Home & Wealth | July 2026

HOW ARE YOUR FINANCES HOLDING UP?

  The midpoint of the year is the perfect time to revisit your financial goals. Are you saving what you hoped to? Are your monthly expenses still aligned with your priorities? A quick midyear review can help you stay on track or help you make small adjustments that lead to big results.
Review Your Progress – Look at the goals you set earlier in the year, whether that’s saving for a vacation, building an emergency fund, or paying down debt. Assess what’s working and where you’ve fallen behind. Even if you’re not exactly where you planned to be, acknowledging progress helps you adjust and move forward confidently.
Refresh Your Budget – Expenses change with the seasons. Summer activities, travel, and rising energy bills can strain your budget. Take a few minutes to re-balance your spending categories and reallocate funds toward what matters most. Eliminate wasteful spending that crept back in and redirect that money toward savings or home projects.
Review Your Mortgage and Debt – Rates and markets shift constantly, and refinancing or restructuring debt could create financial breathing room. Review your mortgage rate and explore opportunities to reduce your payment, shorten your term, or tap into equity for smart home upgrades. A financial refresh can often start right at home.
Set Your Second Half of the Year Goals – Refocus on what you want to accomplish by year-end. Maybe it’s saving for holiday expenses in advance or setting aside extra for a down payment on an investment property. Keep goals realistic, measurable, and tied to what makes life better for you and your family.
The Jim Passi Team at Citywide Home Loans proudly serves Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Georgia and Flordia. If you are looking to buy a home or refinance, we have you covered. Apply Now to get started.
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Jim Passi - Citiwide Home Loans

Jim Passi
Regional Manager
NMLS# 158000

1121 E. Main Street, Suite 121
St. Charles, IL 60174
Mobile: 847-899-1813
Email: jim.passi@alamedamortgage.com

First time home buyer here

First time home buyer here who did it all without the adult supervision/guidance (i.e. my parents) , and I was clueless. I did my best to look into things before hand but I knew the very basics. Jim and his team were AMAZING! Jim took the time to explain the step-by-step process involved and explained it in a way that I understood. He also made sure I understood what he was saying by “quizzing” me. There was never any annoyance/aggravation in his tone even if he had to go over something 2 or 3 times. Always professional and always kind. Jim and his team were prompt with their email responses and made the whole process go smoothly. I also appreciated that Jim would reach out to me via phone and made sure I understood where we were in the process. This made for a great first time home buying experience! Highly recommend this group!

 

Amber

Amber