madison: Do You Need a Real Estate License to "Flip" Properties? - 07/27/07 01:09 PM
You buy a property, you flip it, you profit. Does this require a real estate license? In most cases, the answer is "no". Real estate brokerage is an activity regulated by states on their own terms, thus each state defines which activities require a license. There is a lot of vagueness … (5 comments)
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madison: Freddie Mac Home Possible Program - 07/26/07 12:13 PM
Effective recently, conforming lenders will accept loan submissions and locks for the Freddie Mac Home Possible program. Details for the program can be found at http://www.freddiemac.com/homepossible/ or you can check out the program matrix for the My Community and Home Possible programs on most rate sheets. You must be approved by … (1 comments)
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madison: Choosing a House that Fits You - 07/13/07 12:16 PM
Choosing a House that Fits YouAmongst the many things to consider when buying a home, one of the most important and sometimes overlooked factors is the actual house itself. Don't forget this is going to be the place you go home to every night, the place your kids will grow up … (1 comments)
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madison: The Dos and Don'ts of Buying a House - 07/13/07 11:58 AM
The Dos and Don'ts of Home BuyingDo Shop Around - Don't just hold interest in one house, check out a handful. Find out about the neighborhood, traffic, schools, and local entertainment. Talk to the people that have lived in the neighborhood for some time and find out their opinions and biggest … (2 comments)
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madison: The Dos and Don'ts of Selling Your House - 07/13/07 11:50 AM
The Dos and Don'ts of Selling Your HouseDo Shop Around - Don't consider moving unless you have already researched the market and are financially able to purchase the type of home you want. Research the homes in your local neighborhood to see what they are being sold for and take into … (0 comments)
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madison: Don't Believe Every Rate You See! - 07/13/07 10:44 AM
Don't Believe Every Rate You See!If you're a savvy consumer, I'm sure you've seen many nationally-branded companies advertising ridiculously low rates. (For example: Ditech, Quicken, etc) Despite the fact that rates have hovered near extraordinary lows for an extended period of time, many of the largest national lenders routinely tout rates … (9 comments)
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madison: Your Real Estate Bill of Rights - 07/09/07 11:39 AM
Dear Prospective Home Buyer,Your Real Estate Bill of Rights
You deserve attention to detail and specific solutions to your specific needsYou deserve access to the most accurate information regarding your status at any given momentYou deserve impeccable customer serviceYou deserve to be treated fairly and with respect at all timesYou deserve the … (4 comments)
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madison: The 9 Things You Must Know Before You Buy - 07/09/07 11:30 AM
The 9 things you must know before you buyBefore putting all you money into mortgage payments, pleaseconsider the following 9 important issues. By consideringthese important financial issues, you will be able to makeyour payments work much harder for you.1. Get pre-approved BEFORE you look for your new homeOf all the steps … (4 comments)
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madison: The 10 Biggest Mistakes When Refinancing - 07/09/07 11:17 AM
The 10 biggest mistakes when refinancing1. The new interest rate does not justify the refinancingBefore you go ahead and refinance your mortgage, you have to make sure that the change will save enough to justify the whole process of refinancing. As a rule, if the interest rate does not decrease by … (5 comments)
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madison: 10 House Buyer Traps and How to Avoid Them - 07/09/07 11:05 AM
10 House buyer traps and how to avoid them
Trusting tax assessmentsSome people think that tax assessments are a way ofevaluating a home. The difficulty here is that assessmentsare based on a number of criteria that may not be related toproperty values, so they may not necessarily reflect thehome's true value. Bidding … (2 comments)
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madison: Purchasing a Home and Your Credit - 07/09/07 10:32 AM
Purchasing a Home and Your CreditIn a nutshell, credit scoring is a statistical method of assessing the credit risk of a loan applicant that is used by most mortgage companies in helping to determine what loan program an applicant qualifies for. The score is a number that rates the likelihood an … (2 comments)
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madison: Financing for Investment Properties - 05/16/07 03:24 PM
… (1 comments)
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madison: Title Information - 04/30/07 04:21 PM
Holding Title
Before you reach the closing day, you will want to make a decision as to how you will "hold title" to the property. This decision has legal, tax and estate planning ramifications. Therefore, it may be prudent to consult an attorney or certified public accountant (CPA).
The following information is supplied … (3 comments)
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madison: Debt-to-Income Ratios - 04/30/07 12:54 AM
Debt to Income RatioYour debt to income ratio is simply a way of determining how much money is available for your monthly mortgage payment after all your other recurring debt obligations are met. Debt limit There is generally a debt limit associated with each type of loan, such as a 28/36 … (7 comments)
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madison: Buyer don'ts - 04/30/07 12:46 AM
Things to avoid before buying a homeMany new homebuyers make the mistake of rushing out to buy things to fill their home with as soon as the seller accepts their purchase offer and the lender pre-approves their loan. But there are still a few major hurdles to overcome before the keys … (6 comments)
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madison: Fixed vs Adjustable - 04/30/07 12:17 AM
What are the advantages of fixed rate versus adjustable rate loans?
With a fixed-rate loan, your monthly payment of principal and interest never change for the life of your loan. Your property taxes may go up (we almost said down, too!), and so might your homeowner's insurance premium part of your monthly … (0 comments)
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madison: Should You Buy Points? - 04/29/07 11:57 PM
How do you "buy" a better rate?Do you plan on keeping your loan for a while? Then it may make sense to "buy" a lower interest rate by paying one or more "points." Even if you're unsure of how long you plan to keep your mortgage before you move or refinance, … (9 comments)
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madison: Improve Your Credit Score - 04/29/07 11:49 PM
How can you improve your credit score?It's virtually impossible to change your score in the time between when most people decide to buy a home or refinance their mortgage and when they apply. So the short answer is, you really can't "on the spot." But there are strategies you can live … (3 comments)
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madison: Madison Wisconsin Mortgage Refinance and Purchase Broker - 04/24/07 11:58 PM
Are you a Madison (or Wisconsin) first time home buyer that needs to purchase a new home with a no money down mortgage or FHA home loan, even with less-than-perfect credit? Are you a veteran that needs a VA loan? Or are you just a current Madison homeowner who needs a … (3 comments)
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madison: Bankruptcy Tips and Suggestions - 04/24/07 09:33 PM
A bankruptcy filing delivers a devastating blow to your credit and FICO score, but it doesn't mean you have to wait 10 years before you can qualify for a mortgage. Many consumers who have filed for bankruptcy have been able to obtain a mortgage, although it is often at a higher … (6 comments)
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madison: Disputing Credit Reports - 04/24/07 04:40 PM
Your credit report is a record of your credit activities. It lists all of your credit card accounts and loans, the balances as well as your payment history. It also shows if any action has been taken against you because of unpaid bills such as a lawsuit or bankruptcy filing. Because … (4 comments)
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madison: Rate Lock Periods - 04/24/07 04:06 PM
What is a "rate lock period"? How can you make sure your rate is low?
A rate lock or a rate commitment is a lender's promise to hold a certain interest rate and a certain number of points for you for a specified period of time while your application is processed. This … (2 comments)
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madison: Information Needed for the Loan Application - 04/24/07 12:38 PM
What information will be needed for the application (and how it's kept private)
Anything you submit over my website is 100 percent, fully secure. And I never, ever share it with anyone except by permission -- that is, if you're giving me information you want me to use to get you … (2 comments)
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madison: An Overview of the Loan Process - 04/24/07 10:13 AM
An overview of the loan process
Make no mistake, there's a lot involved in getting a mortgage loan. You wouldn't be here reading my blog if you could fill out a one-page application and get the best loan for you funded the same day. What I do is do most of … (0 comments)
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madison: When should I get qualified to buy a home? - 04/23/07 11:21 PM
Should you talk to a mortgage professional before house hunting?
Absolutely! Even if you haven't so much as picked out houses to visit yet, it's important to see your mortgage professional first. Why? What can we do for you if you haven't negotiated a price, and don't know yet how much you … (6 comments)
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madison: Mortgage Broker or Loan Officer? - 04/23/07 11:15 PM
Mortgage Broker vs. Loan Officer
When you're looking to get a mortgage loan, you may work with a loan officer or you may choose to work with a mortgage broker. People often confuse the two job types even though both will glean the same results: a new home. However, it is important … (16 comments)
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