VP, Mortgage Banker

Sarah Alvarez is a Vice President, Mortgage Banking at William Raveis Mortgage. She joined the company in 2020 along with her mother, industry legend Melissa Cohn, as a part of the Melissa Cohn Group. Alvarez is a graduate of Deerfield Academy and Vanderbilt University, and is licensed in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Florida. She resides in East Hampton, New York. Both a mortgage broker and banker, Alvarez works with more than 60 different investors and lenders, offers a wide range of services to all types of borrowers and has access to the best rates and products available. As a team, Alvarez and Cohn have closed more than $680 million in volume since joining WRM as of 8.1.24.

Previously Alvarez served as Director of Referrals at NYC real estate brokerage Stribling & Associates where she worked for nearly a decade. Sarah is recognized as an industry expert as a member of Forbes Advisor Mortgage Advisory Board, a panel of experienced, vetted financial professionals who review articles, advise on content and support Forbes Advisor’s mission to help consumers make smarter and less stressful decisions about loans. She is also proud to serve on Young Professional committee for the Ellen Hermanson Foundation which provides vital access to state-of-the-art breast health care and services for all women on the East End of Long Island regardless of their ability to pay.

U.S.News - "Fed Rate Cut: Here Are the Winners and Losers."https://money.usnews.com/loans/articles/fed-rate-cut-here-are-the-winners-and-losers/

FOXMoney - "Minimum down payment for a house: A first-time buyer’s guide."https://www.foxbusiness.com/fox-money/mortgage/minimum-down-payment-for-house-first-time-buyer/

CBS News - "What's the mortgage interest rate forecast for September 2024?"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/whats-the-mortgage-interest-rate-forecast-for-september-2024/

CBS News - "Will mortgage rates drop below 6% this fall? Experts weigh in."https://www.cbsnews.com/news/will-mortgage-rates-drop-below-6-this-fall-experts-weigh-in/

CBS News - "Here's how much borrowers could save by waiting for home equity rates to drop."https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-much-borrowers-could-save-home-equity-rates-to-drop/

The Daily Upside - "Mortgage Refinancings Surge as Rates Drop, Inflation Cools."https://www.thedailyupside.com/economics/real-estate/mortgage-refinancings-surge-as-rates-drop-inflation-cools/

CNBC - "With mortgage rates dropping, should you refinance? 'It could be worth it,' says financial planner."https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/07/with-mortgage-rates-dropping-it-could-be-a-good-time-to-refinance.html/

CBS News - "4 questions to ask before using a mortgage broker."https://www.cbsnews.com/news/questions-to-ask-before-using-a-mortgage-broker/

Homes.com - "What is a Conventional Loan? Benefits, Requirements & More."https://www.homes.com/blog/what-is-a-conventional-loan/

Homes.com - “Understanding Earnest Monday: A Guide for Prospective Homebuyers."https://www.homes.com/blog/earnest-money-deposits/

CBS News - “Is your HELOC draw period ending soon? What experts say you should know now."https://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-your-heloc-draw-period-ending-soon-what-experts-say-you-should-know-now/

CNN Underscored - “How to pay off your mortgage faster and save money on interest"https://edition.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/money/how-to-pay-off-your-mortgage-early

CBS News - “When is a reverse mortgage the best home equity option? Experts weigh in"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/when-is-reverse-mortgage-best-home-equity-option-experts/

CBS News - “4 ways to avoid mortgage rate lock extension fees"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ways-to-avoid-mortgage-rate-lock-extension-fees/

CBS News - “4 ways to avoid mortgage rate lock extension fees”https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ways-to-avoid-mortgage-rate-lock-extension-fees/

CNN - “Interest-only mortgages: How they work and why they’re usually unwise”https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/money/interest-only-mortgages

CNN - “What credit scores do you need for a mortgage?”https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/money/credit-score-requirements-for-mortgage

MPA - “When is the right time to buy a house?”
https://www.mpamag.com/us/mortgage-industry/industry-trends/when-is-the-right-time-to-buy-a-house/471256

Credible - “Buying a Home? Here’s How To Get a Mortgage Pre-Approval”
https://www.credible.com/mortgage/how-to-get-preapproved

CBSNews - “Is it a good idea to take equity out of your home? Here's what experts say.”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-it-good-idea-to-take-equity-out-of-home-what-experts-say/

WSJ - “Three Ways to Pay for a Home If a Traditional Mortgage Isn’t on the Table”
https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/three-traditional-mortgage-alternatives-fefd0b82?st=cjofb04bqbug0yp&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Forbes - “If You’re Buying A Home, Don’t Make Any Other Major Purchases”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/terriwilliams/2023/08/29/if-youre-buying-a-home-dont-make-any-other-major-purchases/?sh=12773cdc3f4b

CNET - “7 Homebuying Mistakes to Avoid”
https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/mortgages/advice/7-homebuying-mistakes-to-avoid/

Forbes - “Thinking About Overpricing Your Home? You’re Playing Russian Roulette”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/terriwilliams/2023/07/13/thinking-about-overpricing-your-home-youre-playing-russian-roulette/?sh=227f43882d56

SFGATE - “What is mortgage insurance?”
https://www.sfgate.com/personal-finance/article/what-is-mortgage-insurance-18156427.php

Consumer Affairs - “Types of mortgage loans”
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/types-of-mortgage-loans.html

Consumer Affairs - “How to get a mortgage” https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/how-to-get-a-mortgage.html

Hunker - "Can't Afford to Buy a Home? Buydowns May Be the Answer You're Looking For" https://www.hunker.com/13775620/home-buydowns