The Closing - 07/31/12 05:07 PM
As I stated in the closing of my last blog on in this series Meeting Conditions On The Commitment Letter  once the Attorney and the Buyers have completed all of the conditions that were listed on the Commitment Letter, the Closing Department will give the Attorney a "Clear To Close".  These are the words that everyone has been waiting to hear during this whole process.  The words that were needed for The Big Day to happen, The Closing.   Now a firm Closing Date that has been agreed to by all parties can finally be set.
Many times The Closing date is different from the date that … (8 comments)

Meeting Conditions On The Commitment Letter - 07/30/12 03:28 PM
Once the Commitment Letter has be issued, everyone is a little more at ease, but this is not a time to relax, all the conditions that are on the Commitment Letter have to be completed before the Closing can occur.  Even though the Closing Department will be the main contact from this point on, I still remain as available to the Borrower as I have been up to this point.  The Closing Department maybe the proper contact during the period of Meeting Conditions On The Commitment Letter, but I am the one that the Borrower is familiar with, and I am … (18 comments)

Obtaining A Mortgage - 07/29/12 10:05 AM
Once a Borrower has done what is need to Prepare To Purchase A Home, they are ready to purchasing a home once they have gone under contract and begin the process of Obtaining A Mortgage.  Here my knowledge of the mortgage process, and all the steps that a Borrower will go through from the time they begin to apply for a loan, to the Closing can be a major value to my Borrowers.
The value that I bring during the process of Obtaining A Mortgage starts with being available to provide a Pre-Approval Letter quickly once they are ready to submit … (4 comments)

Preparing Buyers To Purchase A Home - 07/28/12 12:32 PM
There are many ways that we as professionals in the Real Estate Industry bring value to our clients, but it all begins with Preparing Buyers To Purchase A Home.  Being in the lending side of the industry the value that I bring to that process, starts with my first contact with each and every Borrower, but it does not end there.  I bring value to my Borrowers throughout the whole Mortgage Process, from Pre-Approval, to Applying for a Loan, through the Closing, and Post Closing.
In Preparing Buyers To Purchase A Home I begin with the same process with each … (28 comments)

Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) Interest Rate Is At 2.75% This Week!!! - 07/27/12 03:12 PM

Yes that is correct Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) Interest Rate Is At 2.75% This Week!!! This Interest Rate is amazing, when did anyone ever see a 30 year fixed interest rate at 2.75% with 1 point and an APR of 3.786%?  This interest rate will be good up until at least next Thursday at noon time, which is when CHFA will post their interest rates again for the following week.
Who would ever have expected to see an interest rate on a 30 year fixed mortgage to go below 4% much less 3%, and this is just their basic rate.  If … (2 comments)

Wadsworth Mansion Concert In Middletown, CT - 07/26/12 03:14 PM

 
Last night 8 To The Bar were the performers at the Wadsworth Mansion Concert In Middletown, CT.  They drew a very large crowd, so large that this was the closest that we were able to get to the stage which is located up by the Wadsworth Mansion.  Both parking lots at Mercy High School and Snow School were full.  It was a beautiful evening for the concert, and 8 To The Bar were outstanding.  The Wadsworth Mansion is an excellent location for these concerts which were held every Wednesday in July, and the final concert will be next Wednesday, … (4 comments)

Business After Work Water's Edge Resort & Spa, Westbrook, CT - 07/25/12 05:46 PM

I always have my eye out for networking events, and there is a good one scheduled for August 6th, ant the Water's Edge Resort & Spa.  The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting this Business After Work event in an effort to create more of a partnership between the Middlesex Realtor Council and the Mid-Shore Realtor Council
This will be the first Business After Work event that I will have attend at the Water's Edge Resort & Spa, but I have been there for several other events, and they always do a fantastic job.  One thing for sure … (5 comments)

Borrowers Need To Take Responsibility For Their Decisions - 07/23/12 04:05 PM
Borrowers Need To Take Responsibility For Their Decisions.  A theme that still seems to be very common these days is to blame Lenders for doing loans that Borrowers could not afford.  After all the first thing that you normally hear a homeowner who is about to lose his/her house is that the Lender qualified them for a mortgage they could not afford.  That is about as accurate as the comments that all Realtors care about is their commission, and all that a Realtor does to sell a house is stick a sign on the front lawn.
Are there some Lenders with … (6 comments)

Middletown Townwide Tag Sale - 07/22/12 04:22 PM

 
If you live in Middletown, Connecticut, here is your chance to part with those treasures that you no longer want, but do not want to throw away.  Middletown will be holding a Middletown Townwide Tag Sale on Saturday, September 15th, from 8:30 to 2:30.
This may seem like a long way away, but it is less than two months away, and that is not much time to coordinate a large event like this that will most likely attract many Middletown, CT residence.  I don't recall Middletown ever holding such an event before, and I need to go through my … (5 comments)

Enjoy The Musical Sound Of The Sun Boxes - 07/21/12 11:34 AM

 
Come Enjoy The Musical Sound Of The Sun Boxes at the Rose Garden in Walnut Hill Park, New Britain Ct.  The Walnut Hill Rose Garden Committee, which is headed by Kate McCue of McCue Mortgage, is inviting everyone to join them at the Rose Garden for what promises to be a unique, and relaxing time of enjoying the very unique musical sound that is produced by Sun Boxes that will be installation by Connecticut native, Craig Colorusso next week, July 25 & 26th.
Sun Boxes produce a solar powered sound that is made up of twenty speakers operating independently, … (4 comments)

Severe Storm Damage In Cromwell Connecticut - 07/20/12 06:13 PM
The Middlesex Realtor Council held its Monthly House Tour yesterday.  The tour included houses in Middletown and Cromwell.  The two towns are next to each other, but what we saw from one town to the next was amazingly different.  While Middletown experienced heavy rain and winds, there was little to no damage, but Cromwell received sever damage from the storm that passed through Connecticut on Tuesday. 
 
As we toured from one house to the other, we saw more and more damage, especially to tree.  Luckily each of the house that were on the tour did not experience any damage, … (5 comments)

Housing Inventory Is Down, And Housing Prices Are Up - 07/19/12 08:09 PM
I read a report yesterday on housing inventory that really stuck out to me, because many of the Market Reports that I have been reading here on ActiveRain are basically saying the same thing.  What made the report even more interesting to me is that Market Reports here on ActiveRain have been saying this for at least a couple of months now, and the so called experts are now just seeming to realize it.  This is one more reason to be on ActiveRain if you want to be up today on what the Real Estate Market is doing, in stead of … (10 comments)

Lady Katharine Cruise Line In Middletown CT - 07/18/12 06:09 PM

 
The ship above is one of the Lady Katharine Cruise Line ships that sails the Connecticut River on a weekly bases.  This particular Lady Katharine Cruise Line ship sails out of Harbor Park in Middletown, CT.  Her name is the Mystique, and she can be spotted daily as you travel Rt9 through Middletown, CT.
Lady Katharine Cruise Line In Middletown CT, provide a variety of cruises, from brunch, and dinner cruises to special events like weddings, graduation parties, company outings, and moonlight cruises.  We at McCue Mortgage did such a cruise for the Realtors that partner with us a … (4 comments)

Correction To Previous "FHA Repair Requirements" Blog - 07/17/12 07:34 PM
Last night I posted a blog "FHA Repair Requirements" and I worded the "Examples of tests that may no longer be REQUIRED" incorrectly.  It was late and it looked correct until I read it again today.  I have made the correction, and listed them below in this blog.  I messed up and there is no excuse for not triple checking everything especially in a blog that is providing information that others may rely on.  The mistake is one that I will not repeat, but one that I need to admit to and take responsibility for.  I appologise to those that re-blogged … (7 comments)

FHA Repair Requirements - 07/16/12 07:11 PM
The latest FHA Repair Requirements have been around since early 2006, but I still frequently get a number of questions on what is presently required by FHA.  So I figured that it was about time to post a blog on what are the mostly things that will be identified by Appraiser as required FHA Repairs on a appraisal.
FHA Repair Requirements that are regularly identify as required repairs on FHA Appraisals are generally related to property conditions that MAY represent a risk to the health and safety of the occupants or soundness of the property such as:
Inadequate access/egress from bedrooms … (24 comments)

Middletown Teen Theater (MTT) .......... Willy Wonka - 07/15/12 05:50 PM
The Middletown Teen Theater has announced its second production, and it will be a very well know children production "Willy Wonka".  The new production is scheduled for July 26, 27, & 28 and once again the beautiful Middletown High School Auditorium
As I mentioned in my first blog about the Middletown Teen Theater (MTT), is a community theater made up of teens that are committed to producing and performing high quality theater productions.  The Middletown Teen Theater is committed to developing the skills of each of its member to perform at their highest performace level.
The Middletown Teen Theater draws teens … (7 comments)

Real Estate Slump Is Having An Impact On Student Loans. - 07/14/12 04:23 PM
A recent report shows that our current Real Estate Slump Is Having An Impact On Student Loans.  The reason for this is that students are having to depend more on student loans to pay for their education.  This is a result of not only higher educational cost, but also because parents are not able to take out home equity loans on their homes to help pay for their childrens education.
Government data showed that student loans have increased by almost 48% since 2008.  As housing values began to decrease, so did the availability of funds from parents to assist their … (6 comments)

Fannie Mae Condominium Owner Occupancy Ratio Requirements - 07/13/12 06:49 PM

With so many Condominium Complex not re-certifying with FHA, and as a result no longer on the FHA Approved Condo List, more buyers are trying to purchase condominiums with Conventional Mortgages.  Because of this I have been getting more and more questions about what the Fannie Mae Condominium Owner Occupancy Ratio Requirements are. 
The ratio between condos that are owner occupied and those non-owner occupied (rentals) have always been very important for both FHA and Fannie Mae, and in the past have been the reason for many low price condos not being able to obtain financing.  The reason for … (8 comments)

Middletown Teen Theater (MTT) ......... Legally Blonde - 07/12/12 05:35 PM
There is a new performing group in Middletown and it is the Middletown Teen Theater (MTT).  The Middletown Teen Theater is a community theater made up of teens that are committed to producing and performing high quality theater productions.  The Middletown Teen Theater is committed to developing the skills of each of its member to perform at their highest performace level.
The Middletown Teen Theater draws teens from mainly Central Connecticut, and their first performance will be "Legally Blonde" on July 19, 20, & 21 at the beautiful Middletown High School Auditorium.  Tickets can be purchased online at a very … (3 comments)

Validity Of Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs) Are Being Questioned - 07/11/12 05:56 PM
The Validity Of Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs) Are Being Questioned.  Congress seems to have taken an interest in the present appraisal process, especially as it relates to Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs).  AMCs have taken on a bigger and bigger role since the creation of HVCC.  In that short time AMC's grew from controlling 15 percent of the Appraisal Market to any where between 60 to 80 percent.  That is a huge growth in such a short period of time, and along with the growth there have come several issues.
AMC's defend there existence by claiming that they provide a buffer between Lenders and Appraisers, … (5 comments)

Bankruptcy Guidelines ............... FHA - 07/10/12 04:47 PM
As I stated yesterday in my first blog Bankruptcy Guidelines ........ Fannie Mae on bankruptcy waiting periods and guidelines, many people in our Industry are familiar with the required waiting periods for a bankruptcies, and are mainly just concerned with Borrower having met the necessary time.  However, when it comes to bankruptcies there is more to be concerned about then just the waiting period, and the waiting periods for Fannie Mae and FHA are different, as well as the requirements that have to be met after a bankruptcy.
I covered the Fannie Mae guidelines and requirements is in the first blog … (8 comments)

Bankruptcy Guidelines .......... Fannie Mae - 07/09/12 04:08 PM

 
Many people in our Industry are familiar with the required waiting periods for a bankruptcy, and are mainly just concerned with Borrower having met the necessary time.  However, when it comes to bankruptcies there is more to be concerned about then just the waiting period.  Also the waiting periods for Fannie Mae and FHA are different, as well as the requirements that have to be met after a bankruptcy.
In this blog I will cover the Fannie Mae Guidelines, and FHA in the next blog.  Below is a chart of the required waiting periods that a Borrower must meet … (5 comments)

Free Concerts At The Wadsworth Mansion In Middletown CT - 07/08/12 04:12 PM

Come and enjoy the Free Concerts At The Wadsworth Mansion In Middletown CT this summer.  Middletown like many other towns in Connecticut will be having free concert this Summer.  These free concerts may be free, but the music is excellent, and in settings relaxing.
The grounds at the Wadsworth Mansion are beautiful and secluded in a park like wooded area.  If I could only pick one place to go to these outdoor free concerts, the Wadsworth Mansion would clearly be the location that I would choose.  The  Free Concerts At The Wadsworth Mansion In Middletown CT are scheduled for the … (7 comments)

New London Connecticut Real Estate Market Had A Strong Showing In May - 07/07/12 04:05 PM
The New London Connecticut Real Estate Market Had A Strong Showing In May, which is very encouraging for an area that had been struggling.  I am the Branch Manager for our New London Office, and we have definitely been seeing more activity this year than we did last year.  In fact both Single Family House Sales and Median Price rose by more than 20% not just in the City of New London but for New London County as a whole for the month of May.
The Median Price for Single Family Houses rose from $204,250 in May of 2011 to $245,500 … (7 comments)

Chamber of Commerce Eastern Connecticut Business After Hours - 07/06/12 03:26 PM

If you in the Connecticut Shore Line Area on July 11th, you should make plans to attend the Chamber of Commerce Eastern Connecticut Business After Hours at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding. Click on the link to High Hopes Therapeutic Riding and read about this amazing facility. This Chamber of Commerce Eastern Connecticut Business After Hours promises to be a great time to mingle, eat and network. Complimentary d'oeuvres, wine, beer, and soft drinks will be served. We should always be looking for networking opportunities like this, and this should be a good one to network and further your business.
Business … (4 comments)

Happy 4th of July 2012 - 07/04/12 07:36 AM

 
Happy 4th of July 2012 to all my ActiveRain friends.  Today will just be a day of relaxing and vegging out.  Nothing planned, and that is the type of day that I really need after a super busy month of June. On second thought maybe I will throw some babyback ribs on the grill.
I hope that ever one spends this day not only celebrating our Independence, but also doing what you truly enjoy on this day of celebration.  I am sure that some of my family will pop in, and the surprise visits are always welcomed, especially form … (5 comments)

Middlesex Chamber Of Commerce July 11, 2012 Breakfast Meeting - 07/03/12 05:57 PM

 

 
The Middlesex Chamber Of Commerce July 11, 2012 Breakfast Meeting, will be a special one for NASCAR fans in Connecticut, with Connecticut's own Joey Logano as the Guest Speaker.  Joey is known to NASCAR fans as the #20 Home Depot/Dollar General Toyota Race Car Driver, and is very well known.
The Middlesex Chamber of Commerce has the largest attendance in the State for its Breakfast Meeting.  There are normally anywhere from 600 to 800 in attendance every month, because of the quality of their speakers. 
The Middlesex Chamber Of Commerce July 11, 2012 Breakfast Meeting is … (1 comments)

Out Of The Mouth Of Babes ............. Comes Wisdom - 07/02/12 03:59 PM
If you do not believe that "Out Of The Mouth Of Babes ............. Comes Wisdom" then listen to a story that my friend shared with me yesterday.
Yesterday began as any other Sunday for this friend of mine.  He and his wife got up early to get their three children who are all of a very young age, ready for Church.  He went town stairs to start breakfast for the kids who are ages 4, 2 1/2, and 1.  The 2 1/2 year old followed him downstairs and wanted to know if he could have a popsicle for breakfast.  My friend … (14 comments)

URGENT, FELLOW ACTIVE RAINER, MELISSA GRANT NEEDS YOUR HELP! - 07/02/12 11:31 AM
It is a very scary thing to lose a child, no matter the age or gender.  I can not imagine what a parent in a situation like this goes through, but it has to be tearing them apart.  Hope fully they will find this young man quickly, and anything that anyone can do to help will be very much appreciated.
Via Christine O'Shea-Broker Assoc.~ Naples Florida Homes for Sale (DOWNING-FRYE REALTY, INC.):
URGENT, URGENT…Fellow Active Rainer, Melissa Grant and her family need your help!
Her nephew is missing, here is her post on Facebook:
If anyone on my friends list has a friend … (1 comments)

Connecticut Housing Finance Authority VA Mortgages In Middletown CT - 07/01/12 04:30 PM

Connecticut Housing Finance Authority VA Mortgages In Middletown CT, make purchasing a home in Connecticut much more affordable for the brave men and women that have put their lives on the line serving our country.  A VA Mortgage alone is a tremendous benefit to these brave men and women who risked their live to protect the freedom that both you and I enjoy each and every day.  So when the VA Mortgage Program is combined with a State Bonded Loan Program Like the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA), it makes it even more beneficial to our Veterans.
The Connecticut Housing … (3 comments)

 
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George Souto

Middletown, CT

More about me…

George Souto NMLS# 65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages Connecticut

Address: One Liberty Sq., PO Box 1000, New Britain, Ct, 06050

Office Phone: (860) 573-1308

Cell Phone: (860) 573-1308

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