Lending and everything Midwest - Larry's blog

How the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Looks to the Consumer

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:28:30 -0600

The National Association of Realtors (also known in the industry as NAR) has a great Frequent Asked Questions communique for the consumer. Things are so different from the current version of the bill that consumers need to be aware of what this bill encompasses.

YOUR CONTRACT NEEDS TO BE SIGNED BY APRIL 30th and Closing by June 30th.

Question: Existing homeowner credit: Must the new house cost more than the old house?

Answer: No. Thus, for example, individuals who move from a high cost area to a lower cost area who meet all eligibility requirements will qualify for the $6500 credit.

Question: I am an existing homeowner. On October 25, 2009, I signed a contract to purchase a new home. I have lived in my current home for more than 5 consecutive years and am within the new income limits. I will go to settlement on November 20. If President Obama has signed the bill by the time I go to settlement, will I qualify for the new $6500 tax credit?

Answer: Yes. The existing homeowner credit goes into effect for purchases after the date of enactment (when the bill is signed). There is no reference to the date of contract for the new credit. The provision looks solely to the date of purchase, which is generally the date of settlement.

Question: I am a firsttime homebuyer but was not within the prior income limits at the time I entered into my contract to purchase on October 30, 2009. I will be covered, however, by the new income limits. If the new rules have been signed into law by the time I go to settlement, will I be eligible for a credit?

Answer: Yes. The new income limitations go into effect as soon as the President has signed the bill. The income limit and other eligibility rules will look to your status as of the date of purchase, which is the settlement date. So if the new rules have been signed when you go to settlement, you should be eligible for the credit (or a portion of the credit if you're within the phaseout range).

Question: I am an eligible existing homeowner. I have a fair amount of equity in my home. I have found a home with a nonnegotiable price of $825,000. Will I be able to use any of the $6500 tax credit?

Answer: No. The $800,000 cap on the cost of the purchased home is firm at $800,000. Any amount above $800,000 makes the home ineligible for any portion of the credit. The $800,000 is an absolute ceiling.

Question: I owned my home for 10 years, but sold it two years ago year and have been renting since. If I purchase a home, will I be eligible for the $6500 tax credit if I meet all the other eligibility tests?

Answer: Yes. Because you lived in the home for more than 5 consecutive years of the previous 8, you will qualify for the $6500 credit. For example, Say John and his wife bought a home in 2000 and lived there until 2008 when he got a divorce. Whether John has been renting or bought in the interim, he WOULD INDEED be eligible for the credit because he owned a home and occupied it as his principal residence for 5 consecutive years out of the last 8 years. The keyword here is "consecutive." As long as he lived in that house for 5 years straight what he did since 3 years doesn't impact eligibility.

Question: I am an eligible firsttime homebuyer. I entered into a contract to purchase on November 1, 2009. Do I have to go to closing before December 1? How does the extension date affect me?

Answer: You do not have to close before December 1. Once the legislation has been signed, it will be as if the Nov 30 date had never existed. Therefore, so long as the contract settles before April 30 (or July 1, worst case), the purchaser will be eligible for the credit.

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Health Care Bill Passes the House!!!!! Why?????

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:48:05 -0600

Social Security - - - Bankrupt

Medicare - - - Bankrupt

Medicaid - - - Bankrupt

Cash for Klunkers - - - Bankrupt

United States Post Office - - - Bankrupt

I don't care if your Democrat or Republican or whatever or whoever. This stuff scares the crap out of me. Let's be honest....the health care system is broken. It just is. It's broken and needs to be fixed. But the government?????? The track record stinks and they can't run this business.

I come from a family of doctors. My grandfather was a thoracic lung surgeon. Dad? Anesthesiologist. 3 brothers? Hematologist oncologist, podiatrist and an Ear Nose and Throat doc. I worked at an out patient surgical center for a number of years prior to going to law school.

The system's broken, but the new system will drive all the good docs out of the business. Early retirements. No incentives by a doc to provide excellent health care. Territories will come in for doctors instead of healthy competition. Needless to say.....

The government should govern....and not ruin run healthcare. They've bankrupted everything else. Everything!!!!! Not this too! Just my .02 cents.

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Speechless Sundays - Niece or Marilyn Manson - Halloween Tricks & Treats

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:22:48 -0600

My Niece came over for Halloween this past weekend. She decided to go as Lady Gaga, but had a lot of fun dressing up my littlle ones. While doing the work for my little ones, she, herself decided to get in on the action through a practice round. Anyway, here she is putting on makeup. She didn't know what she was, but all I saw was Marilyn Manson. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and she called an audible and went as someone a little more upbeat....she doesn't even like Marilyn Manson....just liked putting on the make up. She kinda looks like a racoon.

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Realtor, Lender or Therapist and Counselor?

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:07:25 -0600

Before law school, I went and got a Master's Degree in Clinical Pscychology. Why? Long story, but I wanted to work with teens. Two years out and just working with marriage issues and really wierd co-workers, I said screw this and went to law school. Now daddy's a lender. I've been a lender for 15 years, a branch manager and a regional vice-president of a world class company.

Looking back at the path that I was lead down, it became apparent

That a successful real estate professional is a counselor or therapist to some degree!

If you really think about it, in order to climb the ladder of success you really need to Hear & Understand people. Those are both two completely different actions. Yes...they are actions.

1- Hearing is not thinking about what you're saying next. It's not about your next pitch. It for sure "ain't about the sale, the listing, or the close." No hearing means an undivided, and uninterrupted focus on what your client is trying to pitch to you. This is pretty extreme for me. Today, I fully know why God sent me to graduate school for clinical psychology. I paid a lot of money for people to train me for two years to SHUT UP AND LISTEN! I could never let a pregnant pause occur. Ever....I hated silence. Two seconds of silence and I'm filling the gap. I realized over the past 15 years that:

The Power Remains to those who Keep their mouth's shut!

Now...I'm like bring it on. 2, 3, 5, 10 seconds of total silence....no problem. You'll get uncomfortable before I will and the client needs to know the my agenda is investing in them. That's it plain and simple. Hard to do, but well worth the practices.

2- Understanding! This is just as difficult.....really, it is! You might intake the words, but you need to process what's being communicated. My wife rips me for "not listening." I'll say yes I did, you said X, Y and Z. She say's I know your brain is a machine that can spit back whatever, but I don't know that you're undertanding me." Wow....ouch....Mr. Therapist gets slapped in the face by his wife. Guess what...clients are the same. We are so scripted in this industry that it often is rough for us to convey what a client wants us to convey. Sure we're giving the the answer that they ultimately want, but they want us to walk through the process with them.

If we don't we'll lose them and we can ultimately not be successful with the client. I've seen the best of the best master these skills. Everyone else flounders. Success is relational and not transactional.

Rates, programs, visions and problems all come across in a relationship with a client. Often times a divorce leads to a refinance or a home sale. Having the ability to meet your client where they are in life is critical to success of your business.

Pictures by www.imontvbitch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/active_listening.jpg and

http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/4514255/understanding_Full.jpg

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Reverse Mortgages Alive and Well at Cherry Creek Mortgage

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:55:46 -0600

1^st Reverse Mortgage USA, a division of Cherry Creek Mortgage Co., Inc. had another record month in October. The division closed 46 loans for just under 13 million dollars ($12,786,520). Year to date, the division has originated 365 units, totaling more than $94,000,000 in reverse mortgage loans; this represents a 58% increase in growth over last year's volume. This ranks the division as one of the top 40 lenders in the country that originate and insure reverse mortgages.

THE HECM for home purchase program was introduced to the reverse mortgage industry in January of this year. It presents a great opportunity to expand the reverse mortgage product to real estate agents as another alternative for senior home buyers. As one of our growth initiatives, the division introduced the HECM for home purchase program to our client base (CCMC branches and banks) this summer. We are excited that 15% of our closings last month were HECM for home purchase, putting us on the road towards becoming one of the industry's leaders for the purchase product. The home purchase program presents a tremendous opportunity for CCMC branches to expand their full service mortgage banking value proposition to their real estate agents by educating and cross-selling the HECM for home purchase program.

While we're pleased with our growth, the community as a whole needs to take advantage of the opportunities that exist for homebuying with Reverse Mortgages.

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Wordless Wednesdays - A Son's Halloween Fun

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:25:38 -0600

Halloween was brutal. My son got a pumpkin that was well over 45 pounds. He had to get the biggest one on the farm. We bought it in Fredonia, Wisconsin and saved it until it came time to carving for Halloween. He was so happy that when he cut it open the hole was big enough to put his head inside. Mind you....dad had to lift the pumpkin onto his head and set it on.....I was actually afraid that he was going to fall over from the weight of it...but boys will be boys and he really wanted to do it. No trick photos here. This photograph ain't doctored in any way.

HOWEVER......

However, my son, Brett, did get revenge on the pumpkin. He took out a knife and went to work. At the end of the day he felt that he had won the pumpkin battle and gave the little pumpkin a few drinks, but quickly realized that this dude needed to drink outside. Needless to say, Old Mr. Peter Pumpkinhead can't hold his liquor as evidenced by this picture.

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Passes the Senate 85-2!!!!!

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:45:08 -0600

Well...it's almost here. According to Bloomberg, it appears likely that Obama will have the bill on his desk next week to extend the first time home buyer tax credit. Needless to say, this bill, in it's current form extends the tax credit to:

Non-First Time Homebuyers can get a $6,500 tax credit as well!!!!

Check out the article from Bloomberg since it was released last evening. Homebuyer Tax Credit, Unemployment Bill Advances in Senate.

Lawmakers voted 85-2 to move closer to a final vote on the bill, which would extend until April 30 the $8,000 homebuyer credit that otherwise would expire at the end of this month. Homebuyers who have lived in their prior residence for at least five years could receive a credit of $6,500. Couples earning as much as $225,000 a year and individuals earning up to $125,000 would qualify. That's up from the current $75,000 limit for individuals and $150,000 for couples.

It'll be interesting to see how the final version of this bill looks when it's finally signed into law.

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Call your Database with "Call em All!"

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:27:39 -0600

Brian Buffini is all about human contact. Oral will rule with your clients. Yes Oral Communication, that is! Sure, he talks about this thing called the cocooning of your clients, but the truth of the matter is that your clients want to hear from you. Not from an e-mail or a direct mail piece, but from you. I try to make an attempt at calling my qualified database, but the reality is...that there is only so much time in the day, week and month. Unless I get to touch them....I really end up losing them and actually could end up loosing the folks in my database as well. Check out www.buffiniandcompany.com.

Tom Ward, however, reiterates that there is so much money out there in your database. There are so many people out there trying to establish new relationships instead of leveraging the relationships that they have. Most people neglect their database, and as a result, they miss out on a lot of money that's sitting right before their eyes, fingertips and phone. Think about it....how much time perday, or week do you have call those who are important to you? I didn't create a database for my first 5 years in the business. Let's just say I figured that it cost me about $300,000 dollars. As Tom Ward of Majestic Consulting says, people need to hear from you. Check out www.majesticconsulting.com.

Finally, Todd Duncan, also tells people that they need to reach out to people who already value them. In other words, the relationships that you have....keep them. Nurture them and invest in them. The most important piece of this equation is that, as Todd says is the client's for life program. As Todd says, If you have a "Client for Life Program," then you need to call the client at some point during their life. www.toddduncanonline.com.

The common theme????? Use the telephone. If you're not using the telephone, I guarantee you that someone else is. Your clients are now talking to someone else. 2010 looks to be a year of higher rates. Low rates exist right now. The reality is that if Oral is the key, then the phone is the most important element.

This begs the question....how can you make 200 or 500 calls a month to your entire database?

BUT YOU SHOULD!

Really this is quite easy. I found a company called Call-Em-All. Check out www.call-em-all.com. I have a friend of mine who uses it quite often....like...EVERY MONTH. He says it's so darn easy. What it does is this. You record your message and you hang up. It calls everyone in your database and leaves a message. Think about it. If you have breaking news or just need to keep in contact with your A list people better, this allows it to be done quickly. The best part is that it's so stinking easy and it's so cheap. I looked at the pricing plan and it only costs me $32 to make 250 calls. I think it's reasonable as to price.

I'm reaching out to my database. I call quite a bit, but in reality this is the perfect assistant for me. Plus I don't pay for insurance and I don't have any talk back either. Can't beat that with a stick!

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Halloween....the Aftermath!!!!!

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:31:00 -0600

Not too often I can go ahead and brag about looking worse than the kids who dress up for Halloween. However, this Halloween consisted of a lot of fun for the entire family. On Friday we had the first annual Chili Cook Off. It was awesome. We had 10 different types of Chili. I've never made chili before, but I did make it this night. Let's say that I didn't make the top 3.

The next day was Halloween. It was awesome. Here I am with my oldest son. He looks really old here. I'm really not sure who looks worse, but my wife almost peed in her pants laughing so hard. It was a lot of fun and my kids said that it was the best Halloween they'd ever had. Sure, this is a day after speechless sundays, but I really had a lot of fun to share!

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Urgent - New Minimum Mortgage Guidelines!!!!

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:34:05 -0500

New Mortgage Guidelines

· All borrowers must have one blue eye and one brown eye to qualify.

· LTV > 65% SIVA requires minimum credit score of 899.

· For all LTV > 65%, 360 months of payment reserves now required.
· Borrower's must have no previous bankruptcies in their family history going back
three generations.

· A minimum of 25 years self-employment history now required for all NIV Programs
(at same location).

· Minimum Credit Score for Subprime Loans raised to 720.

· All non-arm's length transaction borrowers (mortgage, real estate professionals, family members) will be required to provide full-documentation, subject to criminal background checks, wire tapping, strip-searches, and a minimum of 12 hours of interrogation by the Department of Homeland Security.

Please note that these changes will go into effect within the next five minutes. So please
lock you existing loan immediately. All existing loans in your pipeline must fund by noon
tomorrow.

We apologize for the inconvenience. We realize these are tough times in the mortgage
industry for all of us. Be assured that we have a commitment to remaining strong and
weathering out the storm. We ask for your understanding and cooperation.

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Tomorrow's Halloween....Check again the Sexual Predator List in Your Area!!!

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:59:29 -0500

Halloween is just around the corner! Every year I like to give a lot of shout outs to protecting your children. My kids actually like Halloween, but I think that they like the party and the chili afterwards more than the actual trick or treating. I'm the same way.

However, I'm a NAZI about child protection. There's a lot of wierdo's out there....and in this world more than ever. Halloween isn't probably as big of a deal for the wierdos, but the time is right and there've been too many horror stories in years gone past.

Keeping the children protected means staying away from wierdos. Needless to say you need to watch your kids year round....but...without further ado....

Here's one Way to Protect your Child

The Sexual Predator List(s):

www.isp.state.il.us/sor/

These are your kids. I always check both prior to going on our little Halloween excursion. Be safe...protect your children. They're the most valuable assets you have.

www.icrimewatch.net/index.php?AgencyID=54142

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Government tries to take down US Marine

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:13:36 -0500

Via Simon Conway....This Story Speaks For Itself!

Via Simon Conway (Picket Fence Realty):

This is Marine Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani. For more than 20 years, the Colonel has had your back. He's had your back three different times in Iraq including the second battle of Fallujah; once in the first Persian Gulf War and has also served in Panama.

It has been said by his superiors that Col Chessani has unlimited potential and value to the Marine Corps. That he has demonstrated moral courage and that he is a superb leader.

And now on December 1, 2009 he is facing a Military Board of Inquiry (BOI) to figure out if he is guilty of misconduct and should be demoted in rank. All this because of the "Haditha Massacre" - a "massacre" that quite literally never happened.

The question must be asked. Why is the Government going after this fine Marine Officer? Someone who represents the very best America has to offer? And why are they doing it on a trumped up charge? What is the purpose of trying to destroy this truly great American hero?

Let's take a step back first. Almost four years ago to the day (November 19, 2005) a Marine convoy was moving through Haditha in Iraq - a terrorist stronghold. A roadside bomb exploded and the convoy took casualties. One United States Marine dead and two more seriously injured when the bomb went off under a Humvee. Gunfire directed at the Marines started immediately from the ambushing insurgents who were holed up in nearby civilian-occupied home.

The officer at the scene ordered four Marines - at great risk to themselves - to storm those homes from where the terrorists were firing. What happened next was a house-by-house, room-by-room battle in which nine terrorists were killed. There were also 15 civilian casualties who might have been shot by the Marines or the terrorists or a combination of the two. Obviously the death of civilians is always terrible - but not as common an occurrence as some people might think.

The bottom line here is that the colonel IMMEDIATELY reported those 15 deaths to his superiors. In fact the Pentagon had his battlefront report within 24 hours. NOT A SINGLE superior officer - including generals - thought it unusual. NOT ONE OF THEM suggested an investigation. In fact those officers went so far as to commend Lt Col Chessani for a job well done.

Then along came Time Magazine. MASSACRE they screamed. John Murtha jumped on the bandwagon accusing the Marines of cold blooded murder - even saying there was no firefight! He said the Marines were stressed from being in country for too long.

The Liberals went nuts. Our brave military were torturers; murderers; rapists - and of course, responsible for the "Massacre at Haditha" - that has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

The largest investigation in the history of the NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Services) .........

Take that in again!!! - The largest investigation in the history of the NCIS including 65 full time agents went on a year-long, multi-million Dollar digging trip - targeting the Colonel and his four enlisted men.

The Government has LOST at every stage of the criminal process. The four marines have been cleared. At one point they were charging Lt Col Chessani criminally. The Government's case? He did not file the proper paperwork. Had he been convicted he would have faced two and a half years in prison!!

One of the military judges who heard testimony in the case, had the following to say about the Government's evidence and pursuit of this national hero.

"To believe the government version of facts is to disregard clear and convincing evidence to the contrary and sets a dangerous precedent that, in my opinion, may encourage others to bear false witness against Marines as a tactic to erode public support of the Marine Corps and mission in Iraq. Even more dangerous is the potential that a Marine may hesitate at the critical moment when facing the enemy..." - Military Judge, LtCol Paul Ware, USMC

So now he faces this BOI. There are no rules of evidence as we understand them. No cross examination; no subpoena of witnesses. The Government merely has to prove misconduct by a preponderance of the evidence - not beyond a reasonable doubt. The Board could demote him or force him to retire. He could lose his retirement and health benefits for himself and his family.

And at the end of the day, the Government is charging him with failing to report a criminal incident which EVERYONE now understands DID NOT TAKE PLACE!

On Monday of this week Brian Rooney - one of the owners of the Pitsburg Steelers and a Marine Reserve Major himself - was my guest while I was filling in on 540 WFLA. It's a fascinating interview and you can here it BY CLICKING HERE - the top of Hour Two on 10/26/09.

Brian is one of the attorneys representing this Marine through the non-profit Thomas More Law Center. They are doing it for free. They will examine thousands of pages of reports; personally interview witnesses and travel the 2,000 miles to the BOI in California - an event that is expected to last for weeks.

Please check out their website and see if you can help. They are all that is standing between this Marine and Governmental crucifixion! - http://www.thomasmore.org/

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE!!

Make sure Lt Col Chessani understands just how much we Patriots get it!

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(Copyright © 2009 By Simon L Conway All Rights Reserved.)

Simon Conway is the two-time winner of the FIVE STAR Best in Client Satisfaction for Real Estate Agents in the Orlando area.

Please give me a call if you have questions about the Central Florida real estate market. You can reach me on 407 876 8200. Also visit my web site at www.simonconway.net or www.move2orlando.net

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Nelson Mandela - Need a Reason To Succeed in Real Estate?

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:20:26 -0500

Embracing the Glory

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us... And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

- Nelson Mandela (as quoted in Waking the Dead by John Eldridge)

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Wordless Wednesdays - Saint Malo in the Rockies in the Fall

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:25:00 -0500

This is one of my favorite places in the entire world. It's 7 miles south of Estes Park, Colorado, on Highway 7. The town is Allenspark. I used to work there for four summers. Every morning started with 1/2 mile walk to chapel (as seen here), mass and a 1/2 mile walk back to breakfast. I go back minimally 3 times per year. Needless to say, I love it. I wish I was there right now, but am biding my time to get back there. Fall is a great time out there....can't wait to see the Rocky Mountiains one more time.

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Crossfit...My Quest to Get Physically Healthy once again!

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:13:00 -0500

In the last two years, I've been told that I'm the most disciplined person that people know. I don't think so. I want to have a beer on a Friday night and I end up having three. I want to get up earlier than everyone else to do my quiet time, but I don't. Here's what I've been disciplined with for the past two years.

1) Get up and go to Panera and do Bible Study and prep work for the day.

2) Noon, go and workout.

3) Be home by 5 and spend time with all kids until bedtime with no phones on.

4) Hang with wife and work on laptop until midnight. Pre-read next day's bible study.

5) Pass out.

Now There's more to it than that, but it's been non-negotiable for me over the past two year. What I'm finding new resurgance in is my health. I have always eaten something after dinner. If you think about it I'm done with dinner at 6 pm and am still working at midnight. Well in 2008, after watching the biggest loser (I call it the fat people show since I'm not poitically correct), I decided that I was destined to be blessed to become a member of that show unless I took more proactive steps. I quit eating after dinner. It's been over a year and I'm starving (not really, but I am hungry) as I write this.

This past year, I had back surgery that sidelined me for a big part of this year. However, I'm back (ba dump da) better than ever, but feel like Fat Albert even though everyone says that I look skinny. the truth is that I'm out of shape for the first time in over 20 years. But yes...I'm back.

The MAJOR MAJOR being added to diet is doing CROSSFIT. See www.crossfit.com. TOTALLY AWESOME. I've gotten to the point that I love barking like a dog. Crossfit.com is totally Free.

Every day they give the WOD or the Workout of the Day. Today's workout?

"Nate"

Complete as many rounds in twenty minutes as you can of:
2 Muscle-ups
4 Handstand Push-ups
8 2-Pood Kettlebell swings

Each workout is named. Here we learn about NATE. Nate is pretty easy, I think, but there's a little "fine print" that I didn't include here. The fine print says "do as many rounds as possible and report your results." So is this 2 rounds, 10 rounds, 30 rounds? Like I said....barking like a dog!

I do all my workouts at X Sport Fitness in Saint Charles (see www.xsportfitness.com) off of Randall Road. It's a great facility and there are some younger studs and studettes who motivate just by looking at them when you're ready to quit or puke.

Anyway, the premise of Crossfit is to shock the body. So everytime that you load www.crossfit.com, it'll give you today's date and the WOD or Workout of the Day. There are 1 of three things that can happen.

1) You're given a task or group of exercises and you're told to complet them. It doesn't matter if you get them done in 5 minutes or 5 hours. You ain't leaving until they're done.

2) You're giving a set amount of time to complete as many rounds of a ceratin exercise(s) as possible. What's great is that your measure is yourself, so if you suck in the beginning, So what...you'll suck less later.

3) Day of brutality. Once or twice a month they give you what I call as the death workout. It's like 1 billion actiivties to do. I know that someone is secretly watching to see if someone is stupid enough to do them. Then, if they're like me, people will sit around and laugh as I cry through the entire workout.

4) Oh yeah, they give you a day off every 4 to 5 days.

Here's the testimonial for today. I hope to be one of tomorrow:

"...The moral is, while I am not up to the standards of crossfit, I have only been training with the WOD and parallets for about four weeks. The difference four weeks made is incredible. I have easily surpassed the once thought "best shape of my life" marker. Plus, switching to a 40% protein, 40% fat, 20% carb diet has helped. I thought I would be tired as hell, but after 6 weeks on the diet, I am invigorated. Today I will run three miles and see how my endurance is. I bet I run the sucker in 22 minutes!...
Thanks so much for such a difference."

- Nick Glatz

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

HVCC Update

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:39:08 -0500

HVCC Update. The petition that has been going around seems to have finally made its way to congressional leaders. The House Financial Services Committee has been receiving lots of noise as to the negative affects that this law is having on the consumer. More importantly, the representatives are hearing the nightmare stories that have come along with it. Stories include shoddy appraisers being allowed to "get back in the mix" even though companies have blacklisted them. Appraisers from Illinois going to Milwaukee to appraise properties where they have no knowledge of the local markets. Four bedroom homes being appraised as two bedroom homes, etc.

It's ridiculous if you ask me. Here's the petition as it came to me.

If you haven't done so yet, please sign the petition below. Here's the text as it was forwarded to me yesterday. Just read the first sentence. That's enough to peak your interest alone.

We have HVCC on the ropes so we need your help more than ever!

On Wednesday, October 21st, the National Association of Mortgage Brokers used this petition hvccpetition.com to help convince the House Financial Services Committee to pass an amendment that will finally put an end the mess that HVCC has been making of the real estate and lending industries. More than the 102,000 signatures on the petition, it was the pace at which the petition is growing and the HVCC horror stories signers included with their electronic signatures. Now more than ever we need everyone to rally behind this cause to make absolutely certain it continues to gain the momentum necessary to make it through the House and Senate votes that are forthcoming. Please, please, Please, sign this petition if you haven't done so already and more importantly, send it to everyone you know in any sector of the real estate and lending industry as well as to all the current, past and future clients in your database. The new petition website makes it abundantly clear how all homeowners are losing equity and being harmed directly by HVCC as well as how it is blocking any chance at the real estate recovery our economy needs so desperately. Everyone you send to hvccpetition.com will be indebted to you for looking out for their best interest. We won the first of three battles which is more than anybody thought could happen and if we get serious and rally together now for one last massive push we should be able to put HVCC behind us forever. Thank you for your time, effort and support.

Click here to see our interview with the president of NAMB thinkbigworksmall.com/mypage/player/tbws/19036/-4592

hvccpetition.com

Frank Garay and Brian Stevens
Co-Hosts of the TBWSDaily.com real estate news program tbwsdaily.com
"Concerned advocates for a better real estate industry"

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Homebuyer Tax Credit Extension Debate Heats Up in Congress!!!

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:31:20 -0500

The Senate is slated to take up a bill this week that extends unemployment benefits and it might include an extension of the $8,000 homebuyer tax credit. Proponents of the first-time homebuyer tax credit that is due to expire Nov. 30 were planning to offer amendments to unemployment benefits bill that would extend and possibly expand the tax credit. But now it appears Senate lenders are working on a compromise that could be tucked into the bill as a manager's amendment. Such an approach would increase the chances that the first-time homebuyer tax credit would be extended by at least six months. And depending on the costs, it might include features of a proposal sponsored by Senators Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., that extends the tax credit through June 30. The Dodd-Isakson-Lieberman proposal expands the tax credit to all buyers and raises the income limits to $150,000 for individuals and $300,000 for joint returns.

Keep your fingers crossed. There is a battle, but the outcome is not done yet. We'll see!

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Scripture for the Week -

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:49:56 -0500

As part of my plan to better myself, I try to be disciplined in my bible reading. Today....it was Luke, Chapter 6. Here's the quote for the week...

²⁰Looking at his disciples, he said:
   "Blessed are you who are poor,
      for yours is the kingdom of God.
²¹Blessed are you who hunger now,
      for you will be satisfied.
   Blessed are you who weep now,
      for you will laugh.
²²Blessed are you when men hate you,
      when they exclude you and insult you
      and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

²³"Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.
²⁴"But woe to you who are rich,
      for you have already received your comfort.
²⁵Woe to you who are well fed now,
      for you will go hungry.
   Woe to you who laugh now,
      for you will mourn and weep.
²⁶Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
      for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

Love for Enemies

²⁷"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. ³⁰Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. ³¹Do to others as you would have them do to you.

³²"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. ³³And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. ³⁴And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Help with Your Facebook? It's just a Click Away!

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:58:15 -0500

I was browsing my Facebook, account today and got some good information from my friend, Lyn Scalzitti. She pointed me to a web page entitled "How To Set Your Facebook News Feed And Wall Settings." Needless to say, the page is a 101 on getting beyond the basics of Facebook. Check out:

www.thefacebookinsider.com/2009/10/how-to-set-your-facebook-news-feed-and-wall-settings

The Face Book Insider

Has so many things to offer. The biggest thing for me was to control what comes down on my wall.

Here's the post from today's "Facebook Insider:

Today Facebook released their new homepage design and while it can be beneficial for those just wanting updates from close friends and family, it is not so friendly for those who have a large number of regularly updating friends.

One major beef that many are having already is the automatic posting onto your news feed of almost everything you do - that now ALSO appears in the news feed of all your friends.

I don't know about you, but I really don't need to know who became friends with who, and other people definitely do not need to know who I suddenly became friends with!

If you are want to stop these updates from posting to everyone's news feed, follow these few simple steps:

Select the Privacy Settings link from your Settings Menu

Select The News Feed & Wall link

Uncheck each of the boxes that automatically post to your news feed, wall and your friends news feed.

You may have also noticed that you have "Live Feed" and "News Feed" links at the top of your homepage. The difference between the two at this point is all jumbled.

However, your Live Feed may be blocking much of want you actually WANT to see. Scroll down to the bottom of your Live Feed page and click on Edit Options:

NOTE: If you have never put a friend or application on HIDE, you will NOT see the Edit Options link at the bottom of your page. Simply pick someone, click on the HIDE button that will appear in the top right corner of their update, then unhide by clicking the "x" beside their name in the steps below.

Make note of the line "Live Feed automatically determines which friends to include based on who Facebook thinks you want to hear from most." I am a little unsure as to how Facebook thinks they know me and my friends and family so well, but....

Also, if you have more than 250 friends and family, you will see that Facebook either selectively, or randomly (we are not sure which yet), cuts them off at 250. You will want to change this number to accommodate your friends total, as shown below. We recommend putting it up to 5000.

Following the above steps will help reduce the amount of mumbo jumbo appearing everywhere. I am sure Facebook felt the split feed was a step in the right direction of reducing clutter for some, but it may have slightly backfired on them at this point...

UPDATE: Some people seem to be experiencing a problem seeing the correct Edit Options pop up when they are trying to change the number of friends shown on their Live Feed. We have found a solution, albeit a goofy one, but it works.

If you do not see the correct pop up as shown above, follow these steps:

1. Make sure you are on the Live Feed tab.
2. If the pop up is only a list of friends, close it.
3. Switch to News Feed.
4. Click the Edit Options link at the bottom of the News Feed, then close it.
5. Switch back to Live Feed
6. Now when you click the Edit Options link again, it should be the correct window.

UPDATE #2

We would appreciate everyone sharing this page with their Facebook friends to help spread the solution around. Thanks guys!!

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Speechless Sunday - Precious Treasure

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:07:25 -0500

This is my girlfriend, "Tessa B" as I call her. It was this summer on the way to Door County, Wisconsin. Needless to say the "B" had such a good time that it was hard for her to contain herself. She was overcome with emotion and passed out. Great times had by all, but I think that she partied the hardest!

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

I Got To Call A Play in A College Football Game!

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:58:49 -0500

OK....so Coach Edder calls me. He's the head football coach at Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin, just north of Milwaukee. I got to know coach over the past year through a friend, Andy Locke who works there. He asked me to come and lead team devotions prior to the football game last night. The team is undefeated in the conference and is poised to make a run in the post season playoffs. Coach took over the team about a year ago and is really turning the program around and revamping it to what I believe will be a perennial powerhouse in D III football. The schedule for me was every "boys" fantasy and I was the boy who was going to live it.

Team Devotions - where I got to tell about my walk with Christ and share what Christ means to mean and how Christ can transform each player's life;
Team Dinner
Team meeting
Bus ride to game - I got to ride on the charter bus with the coaches, players and trainers;
Game - I was given a coaches jacket and got to walk the sidelines with the players and the coaches. I was able to call the first defensive play too. I called a Cover 3 with one man blitzing. Just so you know...my play was awesome and the coaches thought so too (I'm giddy, I know).
Post game prayer - The game was covered in rain. 43 degrees, but we won 13-0.
Mixer with the coaches - went to a local "social club" and had some drinks and discussed the victory with the coaches and grad assistants.

My day started at 2:00 and I was home by 1:00 am. It was a blast. Here's a photo of me in the 4th quarter from the sidelines. Look for Concordia to become a perennial powerhouse. Coach Edder has built a program with class, classy players and a program that cares about it's players. What was so cool is that all of their players know that the coaches care for their players. That's so unique in football.

I want to do it again and am working out to get in shape and see if I can get an NCAA exemption so that I can line up as a defensive tackle for 1 play (or 4 plays) so that I can remember what it feels like to knock someone around (probably have them knock me around). Now where's the paperwork and how do I get back in school for 1 play?

Thanks Coach....you're poised for greatness.

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Cherry Creek's Leaders Receive Two Top Awards!!!!!

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:11:09 -0500

I wanted to make sure you were aware of the high honors two of my Cherry Creek Mortgage Leaders were recently awarded by the Colorado Mortgage Lenders Association (CMLA).

Jeff May received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award. This recognizes Jeff as the independent small-business person of the year for his dedication and service to the CMLA and the industry, and for operating an innovative and well-respected company. It's no secret that Jeff has done a tremendous job leading our company through the difficult times our industry has faced. His vision for the future and desire to build a great company has blessed all of us. Bravo Jeff!

In addition, Stacey Harding won the prestigious Aksel Nielsen Award given for his service to the industry and for his outstanding performance and commitment to the CMLA. It's a well deserved honor. Over the past several years, Stacey has made a meaningful contribution within the industry by advocating on our behalf with Congress, our state legislators, and with key regulators. He served on the CMLA board for several years and completed his term as the association's chairman in 2007. He remains an active and involved former chairman.

Please join me in congratulating these two men on their success!

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Halloween In Kane County - Protecting Your Children

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:19:06 -0500

Keeping the children protected means staying away from wierdos. Needless to say you need to watch your kids year round....but...without further ado....

Here's one Way to Protect your Child

The Sexual Predator List(s):

www.icrimewatch.net/index.php?AgencyID=54142

www.isp.state.il.us/sor/

These are your kids. I always check both prior to going on our little Halloween excursion. Be safe...protect your children. They're the most valuable assets you have.

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Wordless Wednesday - My Son's Football Game.

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:09:22 -0500

This was such a fun time this past weekend. Coach Bettag, yeah that's me, was able to have a team where both of my kids were able to play on the same team. This was my final game as a coach since I"ll be out of town missing the final two games. Needless to say, this is a photograph of my son just about to be tackled....see the hand on his flag.... We won the game and my kids had a blast. All kids got their own chance to have a play made for them. This was a good run by my son.

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

Saint Charles East High School Closed for the Rest of This Week!

Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:34:09 -0500

By Noon today over 900 Saint Charles East students were home with some sort of illness.

As a result, District 303 Officials have decided to close the school for the rest of the week. According to Ron Schlomann this decision was made because of a lot of absences, plus the desire to not have the illnesses transfer further. Needless to say, it's reported that no one has the Swine flu or the H1V1.

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee