Clayson-Mitchell Mortgage

05/06/2026

Recently I have had many clients inquire about Reverse mortgages. The pros and cons, the difference between a HELOC and a reverse mortgage equity line of credit.

When it comes to tapping into your home equity, two popular options often come up: a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) and a Reverse Mortgage Line of Credit (Reverse LOC). While both allow homeowners to access cash from their home’s value, they work very differently—especially when it comes to ...

04/14/2026

Market information and my most recent read.

The March 2026 Salt Lake Realtor Magazine report on Utah’s housing market highlights a milestone moment: of the 39,791 homes sold in 2025, 3,992 exceeded $1 million—roughly one in ten transactions. That figure represents a 700% increase over the past decade, a dramatic signal of how much the m...

03/03/2026

📊 What Is a DSCR Loan? (And Why Real Estate Investors Love Them)

I’ve had several conversations lately about DSCR loans, so I thought I’d break it down in simple terms.

DSCR stands for Debt Service Coverage Ratio.

Unlike traditional loans where you qualify based on your personal income, a DSCR loan qualifies based on the property’s income.

That’s right — it’s about the cash flow, not your tax returns.

🔎 How It Works:

The lender looks at:

The property’s monthly rental income

The property’s monthly mortgage payment (including taxes, insurance, HOA)

If the rent covers the payment (typically 1.0 ratio or higher), you may qualify.

Example:

Rent = $2,000/month

Mortgage payment = $1,800/month

DSCR = 1.11

That’s a strong deal.

✅ Why Investors Like DSCR Loans:

No personal income verification

No tax returns required

Great for self-employed investors

Great for scaling rental portfolios

Can close in an LLC

It’s a powerful tool for building wealth through rental real estate.

As both a mortgage broker and real estate broker, I work with a lot of investors who want to grow without running into income documentation roadblocks.

If you’re thinking about purchasing your first rental — or adding another one — and want to see if a DSCR loan makes sense, let’s talk.

02/03/2026

As many of you know, in addition to working directly with buyers and sellers, I stay closely connected to the broader real estate market. Recently, I had the opportunity to review the annual 2026 housing forecast, which included insights from both state-level and federal presenters. The data confirm...

11/12/2025

Don't panic, what you need to know about home title theft.

Over the past few months, I’ve had several clients ask me about “title theft” and whether they should be paying for a service to protect their home title. It’s a good question — and one that’s worth clearing up. Your home title works a little differently than something like your car t...

08/01/2025

I recieved this video from my brother this week who lives in Richfield Utah near the Monroe fires. Thank you Firefighters!

07/31/2025

🏡 Thinking About Refinancing? Let’s Talk! 💬

Lately, I've been hearing from a lot of clients wondering if now is the right time to refinance their home. Whether you're looking to lower your monthly payment, pull out cash for renovations, or simply get out of a high-interest loan, I’m happy to walk you through your options.

Refinancing isn't a one-size-fits-all decision, but the right strategy can save you thousands over time.

If you’ve been asking yourself:
🔹 “Should I refinance now or wait?”
🔹 “Can I use my equity for something else?”
🔹 “How much would I actually save?”

Let’s connect. I’m happy to review your current mortgage and see if a refinance makes sense for your situation.

📲 Message me or comment below — I’m always glad to help.

—Jim Barnett
Clayson-Mitchell Mortgage

Shop for your new home loan or refinance an existing mortgage in Murray UT. We offer many lending options with great rates and exceptional service.

07/30/2025

🏠 Average Annual Returns in U.S. Real Estate
Residential real estate delivers about 10.6% average annual return when rental income is included (1965–2024)
Charter Real Estate & Development (The Luxury Playbook) (advisor.visualcapitalist.com)

Commercial real estate averages around 9.5% per year over the same period (The Luxury Playbook) (Master Multifamily)

REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) have historically offered around 11.8% annual return, competitive with or slightly above stock market returns (Nasdaq) (Master Multifamily)

Broader context:
The S&P 500 has returned about 8.6% annually over the last two decades—real estate thus slightly outpaces the overall stock market on average (wsj.com) (investopedia.com) (sarwa.co)

07/29/2025

The secret to mountain biking is pretty simple. The slower you go the more likely it is you'll crash.” — Quote by Juli Furtado.

05/16/2025

Books I recommend.

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