California Homeowners: State Farm Under Investigation
On June 12, 2025, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced a crucial investigation into State Farm’s handling of claims related to the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton wildfires. These devastating events have significantly impacted countless California homeowners and Southern California residents, highlighting the essential need for efficient and compassionate insurance practices. Detailed Allegations and Growing […]
Mortgage Mistakes: 5 Refinancing Traps to Avoid
For longtime homeowners, refinancing can be a powerful way to lower monthly payments, shorten a loan term, or unlock the equity built over years of diligent payments. However, even experienced borrowers often fall into common mortgage mistakes that can quietly erode their savings and compromise their long-term financial goals. At Scout Lending, we have helped […]
Loan Offers: Consumers Guide About Soft Credit Pulls
When applying for personal financing or checking loan offers, one of the most common concerns is whether the process will affect your credit score. Traditional lenders often perform hard credit pulls as part of the loan application, which can reduce your score and appear on your credit report for other lenders to see. But when […]
Wildfire Insurance Costs Are Rising in California
A recent bulletin from the California Department of Insurance reveals a critical update that affects homebuyers, property owners, and real estate investors alike. If California’s FAIR Plan, the state’s insurer of last resort for wildfire insurance, runs out of money following a catastrophic wildfire, it could charge a surcharge to all policyholders, even those whose […]
Soft Credit Pulls: The Safe Way to Discover Your Loan Options
When applying for business financing, one of the most common concerns is whether the process will affect your credit score. Traditional lenders often perform hard credit pulls as part of the loan application, which can reduce your score and appear on your credit report for other lenders to see. However, many modern lenders now offer […]
State Farm Premiums Up: Here’s What It Means
In a pivotal move that could reshape California’s already fragile insurance and real estate markets, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has approved State Farm’s emergency interim rate hike request, just months after initially rejecting it. The decision by State Farm, effective June 1, marks a first-of-its-kind approval under California’s regulatory framework. It is sending ripple effects […]
New Super Jumbo Loan: Finance Up to $5M
In today’s dynamic real estate market, traditional loan limits often fall short for luxury buyers, investors, and high-income clients. That’s why Scout Lending is proud to introduce a new Super Jumbo loan program, offering financing up to $5 million with 30-year fixed-rate terms for purchases, refinances, and cash-out transactions. This powerful new product is designed […]
Housing Market Inventory: Key Insights for Homebuyers
As of April 2025, the U.S. housing market is shifting, with housing market inventory levels rising and noticeable changes happening across different regions. For buyers and borrowers, this changing landscape may present new opportunities if you know where to look and how to act. National Inventory Trends Housing inventory has increased by 30.9% year-over-year (as […]
Mortgage Application Surge as Interest Rates Continue to Decline
The mortgage market is experiencing a significant boost as interest rates continue to decline, leading to a mortgage application surge for both home purchases and refinancing. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly mortgage applications survey for the week ending March 7, 2025, mortgage applications rose by 11.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis compared […]
First-Time Home Buyers: Your Guide to Buying a Home in 2025
Buying your first home is an exciting milestone, but the process can also feel overwhelming—especially for first-time home buyers—with changing market trends, mortgage rates, and new real estate policies in 2025. If you’re considering purchasing your first home this year, it’s crucial to be well-prepared and informed about what to expect. This guide will walk […]
Please wait while we are processing your application…