Mothers Day Run/Walk for Charity

When: Sunday May 11th 2008 @ 8:30am

Where: Dover High School, Dover, NH

Benefuts the Avis Goodwin Community Health Center.

www.momsontherun.com

First Call Mortgage has a great first quarter 2008

April 7, 2008

FIRST CALL MORTGAGE celebrated the first anniversary of its Portsmouth office by recording its best quarterly result, thanks largely to its refinance and reverse mortgage business.

Bucking the trend that has claimed a number of mortgage companies locally, First Call Mortgage is growing thanks to its loyal base of satisfied customers, its focus on sound conservative real estate financing, and the growth of its reverse mortgage division, which is helping scores of home owners age 62 and older.

"With interest rates at near record low levels and Reverse Mortgage Products to meet the needs of many of our senior citizens, First Call Mortgage Company is uniquely positioned in the mortgage market.  As a result, we are adding staff and locations to better assist our customers and meet their mortgage needs.   We are in the process of hiring 30 new Reverse Mortgage Specialists and Loan officers during the next quarter, which will allow First Call Mortgage to offer even greater service to our clients." Claims Peter Dahl, Chief Financial officer for First Call Mortgage Company.

In its first year, the Portsmouth office of First Call Mortgage has launched several successful campaigns helping stressed home owners escape risky adjustable-rate mortgages, local charities looking to boost donations, and local seniors struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living.

First Call Mortgage Company is a full-service mortgage company with experienced professionals, competitive pricing and numerous programs to suit any home owner and home buyer's needs. First Call's specialty is to not only find the most appropriate mortgage program for its client, but to provide exceptional service by educating customers about what to expect from every step of the loan process.

For more information contact First Call Mortgage at (603) 766-4941 or visit First Call on-line at www.ftmc.net. 

Great Foreclosure Website

With foreclosures on the rise, potential buyers are looking for ways to find foreclosure properties.  The following link will take you to a gret site that is FREE.  You can search on government homes and bank owned homes.  they have residential and sopme commercial. 

Good Luck.  http://www.all-foreclosure.com/foreclosures.htm

David

FHA increases Loan Limits

FHA just recently annouced to increase the loan limits on FHA loans.  For some counties in New Hampshire the increase is significant.  Unfortunately in the northern counties, the increase was not as mush of an increase as I had hoped for.  The table below shows the new increased loan limits for the state of New Hampshire.

The Use of Reverse Mortgage

I have been helping clients with reverse mortgages for several years now in the NH, Maine and MA markets.  When I started, there were only a hand full of mortgage professionals in the market performing reverse mortgages.  The reverse mortgage market has a huge potential and I'm seeing the number of mortgage companies that offer reverse mortgages increase, this is expected.  What is concerning me is that the mortgage folks that are offering reverse mortgages are treating them like a forward mortgage.  Reverse mortgages are NOT for everyone.  You need to understand the situation and needs of each potential client is different.  When offering reverse mortgages, you need to communicate with the clients family members, financial planner and attorney.  Before you offer a reverse mortgage you must understand how it will impact the client.  You could do more harm to the client than good.  Also, you need to use good judgement.  Do not offer a reverse mortgage to some one who does not need it.  Reverse Mortgages are great products for the right situation and my concern is that there will be loan officers selling reverse mortgages just to sell them.  We see how that attitude impacted the forward side of the mortgage industry.

First Time Home Buyers

With all the negative news about mortgages these day, I feel that I should share with folks that are looking to buy a home for the first time, that there are some great programs available to them.

NH Housing;  This is a great product for first time home buyers.  The mortgage rates are low, they offer a grant for the money down as long as there is money available.  NH Housing is not credit score driven like conventional loans and that means that some one with a low credit score will get the same rates as someone who is higher.  NH housing does have income limits.  Please call me with any questions or e-mail me at dkeslar@ftmc.net

FHA:  FHA is similar to NH housing,  The minimum down is 3%, but home owners can apply for a grant through AmeriDream.  You do NOT have to be a first time home buyer.   FHA is NOT credit score driven and the guide lines are flexible.  FHA has a lending limit specific to each county.

Conventional; Conventional loans are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages that offer 97%LTV and 100% LTV. The mortgage rates are very competitive.  Conventional mortgages are credit driven and the higher the credit score the better your mortgage rate is going to be.  Most 100% financing mortgage have a median income limit.

So which do you use?  Every one situation is different and my recommendation is to meet with a mortgage professional that offers a wide array of products and have them explain to you the difference along with the rates.  Once you have the knowledge of the products you can then make a better educated decision as to which product meets your needs.

If you have any questions, please contact me at dkeslar@ftmc.net.

FIRST CALL MORTGAGE HELPING CLIENTS GIVE BACK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                      January 9, 2008

FIRST CALL MORTGAGE HELPING CLIENTS GIVE BACK

Portsmouth - On the news that worthy charities expect donations to slide in the coming year, First Call Mortgage announces a campaign that enables local home owners to help their favorite charity while helping themselves.

First Call is donating $100 to the charity of their client's choice with each home purchase and refinance, a pledge that could provide a significant fund-raising boost to local charities.

"We are seeing an increased need for donations to local charities, and we feel a strong need to address this issue, to become proactive and find a way to help," said David Keslar, manager of First Call's Portsmouth location.

First Call recently launched its successful "Home Owner Protection Campaign" helping Seacoast home owners replace high-risk adjustable-rate mortgages with secure, more economical fixed-rate home loans. Keslar said First Call's new charitable campaign is a natural fit. "When First Call can help our clients support their favorite charities while securing affordable fixed-rate home loans -- that's how we like to measure success."

In recent years, First Call and its employees have directly supported local schools, hunger relief efforts, and affordable housing agencies like Habitat for Humanity. First Call invites all local charities to contact its Portsmouth office for more information about how the First Call can help expand their good work in the community.

First Call Mortgage Company is a full-service mortgage company with experienced professionals, competitive pricing and numerous programs to suit any borrower's needs. First Call's specialty is to not only find the most appropriate mortgage program for their needs, but to provide exceptional service by educating customers about what to expect from every step of the loan process.

For more information contact David Keslar, First Call Mortgage at (603) 766-4940 or visit First Call on-line at www.ftmc.net. Licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department

Mortgage Humor

Here is a joke that one of our account managers had sent along. 

A loan officer died and went up to St. Peter at the Pearly Gates to present himself for admittance to Heaven.

St. Peter said, "You did a lot of good helping people get into homes, and you donated lot to charity and on that Habitat house. But you told too many fibs to the underwriters, and you were unkind to your processor. We aren't sure where you are going to fit. So we've decided to show you around both Heaven and Hell and see where you feel more comfortable".

As they toured Heaven, the loan officer really liked the big mansions and the streets paved with gold, but the harp music got on his nerves.

Then when they showed him around Hell, he noticed everyone had their choice of playing golf or tennis, hanging out by the pool, smoking and drinking, or dancing and playing cards in the clubhouse.

He told St. Peter, "Oh, this is going to be hard! Can I sleep on it?"

So he was allowed to think it over during the night.

The next morning they asked him for his decision. He quickly replied, "Oh please send me to Hell!".

So they opened up the doors to Hell, but the whole picture had changed! It was just like you have always heard, with fire and brimstone! People were burning and being tortured and screaming! Oh it was so hot and horrible!

"Hey, that's not what you showed me yesterday", the loan officer cried.

St. Peter replied:

"You should have locked yesterday!"

FIRST CALL MORTGAGE HELPS STRUGGLING HOMEOWNERS ESCAPE RISKY LOANS

Monday, November 05, 2007- Local lender First Call Mortgage Company this month launched its "Home Owner Protection Campaign" to help the thousands of local residents saddled with high-risk adjustable-rate mortgages.

First Call Mortgage, with a branch office located in downtown Portsmouth, has already helped many New Hampshire home owners escape high-risk mortgages before their rate adjusts and monthly payment skyrockets.

 "First Call has always believed that our clients deserve stable and low-risk solutions for their home loan needs. The sub-prime, adjustable-rate mortgages that have caused so many problems lately have always been a last resort here at First Call. We believe strongly that helping our clients attain stable and secure financial footing is good not only for them and their families, but for the greater community as well."Said David Keslar, Branch Manager for First Call Mortgage Company

First Call's "Home Owner Protection Campaign" recognizes that fallout from risky home loans will continue to be a problem facing countless local home owners. The Federal Reserve Bank estimates that the interest rate on another 2.2 million mortgages nationwide will adjust over the next 18 months.

"We are excited to help home owners stay in their homes that they have worked so hard to obtain" said Keslar,   "We are providing free mortgage reviews for home owners who want to make sure they have the right home loan. We're also helping home owners learn more about proven fixed-rate home loans like FHA products offered by the Federal Housing Administration, which is becoming a popular solution to subprime mortgage problems" said Keslar.

For a free in home review of your current mortgage, please call 603-766-4940 and ask to speak to a mortgage specialist.

First Call Mortgage Company is a full-service mortgage company with experienced professionals, competitive rates and numerous programs to suit any borrower's needs. First Call's specialty is to not only find the most appropriate mortgage program for their needs, but to provide exceptional service by educating customers about what to expect from every step of the loan process.

For more information contact First Call Mortgage at (603) 766-4940 or visit First Call on-line at www.ftmc.net. 

Licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department, MA license MC3198,

Dissapointed with the Maine Licensing requirements

I just finished the Maine licensing requirements and I was very disappointed with the level of material they are looking for.  I was expecting the course to be more of a challenge and information that would separate the professionals from the want to be's.  This is not going to prevent unethical loan officers from entering into our market, nor is it going to stop a loan officer from offering a product to a client that they should not offer.  I understand that this is the first step, and will be an ongoing requirement. 

Just my two cents.