Select One Mortgage Land O' Lakes

Lastest articles

Down Payments

Think you need 20% down to buy a home? Think again. Jack Van Wormer breaks down real down payment requirements by loan type and how your down payment can affect monthly payments, interest rates, and mortgage insurance.

Mortgage Broker vs Bank: Know the Difference

Discover the key differences between mortgage brokers and retail banks and why working with a broker like Select One Land O' Lakes could get you better loan options, flexible terms, and a smoother path to homeownership.

Don’t Get Too Comfortable

Comfort breeds complacency. Whether in business, sales, or life, staying in the safe zone can hold us back from real success. In insurance, that mindset can mean outdated coverage, unexpected gaps, and missed opportunities. Taking the time to ask the right questions—no matter how uncomfortable—can make all the difference. Here’s why pushing past the easy route leads to better outcomes.

Your Data

How all of our data is used today is vastly different then it was not very long ago. Virtually everyone has cell phones, even people like my 74 year mom (who swore less then a decade or so ago she’d never touch one!). Now she regularly spends time on it and uses it for a variety of things. Something unthinkable to me happened in a pretty short time frame.

February

Where are rates? This is the most common question I hear. In all honesty they aren’t too different today then they were 3, 6, or 9 months ago unfortunately. We saw a little dip around the start of 3Q 2024 but it was short lived and when things get put on a 12 month chart there is some up and down but today’s rates are realistically very similar to what we saw for a lot of the last year. Average 30 year rates as of early February continue to hover in the low 7% range.

Pre-Approvals

Buying a home is one of the most exciting milestones in life; however, before you start looking at every house in search of your dream home, there is a crucial first step that can set you up for a successful purchase: getting Pre-Approval. A Pre-Approval can help you understand what you can afford and show sellers that you are a serious, well-qualified buyer. In this article, I will explain what a Pre-Approval is, why it is important, and how the process works.

Arms & Balloons

There is often some consumer confusion regarding balloon and ARM or adjustable type mortgages. Let’s start with the most common type of mortgage, and this is a 30 year fixed. 30 year fixed mortgages are what most consumers in the US use when borrowing money, this accounts for around 90% of all mortgages currently. In case you are wondering the average 30 year mortgage rate in the US last week was 7.02%. A lot of us, myself included, were really hoping for a noticeable drop in rates by now from what we’ve seen over the last couple years.

Little Johnny

Winter sports seasons are here and my wife and I’s non-work lives involve running a couple boys backand forth to the hockey rinks in Eagle River and beyond. I love sports. Hockey can be a different animalat times but overall I truly think sports can be as beneficial in development of a young person asacademics, music, and social situations. Sports can teach teamwork, sportsmanship, gratitude, theresults of hard work and effort, and learning how to both win and lose. It can also help one be part ofsomething bigger than themselves.

Credit Scores: What’s the Deal?

Your credit score can impact everything from mortgage rates to insurance premiums. But many people are left in the dark about how it’s calculated and how to improve it. Understanding the five factors that affect your score—payment history, credit utilization, credit history, credit mix, and new credit—can help you take control of your financial health.

Short-Term Rentals: A Vacation Perk or a Housing Problem?

Short-term rentals have transformed travel, giving us full homes instead of hotel rooms. But in Northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula, they’re also driving up housing prices and squeezing out options for local residents and first-time homebuyers.

Wondering What’s Going on with Home Insurance?

With rising costs and reduced coverage, home insurance is more challenging than ever. This year, many homeowners are seeing increases on deductibles. Our latest blog dives into why these changes are happening—from inflation and to weather-related damages—and what you can do about it.

Not Starting Over When Your Refinance

With rates dropping, refinancing could be your chance to lower payments and save big. What if you could shorten your loan term without raising your rate? Click to see how this simple change could help you pay off your home faster and save on interest.

Dale Kleffman

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January 11, 2025

Don’t Throw It Away

Short-Term Rentals: A Vacation Perk or a Housing Problem?

Wondering What’s Going on with Home Insurance?

Not Starting Over When Your Refinance

Lastest articles

Down Payments

Mortgage Broker vs Bank: Know the Difference

Don’t Get Too Comfortable

Your Data

February

Pre-Approvals

Arms & Balloons

Little Johnny

Credit Scores: What’s the Deal?

Short-Term Rentals: A Vacation Perk or a Housing Problem?

Wondering What’s Going on with Home Insurance?

Not Starting Over When Your Refinance

Credit Scores: What’s the Deal?

Popular articles

Short-Term Rentals: A Vacation Perk or a Housing Problem?

Wondering What’s Going on with Home Insurance?

Not Starting Over When Your Refinance