~ Gila Woodpecker on Ocotillo ~ Saguaro National Park West - Tucson, Arizona Three things get my attention: Arizona, Hiking & Birding. Put all three together at the same time, and life can't get much better! If you're looking for a home in Arizona, prices have not been this low for ten years....

04/20/2011

For REALTORS Only: Did Your FHA Lender Get It Right?

7 Comments

MI Premium Increase for FHA Case Numbers assigned after April 17, 2011 More than one Buyer/Borrower got burned on April 17th, the last day one could get an FHA Case Number assigned to the loan application in order to lock an FHA loan at the old MIP rate of .90% instead of the current 1.15% MIP. T...

04/20/2011

Caddo, Oklahoma: Marilyn Monroe Moment

14 Comments

~ Scissortail ~ Marilyn Monroe Moment The Scissortail is Oklahoma's State Bird. I caught this one's "Marilyn Monroe Moment" and tailwind recovery on the perimeter of a pasture on GlenMar Ranch in Caddo, Oklahoma. _____________________ I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson Arizona Mortgage Le...

04/19/2011

Caddo, Oklahoma: As The Tornado Passed By...

35 Comments

We were celebrating Sue Simpson's 89th birthday at the Caddo Cafe when the tornado siren went off. Sue is the matriarch of GlenMar Ranch in Caddo. The Caddo Cafe has a television in one corner, and we all looked up as the newsman announced that a tornado had touched down west of us in Tishomingo...

04/17/2011

PIMCO Betting Against US Treasuries. Interest Rates Are Going Up.

5 Comments

When PIMCO bets against US Treasuries, you can bet that interest rates are headed up. The headline this morning on Bloomberg reads: "Pimco Total Return Cuts Government-Related to Negative, Boosts Cash Assets." PIMCO is the most successful bond trading company in the US. I check Bill Gross's opi...

04/12/2011

Roadside Americana: Rooster Envy Folk Art

20 Comments

~ Big Texas Rooster ~ This Texas Rooster is about ten feet tall! Can anyone identify where in Texas you might run across him? Better yet, do you have a photo of him that you can post in your comment? _____________________ I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson Arizona Mortgage Lender. NMLS ...

04/08/2011

Local Color: the Tucson Barbershop eXperience!

11 Comments

~ Jeff Dolan, Tucson Barbershop eXperience ~ "Old Man River" ~ Tucson Barbershop eXperience ~ ~ Sonoran Sound, Tucson Barbershop eXperience ~ "Mississippi Squirrel Revival" Well, I wasn't supposed to take a camera into the High School auditorium, but no on told me that before half-time. (Scuse ...

04/06/2011

My REALTOR Says You Can Approve My FHA Purchase With A 600 FICO Score, Just Like Wells Fargo

64 Comments

600 FICO! 3.5% Down! "A Proactive Approach Because You Deserve It!" ...and other marketing drivel... Inside Wells Fargo... According to an insider at Wells Fargo Bank, this program (nationwide) has resulted in the following since its recent inception: 10,000 loan applications (Good!) 5,000 loa...

04/05/2011

Cutting Spending? Here's a Visual To Put It In Perspective

5 Comments

The administration and the congress are debating a much needed spending cut. This video from YouTube puts it in perspective in a way that's meaningful. You only have to look at the past three years to see how our livelihoods as agents and lenders are better when we have a fiscally prudent economy...

04/05/2011