MHQ - Mortgage HeadQuarters

COOKIES FOR SANTA The holiday season is upon us, and we can practically smell the aroma of fresh-baked cookies in the air. Beyond being a delicious holiday treat, Christmas cookies are part of many family traditions, and have a long standing history. MHQ Mortgage Headquarters, leading lender at the Lake of the Ozarks , understands how cookies bring a family together and a since of home in every bite. Let’s take a stroll down the history of Christmas cookies. COOKIE DECORATING Icing or frosting, is there really a difference? Icing started in the 1600s with a mixture of sugar and egg whites that topped a cake once cooled, it looked just like ice. Where it got its name of icing. In recent times, the rich & creamy buttercream has become popular with its delicious taste and thicker texture for decorating. If you dare, you can tackle fondant to give your Christmas cookies a little something extra. And with so many food coloring variations to choose from today, your options are endless. ...

Owning a home offers great benefits to a homeowner, such as the ability to use the equity that's built up over time. Home equity can truly provide value and security to your future. You may find yourself in a situation that leaves you needing to take advantage of  refinancing your mortgage  to lower your payments or to take advantage of a lower interest rate. However, while you may have equity available, there are some mistakes homeowners make that prevent them from being able to refinance. Check out 5 mistakes you should avoid to prevent not being able to tap into your home equity when you need it. 1. Not Doing Your Homework You may just be thinking about going with your current mortgage lender to refinance your home because of the convenience factor. However, if you’re planning to contact your current lender about refinancing without doing some comparison shopping first you could be selling yourself short. With rates still relatively low across the board, it may seem l...

For today's homeowners, home equity is a financial resource that can gain momentum over time and offers great financial benefit. Building equity can be a long-term strategy for growing wealth, but it's also a great resource when you need a little extra cash for financial endeavors or any home improvements you're wanting to complete. Let's take a look at what a home equity loan is and some of the benefits for qualified recipients. What is Home Equity? Home equity is the market value of a homeowner's unencumbered interest in their real property. In other words, it's the difference between the home's fair market value and what you still owe on the home (liens and loans). This gain can come from paying down the principal balance of your loan, or an increase in market value over time. What is a Home Equity Loan? A  home equity loan is a type of second mortgage . Your “first” mortgage is the one you used to purchase your home, but you can use additiona...