LoanGo2Guy Blog

Free First Time Home Buyers Classes in Seattle, WA

Phil Ross, MLO-150797 (Doorway Home Loans) — Thu, 03 May 2012 02:29:31 -0700

Free First Time Home Buyers Classes Seattle, WA Phil Ross of Guild Mortgage in Kent, WA offers FREE First Time Home Buyer Workshop , highlighted by Down payment assistance programs & first time home buyer benefits. With historically low rates, and homes more affordable than they have been in years, opportunities for First time Home Buyers are flourishing. First time Home Buyers education is a necessity and knowing what to expect during the buying process makes all the difference. Phil has been a Real Estate Professional in Washington State since 1993. He was recently selected by clients, peers and industry experts as a 2011 Five Star Professional for providing exceptional service and overall satisfaction among mortgage professionals in the Seattle area. Phil specializes in educating first time home buyers, and is currently a state leader in down payment assistance originations. Phil's passion is sharing helpful information to First time home buyers in need of assistance. Phil's students come from all over: Auburn, Black Diamond, Bellevue, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Issaquah, Maple Valley, Olympia, Redmond, Renton, Seatac, Seattle, Tacoma, and Tukwila. Phil's First Time home buyer class is an educational session designed to give an overview of current market conditions and the home buying process. It covers a recap of market trends and stats, including days on market, average sales prices, and inventory levels. Of course he provides tips and best practices for the entire process including contracts, typical fees, and closing costs. Phil's classes cover all the steps to buying a home from Budgeting, Credit, pre-approval, mortgage programs, realtor selection, and home shopping Including... Great deals due to record-high foreclosures & record-low rates An under-publicized first-time-homebuyer tax credit that can pay you thousands of dollars each year… for as long as you live in your home! Special government sponsored down payment assistance! Tips on how to correct and/or clean up smeared credit, and increase credit scores! Find out from a tax advantage why it makes sense to OWN rather than rent! The 9 Deadly Mistakes First Time Home Buyers make! First Time Home Buyers Education (instructor for WSHFC seminars/workshops) Dowpayment Assistance Programs/Gov't Lending (FHA,VA, USDA) The Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) How to best capatilize om Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM) FHA 203k Home Renovation for Purchases and Refinances Rates are at all time lows and homes are more affordable than ever. Let Phil's Free First Time Home Buyers Classes put you on the right path to Home Ownership. Once again there is no cost we simply want to educate you on what is out there, and make you aware of your options through our FREE First Time Home Buyer Workshop. Seating is limited please Click Here To Register Phil Ross WA-MLO-150797 NMLS ID# 3274 425-260-8999 cell 253-246-6000 office 253-458-1591 fax www.guildmortgage.net/philross

Free First Time Home Buyers Classes in Kent, WA

Phil Ross, MLO-150797 (Doorway Home Loans) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 04:49:34 -0800

Free First Time Home Buyers Classes Kent,WA Phil Ross of Guild Mortgage in Kent, WA offers FREE First Time Home Buyer Workshop , highlighted by Down payment assistance programs & first time home buyer benefits. With historically low rates, and homes more affordable than they have been in years, opportunities for First time Home Buyers are flourishing. First time Home Buyers education is a necessity and knowing what to expect during the buying process makes all the difference. Phil has been a Real Estate Professional in Washington State since 1993. He was recently selected by clients, peers and industry experts as a 2011 Five Star Professional for providing exceptional service and overall satisfaction among mortgage professionals in the Seattle area. Phil specializes in educating first time home buyers, and is currently a state leader in down payment assistance originations. Phil's passion is sharing helpful information to First time home buyers in need of assistance. Phil's students come from all over: Auburn, Black Diamond, Bellevue, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Issaquah, Maple Valley, Olympia, Redmond, Renton, Seatac, Seattle, Tacoma, and Tukwila. Phil's First Time home buyer class is an educational session designed to give an overview of current market conditions and the home buying process. It covers a recap of market trends and stats, including days on market, average sales prices, and inventory levels. Of course he provides tips and best practices for the entire process including contracts, typical fees, and closing costs. Phil's classes cover all the steps to buying a home from Budgeting, Credit, pre-approval, mortgage programs, realtor selection, and home shopping Including... Great deals due to record-high foreclosures & record-low rates An under-publicized first-time-homebuyer tax credit that can pay you thousands of dollars each year… for as long as you live in your home! Special government sponsored down payment assistance! Tips on how to correct and/or clean up smeared credit, and increase credit scores! Find out from a tax advantage why it makes sense to OWN rather than rent! The 9 Deadly Mistakes First Time Home Buyers make! First Time Home Buyers Education (instructor for WSHFC seminars/workshops) Dowpayment Assistance Programs/Gov't Lending (FHA,VA, USDA) The Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) How to best capatilize om Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM) FHA 203k Home Renovation for Purchases and Refinances Rates are at all time lows and homes are more affordable than ever. Let Phil's Free First Time Home Buyers Classes put you on the right path to Home Ownership. Once again there is no cost we simply want to educate you on what is out there, and make you aware of your options through our FREE First Time Home Buyer Workshop. Seating is limited please Click Here To Register Phil Ross WA-MLO-150797 NMLS ID# 3274 425-260-8999 cell 253-246-6000 office 253-458-1591 fax www.guildmortgage.net/philross

Weekly Insider Update

Phil Ross, MLO-150797 (Doorway Home Loans) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:07:43 -0800

The highlight for this weeks Inside Lending Newsletter is that existing home sales that are under contract, but not yet closed, were up 10% from the previous month. Also it's good to note this number is up 9% from a year ago. This is promising news for the real estate industry rolling into the new year. You can read more in our weekly newsletter: http://www.mediacenternow.com/IL.aspx?u={47503BD7-EE9D-4A4C-957A-359260BB53B6} Merry Christmas! www.guildmortgage.net/philross

Should I Buy When The Market Is Still Declining?

Phil Ross, MLO-150797 (Doorway Home Loans) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 07:32:07 -0800

Fear usually wins out when stacked up against the desire for personal gain. Fear is often rooted in lack of knowledge, and while many seek out the information needed to make informed decisions, a many others don't know where to turn. The result: they stick with the status quo. But is "status quo" always the safest, smartest approach? For every time a potential homebuyer hears it's a great time to buy, they hear a horror story: a friend who is going through foreclosure, another who is way "underwater" on their mortgage. These true stories are all around us, and we can't help but take notice. Thus, fear of the unknown can sometimes discourage, and many buyers head towards "the fence" to sit and see how things will play themselves out in this market. Buying a home right now certainly isn't right for everyone. However, for many, it's the ideal next step. But you may say, "what about the home prices that continue to decline? Wouldn't it be foolish to buy now what I can get for thousands of dollars a few years later". My answer: maybe, maybe not. Sure, in most markets we have not reached the bottom yet, but one key stat that that the rate of decline has slowed. Here in the Puget Sound area, personally I believe values will continue to drop for another couple of years, at a rate up to 3%. Then I believe our local market we'll likely see the values start inching back up in towards the end of 2013. So let's take a renter who is paying $1300 right now. They are pre-approved to buy a $220k home at the same approx payment as their monthly rent, and are ready to buy for all the right reasons, but decide to wait the market out. Fast forward 3 years, they've just closed on a similar home in they same neighborhood for $15,000 less than they would have paid 3 years earlier. However, it cost them more than $45,000 in rent payments over that time. Was it the smartest move? Maybe, maybe not. Here's my point: buying a home is the largest purchase many of us will make in our lifetimes,and shouldn't be based on a conversation we over-heard at the water-cooler. I encourage everyone not "to run with the herd", but to obtain as much knowledge and information as you can, to make an informed decision. One of the best ways to obtain more knowledge is take advantage of a free homebuyer education class in your area. www.guildmortgage.net/philross

Bad Furnace? Cracked Windows? No Problem...

Phil Ross, MLO-150797 (Doorway Home Loans) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 03:29:55 -0800

Ever been in a situation where your buyer has finally found that perfect home, only to learn that it won't pass inspection? Maybe the furnace doesn't work properly, or a couple windows are broken or cracked? To add to your frustration, the bank is selling "as-is" and refuses to make the needed upgrades to make it possible to secure your buyers FHA financing. If this is your situation, the simpliest solution may be The Energy Effficient Program. This program allows FHA borrowers to roll in the cost of certain energy related upgrades into their home loan. This makes it a win-win for everyone: the lender knows the funds are already set-aside for the needed upgrades, buyer closes with the fundsreadily available to upgrade their home, the seller can make the sale without coming out of the pocket the pocket to do additional upgrades. Here's a video short I did on the subject. Be the way, I did not mention it in this clip, but this a great program for REO listing agents to get well versed on. You can find more detailed info on this program at http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/sfh/eem/energy-r . To Your Success! www.guildmortgage.net/philross

Talent Alone Won't Get The Job Done

Phil Ross, MLO-150797 (Doorway Home Loans) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:00:11 -0800

Over the years as a co-worker, manager, and owner, I've learned that in sales, talent alone won't get the job done. In the majority of cases, the only difference between a true star performer & person just hanging on is merely the mastering and perfecting of a few fundamentals. Now here comes the pill those of us with ADD would rather not have to swallow: this doesn't happen by chance--it takes discipline. To reach our goals in today's market, we must have the intense desire to improve daily. This often requires our continuous focus on developing a few key skills that are most essential to our success. www.guildmortgage.net/philross

Consult, Don't Sell

Phil Ross, MLO-150797 (Doorway Home Loans) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 02:58:15 -0800

Could the old saying, "people love to buy, but hate to be sold", really be so true? I think so. Right or wrong, our culture has conditioned us to equate selling with gamesmanship. Thus, when buying situations arise, most try to avoid any living, breathing being with a name tag...atleast until we've had the chance to do a little research of our own. That's why low touch items as QR codes can become so hot, so fast. When we do deal with a real person,we prefer to buy from someone we consider a friend. That's sounds good and all, but we'll all starve if I we had to rely only on our pals to make a sell. The solution: focus on the client, their wants, their needs. If your going to call on a prospect, do it with the heart to genuinely help them, provide value, and answering their questions honestly. If the opportunity presents itself,consult them even deeper, and give your expertise away. Some will say this approach is a waste of time & money. Who wants to spend any extended time with a prospect without first getting some type of solid commitment, right? Remember this: there is something very powerful about a person in sales who can speak with candor one moment, and humble themselves as a servant the next--just like a good friend.

What You Do Counts More Than What You Say

Phil Ross, MLO-150797 (Doorway Home Loans) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 02:37:15 -0800

As a team leader, words of instruction are always good, but demonstrating it is even more powerful. Whether training new hires, or leading a group of seasoned professionals, what you do counts way more than what you say. Day after day, by demonstrating the right actions, be what you want your team to become.

Rid Yourself of the Nonpaying Busywork

Phil Ross, MLO-150797 (Doorway Home Loans) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 05:01:58 -0800

Have you ever had a something happen that originally felt like a small disaster, that later turned out to be a blessing? I had one of those situations this past week. As I was heading to a morning appointment, I realized the screen on my cellphone had gone dead. This was a real bummer for me, 'cause I pretty much use my cellphone like a laptop. The worst part was I had downloaded several applications with tons of information that I would now be lost because it was not tranferable to my sim card. I know I should always have this kind of valuable info backed up, but isn't that why we have "smart" phones? (Just jokin'.) As I reluctantly struggled through my day, without my tool of trade, it suddenly hit me: losing access to my phone was actually exactly what I needed. You see, for weeks I'd been putting off simplifying my business (or should I say my "busy-ness"), freeing up things so I could be more focused and productive. Over time, I had allowed way too many projects and to-do's to jump on my plate. Unfortunately, one of my biggest strengths is also a weakness: I'm very adventurous and love a new challenge. In other word, I'm a sucker for a great idea, and if I'm not careful I can find myself juggling way too many things at once . Now the slate was clean and I had no choice but to start fresh. Dumping anything & everything that is anything less than ideal is the best way to free up resources (time, money, energy) to be laser-focused on building your ideal business. It can be scary at first (especially if you are getting rid of practices you have been doing for years), but once you do it you'll have more energy,and be able to move faster towards your goals. It's only been a few days since I've "de-cluttered" my biz, and I already feel so much more productive and free... In this instance, less is truly more.

3 Things Leaving "Familiar" Taught Me

Phil Ross, MLO-150797 (Doorway Home Loans) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 05:58:05 -0800

As a youngster, I was painfully shy. I can remember playing a basketball game in the schoolyard, and overhearing someone asking a friend, "is that guy a deaf mute, he never says anything"? I guess I was a pretty quiet dude. As shy as I was, my attraction for success at whatever I did (or maybe it was fear of failure) was always a bit stronger than my desire to be in my comfort zone. Fortunately, I had parents who detected this dynamic, and seem to always place me in situations where I had to stretch myself: -Instead of signing up for soccer at the neighborhood park with all the other 8 yr olds on my block, I was signed up for full contact football across town in the tougher neighborhood -Instead of playing little league sports with kids my age, Dad would regularly sign me up to play with kids 2-3 years older. -Instead of remaining at my neighborhood school and being in top percentile of my class academically, I was put on a bus for an hourlong drive, to participate in the top public school curriculum in the city (where I suddenly found myself at the bottom percentile of the class). The list of examples go on and on throughout my childhood, and in many cases I didn't like them. But these early life experiences taught an overly self concious , shy kid 3 important lessons: 1) It 's okay to walk on the edge of my comfortzone. In fact, this is where I grew the most. 2) Don't worry about whether I am better than someone else, but never stop focusing on maximizing my abilities. I learned to ignore what was beyond my control, and things simply took care of themselves. 3) By making simple improvements day in and day out, I would find myself far exceeding what I initially thought I could never accomplish. What is that one thing you've been putting off that you know will improve your business? Today, take a step into "unfamiliar" and make a commitment to taking that action. Focusing on making small improvements --every day--will allow you to reach your goals far quicker, easier and with less stress than any other method. To Your Success!

It's Still Here! Close More with the Homebuyer Tax Credit

Phil Ross, MLO-150797 (Doorway Home Loans) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 06:26:57 -0800

Today's post highlights a grossly under-utilized homebuyer tax credit that can give first-time buyers more purchasing power, and put thousands of $$$ back into their pockets --ever year for the life of their loan!

Be Adventurous

Phil Ross, MLO-150797 (Doorway Home Loans) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 03:02:38 -0800

Hesitancy and fear of failure often dominate our thinking. Whether we are willing to admit or not, ss Tom Ferry would say, we can become "addicted to other peoples opinions." In doing so, we can miss out on some great opportunities. Sometimes we need to approach our business the way a 5 year old approaches life, and simply incorporate a little adventure Failure to act on a great idea is often the biggest failure of all.

From Muddy Boots to Champion

Phil Ross, MLO-150797 (Doorway Home Loans) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 04:09:11 -0800

As painful as it sometimes can be, failure is often our greatest teacher. While driving to an appointment the other day, I was listening to sports radio. The topic of discussion was Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K), one of the winningest coach in college basketball history. When asked the secret to his success after a recent awards banquet, Coach K went back to his military days at West Point. He told of a story of his first few days in school as a young private that went something like this : When addressed by a superior officer, there were only 3 responses that were acceptable: 1)"yes sir" 2) "no sir" 3) "no excuse, sir. One day, while rushing to class one rainy morning, another mischevious private purposefully kicked mud onto my nice shiny boots (anyone who knows about the West Point understands the importance of the shine on boots). A few moments later, a superior officer walks by, sees my soiled boots, and just lays into me. To make a longstory shortI was reprimanded, but the worst part was, the only reply I was allowed to give was "no excuse, sir". What Coach K learned from that experience, and many others like it at West Point, is that things are going to happen life, right or wrong. The key is to be prepared for those times. He also learned that despite what happens to you, there is usually a better response. In this particular situation, Coach K said in hindsight, once the mud was kicked onto his shoes, he should have immediately rushed back to the barracks, and put on his reserve pair of boots. Coach K said that life lessons like this one has taught him to focus on finding the solution, because the more we live, the more we learn from each circumstance--if we are taking notes. Because of numerous learning experiences (and good note taking) he has enjoyed much success. Winners continuously learn from and through their daily experiences....just ask Coach K.

Master of The Process

Phil Ross, MLO-150797 (Doorway Home Loans) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 03:08:26 -0800

Often we place so much emphasis on distant goals, that poor attention is given to what it takes to get there: the day-to-day particulars of how you conduct your business. Become a master of the process. Decide your most important actions (whether big or small) that will steadily build your business, and systematically make those actions a part of what you do daily. Personally, timeblocks and checklist work best for me in insuring that I'm fitting in the right activities during the day. In short, focus on doing the right actions (over and over again) rather than the final score, and your business will be on auto-pilot towards reaching your goals. To Your Success!

Little Things Lead To BIG things

Phil Ross, MLO-150797 (Doorway Home Loans) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:15:14 -0800

Leaders and top producers regularly get more done in 2 hours than most get done in 2 days. Why? Whether they perform as an individual or work with a team, they are very purposeful and well organized. As legendary basketball coach John Wooden put it, "there are no big things, just an accumalation of many little things". It's up to us to identify the key little things to focus on, and determine how much time and attention to give them. Your first minutes working on an important task or project can determine your ultimate success.

RE Expert vs Buyer Confidant: Don't Belittle Your Client

Phil Ross, MLO-150797 (Doorway Home Loans) — Wed, 04 May 2011 04:00:27 -0700

Here's a link to a short video blog by the guys at "Think Big, Work Small", discussing the common mistake we RE professionals make in trying to always come across as the expert to our clients...enjoy: http://realestatemarbles.com/blog/videos/dont-belittle-your-prospects-with-your-great-knowledge/