Karen Goff, CLA

I understand and honor that purchasing a home is one of the most important decisions of your life. Financially it will probably be your largest asset and, for a time, your largest liability. How you structure that will have a huge impact on your future. It’s also one of the most important personal decisions because, the place we are going to call home, matters. That’s why I dedicated my personal time and money to become a Certified Liability Advisor with the National Institute of Financial Education. In that role, I’m able to help you look at how your house, and the way it is financed, affects both sides of your balance sheet. Let me help you #BorrowSmart™ so you are set up for long term financial success! Food for thought: Beware the commodity trap! Homebuyers/owners have been trained to treat the mortgage, and the process of obtaining a mortgage, far too lightly. The way most mortgage companies across the country advertise is as if we are buying milk and eggs at the grocery store and decide to grab a new mortgage on aisle 5. In reality, the mortgage payment for most homeowners represents the single largest expense on our monthly budget and takes up the biggest portion of our paycheck. The mortgage itself is the largest amount of debt most of us will ever carry. On the positive side, the mortgage helps us secure an incredible asset (our house) that grows over time. The fact is, how we handle the financing of our real estate impacts virtually every other aspect of our financial lives. Beware compartmentalizing! Time after time, homeowners make decisions about their mortgage without truly understanding the potential impact on the rest of their financial situation and goals, such as getting out of debt, saving for college, or being able to retire someday…when they want and how they want! The mortgage industry typically looks at eligibility, but I want to help you evaluate suitability. My Process: I’ll start by learning about you and your hopes, plans and dreams. You need to know what your ideal future looks like in order to create the map to get there. Then I’ll walk you through the 7-Step BorrowSmart™ Process as we explore what loan options and financing strategies will work the best for your plan. We won’t just look at housing expenses, we’ll take the time to look at your entire financial picture and how it all works together for your brighter future. Don’t worry, after you close on your home, I’m still there for you! I’m always available for questions and we will want to meet at least once a year (or anytime you have a life change) to review your plan and adjust as needed. My Mission for You: More Money, Less Worry, Greater Joy