Why do I need an appraisal and how does it effect the process of buying or refinancing a home?

4 Secrets to Refinancing an Underwater Mortgage

If you are one of the millions of homeowners across the country with a mortgage that is considered “underwater,” you’ve likely discovered the difficulty in getting your home refinanced to take advantage of a better rate.  While government programs like FHA are allowing underwater homes to be refinanced, conventional loan holders are finding less luck. […]

My Home Didn’t Appraise For Its Purchase Price. What Are My Options?

When you are in the process of buying, selling or refinancing your home, obtaining a home appraisal is usually a required step.  When an appraiser comes to your home, he or she will determine its “fair market value” by considering a variety of factors, such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the age of […]

Top 5 Changes in the Mortgage Industry for 2013

A lot of changes are happening in the mortgage industry for 2013, thanks to increased regulation and the lending industry tightening down on its rules.  Knowing about these changes will help you make the best decision whether 2013 is the year for you to apply/refinance.  Tip 1: Now’s The Time To Refinance Rates are expected […]

Changes Coming to FHA Mortgage Program in April 2013

After announcing a $16.3 billion deficit in November of 2012, FHA is on the verge of needing taxpayer bailout.  In order to avoid this, FHA mortgage programs are expected to undergo a series of changes over the next few months—changes that will assist in raising the Federal Housing Authority’s reserves.  Most significant among these changes […]

Are there any tax deductions I can take for purchasing a home recently that might not be commonly known? I want to make sure I take advantage of every possible one!

Qualifying to Maximize the Mortgage Insurance Premium Deduction

Image courtesy by @ zacks.com While the Obama administration has come under fire for raising taxes to avoid a “fiscal cliff,” there is a light at the end of the tunnel for taxpayers who are seeking to lower their taxes, and that light is home ownership.  Moving expenses, home equity debt, energy credits, home-office deductions, mortgage interest—the […]

Concerned About Tax Rate Hikes? Don’t Miss Out on a Significant Tax Deduction

The buzz over probable tax rate increases has put taxpayers on both sides of the political divide in a state of concern over how it will affect their income in the coming year.  The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was enacted into law on January 2, 2013 and represents a compromise measure that permanently […]

Why do I need to have a mortgage broker in the first place? Can’t just work straight with a lender?

Speed and Thoroughness of an Approval Letter is Key to Getting Your Offer Accepted

Image courtesy by JAMIE SKOJEC @ homesourcerg.com   Most realtors agree that the current state of the housing market is one that requires speed if you want to access the best deals.  With the rate of foreclosures and bank-owned properties still relatively high, the deals that are out there are certainly worth pursuing—although you have to be […]

What Aristotle Knew About Commitment to Excellence

Aristotle, the famous Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great, once wrote: “Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is […]

Mortgage Customer Service That Delivers – How to Spot a Good Mortgage Broker

Finding the right mortgage broker can be just as crucial as finding the right home or property.  You might have the opportunity to get some amazing deals, but without the right broker in your corner, those deals can either pass you by or be literally “too good to be true.” The right broker will keep […]