Charity Ohlund

Sep 24, 2024 | johnsoncountypost.com | Charity Ohlund |VP Sales

By Charity Ohlund, VP Sales & Marketing Fountain MortgageIt’s something that hasn’t happened in four years. But on Wednesday last week, The Federal Reserve Board (finally) announced a 0.50% policy rate cut at their press conference. Will mortgage rates fall in response? The Fed does not directly control mortgage rates. In fact, for the past 30 days or so, the market had already acted in anticipation of Fed moves. Rates had already dropped to their lowest levels since February 2023.

Jun 6, 2024 | johnsoncountypost.com | Charity Ohlund

By Charity OhlundI formally propose we make sitting a hobby. It’s required in everyday life, and if walking and running can be a sport, I propose their inverse— sitting still — is equally valid an activity. On its face, sitting may sound like the most boring of activities, but there’s something about late Spring and Early Summer weeks where lounging outside on a patio just sort of hits.

Apr 23, 2024 | johnsoncountypost.com | Charity Ohlund

By Charity OhlundIf you’ve set your sights on becoming a homeowner but the looming down payment has you feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. According to the National Realtors (NAR) Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends Report, around 53% of all buyers identified saving for a down payment as the most challenging step in the homebuying process. Enter down payment assistance. At Fountain Mortgage, we get asked about down payment assistance often.

Apr 9, 2024 | johnsoncountypost.com | Charity Ohlund

By Charity OhlundI’ll admit it. I used to turn my nose up at Aldi. My mom shopped there when I was a kid, and I always remembered the lunch meat being sketchy and slimy.  But Aldi has really changed during the last 10 years! The products are great, including the meat and produce, and the prices cannot be beat. I plan our weeknight meals plan every Sunday, and my family includes my husband and our two very hungry teen boys.

Mar 12, 2024 | johnsoncountypost.com | Charity Ohlund

By Charity Ohlund, Fountain MortgageHave you heard of the cool way to make an extra mortgage payment every year? No, not the one where you make a full extra payment at the end of the year. That’s not a secret, and coming up with an additional full mortgage payment- especially in December- is not that cool. By default, mortgage payments are made once per month, equating to 12 full mortgage payments in a year, but what would happen if you were to make biweekly payments?