Peter has been writing the real estate column “Lending a Hand” in the Santa Cruz Sentinel every week since 1995. If there is a topic you would like to see written about, call him or email him. He is always looking for new topics.

Check out some of the past columns in the archives of the Santa Cruz Sentinel by double clicking on your selected column below.

Recent columns

 Co-signer can help you qualify for a mortgage
 New bill requires Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to raise rates
 Loan pre-approvals need to be updated periodically
 January’s a good time for mortgage checkup
 Reverse Mortgage requires no payments
 Today’s mortgage process requires more patience
 Best to sell current home before buying next home
 HARP designed to help out homeowners and lenders
 The best first step for homebuyers
 Mortgage money is easier to obtain, plentiful and cheap
 Sellers need to get realistic on timing
 A gift is OK for the down payment
 Confusion over NOTE rate and APR
 Obtaining a mortgage tougher for the self-employed
 A rate lock is a two way commitment
 Ask the seller for help
 When does refinancing make sense?
 Fraud in lending is still prevalent
 New lower loan limits will make mortgages more costly for some
 Last-minute glitches can delay the closing
 Use 203k loan program to buy a red-tagged home
 Refinance an upside down mortgage while rates are down
 Housing Authority receives funds to help first-time buyers
 Loan program revolutionizes how mortgages are paid
 Today’s mortgage requirements appear reasonable
 Save big without refinancing
 Today’s mortgage approvals part of complex process that goes beyond number crunching
 Too much debt could disqualify you for a mortgage
 Buying a home is not for everyone
 Myth of the termite report, clearance requirement?
 Are you ready to make an offer?
 A co-signer could help you qualify for that home loan
 Stop credit bureaus from selling your data
 Buy a fixer-upper with this federal loan program
 No closing costs and no appraisal required in the HomePath program
 Higher rates, other debts reduce purchasing power