Alena Kairys, Author at NFM Lending

LINTHICUM, MD, January 2, 2024 – NFM Lending is honored to have been named a Top Workplace by Scotsman Guide for 2024. This is Scotsman Guide’s inaugural year hosting the award and the first time NFM has won it. According to Scotsman Guide, a Top Workplace is a company that has exceptional achievements in operations, benefits, corporate culture, philanthropy, and DEI commitment. Although the Top Workplaces feature is not a ranking like Scotsman Guide’s other awards, NFM Lending was included in the Editor’s Picks category along with 15 other companies.

“We are immensely honored to be named a ‘Top Workplaces 2024’ by Scotsman Guide, a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering a workplace culture that values excellence, collaboration, and innovation,” said Gene DiPaula, Vice President of Communication at NFM. “This recognition reflects every team member’s dedication and hard work, and we are proud to be acknowledged by the leading resource for mortgage loan originators. As we continue to prioritize a thriving work environment, this accolade inspires us to reach even greater heights in delivering outstanding service to our customers and cultivating a workplace where success is celebrated together.”

The company and its loan originators have received numerous accolades from Scotsman Guide over the years for excellence in lending and record sales numbers. NFM has made the Top Mortgage Lenders list for five years and is among the top 30 lenders nationwide.

NFM Lending is proud of this new recognition and is thankful to everyone in the NFM Family of Lenders for their contributions.

NFM Lending is a national mortgage lending company currently licensed in 49 states in the U.S. and Washington, D.C. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. NFM Lending and its family of companies includes Main Street Home Loans, BluPrint Home Loans, Elevate Home Loans, and Element Home Loans. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.

If you’ve been eyeing interest rates and waiting for an opportunity to refinance, your time has come! Refinancing is an excellent way to make your home work for you, and we’re answering the top five questions people have about refinancing.

Refinancing is when your original loan is replaced with a new loan with different terms. It can be a smart move if you plan to stay in your home for a while; use a refinance mortgage calculator and speak with a lender to know your breakeven point. Many people refinance to lower their monthly payment, but it can also be used to access home equity, remove someone from the mortgage, get rid of private mortgage insurance (PMI), or change your loan type. Work with a loan originator to find out what refinance option is right for your needs.

Much like purchase loans, there’s no one-size-fits-all refinance. There are several types of refinances that can help you achieve your financial goals:

Rate and term refinance: This is the most common type of refinance because it allows you to lower your monthly payment or shorten the loan’s term. When interest rates drop, it’s a great time to take advantage of a rate and term refi, especially if you bought your home at a higher rate. You can also use this type of refinance to change your loan type (like going from an adjustable-rate to a fixed-rate mortgage) or remove PMI. Be aware that lowering your payment can lead to a longer term and more payments for the life of the loan, while choosing to shorten the repayment period can lead to a higher monthly payment.

Cash-out refi: A cash-out refinance leverages your existing home equity by replacing your first loan with a higher mortgage and giving you the difference in cash. There’s no limit to how you can use your newfound funds—they can be used to pay off debt, make home repairs, take a vacation, or to pay for tuition. Since a cash-out refinance is riskier, the rates can be slightly higher than other refinance types. Cash-out refinances are also available for VA and FHA loans. You’ve put so much love and labor into your home, and a cash-out refi lets you reap those rewards!

Streamline or Interest Rate Reduction Refinance (IRRRL): A streamline refinance could be a good option for you if you have a FHA, USDA, or VA loan. Streamlined refinances and IRRRLs reduce how many items (such as an appraisal or credit check) are needed for eligibility, shortening the process.

Renovation Loans: The Fannie Mae Homestyle Renovation Loan, FHA 203(k), and VA Renovation are specifically for people who want to make home repairs or upgrades. One benefit of these options is that the renovation costs are rolled into the new loan amount, so there’s only one closing and one interest rate. Instead of using your home’s current value for the loan amount, your lender will use the detailed project proposal submitted by your contractor to determine your home’s “as-completed” appraised value.

Additionally, some lenders offer incentives that allow you to refinance with little-to-no fees when rates drop, making refinancing even more attractive.

Depending on the refinance program you choose, there may be a minimum requirement for the number of payments made or length of homeownership, though this is more often the case for loans backed by the federal government. Some conventional loans don’t have a wait time, but cash-out refis usually have a six-month waiting period. Wait times vary depending on your lender, your current mortgage, and your refinance plan. Your current equity is also a major determining factor. For example, 20% in home equity is required for most cash-out transactions. There’s also no limit to how many times you can refinance the same property if you meet eligibility requirements.

Even though you already own your home, you may be surprised to know there can be closing costs when refinancing. Closing costs can be 2-5% of the loan amount, though this can vary. Much like the closing costs associated with buying a home, the fees for a refinance may include an origination fee, recording fee, appraisal fee, and more. Note that some refinances require an additional fee in addition to closing costs: the FHA Streamline refinances come with a mortgage insurance premium (MIP) and an upfront mortgage insurance premium (UFMIP); VA Streamline refinances mandate a funding fee of 0.5% for most cases.

On average, it takes 30 days to refinance a home. The process is similar to buying a home in it involves submitting an application, providing any needed documents, going through a home appraisal in (some instances), getting underwriting approval, and attending closing. Sending correct information to your lending team on time will go a long way in speeding up the process.

No matter your reason for refinancing, it’s important to understand your goals and what’s involved with the process. Working with an experienced lending team will ensure your refi goes smoothly.

For informational purposes only. Refinancing an existing loan may result in the total finance charges being higher over the life of the loan. Veterans Affairs loans require a funding fee, which is based on various loan characteristics. LTVs can be as high as 96.5% for FHA loans. FHA minimum FICO score required. Fixed-rate loans only. W2 transcript option not permitted. Minimum required credit score of 620 for conventional loans.

LINTHICUM, MD, November 15, 2023 — NFM Lending is pleased to announce the opening of a new branch led by Branch Manager Kenneth Ufret. Pending licensing finalizations, the branch will be located in Cherry Hill, NJ. The NFM Lending branch will focus on expanding NFM’s flexible and powerful lending platform to better serve community families with exceptional customer service. NFM Lending offers Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, FNMA, Jumbo, and many other loan options to fit every borrower’s needs.

The branch’s goal is to continue to provide the same commitment and dedication to borrowers, ranging from first-time homebuyers to seasoned buyers looking for their next home, a second home, or investment properties.

“In this changing market, I went with a company that has the products and programs needed to meet any buyer’s needs, along with a reputation for superior customer service,” said Ufret.

“We are very excited to have Ken join our team in the Philadelphia market,” said Branch Manager Jeffrey Rice. “Ken brings over 30 years of experience in real estate and mortgage financing, and he is a well-respected and proven leader in the community. Ken will us help grow NFM in the Philadelphia area in the years to come.”

Ufret is currently seeking qualified Mortgage Loan Originators for full and part-time positions.

Kenneth Ufret
Branch Manager
NMLS# 185399
973-981-0437
kufret@nfmlending.com
www.nfmlending.com/kufret

NFM Lending is a national mortgage lending company currently licensed in 49 states and Washington, D.C. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. NFM Lending and its family of companies includes Main Street Home Loans, BluPrint Home Loans, Elevate Home Loans, and Element Home Loans. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.

LINTHICUM, MD—December 12, 2023— NFM Lending is proud to announce it was named a Top Workplace by The Baltimore Sun. NFM Lending has received this honor for twelve consecutive years. The publication held the Top Workplaces awards ceremony on December 7, 2023, at the Grand Lodge of Maryland in Hunt Valley, MD.

Out of 155 Baltimore-area businesses, NFM Lending ranked #10 for companies with 150-399 employees. Each year, the Baltimore Sun distributes a survey to employees of Baltimore area workplaces. The survey analyzes job satisfaction and engagement of employees along with the values and organizational health of the company.

“We are immensely honored to be recognized as a ‘Top Workplace’ by the Baltimore Sun,” said NFM President and Chief Operating Officer Bob Tyson. “This accolade is a testament to the exceptional dedication and talent of our incredible team at the NFM Family of Lenders. Our success is a direct result of the hard work and commitment of each employee, who consistently contributes to our vibrant and positive workplace culture. We take great pride in fostering an environment where innovation, collaboration, and excellence thrive. This achievement is a reflection of our collective efforts, and we remain committed to maintaining a workplace that empowers and inspires every member of our NFM family.”

NFM Lending prides itself on its exceptional culture. The company fills the employees’ work environment with encouragement and teamwork, building a positive workplace that rewards commitment and performance. Management encourages employees to voice their questions and concerns, which are addressed promptly and appropriately. In addition, managers often surprise staff members for their birthdays, and the company holds contests, holiday celebrations, and other initiatives to encourage collaboration and show employees their appreciation.

NFM Lending is consistently recognized for its exceptional company culture. These awards include Top Workplace USA by Top Workplaces and Energage, Top Mortgage Employer by National Mortgage Professional Magazine; Top Workplace by the Washington Post; and ‘Best Mortgage Companies to Work For’ by National Mortgage News. NFM Lending is proud of these accomplishments and its team’s work to make it a Top Workplace.

NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 49 states and Washington, D.C. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. NFM Lending and its family of companies includes Main Street Home Loans, BluPrint Home Loans, Elevate Home Loans, and Element Home Loans. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.

LINTHICUM, MD, October 19, 2023 – NFM Lending is proud to announce that it has received three Culture Excellence awards from Top Workplaces by Energage for the fourth quarter of 2023.

For the third consecutive year, Top Workplaces recognized NFM for its Employee Well-Being, Employee Appreciation, and Professional Development. NFM prides itself in creating a company culture where employees thrive and feel like valued family members. At the branch and corporate level, NFM promotes internal employees and offers engaging training opportunities. The company has also been honored with the national Top Workplace USA and Financial Services Industry awards each year since 2021.

“Our employees are the lifeblood of The NFM Family of Lenders,” said President and COO Bob Tyson. “The fact that our team members feel appreciated, have a great work-life balance, and have opportunities for professional growth indicates that we are on the right track to making our company a great place to work and grow together.”

The Top Workplaces program distributes a survey to the employees of each nominated company, asking them to evaluate their workplaces. The survey asks participants to rank their companies on the quality of leadership, work-life balance, pay and benefits, and more. The Culture Excellence Awards focus on key aspects of the workplace environment and are released throughout the year. NFM Lending is consistently recognized for its exceptional company culture. Other awards include: ‘Top Workplace USA’ by Energage, ‘Top Mortgage Employer’ by National Mortgage Professional Magazine; ‘Top Workplace’ by The Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post; ‘Great Place to Work’ by Great Place to Work, and ‘Best Mortgage Companies to Work For’ by National Mortgage News, and ‘50 Best Places to Work For’ by Mortgage Professional Magazine. NFM Lending is proud to have received these distinctions and is thankful for each team member within the NFM Family.

NFM Lending is a national mortgage lending company currently licensed in 49 states and Washington, D.C. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. NFM Lending and its family of companies include Main Street Home Loans, BluPrint Home Loans, Elevate Home Loans, and Element Home Loans. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.

LINTHICUM, MD, October 17, 2023 — NFM Lending is pleased to announce the opening of a new branch led by Branch Managers Dan Longman and Ken Zorovich. Pending licensing finalizations, the branch will be located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The NFM Lending branch will focus on expanding NFM’s flexible and powerful lending platform to better serve community families with exceptional customer service. NFM Lending offers Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, FNMA, Jumbo, and many other loan options to fit every borrower’s needs.

“Once we started exploring companies, NFM clearly stood out,” said Longman. “Their technology, resources, and systems were second to none. What sealed the deal for us was the people we met behind the scenes. The NFM Family is truly special, and you can tell they take great pride in their work. That attitude was contagious and the reason we decided to join forces with them. We couldn’t be more thrilled with our decision and are ready to get to work for our clients!”

“I am excited to join the team at NFM Lending,” said Zorovich. “I believe in the people behind the scenes, the technology, and their vision. We are prepared to attack the next real estate market and give our clients the best chance to succeed.”

The branch’s goal is to continue to provide the same commitment and dedication to borrowers, ranging from first time homebuyers to seasoned buyers looking for their next home, a second home, or investment properties.

“Dan, Ken, and their team had no shortage of options, and they chose to come to NFM,” said Managing Director Greg Sher. “Rising tides lift all boats, and this team will surely make us better as an organization. We are excited to be working with these tenured professionals. They are an incredible cultural and production fit.”

Longman and Zorovich are currently seeking qualified Mortgage Loan Originators for full and part-time positions.

In life, sometimes you need help getting from Point A to Point B. When it comes to buying a home, bridge loans are one way to, well, bridge that gap. NFM Lending and the Family of Lenders have partnered with Knock to offer borrowers a streamlined way to sell and buy a home. Learn how their unique HomeSwap™ program works and whether it’s right for you.

HomeSwap™ is a bridge loan offered by Knock through NFM Lending and its divisions. A bridge loan is a short-term loan that provides temporary financing until more permanent funds can be acquired. Also called swing or gap loans, bridge loans often last from 6 months to a year. They’re frequently used by home buyers who want to purchase their next home without having to wait for their current home to sell, and HomeSwap™ was designed exactly for such scenarios.

When you’re trying to buy and sell a home simultaneously, sometimes the timing doesn’t align, and you end up “between homes.” Many homebuyers worry they’ll temporarily be without permanent housing until their first home sells, and adding a selling contingency to an offer could reduce the chances of it being accepted. Using the HomeSwap™ loan helps prevent both from happening. First, make sure you’re already working with NFM or one of our divisions for mortgage pre-approval. Your loan originator will assess whether you’re eligible for the HomeSwap™ program, and the Knock team will check if your current residence qualifies for their services. If you have at least 30% equity in your existing home, you can leverage up to $650,000 of it, interest-free for up to six months, to put towards the purchase of your new home. This gives you the advantage of preserving more of your savings simply by using the equity you’ve already built! The more equity you’re able to access, the lower your interest rate can be.

Once you’ve been determined eligible, the Knock team will get started on pre-approving you for a fully underwritten, interest-free* bridge loan. One benefit of the HomeSwap™ loan (and bridge loans in general) is that the underwriting process happens much faster than for a regular mortgage. Since the short-term loan will be based on the value of your current home, you’ll need to take numerous photos of the inside and outside of the property so the Knock team can judge the property’s condition.

After the bridge loan is pre-approved, go out and find a new home! Because you’re pre-approved for a mortgage and the HomeSwap™ loan, you can shop with confidence. When you’ve found a home you love, you can make a competitive offer without tacking on a sales contingency. Don’t worry about selling your existing home now—that will come later. HomeSwap™ gives you breathing room to buy and move into your new home without also going through the stress of showing your old home, finding and moving into temporary housing, or having the buyer’s financing fall through.

Now that you’re more settled in your new place, you’re ready to sell your old house! To help sell your home faster, and ideally, for more money, HomeSwap™ offers up to $35,000** in Pre-Imbursement to help with repairs, upgrades, or staging costs. These funds are already factored into the loan cost, saving you additional money on such expenses. Another stressor that’s off your plate? Paying the mortgage on your former home while waiting for it to sell. HomeSwap™ can cover up to 6 months of your old mortgage payments so you’re only paying the one mortgage of your new home! After your home sells, you use the profit to pay off the HomeSwap™ loan. Any leftovers can be used towards your new home’s mortgage or debt payoff.

HomeSwap™ streamlines the buying and selling process for homebuyers, especially in a seller’s market. It works well in a seller’s market because there’s a higher likelihood that your current property will sell quickly. Be sure to speak with your lender and real estate agent so they can gauge the health of your local housing market and discuss your options. In addition to regular closing costs, there is a contract fee based on the estimated list price of your old home for using Knock’s services. This cost can be paid at closing or rolled into your HomeSwap™ loan. Additionally, it will be easier to be approved if you have a strong credit score and low debt-to-income (DTI) ratio.

Don’t have to let market uncertainty keep you from selling your current home and moving into a new one! The Knock HomeSwap™ loan offers you peace of mind that you can cover the expenses of your new home while waiting for your old one to sell.

*Interest-free for up to six months. **Actual amount is based on client’s individual equity position. This is a co-marketing piece with Knock Lending LLC, NMLS #1958445. You are entitled to shop around for the best lender for you. Make sure you understand the features associated with the loan program you choose, and that it meets your unique financial needs. Subject to Debt-to-Income and Underwriting requirements. This is not a credit decision or a commitment to lend. Eligibility is subject to completion of an application and verification of home ownership, occupancy, title, income, employment, credit, home value, collateral, and underwriting requirements. Not all programs are available in all areas. Offers may vary and are subject to change at any time without notice.

Underwriting is one of the most crucial stages your loan application goes through before you are given a final approval to close on your loan. It might sound intimidating, but underwriting isn’t the headache you might think it is. Here’s a look at what happens during underwriting.

Underwriting is the process of evaluating and reviewing a potential borrower’s creditworthiness, ability to repay, financial profile, submitted documents, and collateral to determine whether the lender can fund the loan. Essentially, underwriters have the final say in whether you qualify for a loan. Remember all those financial documents you had to send with your mortgage application? After the paperwork has been compiled into a loan package by the processing team, it goes to underwriting for a comprehensive inspection. During the first underwriting phase, the team reviews loan conditions for credit, income, asset, mortgage insurance, and hazard (disaster) insurance requirements. The second phase of underwriting happens towards the end of the mortgage process, where underwriters do a final check of the conditions from the initial approval. The turnaround time for underwriting is usually two days, after which the loan file goes back to the processing team.

To assess your potential risk, underwriters will do a deep dive into your credit score, credit history, income and net worth, and debt-to-income ratio (DTI). A strong credit score is a good indication of how financially responsible you are. Having a solid history of on-time payments increases your score and gives lenders more confidence that you won’t miss payments. Underwriters use your income and assets to determine whether you can afford mortgage payments. DTI measures how much money you have left after paying your existing debts. Having a lower DTI will improve your chances of getting approved.

Underwriting will review in detail the documentation provided to validate your income and assets being used in the transaction. These documents come from both you and other third parties, such as your employer or a financial institution. An underwriter’s job is to scrutinize and authenticate the documents in your loan file and make sure they meet the guidelines for the loan type you have applied for. Should any questions arise, you may be asked for additional information or an explanation. The underwriter also ensures the files don’t contain suspicious information or raise a red flag for potential discrepancies. For example, a large deposit into a bank account can warrant a request for an additional explanation or documentation to ensure funds you are using for closing costs or a down payment are coming from a valid source allowed by the guidelines set forth by the agencies.

Underwriters also check your financial profile and loan details against various lending guidelines before they make a decision. There are lending criteria for different loan types, programs, and promotions, so it’s essential that all underwritten loans adhere to those regulations. Underwriters often have to think creatively when faced with ambiguous situations, which can prompt them to ask for additional details. Underwriters also check that the appraiser’s choice of real estate comparisons (comps) support the appraised value as determined by the appraiser and ensuring the collateral is supported by the appraisal.

Since your application goes through multiple rounds of underwriting, it can feel stressful wondering whether your loan will be approved or not. To help make things smoother for yourself and your lender, make sure you provide all the needed documents at the start of your application in the correct format. Stay in close communication with your lending team and be prepared to answer any questions and send supplementary paperwork as soon as possible. The sooner you can provide the information, the faster the underwriters can work through your file. It’s crucial to be honest about your finances, as trying to hide things will prolong the process and be discovered nevertheless.

As long as you’re providing clear and concise information and providing necessary documentation in a timely manner, underwriting is nothing to be scared of. Be patient during this time and remember that your lending team is on your side to help you become a homeowner!

Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are taking the world by storm and changing industries across the board, including that of real estate and mortgage lending. AI is an ever-evolving field that uses deep learning algorithms and neural networks to follow human-generated prompts. Here’s how AI might affect how you buy a home in the future.

Staging is a crucial part of the home selling process, but what if you could stage your home without a single piece of furniture? Virtual staging involves uploading photos of empty rooms of a home and digitally adding photorealistic furniture and decor to enhance it. Some virtual staging companies use human designers to select items and color schemes, but some solely use AI to accelerate the process by generating multiple outputs within minutes. Depending on the software, AI can be used to produce images tailored to the aesthetic of your choice, the style and purpose of the room, create 3D video tours, and even improve natural lighting. Using virtual staging is much more time-saving and cost-effective for home sellers and real estate agents than hiring a staging team. Having attractive listing photos is a huge step up from using poorly staged photos or empty rooms, even if the furnishings are actually nonexistent. Homeowners can also use AI staging as a source of home redecorating inspiration.

Home appraisals are a standard part of the home buying and refinancing process to determine the property value. Appraisals consider the characteristics and condition of your home and compare it against recent sales data of similar homes in your area to see how much it could sell for in the current market. Automated valuation models (AVMs) expedite appraisals by using sales data and property records to calculate value to a high level of accuracy. AVMs aren’t new to the mortgage and real estate industries, but advancements in AI have improved their abilities. For example, the current version of Zestimate, Zillow’s AVM, incorporates neural networks to give users a more accurate value. Some emerging AVMs combine computer vision with property data to assess property value from pictures of the home. This can help real estate agents price homes more accurately and give sellers a realistic expectation for how much their home is worth. Additionally, an increasing number of residential (and commercial) property developers use AVMs to pinpoint the best location for new build sites based on local population data. AVMs provide practical figures quickly and efficiently, benefiting homebuyers, sellers, agents, and lenders who need a home value estimate before an in-person appraisal can be done.

Reviewing mortgage applications and numerous pieces of financial information is an extremely complex task, and AI is quickly becoming an essential tool for mortgage lenders. It enhances the mortgage process for lenders and consumers and is being used for: customer service chatbots, fraud detection, document upload and organization, identifying optimal loan scenarios, underwriting, and cost analysis for buying and refinancing. Automated underwriting systems (AUS) have been around for a while, and they reduce the time it takes to verify and analyze financial information. When an AUS is augmented with AI, it can further reduce human error, improve turnaround time, and use predictive models to indicate lending risk.

One of the goals of AI development is to facilitate and optimize processes that would normally be time-consuming, difficult, and expensive. Ideally, the time and money saved by using AI will be reflected in the buyer’s closing costs. Real estate and mortgage professionals can also have more energy to put towards creating a more personalized client experience. As AI’s capabilities expand, so do questions about bias and accuracy. Critics worry about a lack of nuance and bias for AI AUS and AVMs. These sophisticated learning models may have a lot of data to draw from, but they can’t always create a comprehensive picture of someone’s financial situation. It is essential that AI developers continually monitor outputs for traces of algorithmic discrimination and use a wide range of data to train the system. The housing and mortgage industries will need to set standards and best practices to promote equity and accuracy. We can also expect more federal and state regulations to protect consumers in the near future.

The AI landscape is still a new frontier, but it’s clear that it has and will continue to revolutionize how society operates. But even the best-trained AI models cannot replace the creative thinking, knowledge, empathy, and dedication from real-life real estate and lending professionals.

August may be National Wellness Month, but practicing wellness throughout the year benefits you physically and mentally. And with all the craziness of life, your home should be the one place where you can reset and relax. Use these simple tips and tricks to turn your home into a wellness haven (even if it’s not.)

Have you ever felt at ease in a space with stuff piled everywhere? Probably not. The cleanliness and organization of a room has a larger impact on our wellbeing than we might realize. Cleaning and decluttering your home is the first step to improving your living space. Focus on tackling the most used areas of your home and obvious signs of grime. Declutter by donating or tossing items you don’t need or use frequently—don’t keep things that no longer serve you. Use storage systems to help you maintain organization. Institute daily habits that encourage organization and cleanliness, like leaving shoes by the entryway, hanging up coats on a rack, cleaning up messes as they happen, and always putting things in their proper place. If you have young kids or pets, give them storage containers where they can put their toys.

The color of your walls can strongly influence your mood and even behavior. Giving your home a paint update is a simple way to create a peaceful environment, particularly for bedrooms and bathrooms. Classic soothing paint choices include shades of blue, off-white, light neutrals, earth tones, and light tints of other colors. Avoid very vivid or very dark colors as they may make you more prone to excitement or gloominess.

Making your home feel more retreat-like doesn’t mean your home should be devoid of your personal touch! Enhance your space with a few decorative pieces that make you happy. These could include an art piece, framed family photos, or a cool knickknack. Be cautious not to add too many or it can have the opposite effect.

Having houseplants in your home isn’t just trendy and aesthetically pleasing, it has wellness benefits, too! Incorporating touches of nature in the home can boost calmness, creativity, mood, productivity, and improve indoor air quality. Consider placing a few plants around your home, like in your living room, bedroom, or bathroom. No green thumb? No problem! You can reap the benefits of biophilic design with faux plants, nature artwork, or decor made from natural materials.

Setting the mood isn’t just for the movies or date night, it contributes to your home’s atmosphere and how cozy it feels. Engage multiple senses with scents, sounds, and lighting that lend to a more comforting ambience. When choosing light bulbs, pay attention to the temperature and lumen levels. Temperature refers to how warm (more yellow) or cool (more blue) the light is, and lumens refer to how intense the light is. For the rooms where you unwind the most, choose lights with temperatures between 2200-2700K to give off a soft, white glow. The larger the room is, the more lumens you may need to adequately light the area. You can also install dimmer switches or use smart lighting to easily control a room’s brightness. For bedrooms, consider using light blocking blinds to enhance your sleep.

Scent is a powerful tool that can put you in the right state of mind. Use scented candles, air fresheners, or fragrance diffusers to jumpstart rejuvenation. Lavender, eucalyptus, sage, and chamomile are popular calming choices. When you’re taking time to decompress or prepare for bedtime, try playing soothing sounds through a speaker to help ground you. Many people enjoy falling asleep to sounds of the ocean, rain, forests, and white noise.

Although we can’t control every stressor in life, your home should be a place that fosters reflection and rejuvenation. When you create the optimal environment for relaxation, you’ll be well on your way to truly feeling relaxed. m

CCPA Request

CPA FORM

First Name*
Last Name*
Address*
City*
State*
Zip*
Loan Number or last 4 digits of the Social Security Number*
Email*
Telephone Number*
Please re-enter the CAPTCHA code below

Contact Page

Name*
First Last
Email*
Phone Number*
Select what you are contacting us about:*
All FHA Case Transfer Requests must be sent in writing via email to: FHAINFO@nfmlending.com. The request must include the FHA Case number, the new lender’s Origination ID or Sponsor ID, the full subject property address, and a letter signed and dated by the borrower expressing desire for the transfer.
Request for payoff should be submitted to the current servicer of the loan:
If your loan is being serviced by the NFM Lake Zurich Servicing Center, please call 1-866-352-6802 to request a payoff. You can also request a payoff via the online borrower portal, if you are a registered user on the portal.
If your loan is being serviced by the NFM Lending Linthicum Maryland Office, you may submit the request to Servicing@nfmlending.com or call 1-866-765-1827.
Property Location
FHA Case Number*
New Lender's Originator ID*
Subject Property Address*
City*
State*
Zip*
New Borrower to subject property or Borrower and Property are the same?*
- New Borrower
- Same
Message
CAPTCHA
Name
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Me

First Name*
Last Name*
Phone Number*
Email Address*
Property State*
Loan Purpose*
How did you hear about us?
First and last name of referral source (if applicable)
Please type the characters below
Consent
- I agree to receive SMS Text Messages at the above phone number from NFM Lending for follow up purposes for banking products. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.
Phone
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.