event for mortgage markets this week.

Markets are expecting the Fed could raise its short-term rate by 0.25%, while rising oil prices continue to add to inflation concerns. Investors will also be listening closely to what the Fed says about the months ahead.

And remember, a Fed rate hike doesn’t automatically translate into an equal increase in mortgage rates. There’s more to the story.

💡 If you’re buying, refinancing, or wondering what the changing market means for your plans, let’s have a conversation. I can help you understand the numbers and how they fit into your goals.

☎ 925-683-0787
📩 [email protected]
🌐 JaniceNugent.com

09/12/2026

There’s a difference. It’s a CDLP.

Your attorney protects your legal rights.
Your financial advisor focuses on long-term wealth.
But neither is responsible for making sure your mortgage actually works.

And in divorce—that gap matters.

Because what looks good in a settlement agreement doesn’t always translate to lender approval. Income timing, debt allocation, title decisions, and support structure all impact whether someone can qualify for financing… or not.

This is where a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®) steps in.

A CDLP doesn’t replace your attorney or financial advisor—we align with them. We bring the lending perspective into the conversation before decisions are finalized, so the outcome isn’t just agreed upon… it’s executable.

Because a signed agreement means nothing if the financing falls apart after the fact.

If you’re going through a divorce and your home or mortgage is part of the equation, don’t leave this to guesswork.
Connect with me directly to understand your options and protect your ability to qualify before decisions are finalized.

09/11/2026

One Financial Decision Can Affect More Than You Think.

Your mortgage doesn't exist in a bubble.

Maybe you're thinking about buying or refinancing while also making decisions about taxes, investments, debt, retirement, a job change or even a divorce.

Each decision may make perfect sense on its own.

But sometimes a change in one area can affect your options in another.

That’s why I believe in looking at the bigger picture and, when appropriate, working alongside the other professionals who are advising you.

Before making a major financial move, it can help to make sure the people on your team understand what you're trying to accomplish as a whole.

Good mortgage planning should fit into your life and your other financial goals, not compete with them.

📩 [email protected]
☎ 925-683-0787 | 🌐 JaniceNugent.com

09/10/2026

Many divorcing homeowners hope to keep the marital home, but affording it after the settlement is where most of the real challenges appear.

As a CDLP®, I routinely see issues that traditional lending doesn’t account for: support income timing, debt allocation, equity buyouts, and how all of it impacts long-term affordability.

This new article highlights what most people don’t know but absolutely should: https://bit.ly/4ron6l1

If you’re supporting clients through divorce or planning your own next steps, this is essential reading.

09/09/2026

Mortgage Planning Minute

Buying a Condo? The Mortgage Rules Can Be Different.
When you buy a condo, getting approved for the mortgage isn't always just about your income, credit and finances.

The condo project itself may need to qualify too.

Depending on the property and loan program, lenders may need to review things like the association’s finances, insurance coverage, litigation, owner occupancy and other project details.

So even if you are financially qualified, the condo itself can sometimes create a financing issue.

That’s why it can be helpful to look at the financing early, especially before getting too far into a purchase.

Qualifying for the mortgage and making sure the property works for the mortgage are two different things.

📩 [email protected]
☎ 925-683-0787 | 🌐 JaniceNugent.com

Address

1212 Broadway Plaza, Suite 2100
Walnut Creek, CA
94596

Website

http://JaniceNugent.com/

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