Now That My American Dream Has a Dent in it…. - 08/31/10 05:30 PM
What more can I say?  This is a great post and provides some great advice on surviving the current real estate market.  There is a future beyond where we are right now.
Via Tamara Dorris (Davis & Davis ):
Okay, so the truth can be ugly. I get that. I grudgingly read the real estate news every day. Not because I want to hear how dreadful things are (because I don’t), but because it’s my job to keep my fingers on the pulse of the industry that I have committed to represent. Mostly, I want to be able to give my clients the … (4 comments)

What do you think the American Dream is? - 08/29/10 09:17 PM
You gotta love teenagers.... I just received the following text from my 16 year old grand daughter:  "What does the American Dream mean to you?"Huh?  It's six o'clock on a Sunday evening... eh, a glass of Chardonnay?  So, I call said child and say, "HUH?, Is this something you need for school?"Yeah",  the answer comes."And, you have known about this since Friday?  When do you need the answer?""Tomorrow.  But please text me the answer so I will remember it."Folks, this is an honors student!!!  So, now my otherwise leisurely glass of wine is disrupted with a real evaluation of "What do … (7 comments)

Understanding FHA 203(k) Program: Part Two - 08/29/10 09:32 AM
Understanding FHA 203(k) Program:  Part Two
 
Process, Procedures and Best Practices
 
Second in my series to help real estate agents and consumers understand the opportunities that are available in considering renovation or customization of a home at the time of purchase or as an alternative to selling in the first place.  Many, many people think that custom construction is a arena of real estate that is only available to the very wealthy.....the FHA 203(k) program is available to anyone from the first time home buyer to the CEO of a major corporation.  The program is open to anyone who … (19 comments)

Vacant homes do not stimulate the economy........and their "ungy" - 08/29/10 05:40 AM
I came across Ralph's excellent post about the importance of occupants remaining in our neighborhoods and the result of "ungy" houses in the increased vacancy due to foreclosure. 
Interestingly, I have just started my series on Understanding FHA's 203(k) program and this post is a perfect segway into way I feel untilizing the program could help agents/consumers/homeowners and our neighborhoods.  Thanks to Ralph for allowing the reblog.
Via Ralph Gorgoglione (Relocation Certified -HAFA Certified -John Aaroe Group, Inc.):
Vacant homes do not stimulate the economy........and their "ungy"
I am optimistic about all that the government and banks are doing to try and make … (2 comments)

Las Vegas NV Area Real Estate Market July 2010 Concession Stand (includes North Las Vegas & Henderson) - 08/28/10 06:50 PM
Every week Renee does an absolutely fantastic job of showing potential clients exactly what the marketplace in Las Vegas is doing.  Instead of letting the National news continue to create confusion in her market, she drills down the facts and reveals that consumers need to look locally for their data.  Who would seriously think Las Vegas is in s seller's market?  Renee bares the facts for home buyers to see the facts for themselves.  Excellent statistical data.
Via Renee Burrows - Las Vegas NV Valley - Homes For Sale - Real Estate Market News (The Force Realty -Realtor>Estate>Probate>REO>Short Sale):
Here is what … (2 comments)

Understanding FHA 203(k) Program: Part One - 08/28/10 03:59 PM
FHA 203(k) Renovation Loan....Easily the Most Underused and Least Understood Mortgage Product Available
 
The opportunities for utilizing the FHA 203(k) program abound in the current market; however, there are very few consumers or agents taking advantage of the opportunity.  The reasons for the under utilization of the program expose a couple areas of misunderstanding:
 
1).   The 203(k) program has been in existence and available for consumers for well over twenty years.  However, there are very few lenders who offer the product and there are even fewer lenders and loan officers who know how to originate and process the program.
… (53 comments)

Quit with the Doom and Gloom...........Please! - 08/27/10 07:32 PM
Another week of negative news and more posts on the possibility of a "double-dip" coming our way....and I am not talking about a double dip pistachio chocolate mint in a freshly made waffle cone!  I just posted a comment on a very negative article and am, once again, wondering why so many people (yes, even on ActiveRain) have forgotten the one real estate mantra that has NEVER failed to prove true no matter what the market place has to offer.  The mantra is, and will always be, "Location, Location, Location."Posting an article purporting the general malaise of the housing sector is, … (82 comments)

Westwood HS and UT Football ~ Life Lessons Learned Early - 08/27/10 08:18 AM
This post is a combination of a superb hyper local post and an absolutely awesome video.  Get your game on for the upcoming football season.  Thanks to Dorie for allowing the reblog.
Via Dorie Dillard: Canyon Creek & NW Austin Living (Coldwell Banker United):
Westwood High School and The University of Texas Football
Here in Austin football triggers high emotion! Beginning with the little ones on up to High School and onto College, football is a main stay diet for Austinites.  Life lessons are learned early while leadership is developed through the great sport of football.  
To get a feel for the passion … (2 comments)

Visiting Yosemite - 08/26/10 07:45 PM
I haven't been to Northern California in several months now and I am definitely missing my visits to Yosemite National Park.  I am fortunate in that I have a home just 26 miles from the Crane Flat gate and can be in the valley floor in about forty five minutes in the off season.  I love to travel, particularly on long drives and have traveled pretty extensively throughout our beautiful country.Today's post has several lofty ambitions.  One, I have created a group for "Road Trips" and hope to recruit many ActiveRain members to join me in suggesting and boasting about some … (11 comments)

Good Cheap and Quick - 08/25/10 04:08 PM
Wow, thank you Dorie so this great post and a reminder to all that you will get what you pay for....one way or another!
Via Dorie Dillard: Canyon Creek & NW Austin Living (Coldwell Banker United):
Good, Cheap and Quick
We are very fortunate to have 2 members of our family we love to travel with each year.  My husband Gene's brother and wife live in Houston and he owns his own electrical engineering company.
In  his business dealings he told us about a saying that has stuck with him forever.  He was submitting a proposal for a company and in the man's … (2 comments)

Confessions of a binge blogger - 08/23/10 11:46 AM
I have really tried diligently to fulfill my commitment to Karan Bernetti's 30 Day Challenge...and I am failing miserably.  I have to confess that I am much more a binge blogger, than a consistent blogger.  The problem is some days I have a brain, and some days I am more like the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz.It would be much easier if I were a great photographer like William Johnson, but posting my feeble attempts at capturing life on film would pale in comparison to William's beautiful compositions.  And, unlike Russel Ray, I don't have a Kool Kat like Zoey.  … (65 comments)

Dancing in the Rain - 08/23/10 10:01 AM
In my inbox this morning........not much I can add to the message of this video.  Wishing you the best in and out of the Rain!


… (9 comments)

Why You Should Purchase A Home In A Declining Market (Seriously) - 08/20/10 01:09 PM
This blog is so good and so well thought out that I wanted to share again.  The San Diego market has begun to rebound and there is no better time to buy in SoCal, but this article may shed some light for people who still think we haven't reached the bottom.
Via Lisa Udy Realtor Utah Real Estate Specialist (Logan Utah Real Estate The Platinum Real Estate Group):
Original Source: Why You Should Purchase A Home In A Declining Market
Okay, don't laugh at me, I am not one of those Realtors who says buy, buy buy!! I want to give you a … (3 comments)

Getting More Subscribers is More Important Than Being Featured - 08/18/10 11:26 PM
There have been many posts and comments on how to get a featured post (and, I assure you I am no expert), but I absolutely believe getting more subscribers to your blog is more important than being featured.  I have subscribed to 37 blogs...not a large number to be sure.  But, each and every blog that I subscribe to brings me knowledge, insight, commentary, humor and, in some cases, wisdom to know the error of my thinking.I thoroughly enjoy finding new posts that have the "stuff" to be featured....and, I actively peruse the pages of ActiveRain for articles that have that … (81 comments)

Some Things I Wish I had Said to You - 08/15/10 06:05 PM
I cherish quotes, poems, articles and books that inspire and motivate.   And, I save a select few that resonate with me in a special way.  Today I was going through my file of favorites saved over the years and because I was so moved by Karen Anne Stone's post "My brother would have been 63 today...... I feel compelled to post a "letter" I gave to my clients and friends back in 1992. 
Some Things I Wish I had Said to You
"I Appreciate You"You've done much that goes unthanked.  And much of what you have done is never recognized by others.  … (11 comments)

How To Use Creative Commons Photos- For Free! - 08/14/10 05:45 PM
Whew!  I need to know this stuff!  Great solutions for adding photos to your blog!
Via Jeremy Blanton (210 Consulting~ Social Media Advisors):
How to Use Creative Commons Photos- The Why We all understand the importance of adding photos and labeling them properly into our blog posts.  Adding just 2 images can increase the time someone stays at your blog by up to 300%!  That means if the average time is around 30 seconds, we can get someone to stay up to 3 minutes by adding them.  This is an important thing to note because not many people can read 500 word blog … (6 comments)

Destination: Something Greater -- Set the goal & keep moving! - 08/13/10 07:25 PM
This is an excellent post that I absolutely recommended as a feature...we all need to raise our own bar and set our sights further out into the wild blue yonder.  So, I didn't get my wish for a feature, I thought I would reblog to give Anna some more exposure on this excellent post.
Via Anna 'Banana' Kruchten, Phoenix Property Shoppe 602-380-4886:
Destination: Something Greater -- Set the goal & keep moving!
Sitting on your bicycle with your helmet wobbling from side to side, you determinedly gazed ahead at the other side. This park wasn’t just a park. No. It was a jungle … (0 comments)

Here Comes the Judge, Here Comes the Judge!! - 08/13/10 04:21 PM
When I lived in Las Vegas I had the wonderful opportunity to become friends with a local District Judge.  We would meet occasionally to check up and have a lovely conversation over dinner or a drink.  As is the nature of such things goes, our conversations often turned to "shop talk" and we would each recount our day and our current "case load" (names and specifics withheld to protect the innocent, of course).  In these conversations, I began to realize how similar the legal profession is to my career as a mortgage professional. 
When the need arises, a consumer interviews … (8 comments)

Who are you? - 08/12/10 08:31 PM
The question was easy...the first easy one of the day.  Quietly and succinctly:  "Who ARE you?"Whew, finally a question I KNOW...no problems here!  So I began:"I am a Mother"  (my Mentor smiles and shakes his head)."I am a Grandmother" (my Mentor smiles and shakes his head)."I am a Banker"  (my Mentor smiles and shakes his head)."I am a Sister"  (my Mentor smiles and shakes his head)."I am a Daughter" (yes, but no, my Mentor says).Starting to get a little desperate, I start to improvise"I am a great cook"  (smile............)"I am a terrific seamstress"   (nods.....and a calm smile)"I am a loyal and … (9 comments)

Suffering from "Financial Analysis Paralysis"? - 08/12/10 06:17 PM
Are you among the millions of Americans who are totally confused, suffering from a severe case of "Financial Analysis Paralysis" and convinced of the country's financial downfall?  Have the disjointed messages from the government and the subsequent media "spin" by the Talking Heads on the evening news left you wary to make any steps...sideways, forward or backwards...in the financial aspects of your life?  The sharpest and more severe financial slump in the history of the United States has created a vacuum in the collective consciousness of the American consumer.  That vacuum is fundamentally the result of an absence of trust.  We … (37 comments)

Loans Are Not Priced by "Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor" - 08/12/10 04:03 PM
Many, many loan officers and banks post mortgage rates on a daily basis.  Many even have a nifty widget that enables the consumer to input a few general critera (loan amount, purpose, value, credit score...or, more likely:  "excellent, good, fair, poor" and, voila', up pops a rate and the consumer is compelled (?) to call to start the loan process.  The problem is that the rate the consumer is able to generate through a self guided mortgage rate calculation tool is very likely completely incorrect.
First off, lenders do not price loans on "excellent, good, fair and poor" credit.  Loans are … (14 comments)

Judge to Wells Fargo: "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH" - 08/12/10 02:04 PM
Let's face it, as Americans we are pretty fed up with the double set of rules that banks have.  Protected by Congress and receiving billions of dollars in TARP bail out funds AND being free to gouge consumers with their credit card practices and over draft fees. Yesterday a federal judge in the fine state of California told Wells Fargo "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH".U.S. District Judge William Alsup backed up his slap on the wrist with ordering Wells Fargo to pay back $203,000,000 (that's $203 MILLION BUCKS to consumers for "profiteering" through their overdraft fees.  According to the judge's ruling, Wells Fargo's … (8 comments)

Mortgage Rant....Shop Till You Drop? - 08/04/10 08:47 PM
So, I was wondering what I could possibly write a post about and could think of nothing to spice up my thought processes so thought I would read some posts instead of write.  Often times, an thought provoking post and/or my reaction to it will spark the creative juices flowing and I find I have something of say and words that need to be shared.
Today, however, I read a post that sparked something alright, but it was not my creative juices....it was my ire!  And, in a sense it is rather funny because I had been on the phone less … (22 comments)

No, it's not a T-Rex, aka Tyrannosaurus Rex killing your mortgage loan. It's your 4506-T. - 08/02/10 08:43 PM
Once again Jeff has laid out the specifics of an important area of finance.  This is a valuable post for agents and consumers alike to understand how and when a lender will require a 4506_T from the IRS.
Via Jeff Belonger-The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans ( - FHA Home Loans - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc):

 
In the ever changing world of mortgages, you really need to stay on top of what is going on. So many think it's simple when pre-qualifying a borrower. But if you don't ask the … (4 comments)