Adapting Homes For Our Returning Vets- We Can Help!!- By Carol Lee Coldwell Banker Westlake Village - 12/31/08 12:07 AM
Wow....  talk about going out of your way to support an excellent cause. Carol Lee goes the extra mile to make us aware of a big sacrifice that 3 men will take, just to make others aware of special site and the help that our Veterans will need... Please read this and support our troops coming home, that need a special home.  Thanks Carol.

Via Carol Lee Realtor ® Agoura, Oak Park, Westlake CA Homes (Coldwell Banker Residential):
 I  believe that we live in the best country in the world.  Yes, there are things that could be   better, but at least … (4 comments)

Family and the holidays....... A joyful time indeed - 12/30/08 07:44 AM
 
The holidays.... I just love them. Especially being around my family. For many that know, I am not married nor do I have any kids. But I have 3 nieces and 3 nephews. All with a unique story and each with a different personality.
My sister, about 12 years ago, was diagnosed with cancer and was told that she couldn't have kids. After trying every possible method, they ended up adopting. They decided to adopt a boy and girl, who are now 9 years old. After they came back from Kazakhstan, where they adopted, she found out that she was … (26 comments)

I have solved the money crisis !!! How about this bailout plan.... - 12/29/08 09:27 PM
 

How many of you follow baseball?  How many of you follow the New York Yankees?  How many of you know who George Steinbrenner III is? Well, for some of you, Hal Steinbrenner has taken over the Yankees for his father.
So, where am I going with all of this? How about having the Steinbrenner family work out a comp plan so they can buy some of these states that are in deep financial trouble. As you can see, Michigan is pictured on the left. One of the top 5 states that is in financial trouble. Not only with Detroit … (17 comments)

FHA loan changes to keep in mind for 2009 !!! - 12/28/08 12:56 PM
 
With 2009 fast approaching, so are some key and important changes in regards to FHA loans. One important thing to remember is that FHA has made these changes official in their mortgagee letters, but that doesn't mean that investors or mortgage companies have to follow them. I will explain later....
 
 
What are the new changes?
 
Down Payment :  The new down payment for FHA loans will be 3.5% down and not 2.25% down. Now, this is a tad confusing, because prior to next year, 2009, it was that the borrower needed 3% of their own monies. In … (27 comments)

Communication - How important it is? And are you above average? - 12/27/08 12:44 PM
 
How important is communication to your clients?  To the consumer?  Are you the type that says that you will get back to them in 5 minutes, but it turns out to be 3 hours?  How do you set your clients expectations?  If your borrower either heard something from your office or from another person, do you just agree with it, or do you find out what was discussed first, before you say okay.
 
I bring some of this up because just today, I had a borrower who wanted some answers on what took place yesterday. I had put my … (10 comments)

A blanket statement or not : Bankers are at fault, not brokers..... - 12/26/08 01:53 PM
 

 
 
I feel like I am about to play back a broken record. But I received an e-mail today with this link. More bad decisions by G.E.
Here is my initial problem with anything that is put out there for the consumer to read. It's one-sided, yet is sounds like good opinion and advice. hhhmmm...  Exactly that, it's an opinion that sounds like fact, because of the figures mentioned.
 
 
Here is what was stated :
Even though I am a mortgage banker, I would agree with the first statement. (there is nothing wrong with this statement)  … (10 comments)

Active Rain gatherings.... past, present, & future !!! - A gathering in Annapolis, Maryland - 12/23/08 11:29 PM
 

I love the holidays - Past, present, & future (please click link before preceding)... I love gatherings.... and I love meeting people.
ACtive Rain gatherings -- For those of you new or old to Active Rain, it can be so much fun to meet others that you have followed, who you have talked to, and those that you have made an online connection with.  For those of you that know me, I guess you can say that I am a social butterfly. I just meeting people in general. But better yet, as I have mentioned, meeting in person those … (22 comments)

FHA loans vs Conventional loans - A true numbers comparision with 5% down - 12/20/08 09:51 PM
 

FHA loans have been the main source of financing in the last 6 months. What I hate hearing is that they have taken the spot of the subprime loans. This is not true by any part of the imagination. This statement is from those that are inexperienced in both the mortgage and the real estate industries. The realization has been that 30% of the subprime mortgages in the last 5 years previous to the last 2 years should have been FHA mortgages, not subprime. And that is a hard core fact.
The subprime loan for many years could go … (31 comments)

Government Intervention - When is enough enough !!!!! - 12/20/08 08:15 PM
 

Disclosure, disclosure, disclosure.....   such a hot topic. Why is that?  Well, HUD has decided to make some new changes to the Good Faith Estimate and to the HUD-1. HUD is stating that these are the first changes in over 30 years. HUD goes on to say that this new regulation should save borrowers $700 at the closing table.  Huh?  I don't consider myself to be naive or stupid when it comes to trying to understand the government's thinking. But how do you come up with $700?
Here is my problem with this new regulation. Not only is it more … (15 comments)

I am a genius! I have solved the housing crisis! - 12/19/08 10:10 PM
Beth Forbes is actually a smart cookie. And what she wrote about below is something that we should seriously think about, especially because all of the foreclosures taking place now. I think this truly would be a good solution to help solve part of this mess. Please read what Beth had to write about.....
Via Beth Forbes Your 24/7 loan officer (The mortgage help you want when you need it.):
Yes folks, I Beth Forbes, have a solution to the housing crisis! I'm a genius. The problem in a nut shell is over supply coupled with under demand.
I read an article a … (0 comments)

Annapolis, Maryland gathering on 12/22/08 & meet The FHA Expert.... - 12/17/08 04:19 PM

Active Rain Gathering Monday December 22 at 12 noon
Note Change in Meeting Place
Famous Daves
181 Jennifer Road
Annapolis, Maryland
phone
410-224-2207

 
 
 
Looking to meet some 'Rainers' that I haven't met as of yet. I am going down to the Eagles / Redskins game Sunday, for anyone that wants to meet to tailgate. The game starts at 4 pm.  If not, I hope to meet many of you on Monday.
 
Why Annapolis, because I will be staying in the area.  And I figured it is in between Maryland, D.C., … (42 comments)

Two wrongs don't make a right, or do they? - 12/16/08 06:55 PM
 
  In today's society, we look to each other for advice, for counseling, expert knowledge on a specific subject, etc, etc.  In many cases, we just go to the internet and Google a specific subject and poof, there are many links that appear from different people explaining or expressing different ideas or detailed specifics. But how do we know what is actually right?  How do we know what is fact and what is opinion?
  My point to this is that I have been on several mortgage related sites in the last year and have found some information that … (16 comments)

The Grinch who Stole Equity !!!! - 12/16/08 12:32 AM
 
Please play this prior to reading this post........ You are a mean one Mr. Grinch
 
 
Just the other day, I started to follow up with my past clients, those that have bought about a year ago or two that bought using FHA loans as their financing option.
 
For many of you that don't know what a FHA Streamline loan is, I will be writing about that next week. I did a post about 8 months ago on this, but guidelines have changed since then.
 
In any case, it's a very simple process. You can basically do … (13 comments)

First Time Homebuyer Tips : Understanding the total mortgage process -- Part 3 of 5 - 12/14/08 06:25 PM
FYI - (these tips in this first time homebuyers series are not just for newbies/first time homebuyers)
 
Shopping for a mortgage can be such a confusing process, even for those that have bought a home or refinanced previously. And in this first time homebuyers series, the biggest thing that I can't stress is the ability to pick that loan officer who will have your best interest at stake.  I don't want this to be a debatable subject. There can be arguments based on :
Make sure you get the loan officer through a referral  (you can find people on the … (15 comments)

Do you know who is watching you online??? - 12/13/08 07:34 PM
 

Remember back in the 60's and 70's, when so many Americans were up in arms about 'Big Brother' watching us. And for the fact that so many believe that this is still happening. But let's take this a step further. What about those online that either search for a specific topic. Or that person that decides to Google you?  As I wrote a few weeks ago, Google can be one of your better testimonials. But better yet, that person can find you online through such sites as Facebook, Twitter, or myspace.
It's been proven over a short time that … (21 comments)

I negotiated for my mortgage... and what did you get? - 12/12/08 04:02 AM
 

 
You might find this odd, coming from a man. But I soooo love deals and I actually like different kinds of shopping, especially when I find great deals.
 
Overall, most of us love a great deal or what I call, "a great steal". Because of today's economy, I think we seek deals more than ever before. And to capture a great savings gives us a great feeling of joy.
 
 
 

Just the other day I read a blog by another loan officer that advised consumers to negotiate for their mortgage. If you were able to negotiate for … (43 comments)

I have just been called a used car salesman ...... and I am confused to as why. - 12/08/08 11:45 PM
 
Warning… this blog is thought provoking, but is only for the weary sole that can outlast and read 1,500 words. But it’s worth your time…. Just my .02.
 

Today was an interesting day. My Google Alerts told me that someone mentioned me in a post. The title was "Mortgage Professional or Used Car Salesman? Why it pays to know the difference." 
In order to get an idea where I am going with this, you first need to read this blog.  I need a quick fix !!  Please pass me that 4.5% rate over here now !!  (hint-I … (31 comments)

I need my quick fix !!! Please pass me that 4.5% rate over here NOW !!! - 12/07/08 10:26 AM
 
 

WARNING…WARNING…         
                     information overload...
In the last few days, I have seen several blogs talking about the 4.5% rate.  Fred Chamberlin  wrote this post. Could Mortgage Interest Rates Drop to 4.5% with Treasury Intervention?   He put some good information out there which ended up with some thought provoking comments. But are lower rates just a quick fix???    
 
I have read all the comments and I am a little disturbed at the lack of knowledge and or the lack of common sense that some of us show. I feel that there is something lacking in these comments, lacking … (45 comments)

I jumped on a hand grenade for you........ - 12/03/08 11:10 AM

 
........ even though I really didn't care for you as a client. For many of you that know me, I would give you the shirt off my back. And I truly try to live by this fact that I don't judge others or hold things against them when it comes to business. My job in my opinion is to get it done in such a professional manner that you understood most of the mortgage process and that you got a good deal. 
This is the kind of story that makes you wonder if I should still be in the mortgage industry. … (54 comments)

 
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Jeff Belonger-The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Cherry Hill, NJ

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Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc

Address: Cherry Hill New Jersey 08034 08002 08003, Haddon Heights New Jersey 08035, Haddonfield, NJ, 08033

Cell Phone: (609) 440-5133

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I just want to educate people about mortgages and the process. In regards to lending, I am very creative, intuitive, honest, and one who communicates information, may it be good or bad. I am a loan officer that looks out for your best interest.







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