lock or float your loan interest rate? - 07/31/10 10:07 AM

 
i really enjoyed adam quinones' humorous comments, especially about letting your loan officer be the "skipper". 
but he's right about letting a GOOD loan officer direct your clients to the best loan fit for them.  i was a licensed l.o.(didn't care for the number crunching!) for a year in illinois, and i appreciate the skill at finding the best product for a consumer. 
that's why i say a GOOD loan officer, and most are professional and work as hard at their jobs as we do.  many realtors don't realize the ongoing discussions and documentation loan officers need to have … (0 comments)

are you crabby in the morning??? - 07/31/10 08:16 AM
thought i'd share a little of southern maryland with you.  crabbing boat early in the morning off the greenwell state park shores of the patuxent river.
a zen-a-licious way to begin your day!!!!
 
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvO8DS132nY
 
mare
… (7 comments)

Vacancy Rate Near Historic High. America Has a "Home Problem" - 07/30/10 08:32 AM
Vacancy Rate Near Historic High. America Has a "Home Problem"
by Jann Swanson on July 29, 2010 courtesy of mortgage news daily
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/07282010_vacancies_homeownership.asp

As we have pointed out over the last few weeks, America has a homelessness problem; over a million individuals and families are temporarily or chronically homeless.  While the statistics don't fully address this aspect, there is at least anecdotal indication that some of these people are in shelters or on the street because their own home or one they were renting was foreclosed.  There is also purely anecdotal information that a lot more homeowners are hanging on by … (0 comments)

flying high over the patuxent river - 07/30/10 04:29 AM
caught this hawk(?) on an overcast morning flying over the pax river.  might have just finished hunting.  found it very soothing watching him soar above the water. 
 
task accomplished. 
 focused.  
 free. 
today.... be like the hawk.
 
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuU7lUOY_MO
… (2 comments)

In the Swim: Dog Water Safety - 07/29/10 09:12 AM
from the petside newsletter archives.  but still a timely article on keeping your pet safe while you travel.
 
In the Swim: Dog Water Safety
By Susan McCullough | May 12, 2009 2:07 PM 
http://www,petside.com/wellness/in-the-swim-dog-water-safety.php
 
… (0 comments)

Can Mortgage Rates Go Any Lower? - 07/29/10 07:36 AM

courtesy of mortgage news daily
Can Mortgage Rates Go Any Lower?
 Adam Quinones -  July 28, 2010

 
Can Mortgage Rates Go Any Lower?
Well, here we are on "hump day" and mortgage rates are still detached from the price fluctuations of the secondary mortgage market. Instead, the ups and downs of consumer borrowing costs continue to be driven primarily by the capacity constraints of major lenders,  the market makers for mortgage rates.
One misconception is record low mortgage rates have drawn out a hoard of "fence sitting" borrowers who are bustling with excitement to refinance.  Yes, … (0 comments)

spider captcha: circle of life - 07/28/10 12:05 PM
i caught the spider on camera yesterday morning at greenwell state park in hollywood maryland, scooting up her fine web tendril ....
 
 
 after she caught her meal of the day/week(?) and coccoon-ed it!!!
 
circle of life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZKJUvlWRYo
a touch of mother nature to break up your day.
 
mare
 
… (0 comments)

Lots of Investor Updates; Fannie HARP vs. Freddie HARP; Originator Rankings: Wells, BoA, Chase, GMAC, Citi... - 07/28/10 07:55 AM
courtesy of mortage news daily.  the first sentence grabbed my eye!!!

Lots of Investor Updates; Fannie HARP vs. Freddie HARP; Originator Rankings: Wells, BoA, Chase, GMAC, Citi...
 by Rob Chrisman Posted July 26, 2010  courtesy of mortgage news daily
Someone told me, "There are three stages in a man's life: Tri-Weekly, Try Weekly and Try Weakly."
At this point, banks are not shut down three times a week - yet - but only once a week, Friday's. Another handful of banks were shut down on Friday, pushing the number over 100 for the 2nd straight year. The assets and liabilities of … (0 comments)

New Home Sales Rebound from Revised Record Low - 07/27/10 08:08 AM
New Home Sales Rebound from Revised Record Low
by Adam Quinones on June 26, 2010  courtesy of mortgage news daily
The Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have released New Residential Sales data for June 2010.
Excerpts from the Release...
Sales of new single-family houses in June 2010 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 330,000.  This is 23.6 percent above the revised May rate of 267,000, but is 16.7 percent below the June 2009 estimate of 396,000.
 
 
The median sales price of new houses sold in June 2010 was $213,400....

The … (0 comments)

HORSE soccer? - 07/26/10 07:09 PM
gentle reader, 
 
proof positive that it does exist!   not only horse soccer, but the Old People's Riding Club!
the link below will take you to the Old People's Riding Club 15 minutes of fame in the on-line version of the local paper the Enterprise.  it was in the paper paper on friday, July 23, 2010.
never at a loss for activities horsed and un-horsed, the Freedom chapter of the Old People's Riding Club knows how to have a good time  for both people and horses involved. 
and make memories to share with friends and family.  don't need to own a horse … (0 comments)

happy, dancing, fuzzy caterpillar - 07/26/10 04:47 AM
 
i saw this little guy when i was walking roxy thru greenwell state park.  and he COOPERATED, but doing his crunches and curls and just smiling at the camera!!!
 
 if this does not make you a happy, dancing, fuzzy person, EVEN ON MONDAY!,  it's time to turn in your membership card to the human race.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--R4N-3azIM
 
enjoy your week!!!!!  when i get better at the you tube thing, i'm going to put "ode to joy" in the background!
mare
 
 
… (2 comments)

Solid Earnings from Wells and MGIC; High Quality Loan Production; Labor Unions Threaten Big Banks; VA Underwriting Update - 07/25/10 12:36 PM
Courtesy of mortgage news daily..
Solid Earnings from Wells and MGIC; High Quality Loan Production; Labor Unions Threaten Big Banks; VA Underwriting Update
by Rob Chrisman Posted July 21, 2010
Sometimes folks ask, "How can you spit out that mortgage & real estate commentary every day at 4AM?"
I enjoy educating folks, and my attention span is pretty short so I try to keep it to a 1-2 minute read, plus I like bad jokes. Who I really feel sorry for, however, are the folks who write health magazines every month. Really, how many ways can one say, "Eat less and exercise … (0 comments)

roxy the dog who nose too much - 07/25/10 11:16 AM
 
since we've moved to maryland,  roxy has had the distinct pleasure of experiencing horses, albeit from a distance.  she has demonstrated an ongoing, inordinate interest in them.  
horses and their by-products (putting it daintily) have become a fave topic of hers.  i cannot fathom but that she considers them ginormous squirrels which would be fun to chase which is a no-no for all concerned except my brown and white four legged wonder dog.  
 the other morning, while i was attempting to take a picture of the horses at greenwell, ms. nose it all, unbeknownst to me, decided to try to visit the peacefully … (0 comments)

where the wild ponies swim... 85th splash of chincoteague's ponies - 07/24/10 03:14 PM
courtesy of last week sunday's parade magazine.
 
ponies taking a swim sounds like a mighty fine way to beat the heat.  click on the link to read more about this event immortalized in the marguerite henry series of children's books, beginning with "misty of chincoteague".  as you can imagine, it was one of my very favorites as a little girl who's crush on horses began early in life.
and has done nothing but grow daily!
http://www.parade.com/news/2010/07/18-where-the-wild-ponies-swim.html
 
mare
… (2 comments)

got an itch??? - 07/24/10 08:20 AM

 
 
happy saturday.   great day to stay indoors and enjoy WATCHING things outdoors from the cool comfort of your home.
stay safe in this extreme heat.  drink plenty of water, please keep your pets indoors and check on elderly neighbors who may not have air conditioning!!!

so please enjoy the video of a horse skritching an itch, early in the morning at greenwell state park(where else?) in hollywood, maryland.
 
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!  feels so good!!
 
mare
… (2 comments)

pet safety in the extreme heat - 07/23/10 01:37 PM
 

 from roxy the boxer mix's facebook page!  she's my dog, so this is an ORIGINAL post!
roxy's paw prints PLEASE love your pets enough to let them stay at home during this heat wave! and follow the link for a quick way to find out whether it's safe in your area to take your pets out for a ride!
http://www.mydogiscool.com/?tr=y&auid=6672892
 
mare
… (0 comments)

HECM(home equity conversion mortgage) and the value of the reverse mortgage - 07/23/10 04:43 AM
courtesy of mortgage news daily  About this Blog HECMs Stuck in Reverse. HUD Considers "Two Product" Solution
by Brian Montgomery Posted July 20,2010
Hoping to avoid another era of unscrupulous lending to unqualified borrowers, lawmakers and consumer advocacy groups have expressed concerns that the country's elderly population may become the next target for mortgage scams disguised in the form of reverse mortgages, which in FHA parlance are known as Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs).
While stories of scams and shakedowns receive a considerable amount of media attention, the vast majority of seniors happily holding HECMs are ignored.  A 2006 survey on reverse mortgages … (2 comments)

FHA Commissioner Discusses Underwriting Standards and Lender Accountability - 07/22/10 05:17 AM
FHA Commissioner Discusses Underwriting Standards and Lender Accountability
by Adam Quinones on July 20, 2010
FHA Commissioner David Stevens wrote to the industry today. He discusses over exuberant underwriting standards, lender accountability, and sustainable homeownership. Below are his comments. I called attention to specific points of interest...
-------------------------------
After touring the country and talking to lenders over the past few weeks, I think it is important to take a moment and emphasize to all lenders the important role they play in this housing market, particularly in their role as responsible stewards of underwriting quality loans that will perform sustainably over time.
In … (5 comments)

Homelessness: Focus Shifts to Shelters with Integrated Wellness Services - 07/21/10 04:57 AM
  from mortgage news daily second in a series on homelessness in america
Homelessness: Focus Shifts to Shelters with Integrated Wellness Services
by Jann Swanson on July 19, 2010
The pictures are in textbooks and on the History Channel; tent cities, men cooking over open fires in rail yards and hitching rides on the trains to the next town in search of a job or a regular source of food.  That was the Great Depression, and homelessness was widespread and visible. 
After World War II, the economy more or less stabilized and we pretended that homelessness had gone away.  It hadn't, it … (2 comments)

turning point: the leaf in the wind - 07/20/10 05:09 AM
 

Location: hollywood MD
i was walking along the green trail with roxy this morning, when a single, golden leaf, spinning quietly, discreetly in the wind caught my mind's eye.  connected by only a tenuous thread to it's surroundings.
and i wondered,  have you ever felt like the leaf for a day or a lifetime?  unable to control outside forces buffeting you? your life not having any direction other than what is dictated by those outside forces?  spinning in place and stuck, bemoaning your lot in life? 
or spinning out of control, like many of our celebrities or just plain folks who cannot … (3 comments)

roxy gets the munchies.... mom gets to say - 07/19/10 05:26 AM
OH GOD.... not AGAIN!
 
yep, walking along greenwell's beach the morning after a really wild thunderstorm.  the tide was extremely high on the beach, so i walked close to the reeds and trees that are further up.  figured this way we wouldn't get too wet.
 
those fallen logs must smell particularly interesting, because no matter where they lie, it's a MUST SNIFF FOR MINUTES kind of thing for old roxiola.
 
lulled into yet another false sense of security, as we were NOWHERE NEAR any water where those recently deceased, defunct, decaying and totally funkified carcasses can be found(not many, but ONE is enough, believe … (2 comments)

19550 PRISTINE WAY, DRAYDEN MD home for sale - 07/18/10 09:00 PM
19550 PRISTINE WAY, DRAYDEN MD  home for sale
 
when they say "buyers market", they're not just whistling dixie! look at the price reduction on this luxury home. waterfront on st. mary's river with it's own dock. it's 98 degrees outside, folks. time to think of taking a dip, and it's just outside your own back door. e-mail me at m_vanek60453@yahoo.com, if you'd like to see it!
click on the link below for details!!!!
 
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/19550-Pristine-Way_Drayden_MD_20630_1110109989?source=012051022
… (0 comments)

for those of you who don't believe there's a 6 AM - 07/18/10 10:59 AM
all you night owls,  take a peek at sunrise over the patuxent river at greenwell state park, hollywood Maryland.
 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4cGQb7Zr4E
and you said it never happens!!!
 
mare
… (3 comments)

are we witnessing a loan pricing war - 07/18/10 05:14 AM
Mortgage Rates: Are We Witnessing a Loan Pricing War?
 Adam Quinones - June 2010 MORTGAGE NEWS DAILY
 
Call me crazy but I think we've been witnessing a lender price war in the primary mortgage market.
Yesterday we talked about lenders "buying the market". . I originally described this behavior as "mixed", some lenders were better while others were worse, but then I looked back at my rate tracking spreadsheet and noticed a rotating pattern of aggressive pricing strategies. Of the majors, Wells and GMAC were buying the market last month, Chase and Bank of America had their moment in the sun, … (3 comments)

mortgage market specific summary of the financial reform bill: redefining things - 07/17/10 07:44 AM
courtesy of mortgage news daily
A Mortgage Market Specific Summary of the Financial Reform Bill
by Adam Quinones on July 16, 2010
After much ado our political "leaders" have finally come to an agreement on the broadest regulatory overhaul since the Glass Steagal Act of 1933.
By a vote of 60-39, the Senate yesterday passed HR 4173: WALL STREET REFORM AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT.  The House already gave their seal of approval so the legislation heads to President Obama's desk where he is expected to sign it into law next week.
The bill includes several reforms aimed directly at the housing and … (1 comments)

10936 S. Kilpatrick, #1B, Oak Lawn IL 60453 1BR condo for rent - 07/16/10 12:22 PM
Immaculate first floor unit, handicapped accessible.  Storage locker and laundry across the hall.  Oversize closets, oak cabinets in the updated kitchen.  Walk to Pace, minutes to Metra & I-294 access.  Close to shopping, schools, nature preserves.  The best value in the area.  Rent or rent with option.
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/10936-S-Kilpatrick_Avenue_Unit_1B_Oak_Lawn_IL_60453_1120459984?source=012051022
 
All you Illinois folks, please check out my new listing!
 
mare
… (0 comments)

humane society of the united states chihuahua rescue - 07/16/10 05:27 AM
from the HSUS newsletter
 
HSUS is one of the few charities that gives back. they have monetarily assisted people who have pets that need care or surgeries that they cannot afford. and they were instrumental in reducing the number of premarin mares in the U.S. with their lobbying efforts. economic times are tough, but i support them! The Humane Society of the United States: Email - You should see these Chihuahuas! action.humanesociety.org A small Chihuahua stood out among the neglected animals at this sad property. Although George's eyes were badly infected, he gave friendly kisses and tail wags to everyone. … (0 comments)

homelessness rife with hidden taxpayer costs - 07/15/10 04:24 PM
courtesy of mortgage news daily
Homelessness Rife with Hidden Taxpayer Costs
by Jann Swanson on June 13, 2010
While an idealist measures homelessness in terms of  the cost in human suffering and loss opportunity, the pragmatic, practical, and perhaps less empathetic are more likely to respond to quantitative analysis. Those people should be aware that there is also a heavy financial cost tied to homelessness that affects governments and taxpayers at all levels.
The following are some of the statistics taken from the recent report Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness published by the US Interagency Council on … (0 comments)

tap into your zen - 07/15/10 03:42 AM
start your day like i do.  watching the sunlight dappled quiet waters of the patuxent river at dawn in greenwell state park, hollywood maryland.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scmczZJ9FcY
 
thought i'd share some space.
 
mare
… (2 comments)

Beagle Freedom: Over 100 Beagles Rescued from Animal Testing Lab - 07/14/10 05:11 AM
courtesy of petside.com petside newsletter blog


Beagle Freedom: Over 100 Beagles Rescued from Animal Testing Lab
By Jo Singer | July 9, 2010 10:00 AM
 anyone looking for a loving pet????
I don't think I'll ever forget the tragic story about Oreo, a young pit-bull mix who was purposefully thrown off the roof of a Bronx, NY, six-story building by her abusive owner.
What compounded the tragedy was that after ASPCA veterinarians performed extensive surgery in an attempt to save her life, the ASPCA refused to turn her over their "miracle dog" to an experienced no-kill shelter.
Their evaluation … (6 comments)

roxy and the ray - 07/13/10 05:14 AM

 
just when i thought i'd seen it all, my dog roxy did another amazing thing.  
you have to remember, roxy was formerly a quiet, suburban dog, living a secluded life in oak lawn il.  rarely taking trips in the car other than to the vet.  walked once a day in a man-made prairie park near the house where the most interesting critters were squirrels and the occasional beaver.
 THEN we moved to maryland.  where she transmogrified into a true HOUND dog.  my first experience was documented in my active rain blog when she ate a recently deceased squirrel and literally swallowed … (2 comments)

the world within - 07/12/10 05:13 AM

"There is no reality except the one contained within us. That is why so manypeople live such an unreal life. They take the images outside of them for realityand never allow the world within to assert itself."--- Herman Hesse
an adjunct to yesterday's blog.  we perceive the world on several different levels, conscious, unconscious, the states before falling asleep and right before waking, both at times termed hypnagogia. the state where the mind is floating between the realities and structures, symbols we are taught to recognize the outer world we inhabit and the release of the subconscious, primal mind which thoughts follow … (0 comments)

come visit Dougie the Southern Maryland Fossil Hunter! - 07/11/10 05:29 AM

 
 
he's a 22 year institution.  sells fossils he's found on the coastal waters of southern maryland.  been on discovery and has a place in the calvert marine museum.  self-taught, he's retired and began his business to educate the children about the treasures of the sea found especially at calvert cliffs state park.
check out his facebook page.  and become a fan by "liking" it if you would.  in it's fledgling state, i plan on doing some interviews and videos too!
 
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Dougie-the-Southern-Maryland-Fossil-Hunter/121038984606220?ref=sgm
mare
… (2 comments)

seeking is not always the way to find. - 07/10/10 09:16 AM

 Seeking is not always the way to find. 
~Augustus William Hare and Julius Charles Hare, Guesses at Truth, by Two Brothers, 1827
have you ever searched for an item you thought you may have misplaced?  retracing your movements over and over in your mind, trying to remember where the devil you left it? like a dog with a bone, the imperative to find that object becomes the focal point of the next portion of the minutes of your life.
then you decide to just leave it alone for awhile.  dismiss it and begin another task, or do something entirely different.  … (0 comments)

saying goodbye - 07/08/10 07:17 PM
sometimes you have to let someone go to allow them to grow.  happened to me recently and thought i'd share.
 
"Even though we've changed and we're  finding our own place in the world, we  know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not  still friends."   author unknown
 you should be HAPPY to be taking yourself on your new journey.  nothing but blessings are sent your way ever and always.  … (3 comments)

food for the fires of the heart - 07/07/10 04:23 AM
If I could only remember that the days were, not bricks to be laid row on row, to be built into a solid house, where one might dwell in safety and peace, but only food for the fires of the heart.
  ~Edmund Wilson

what a great concept.  your days being food for the fires of the heart.  not to be squandered, or stacked, counted or bundled and kept close.  they are meant to be open and shared, energizing the very vapors of our being.  we should awaken , ready to be absorbed back into the miasma of the living … (2 comments)

all the shores you touch - 07/05/10 03:40 AM
follow your dreams,
your life,
your head,
your heart.
may you find happiness and peace
on all the shores you touch.
and if you don't,
bring yours with and
share with everyone you meet
today and always.
mare

… (4 comments)

Let Freedom Ring! - 07/04/10 02:41 AM
 
in the quiet time of your morning
watching the fireworks of the sun
remember the fireworks of the battlefields
where your independence was won.
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY 2010!!!!!!!!

 mare
… (3 comments)

visiting another of southern maryland's best kept secrets - 07/03/10 11:16 AM

Southern Maryland Talks & Walks walking through the many wonders and day to day realities of maintaing a park facility at greenwell state park. riding arenas need proper balancing for the horses to work comfortably at what the rider is asking them to do. it helps them maintain their balance and assures that they will not strain or pull a ligament ...or tendon and remain sound.and you thought it was just SAND!  
See More greenwell state park http://www.facebook.com/pages/southern-maryland-talks-walks/139641259386498?
… (0 comments)

southern maryland walks and talks says hello - 07/02/10 08:22 PM
 Southern Maryland Talks & Walks began a trip in calvert county to flag ponds state park
  flag ponds july 1 2010  follow me on my journeys of what's happening now in southern maryland! here's a link!  http://www.facebook.com/pages/southern-maryland-talks-walks/139641259386498?
… (0 comments)

Homebuyer Tax Credit Closing Deadline Finally Extended - 07/01/10 11:50 AM
Homebuyer Tax Credit Closing Deadline Finally Extended
by Jann Swanson on  7/1/2010   from mortgage news daily
 
Late Wednesday night the Senate followed the lead of the House of Representatives and voted to extend the closing deadline for the popular homebuyer tax credit that was scheduled to expire yesterday at midnight.  Once President Obama signs the legislation, homebuyers will have until September 30 to close on their home purchase and still qualify for the tax credit (as long as they signed their sales contract by April 30, 2010).  
The federal tax credit was part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act … (0 comments)

 


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