Introduction

From Marriages to Mortgages arose from my joint vocations as an Accredited Mortgage Professional (AMP) and as an ordained minister who is fortunate enough to celebrate and officiate at wedding ceremonies. It is such a privilege to stand with the bride and groom as they pledge their love. Never is a woman more beautiful than when she begins her journey toward her groom. She radiates grace and everyone present, including myself, cannot help but be moved. I am blessed to be able to contribute my small part to the recipe of love, as the bond is bound with a ring and then sealed with a kiss.

Every couple I've worked with (whether as a minister or as a mortgage broker) dreams of sharing a loving, comfortable home. From the discussions I've had with these couples, it's easy to see that buying a home involves a sometimes tricky mixture of emotional and financial issues. I wrote this book for two main reasons:

1. I believe that the purchase of a home together is a basic dream, and a wonderful opportunity to enhance any marriage by aligning financial values and beliefs.
2. Many people are unaware of the huge changes in home financing options that have occurred over the last five years. There are many new types of mortgages and processes to help you move into your ideal home (and mortgage brokers can choose from hundreds of mortgages, not just the few available to your specific bank), no-money-down mortgages, 40 year mortgages, et cetera. Even a bad credit history isn't the barrier to home purchase that it once was.

The process of purchasing your first home doesn't need to be intimidating, despite the paperwork, necessary explanations of your financial status, debts, and credit historyâ??if your financial history is less than pristine, take a deep breath, remember that your future starts now, and look at it as a learning opportunity, rather than a shameful secret. If you have great money management skills, here is your chance to share them with your partner, without judgment, and with the understanding that there is a learning curve to developing new habits. This book takes you through the major concerns involved in buying a home and also shares some financial counseling discussion points that are intended to make the process more comfortable and loving for both partners.

From Marriages to Mortgages will guide you through the mortgage process, beginning with some tips to help create mutual financial health, clear explanations of credit, mortgages, home inspection and insurance needs, sample forms and checklists, worksheets, budget planning, and real-life stories of couples who have gone through the process of creating a thriving marriage and a happy home! I hope that, instead of seeing this as a text book to memorize, you will use this as a guide, akin to a good friend upon whom you call for loving, practical support. My ultimate goal is to nurture the patience and understanding that will help you succeed as both homeowners and partners in life.