Bloom & Boom

Your May Market Snapshot

Fresh Starts & Bright Opportunities

 Empowering 2,000 Women and Families to achieve homeownership in 2025 

Breaking Barriers, Building Dreams – Helping 2,000 Women and Families Become Homeowners in 2025!

 Do You Know Someone Ready to Buy a Home?

At the heart of our mission is a deep commitment to empowering women and families on their journey to homeownership. While you’ve already taken that step, you might know a friend, family member, or colleague who dreams of owning a home but doesn’t know where to start.

In 2025, our goal is to help over 2,000 women and families achieve this dream. By providing expert guidance, support, and resources, we’re breaking down barriers and making homeownership more accessible than ever.

If someone you know is ready to take the next step, we’d love to help! Send them our way—we’ll walk alongside them every step of the journey.

Let’s make homeownership happen—together

Times are tough right now, especially for those with high interest debts. What if I told you that by using your mortgage to your advantage, you could eliminate your revolving debts and have more money in your pocket every month? Use some or all of that extra cash to make additional principal payments, shorten the length of your mortgage, pay less in interest over time, and own your home sooner. Even with a higher interest rate, you could potentially shorten your term and build your wealth faster than you are right now. 

 FINANCIAL NEWS

Build a Strong Financial House — Even in Uncertain Times

With recent stock market dips and talk of a potential recession, it's natural to feel uneasy about your savings. But before making any emotional decisions, let’s take a deep breath — and a fresh look at your financial strategy. Just like building a home, a solid retirement plan starts with the right structure.

Here’s how to build your fiscal house:

• Lay a strong foundation
  Your retirement income is the base of your financial security. Think:
  • Social Security
  • Pensions
  • Non-stock investments (like annuities)
• Build up your walls
  These investments provide both support and protection from market ups and downs:
  • Long-term CDs (Certificates of Deposit)
  • Fixed-income investments
  • Other low-volatility options
• Top it off with a roof
  Your roof shields you from inflation — even if it’s a bit more exposed to risk:
  • Stocks
  • Bonds
  • Mutual funds and ETFs
  • Add gradually to weather market cycles with confidence

📉 Markets fluctuate. 🧱 A strong fiscal home doesn’t.

By building a sturdy investment structure, you’ll be better prepared to handle economic uncertainty with peace of mind.

We're here to help you make smart financial decisions for every stage of life.

🔗 The Holly Walther Lending Team

MORTGAGE IQ

Home Equity Is at a Record High — But Access Isn’t Always Easy

It’s no secret that homeowners have seen huge gains in property value over the past few years — and with that, a surge in home equity. In fact, according to federal data, total home equity in the U.S. hit $35 trillion in October 2024.

However, a recent study revealed something surprising: Many homeowners are struggling to access this wealth.

Here’s a closer look at why — and how we can help:

🔍 What’s Making It Harder to Tap into Home Equity?

Even though homeowners may be equity-rich, they’re facing new barriers when trying to qualify for home equity loans or HELOCs:

• Rising Consumer Debt: Credit card balances, car loans, and personal loans have increased. Higher monthly obligations can push debt-to-income (DTI) ratios above lender guidelines.
• Higher Interest Rates: Many current rates for home equity products are less appealing than in recent years — especially if a borrower’s credit score has dropped.
• Job or Income Disruptions: Even a temporary pause in income can affect loan approvals or reduce available credit.
• Lower Credit Scores: These disruptions often lead to missed payments or overutilization of credit, which bring scores down — making qualifications tougher.

🏠 Newer Homeowners Face Unique Challenges

Buyers who purchased homes in the past three years may not be in the same boat as long-time owners. Here’s why:

• Nearly 1 in 5 of these homeowners are locked into mortgage rates over 6% which limits refinancing opportunities.
• Many missed out on the historic low rates of 2020–2021 and now feel “rate stuck” — hesitant to refinance or restructure.
• If they need to access cash (for renovations, debt consolidation, or emergency funds), options are fewer and costlier — unless they explore creative financing.

👉 Schedule a quick, no-pressure chat to review what’s possible. We can help uncover hidden opportunities and guide you toward the best strategy based on today’s market.

REAL ESTATE TRENDS

Gardening for Space-Challenged Homeowners

Crevice Gardening: A Smart Solution for Smaller Spaces

As more homebuyers opt for smaller homes with lower price tags, traditional lawns and flower beds are becoming less common. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a beautiful, low-maintenance garden! Enter crevice gardening—a space-efficient and visually striking way to bring greenery into patios, walkways, and even rock walls.

Why Crevice Gardening Works

• Space-Saving – Perfect for patios, walkways, and compact outdoor areas.
• Low Maintenance – Requires minimal watering and care.
• Eco-Friendly – Encourages drought-resistant plants and reduces water use.
• Great for Stability – Plants in rock walls help with structural support.
• Natural Insulation – Hard surfaces retain heat, keeping roots warm and moist.

How to Create a Crevice Garden

• If your patio or walkway has gaps, plant directly in the crevices.
• No existing crevices? Arrange flat stones diagonally and add soil between them.
• Have a rock wall? Tuck plants between the rocks for a symbiotic relationship.

Best Plants for Crevice Gardens

Your local nursery can help you choose the best plants, but here are some favorites:

• Succulents – Low-maintenance and water-efficient.
• Cacti – Ideal for dry climates.
• Drought-Tolerant Perennials – Like thyme, sedum, or saxifrage.

For more inspiration, visit the North American Rock Garden Society.

REACH YOUR GOALS

The Perks of a Vacation Home at a Fraction of the Cost

🏡 Dreaming of a Vacation Home? Fractional Ownership Might Be Your Answer!

Thinking about a second home but not ready for the full financial commitment? There’s a creative alternative worth considering: fractional ownership of a vacation property.

Unlike traditional timeshares that only offered temporary access, fractional ownership gives you true ownership of a portion of the home. That means you share in the equity—and the fun! You can purchase as little as 1/8 or 1/4 of a beautiful, move-in ready property, often managed by specialized companies like Pacaso, which offers homes across the U.S. and even abroad.

Here are a few things to keep in mind before diving in:

• Plan ahead: Holiday weekends can book up quickly, so flexibility is key.
• Selling isn’t always simple: The resale market is still developing, and local taxes (like potential “mansion taxes”) may apply.
• Watch the fees: Management and maintenance costs vary, so be sure to get the full picture before you commit.

At The Holly Walther Lending Team, we’re always here to help you navigate your options. If fractional ownership isn’t quite right for you, we’d be happy to share other creative ways to make your vacation home dreams come true.

👉 Contact me today to explore your possibilities!

Did You Catch the Holly Walther Team on ADTV?

Honoring Memorial Day with Gratitude and Remembrance

As proud Americans, we at The Holly Walther Lending Team stand in solemn gratitude this Memorial Day, a sacred time to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation.

Their courage, devotion, and love of country remind us of the true cost of freedom—and the unbreakable spirit of the United States of America.

🗽 A Legacy of Sacrifice

• Memorial Day began after the Civil War as a way to honor fallen Union soldiers.
• It became a national holiday in 1971, observed on the last Monday of May.
• At 3:00 p.m. on Memorial Day, Americans are encouraged to pause for the National Moment of Remembrance.
• The tradition of laying flags and flowers at gravesites continues across military cemeteries nationwide.

📘 Learn more from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

🇺🇸 American Pride & Patriotic Facts

• Over 1.3 million service members have given their lives since our nation’s founding.
• The red poppy flower is a symbol of remembrance, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields.”
• The stars and stripes are flown proudly at half-staff until noon—then raised high—as a symbol of both mourning and resolve.

❤️ Our Pledge to You

At The Holly Walther Lending Team, we don’t just serve communities—we serve Americans. We believe in hard work, strong values, and the spirit of freedom that defines this great land. As you celebrate with family, wave the flag, or attend a parade, take a moment to remember those who made it possible.

Land of the free, because of the brave.

God bless our fallen heroes.
God bless your families.
And God bless the United States of America.

Big Mac-Style Hot Dogs 

pring vegetables brighten up classic pasta Alfredo, while lemon zest and chives cut the rich creaminess.