Continuing my video series, I’d like to tell you about 5 things I think every client and real estate partner deserves: confidence, transparency, getting their offer accepted, exceptional rates, and closing on time (every time). real estate in the South Bay is about “who you know” – let me use my connections and knowledge to make a big difference in
The modern day mortgage code is a bit confusing without a mortgage expert on your side. But, in case you want to know how it all works, the Federal Housing Administration is offering a loan counseling course pen to the public. The program is called Homeowners Armed with Knowledge (HAWK). You can read about the HAWK program at HUD’s website. The FHA is
One of the biggest unexpected expenses when it comes to getting a new mortgage is often the PMI insurance. PMI insurance, or Private Mortgage Insurance, is necessary to getting a loan. It insures that the lender is protected in case you stop making your loan payments. It is required by lenders if your down payment is less than 20% of
While I mostly like to discuss mortgages and rates on this blog, I also like to stay tuned to the real estate market in general. Keeping track of the local fluctuations in inventory, neighborhoods, home values, and building trends makes me better able to understand my customers and what they need. I was reading an article the other day titled
Tax reform is always a topic of conversation on a national and state level. Exactly how potential new tax reforms could affect real estate is something hat every seller and buyer needs to understand so they can best be prepared financially for whatever lies ahead. As we move into 2015, tax reform will impact how we do business and how
Recently, the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the Federal Housing Administration have made a few policy changes to help revitalize the real estate market; namely, they are calling for lenders to relax credit standards a bit so that new buyers can purchase homes, which will in turn give the economy a big boost. But some people are worried that loosening credit
It’s no secret that mortgage closings can be stressful if everything isn’t running smoothly. Without a mortgage professional at your side, reviewing a big stack of papers and signing them in only an hour can be a daunting and insecure experience. Recently, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau conducted a survey to confirm what I already know: that people are frustrated by how
There’s good news from the Wall Street Journal (“Mortgage Credit Most Available in at Least Three Years, Gauge Says,” April 9, 2014) about the ongoing affordability of mortgages. According to their datat, access to a mortgage is at its highest level in at least three years. Not only that, but in general, credit standards are expected to loosen even more than
During the recent housing bubble, borrowers were often taking out mortgages with far less than a 20% down-payment. Down-payments have been as low as 6%, or even less. The National Association of Realtors’ latest Confidence Index Survey shows that fewer first-time buyers had mortgages with 6% or less down compared to 2009. With private mortgage insurance making a comeback in 2011,
Sometimes, people ask me the difference between a mortgage broker and a mortgage banker. Do you know the difference? It’s a subtle distinction that not many laymen understand until faced with the task of obtaining a mortgage for a new property. A mortgage banker, unlike a mortgage broker, provides the funds for the mortgage, while a mortgage broker negotiates on
