The Origin of Mr. Danke Schoen - Dancing with the Stars!

"Danke Schoen...Oh darlin'..."  That golden voice.  Wait is that a guy or a girl?  It's a very young Wayne Newton. 

Wayne is not so young these days as he clearly showed America on Dancing with the Stars.

For years I have been told I resemble a young Wayne Newton.  A few years ago I took the resemblance to a new level.  As a room sponsor for the Contra Costa Realtors in Motion I  to a had to give a speech to a room of 250 people.  Boy was I nervous!

Now I had been attending the meetings for almost 2 years at this point in relative anonymity.  My boss said it would be a good place to network with Realtors, so I went.  I generally sat at the back of the room and hung out with the same 5 people each week.  I remember looking at the Broker's tour sheet (a list of homes that would be open that day) just circling properties so it looked like I was doing something.

Fast forward 2 years, I know a few more people and can recognize most of the local players.  It is my week to speak.  Most people get in front of the group and bore us to tears talking about how they offer great rates, and they have this program and that program.  O.K. I did a bit of that myself, it was my first time alright!

Ahh, but that's when I separated myself.  I pulled the mic from the podium and ...

At first nothing came out.  I had come to my big crescendo and I froze.  I took a deep breath and and began belting out "Danke Schoen"  with a few word variations to make it topical to Real Estate.  At first I was singing in that Wayne Newton falsetto, but soon settled into my strong tenor voice.  I finished my couple of verses and received thunderous applause from the room.  The singing and hard work have become my trademark.

Before a few years ago I did not know who Wayne Newton was.  Now I must thank him, for through his music I am truly living a thankful life.

 ~ Danke Schoen

Nate Ellis

MtDHOC Mt Diablo Housing Opportunity Center Steering Committee Chair 

Vice President 2007 & 2008 Contra Costa Realtors in Motion

Affiliate of the Year 2006 & 2007 Contra Costa Realtors in Motion

City of Walnut Creek Certified Lender

Certified Money Management Volunteer

16 Years of Customer Service

BEFORE YOU BUY:

Whether you're a first-time buyer or a seasoned homeowner, Nate Ellis will help you before you buy and every step of the way once you're ready to finance your home.

• Credit pre-approval decision lets you concentrate on finding the right home, knowing how much you're qualified to borrow.
• We cap your rate for up to four months, so you can shop without interest rate worries.
• Get information on how to access a free, private, online home finder service so you can house hunt when it's convenient for you.

You know what you want, so look to us to help you get there. By choosing Nate Ellis, you're putting yourself in a winning position. Of course we offer the variety of loan programs you'd expect. But the right mortgage program is just the beginning. There's so much more we offer before, during and long after your loan closes. And in the future? Whenever you want to make the most of your home investment, we'll be there.

City of Pittsburg First Time Home Buyer Assistance

Get up to $100,000 to help you buy your first home in Pittsburg, Contra Costa County, California.

Summary:  The City of Pittsburg  offers First Time Home Buyer's Down Payment Assistance of  24% of the purchase price or a maximum of $100,000.  The assistance is a 0% interest loan bound with an Affordable Housing Resale clause.  To be eligible for the assistance you must buy a home in the incorporated limits of Pittsburg and meet the income guideline restrictions based on the number of persons living in home.

Special financing may also be available, including additional Down Payment Assistance and Below Market Interest Rates.  Restrictions Apply.

To see if you are eligible for assistance contact Nate Ellis.

Or Call 888-808-NATE (6283)

Click Here to download the official brochure.

City of Concord First Time Home Buyer Program

Get up to $25,000 to help you buy your first home in Concord, Contra Costa County, California.

Summary:  The City of  Concord offers First Time Home Buyer's Down Payment Assistance of  20% of the purchase price or$15,000 or $25,000 depending on income.  The assistance is a 0% interest loan bound with an equity share clause and an Affordable Housing Resale clause.  To be eligible for the assistance you must buy a home in the incorporated limits of Concord and meet the income guideline restrictions based on the number of persons living in home.

Special financing may also be available, including additional Down Payment Assistance and Below Market Interest Rates.  Restrictions Apply.

To see if you are eligible for assistance contact Nate Ellis.

Or Call 888-808-NATE (6283)

Click Here to download the official brochure.

City of Walnut Creek First Time Home Buyer Program

Get up to $65,000 to help you buy your first home in Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County, California.

Summary:  The City of Walnut Creek offers First Time Home Buyer's Down Payment Assistance equal to 17% of the purchase price to a maximum of $65,000.  The assistance is a 0% interest loan bound with an equity share clause.  To be eligible for the assistance you must live or work in the incorporated areas of Walnut Creek and meet the income guideline restrictions, 110% of median income, based on the number of persons living in home.

Special financing may also be available, including additional Down Payment Assistance and Below Market Interest Rates.  Restrictions Apply.

To see if you are eligible for assistance contact Nate Ellis.

Or Call 888-808-NATE (6283)

Click Here to download the official brochure.

Nate Ellis "Mr. Danke Schoen" is the Vice President of the Contra Costa Realtors in Motion (CCRIM) real estate marketing group.  He specializes in assisting First Time Home Buyers with no money down by leveraging Down Payment Assistance in the form of grants and "silent seconds".  Nate Ellis is a certified lender for the City of Walnut Creek, City of Concord and City of Pittsburg First Time Home Buyer program, as well as several other San Francisco Bay Area Cities.  Nate Ellis is also the Chairman of the Mt Diablo Housing Opportunity Center (MtDHOC) steering committee.  The MtDHOC acts as the central resource for Contra Costa County's housing needs and education regarding: First Time Home Buyers, Foreclosure Prevention, Senior Housing and Landlord and Tennant resources.  Nate Ellis is also a Certified Money Management Volunteer (CMMV) for Money Management International and assists people with credit evaluation and financial education.  Nate Ellis is a certified CalHFA, CalPERS and FHA Lender.  Nate Ellis is a Loan Officer for Residential Pacific Mortgage 3201 Danville Blvd, Alamo, CA 94507.  Equal Housing Lender.  http://www.cahousingblog.com/   Nate@BuilditBuyitRefiit.com  Help Teachers, Cops, Firefighters and EMTs be Good Neighbors.

"You really made a dream come true."    

~ Sasha, Richmond - Teacher, First Time Home Buyer

"Thank you for helping us improve our credit. Our new financing has helped us save over $500 a month."      

~Ron and Harriet, Concord

"Our move out of state was crazy enough... Thanks for helping us keep the house here and buy the new one."      

~ Rene and Renee, Peekskill-NY

You don't have to be a First Time Home Buyer to be a First Time Home Buyer.

That's right!  You could have owned a home in the past and still qualify as a First Time Home Buyer.

There are lots of great financing options and down payment assistance for First Time Home Buyers.  But what if you're not a buying your first home? Can you still get those great rates and assistance?

The answer is YES!

Let's start with the federal definition of a First Time Home Buyer.

A First Time Home Buyer is defined as someone who has not owned a primary residence (a home you live in most of the year) in the past three (3) years.

So if I owned a home in the past, I could still be considered a First Time Home Buyer? ...YES!

But wait...There's more:

There are several exceptions to the rule which also may allow you to be considered a First Time Home Buyer.

•·         A single parent who has only owned with a former spouse while married.

•·         An individual who is a displaced homemaker and has only owned with a spouse.

•·         An individual who has only owned a principal residence not permanently affixed to a permanent foundation in accordance with applicable regulations.

•·         Any individual who has only owned property that was not in compliance with State, local or model building codes and which cannot be brought into compliance for less than the cost of constructing a permanent structure.

Every program has its own definition of what constitutes a First Time Home Buyer.  Most follow the federal guidelines, but the most restrictive of policies is usually applied.

Some programs also make exceptions for any buyer if the property is located in a HUD census code that is slated for revitalization.  In these areas many of the First Time Home Buyer Restrictions are lifted to promote role model ownership.  Under these programs you are generally required to take occupancy of the property for a minimum set period of time to get the advantages of the program without penalty.

Exceptions can also be made for Teachers, Law Enforcement, Firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians.  Check out the Good Neighbor Next Door Program for more on special programs for these individuals.

Nate Ellis "Mr. Danke Schoen" is the Vice President of the Contra Costa Realtors in Motion (CCRIM) real estate marketing group.  He specializes in assisting First Time Home Buyers with no money down by leveraging Down Payment Assistance in the form of grants and "silent seconds".  Nate Ellis is a certified lender for the City of Walnut Creek, City of Concord and City of Pittsburg First Time Home Buyer program, as well as several other San Francisco Bay Area Cities.  Nate Ellis is also the Chairman of the Mt Diablo Housing Opportunity Center (MtDHOC) steering committee.  The MtDHOC acts as the central resource for Contra Costa County's housing needs and education regarding: First Time Home Buyers, Foreclosure Prevention, Senior Housing and Landlord and Tennant resources.  Nate Ellis is also a Certified Money Management Volunteer (CMMV) for Money Management International and assists people with credit evaluation and financial education.  Nate Ellis is a certified CalHFA, CalPERS and FHA Lender.  Nate Ellis is a Loan Officer for Residential Pacific Mortgage 3201 Danville Blvd, Alamo, CA 94507.  Equal Housing Lender.  http://www.cahousingblog.com/   Nate@BuilditBuyitRefiit.com  Help Teachers, Cops, Firefighters and EMTs be Good Neighbors.