jumbo: 1031 Exchange Jumbo Mortgage - 03/13/18 08:17 AM
1031 Exchange Jumbo Mortgage
 
If, indeed, there are two certainties in life, death and taxes, then real estate investors just might have found their Juan Ponce de Leon in the 1031 exchange, which allows them to defer capital gains taxes on the sale of a rental property so long as they reinvest the proceeds in a "like-kind" purchase.  Spared the death of writing a large check to the IRS, they can find the fountain of youth in a new investment --- always with the proceeds of the previous sale and sometimes with the addition of a new jumbo mortgage.  Since our fabled 1031 … (1 comments)

jumbo: Lock Watch for the Week of 3/12/2018 - 03/12/18 08:47 AM
Lock Watch for the Week of 3/12/2018
 
Volatility-O-Meter:  
High. A lot of reports this week and all against an ever-changing political situation.  
 
Economicalendar (all times are Pacific):
Mon, 3/12:       3-Year Note Auction (8:30am), 10-Year Note Auction (10am).
Tues, 3/13:       Consumer Price Index (5:30am), 30-Year Bond Auction (10am).
Weds, 3/14:     PPI and Retail Sales (5:30am).
Thurs, 3/15:    Jobless Claims, Philadelphia Fed Biz Outlook, Empire State Mfg Survey and Import and Export Prices (5:30am).
Fri, 3/16:         Housing Starts (5:30am), Industrial Production (6:15am), Consumer Sentiment and JOLTS (7am).
 
10-Year Treasury History
2.88%     Today
2.84%     One Week Ago
2.86%     One Month Ago
2.62%     One Year Ago
 
"Rage to Master"
As the father … (1 comments)

jumbo: How High Can You Get with 10% Down? - 03/06/18 08:56 PM
How High Can You Get with 10% Down?
 
First and foremost, let me declare emphatically that I would pass any drug test at any time.  You show up at Casa Spinosa at 4am in the morning, drag me out into your unmarked van, make me tinkle in a cup and take a lock of my graying hair, and you're still not going to find a trace of anything illegal.  Nothing.  Nada.  But I don't know why I have to defend myself when that's not even close to what this post is about...
 
No, instead, I want to tell you about our 10% down … (3 comments)

jumbo: Niche Jumbo Mortgage in California - 02/28/18 07:37 AM
Niche Jumbo Mortgage in California
 
Not all mortgage scenarios in California --- and especially in the high-cost areas we often see in the San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley and in the greater Los Angeles environs --- fit squarely in "the box."  "The Box" is the narrow definition of what it takes to qualify these days, and for a jumbo mortgage that falls outside of the parameters of a conforming or "government," loan, such as FHA or VA.  When you find yourself outside and looking in, sometimes the best solution is a "niche" mortgage program. 
 
Now if visions of subprime loans and sky-high rates … (1 comments)

jumbo: Toxic is Trending! - 02/06/18 07:07 AM
Toxic is Trending!
 
A brief review at recent environmental headlines says it all:
 
January 31, 2018:  President Mulling Major Cuts to Clean Energy Research (Washington Post)
January 15, 2018:  EPA Loosens Regulations on Toxic Air Pollution (EPA)
January 10, 2018:  Climate Change Websites Censored Under President (Envirodatagov.org)
.....
October 9, 2017:  EPA Poised to Scrap Clean Power Plan (New York Times)
 
The list goes on and on.  So I thought I'd get on the bandwagon and talk a little trash about how toxic loan features, as designated by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Financial Reform Act, are making a totally terrific, trending comeback in the world of jumbo mortgage … (2 comments)

jumbo: Once Bitcoin, Twice Shy: Can You Buy a Home with Bitcoin? - 01/13/18 03:59 PM
Once Bitcoin, Twice Shy:  Can You Buy a Home with Bitcoin?
 
Let's talk about what this post will NOT cover:
 
How bitcoin works. Whether or not you should invest in bitcoin. Is bitcoin the modern day equivalent of tulip bulbs?  
What will we cover?  
 
Using bitcoin to buy real estate.  In other words, can you use bitcoin for your down payment?  What will a mortgage lender ask for if you obtain a loan for your purchase?  What else do I need to know before I cash out of the investment that's kept me sleepless for the last few months?  
Using Bitcoin to … (2 comments)

jumbo: It's 2018. Will I Lose My Tax Deduction if I Refi? - 12/31/17 07:02 AM
It's 2018.  Will I Lose My Tax Deduction if I Refi?
 
If you're asking this question, I'm going to go out on a limb and say you're experiencing some anxiety right about now.  But no matter how bad it gets, realize things could always be worse.  You could be the Internal Revenue Service and tasked on a couple weeks' notice with retooling your shop to both comprehend and implement the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.  So whether you're a homeowner, a CPA, a Californian, an IRS employee or a blue state Democrat, let's wash down a couple of Xanax with a strong martini … (22 comments)

jumbo: Your DTI Is High and It Will Be Alright - 12/16/17 08:41 AM
Your DTI Is High and It Will Be Alright
 
You might have been lured into reading this blog post under the false assumption that I'd be discussing the controversial subject of financing cannabis-related businesses and property.  Well, you can let that notion go up in smoke.  Instead, we're going to talk about the ways you can get a great jumbo mortgage in California if your debt-to-income ratio (also known as "DTI") is higher than Jeff Spicoli at 4:20pm.  OK, dude, not really, but we are going to address the ways you can get a decent home loan with a very competitive rate … (1 comments)

jumbo: The Older I Get The More I Conform - 12/10/17 08:40 AM
The Older I Get The More I Conform
 
If you know me, you know that I don't like to stick to convention.  I was the teenager who skipped college, moved to Hollywood and played rock guitar.  In my 20's, I saved up vacation time not for sandy white beaches but instead for expeditions to the harsh mountain environs of the world's highest peaks.  In my 30's, I dove (literally) into the sport of triathlon --- an endeavor, to quote my Aunt Marge, that would be something she'd "rather die a thousand deaths" before contemplating.  When I come to the fork in the road where … (6 comments)

jumbo: The Perfectly Smooth Blend of Customer Service - 11/05/17 01:36 PM
The Perfectly Smooth Blend of Customer Service
 
Some of my mornings get behind schedule more quickly than I'd like to admit.  There are days when the obligations of child care and my non-negotiable self-pact to exercise will have me in a mad scramble to get to the office before the stress load becomes difficult for my team to handle without my involvement.  On those days I will sometimes stop at my neighborhood Jamba Juice on the way down to the office. 
 
Now the Jamba staff would likely not confuse me for a "regular," but as you have probably experienced, even somewhat routine visits to a … (5 comments)

jumbo: 20% Down? Ain't That a Shame... - 10/28/17 06:48 AM
20% Down? Ain't That a Shame...
 
Last week, with the passing of Fats Domino, we lost a rock 'n' roll legend and pioneer.
 
But nearly every week we (me and my team and you, as real estate agents with your teams) lose transactions simply because of the unquestioned and untested myth that every buyer needs to bring in at least a 20% down payment, especially here in California where many of our home prices require loans that exceed the conventional and FHA loan limits.  In addition to simply not recognizing that many great programs exist in order to accommodate a 10% down payment on a … (4 comments)

jumbo: Foreigners Have Been Waiting for a Loan Like This - 10/17/17 07:34 AM
Foreigners Have Been Waiting for a Loan Like This
 
California has both a dynamic and desirable real estate market and in the recent years we've seen an influx of foreign buyers.  Despite the headlines such as, "Chinese Billionaires Snapping Up San Francisco Real Estate with All Cash Offers 150% Over Asking...," I can attest that not every foreign buyer is able to purchase real estate with a Louis Vuitton suitcase bursting full of hard currency.  In fact, many of them seek mortgage financing for any number of valid reasons and when they do, we are often able to help.  
 
Foreign nationals are citizens … (4 comments)

jumbo: A Primer on Prime Rate - 08/28/17 08:22 PM
A Primer on Prime Rate
 
When we hear talk of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) adjusting interest rates, there is one index in the mortgage environment that we know will be impacted, even when 30-year fixed rate loans may not see any change to their pricing. This rate is known as Prime Rate and it is the index that is used for most home equity lines of credit, or HELOCs.
 
If you have a HELOC on your property then it very likely will use Prime to set its base rate, with the addition or subtraction of a margin. Prime Rate itself currently … (1 comments)

jumbo: Can I Use RSU Income to Qualify for a Mortgage? - 08/16/17 06:07 AM
Can I Use RSU Income to Qualify for a Mortgage?
 
Way back in 1997, Jeff Bezos set forth his bold business plan for Amazon, with proviso #9 reading:  "We will hire and retain the best people and we will not pay them with cash."  Wait.  What???
 
So I guess it's no longer any secret that many technology professionals are compensated with Restricted Stock Units, also known as “RSUs.”  And here at the epicenter of the high tech world, namely the Silicon Valley and San Francisco Bay Area, we see a lot of paystubs and verification of employment forms (“VOE”) that include base pay, … (22 comments)

jumbo: Unlocking the Rate Lock Mystery - 06/27/17 08:07 AM
Unlocking the Rate Lock Mystery
 
Everyone who has financed a home with a mortgage, either for a purchase or refinance, has probably struggled at some point during that transaction with the dilemma of locking or floating the interest rate.  This critical decision does one of two things:
 
Commits both the borrower and the lender to a specific interest rate for a set period of time.  This “for better/for worse” proposition means that if rates move up or down, the commitment cannot be broken.  This action is known as “locking” a rate. Leaves the interest rate open to future market fluctuation, again for … (28 comments)

jumbo: 80 10 10 Loan in California - 06/22/17 07:12 AM
80 10 10 Loan in California
 
It has been said that the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most photographed tourist attractions in the world.  But before you get out your selfie stick and entertain visions of relocating to California, especially to the San Francisco Bay Area, know that the median home prices here in the middle of  201 tend to hover over one million dollars --- sometime by more than just a little.
 
It stands to reason that not all otherwise eligible buyers will have a full 20% down payment saved when they attempt to buy a home here in our … (2 comments)

jumbo: Not Able to Refinance? Recast Your Loan in a New Light - 06/06/17 06:48 AM
Not Able to Refinance?  Recast Your Loan in a New Light
 
Over the last decade there have been many opportunities for homeowners to refinance their mortgages to lower rates and, by far, that is the "go to" solution when a borrower is looking to lower his or her payments.  This makes perfect sense.  Let's say the homeowner has mortgage at 4.000% and can get a 3.750%, no-cost refinance.  Lower rate, lower payments, no closing costs added to the balance...win/win/win.  
 
But what about instances where current rates may not be lower or there may not be as clear a case for refinancing?  How … (13 comments)

jumbo: Stretching Your Loan Qualification? Which Mortgage Is Best? - 05/16/17 06:43 AM
Stretching Your Loan Qualification?  Which Mortgage Is Best?
 
Buyers will come to us, often after beholding the perfect home while out touring with their Realtor, and they will want to know the maximum amount they can borrow on a mortgage.  Perhaps they just intuitively realize that their dream home will stretch the outer limits of affordability.  Their question will be, "What is the maximum amount I can qualify for on a mortgage?"
 
At this point, they may ask about interest-only (I/O) loans or ARM programs to help them achieve their target purchase price, so let's play a little game of "Truth or Delusion" and cover some of the … (9 comments)

jumbo: The Silent Assassin - Unreimbursed (2106) Business Expenses - 05/10/17 06:11 AM
The Silent Assassin - Unreimbursed (2106) Business Expenses
 
Death and taxes, right?  Of these two certainties in life, let's leave our mortality out of the discussion for now.  That leaves us with taxes and unless you're the president, at some point you must come face to face with the reality of your tax returns.  I think we can universally agree that we are always striving to minimize the taxes we pay.  This tends to work well, year after year, UNTIL we go to get a home loan.  Because, you see, reducing your taxable income and maximizing your expenses and deductions for Uncle Sam … (2 comments)

jumbo: VA Jumbo: The Mother of All Loans - 05/02/17 06:55 AM
VA Jumbo:  The Mother of All Loans
 
Say what you will about the current adminstriation's foreign policy (or any of its policies, for that matter), but the headline news about dropping some really big ordnance got me thinking about something else that can go really big in a veteran's favor --- VA jumbo mortgages.
 
At least here in Marin County, CA, just north of the Golden Gate, we don't see a lot of VA loan scenarios and it's a shame.  Because I'm licensed to originate mortgage loans throughout the state of California, I am aware that there are geographical pockets where Veteran's Adiminstration … (21 comments)

 
Rob Spinosa, Mortgage Loan Originator, Marin County (US Bank)

Rob Spinosa

Mortgage Loan Originator, Marin County

Larkspur, CA

More about me…

US Bank

Address: 324 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo, CA, 94960

Office: (415) 367-5959

Mobile: (415) 367-5959

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