"MARI: 1Q Mortgage Fraud Up 42%" Duh, Really? - 08/27/08 04:18 PM
I think I was I who said, "we'll have less sales and refinances and more fraud" in reference to changes in the lending environment. Trust me - I'm not making excuses for these scumballs and thugs - it's just common sense. Make the dream harder to acheive and people are going to take more risks and break more rules (and laws) to acheive it.
According to a report in National Mortgage News "Florida led the states in mortgage fraud, accounting for 24% of all properties with material misrepresentation for loans originated in the first quarter, according to the MARI Quarterly Fraud … (12 comments)

Opposition of Down Payment Assistance - 08/26/08 01:34 PM
First let's set the record straight and say that HR 3221 did not end Down Payment Assistance. What it ended is what is called seller funded or interested party down payment assistance. DPA is still available in a much less regulated way than the type of DPA which was just "outlawed".
I know there are many people who do not care either way about DPA and there are people who care passionately about DPA. What I also have come to realize is that any who oppose it do not fully understand it. They have relied on numbers that are textbook examples … (14 comments)

Signs of the Changing Times - 08/25/08 12:15 PM
When I was younger I always thought older people were out of touch and out of date because they didn't get excited easily about change - at least the ones I later found out were the wisest.
Now with the age of the internet change spreads faster and gets deeper into society. It also comes with red, bold, oversized font and streaming video. But that's really not the point of this breif posting. As I relax after lunch I have been going through my spam box to make sure there are no real morsels in there I may have missed. Hard … (4 comments)

Crucial Conference Call on HR3221 FHA Deal Killing Changes NOW - 08/15/08 09:25 AM
Join me and my guests for this very crucial conference call regarding the changes mandated by HR 3221 (Housing Rescue Bill) and how it WILL affect your transactions. It is urgent because this is in play now - not at some phantom future date - and many of you will be caught in the cross fire. Especially if you do not know the Seven Deal Killers that are in play right now.
This is probably the most important conference call you will participate in this year. It contains assembled information not available from any other source of this type at this … (0 comments)

Crucial Information About FHA and Down Payment Assistance - 08/14/08 09:51 AM
I will be slowly, for the sake of accuracy, disseminating the changes in lending laws that will directly impact your world. In HR 3221, American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008, is filled with good and bad. Unfortunately the bad outweighs the good. But let’s look at what we need to know now to avoid being ensnared by a couple of the traps in this bill that will definitely impede your ability to get people into homes.
RESERVE YOUR EMERGENCY CONFERENCE CALL LINE RIGHT NOW - only 25 lines available
This is an ACT NOW warning and I … (6 comments)

The Chicken, The Egg, The Modification and the "Certified Loss Mitigator" (cluck-cluck) - 08/13/08 12:35 PM
A modification is when the borrower or a professional consultant submit proof and evidence to the existing lender that the home is less valuable than the payoff and/or the rate has adjusted and the client can no longer meet the obligation and there is zero or negative equity in the property due to bad lending practices or a declining market - and the lender agress to change the rate and/or terms of the existing loan.
Many people claim to be "certified loss mitigators" but there is no industry designation by that title. Real loss mitigators work for the lender and mitigate … (5 comments)

HUD Putting The Foot Down on Unapproved Brokers - 08/12/08 10:30 AM
I love it when I'm right. For months I have been challenging these renegade lenders allowing unapproved brokers to send FHA loans in and be compensated saying it is a violation of HUD's policy and an impingement on the public trust. "No, no, no, Ken. We have a letter from HUD okaying the way we do it", said my friend.
"Right", replied Ken. "Just because the name is Perfect doesn't mean the ethics are."
On June 20, 2008, HUD issued Mortgagee Letter 2008-17, to remind lenders and brokers of FHA existing policy regarding the use of non-approved mortgage brokers in the … (5 comments)

Time Now for a Cool Change - 08/11/08 08:48 AM
The winds of change are blowing. It has nothing and everything to do with everything and nothing. Back to school time always signals a change - sometimes it's not for the good - sometimes it is. Here is the good news: there are currently 103,156 Rainers. My estimate is that 50,000 are somewhat active but 10,000 are quite active. Here is some more good news: The pen is mightier than the sword.
Those of you who have read my "stuff" for the last couple of years here on AR know I can be a little too transparent from time to time. … (11 comments)

Congrats to SCOTT SCHANG! Top Post on The 24 - 08/10/08 10:22 PM
"Freddie Mac Makes Bold Moves to Encourage Workouts" is a grand slam hit for Scott Schang at The 24. Scott is the regular featured publisher on The 24 and proves why with this powerful submission. My personal favorite part of Scott's article is, "If you are having challenges making your mortgage payments or if you are troubled by the enormous amount of negative equity you're currently sitting on, don't hesitate to attempt a work out with your lender."
And brother is he right! It looks like Scott, as is my Novation Mortgage, is helping people regardless of who their current lender … (0 comments)

Under the Hood of the 12MTA POA - 08/10/08 09:51 AM
Although not as popular as they were in the hands of unsophisticated borrowers and undereducated, inexperienced "loan officers" the 12 Month Treasury Average indexed loan has long been a great choice for borrowers who have a wealth plan and understand their home, contrary to the statements of that "Rich Dad Poor Dad" author, is one of the greatest assets they will ever posses. Yes, I am saying Robert Kyosaki is wrong about your home being a liability and not an asset. If you agree with him please rent one of my homes from me :)
This short blog posting in no … (3 comments)

Just Another Example of Why Some of the "Lender Created Mess" Exists (A Fraud Saga) - 08/01/08 12:37 PM
I regularly receive emails from people asking for my assistance with short sales, loan modifications, etc. Since I'm a "real" loss mitigator and not one of those blue light special "I bought my *certification* with $1500 and a class" variety ... but I digress :)
Today I get this email:
hi, I'm just now hearing about short sales and am completely confused. I'm not at all educated in all of the terminology and rules and laws of real estate. In a nutshell: I have a condo with under $100k left on it. My father is on the title with me. He … (11 comments)

 
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Ken "Yes You Can" Cook

Marietta, GA

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Ken Cook, Brand Strategist

Address: Marietta, GA, 30062

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