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Mortgage / Finance

Anybody that's hung around the ActiveRain “water cooler” for any length of time understands the value of the relationships built on the site. AR is so much more than a social networking site, however.


It's also the place to get up-to-the-minute information on topics that affect your clients. Ask yourself: what's the most confusing aspect of buying a home for the real estate consumer? The answer is most likely financing the purchase. Credit scores and how they affect the mortgage rate, types of loan products, points, fees – whew! -- there's a lot to know about mortgages.


To serve your clients effectively you need to know about this stuff and keep abreast of changes in the mortgage industry. Thankfully, ActiveRain is not only popular with real estate agents and brokers but with finance professionals as well.


Whether you're an agent trying to figure out what the Fed's latest move means to your clients or a mortgage pro who needs input on how to build relationships with real estate agents, ActiveRain is the place to tap into a wealth of knowledge.

Recent blogs on Mortgage / Finance
By John Lake, Sarasota and Cape Cod Mortgage Ba
(Shamrock Home Loans)
Last Friday we should have gotten the jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If Only? So we must rely on other data. Remember the Fed has shifted focus from inflation to employment. Inflation has come down since COVID and is within  1% of the Fed's 2% comfort zone. It is moving at a glacial pace. However the employment market is starting to falter and recede. That is not a bad thing for inflation. As more workers become unemployed and are not making their normal income, they will curb their spending and will put pressure on inflation.  ADPThere October report showed 42,000 jobs created. While that was stronger than the 24,000 expected. It also showed losses in September and August, as well as 3 out of the previous 4 months. Over the last 3 months it only shows 10,000 gains in ...
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By Brian Madigan, LL.B., Broker
(RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage (Toronto))
Commercial Bond Yields CMB 5 Year - 2.91% CANHOU 12/15/30 [+0.03%]     10 Year - 3.53%* Est. CANHOU 03/15/36 [+0.03%]     Floating Rate insured cost of funds 2.81% [-]     Prime Rate 4.45% [-]     GoC 2 Year - 2.52% CAN 09/01/28 [+0.04%]     3 Year - 2.63% CAN 09/01/29 [+0.03%]     5 Year - 2.74% CAN 09/01/30 [+0.03%]     10 Year - 3.17% CAN 06/01/35 [+0.03%]     GOC Bonds are for reference purposes only * denotes interpolated rate
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By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
Buying a house, getting a home mortgage loan, remember the real estate is always local. Home lending should be done locally from banks, credit unions. Folks that live, work and play where the property is located. That are in Maine and know the landscape.The local mortgage lending professionals have the life experience skill set to do the Maine home loan fast, friendly, cheapest and with least hassle. Have a Maine home loan real estate sale with a Texas buyer trying to use a Rhode Island bank for a property in Houlton. How's that working out Andy?Delays, hard time to get an appraisal order filled. Lots of time wasted on the phone and emailing buyer and seller. Who are both wondering what is taking so long.The far away "won't communicate" slow home loan bank lender three time zones away, ...
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By John Lake, Sarasota and Cape Cod Mortgage Ba
(Shamrock Home Loans)
As we enter November here are very important movers and impacts to Mortgage rates. Please check out this 2 part series. I am saving the scariest for last. By the way NO-ONE is talking about. Government shut down.We are 1 month plus into the shut down. People have lost food benefits. Flying is an issue, especially as we approach the busiest travel time of the year. The departments that issue vital statistics for economic policy to be made are closed. We saw first hand the damage that not having Data means to the rate market. Yes, we got a .25 point cut at the last Fed Meeting. Then in the Press conference, it all went to Hell. The comment that hurt the market the most was "The December Rate cut was not a foregone conclusion" the nail in the coffin " FAR FROM IT" Rates went up on those 3 ...
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By John Lake, Sarasota and Cape Cod Mortgage Ba
(Shamrock Home Loans)
The Federal employees are going with out pay check, wondering if they still have a job after this is resolved, well it just got harder for them to buy a home.  Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae just announce a NEW GUIDELINE for Federal Employees.Starting with application dates of Monday, November 3 and later, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will begin requiring reserves for all transactions where borrowers are either employed by the federal government or their employment is directly impacted by the shutdown. The loan must have the greater of: Two months of documented reserves, or The amount of reserves required by DU/LPA, with overlays as required by the respective selling guides. If the source of reserves is non-liquid (such as retirement funds), will consider them same as liquid if supported by d...
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By Brian Madigan, LL.B., Broker
(RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage (Toronto))
  Commercial Bond Yields CMB 5 Year - 2.87% CANHOU 12/15/30 [-0.03%]     10 Year - 3.49%* Est. CANHOU 03/15/36 [-0.03%]     Floating Rate insured cost of funds 2.87% [-]     Prime Rate 4.45% [-]     GoC 2 Year - 2.49% CAN 09/01/28 [-0.02%]     3 Year - 2.60% CAN 09/01/29 [-0.03%]     5 Year - 2.71% CAN 09/01/30 [-0.03%]     10 Year - 3.13% CAN 06/01/35 [-0.03%]     GOC Bonds are for reference purposes only * denotes interpolated rate   Market Trends View the 30 day trend graphView the 1 year trend graph
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This is a day of great healing.This is a day of great joy.I am one with the infinite wisdom of the universe.I am one with the infinite joy, power, and abundance of the universe.All is well and I am safe.
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By Associate Broker Falmouth MA Cape Cod Heath Coker, Heath Coker Berkshire Hathaway HS Robert Paul Prop
(https://teamcoker.robertpaul.com)
Technology is Your Money-Making LeverThe famous scientist Archimedes once said, "Give me a lever long enough and a prop strong enough, and I can single-handedly move the world." In today's world, technology is your lever for wealth creation. If you are afraid of technology, you are leaving massive amounts of money on the table. Technology allows you to multiply your efforts. Instead of talking to one customer at a time, a simple website or an email list lets you talk to thousands. You can use e-commerce to sell products while you sleep. You can use online tools to automate tasks that used to take hours. To move from "Trash Man to Cash Man," you must embrace technology. You don't have to be a computer expert, but you must be willing to learn the basics and use the tools available. Start ...
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By Associate Broker Falmouth MA Cape Cod Heath Coker, Heath Coker Berkshire Hathaway HS Robert Paul Prop
(https://teamcoker.robertpaul.com)
Your Real Business is MarketingNo matter what you sell—whether it’s a product, a service, or your own time—your real business is marketing. Myron Golden teaches that marketing is the art and science of creating a strong desire in other people for what you offer. You can have the best product in the world, but if no one knows about it, or no one wants it, you will fail. Marketing is not about tricking people; it’s about adding value to their lives and clearly communicating how you can solve their problems. You must learn to speak about the benefits of your offering, not just the features. For example, a drill is not sold because it’s a drill; it’s sold because people want a hole. If you want to make more money, you must become a better marketer. Dedicate time every week to learning effec...
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By Associate Broker Falmouth MA Cape Cod Heath Coker, Heath Coker Berkshire Hathaway HS Robert Paul Prop
(https://teamcoker.robertpaul.com)
The $10K Hands-Free Business PlanWhat if you could create a business that made you $10,000 every month without you having to be there all the time? That is the goal of the Hands-Free Money Business Plan. The idea is simple: start a business that can be run from home and focus on setting up systems so that after about two years, it requires minimal effort to maintain. The power of this plan is in repetition. Once you have one $10,000-per-month hands-free business, you start another one. This creates multiple, powerful income streams that work for you 24/7. This is how you move from trading your time for money to having true financial independence. This plan is not about getting rich overnight. It requires two years of focused work to build the system. But once the system is built, you ha...
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By Associate Broker Falmouth MA Cape Cod Heath Coker, Heath Coker Berkshire Hathaway HS Robert Paul Prop
(https://teamcoker.robertpaul.com)
Stop Buying Liabilities, Start Buying AssetsImagine your financial life is a house. Do you want it built on sand or a rock? Myron Golden teaches that a strong financial house is built on Income Producing Assets (IPAs). An asset is anything that puts money into your pocket. A liability is anything that takes money out of your pocket. Most people focus on buying liabilities—things that look nice but cost them money every month, like expensive cars or gadgets. Wealthy people focus on acquiring IPAs first. These can be things like real estate, laundromats, or a business that runs itself. The key principle is this: Every financial principle you ignore is being used against you by someone who understands it. You must learn to prioritize the acquisition of assets that generate passive income. ...
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By Associate Broker Falmouth MA Cape Cod Heath Coker, Heath Coker Berkshire Hathaway HS Robert Paul Prop
(https://teamcoker.robertpaul.com)
The 4 Ways to Make MoneyDid you know there are only four main ways people make money? Myron Golden calls this the Window of Opportunity. Most people start with Having A Job (HAJ), where you trade your time for a paycheck. This is the least effective way to build wealth because your time is limited. The next step is Owning A Job (OAJ), like a doctor or a lawyer who owns their practice. You still trade time for money, but you earn more. The two most powerful ways are Owning A System (OAS) and Sowing Money Seeds (SMS). Owning a system means building a business that makes money even when you are not working—this is passive income. Sowing money seeds means investing your money so it grows and makes more money for you. Rich people understand how money works, and they focus on OAS and SMS. Poo...
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By Jason E. Gordon, Sr Loan Officer, CMA, CMPS, CDLP, CDRE, RCSD, CDPE
(CMG Mortgage, San Diego, CA)
The Government Shutdown is impacting new mortgages. In short, the situation is continuously evolving. Among the effects to NEW MORTGAGE LOANS being originated are as follows: Upcoming Reserve Requirements - Starting with all application dates of Monday, November 3, 2025 or later (until the Government Shutdown is resolved), Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac will begin requiring reserves for all transactions where Borrowers are either employed by the Federal Government, or their employment is directly impacted by the shutdown. The loan must have the GREATER of:  2 Months of documented reserves of the new proposed housing payment (Principal, Interest, Property Taxes, Homeowners Insurance, plus (if applicable) HOA Dues, Private Mortgage Insurance and/or Special Assessments such as Mello Roos). Or th...
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By Brian Madigan, LL.B., Broker
(RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage (Toronto))
Commercial Bond Yields CMB 5 Year - 2.78% CANHOU 12/15/30 [-0.03%]     10 Year - 3.44%* Est. CANHOU 03/15/36 [-0.03%]     Floating Rate insured cost of funds 2.87% [-]     Prime Rate 4.70% [-]     GoC 2 Year - 2.43% CAN 09/01/28 [-0.03%]     3 Year - 2.53% CAN 09/01/29 [-0.02%]     5 Year - 2.62% CAN 09/01/30 [-0.03%]     10 Year - 3.05% CAN 06/01/35 [-0.03%]     GOC Bonds are for reference purposes only * denotes interpolated rate  
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By Brian Madigan, LL.B., Broker
(RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage (Toronto))
  Commercial Bond Yields CMB 5 Year - 2.82% CANHOU 12/15/30 [-0.01%]     10 Year - 3.47%* Est. CANHOU 03/15/36 [-]     Floating Rate insured cost of funds 2.87% [-]     Prime Rate 4.70% [-]     GoC 2 Year - 2.47% CAN 09/01/28 [-0.01%]     3 Year - 2.56% CAN 09/01/29 [-0.01%]     5 Year - 2.66% CAN 09/01/30 [-0.01%]     10 Year - 3.09% CAN 06/01/35 [-0.01%]     GOC Bonds are for reference purposes only * denotes interpolated rate  
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By Dennis Neal, Your Home Sold in 21 Days or We Sell It For Free
(Exp Realty of Southern California, Inc.)
Losing a home to foreclosure is never easy, but many Pittsburgh homeowners don’t realize there’s another path that may protect their credit and help them move forward faster. What Is a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure? A deed in lieu of foreclosure is an agreement where a homeowner voluntarily transfers ownership of their property to the lender to settle the mortgage debt. In exchange, the lender releases the borrower from the loan, helping both parties avoid the lengthy and costly foreclosure process. Why Some Homeowners Choose It A deed in lieu can help you: Resolve the situation quickly Reduce legal and court costs Limit credit score damage Possibly erase the remaining loan balance It offers a clean break and can make a difficult financial situation more manageable. Local Insight for Pit...
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By Carlo Finotti, Buys Houses: Fast, fair Pittsburgh home buyers.
(Buys Houses)
Losing a home to foreclosure is never easy, but many Pittsburgh homeowners don’t realize there’s another path that may protect their credit and help them move forward faster.What Is a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure?A deed in lieu of foreclosure is an agreement where a homeowner voluntarily transfers ownership of their property to the lender to settle the mortgage debt. In exchange, the lender releases the borrower from the loan, helping both parties avoid the lengthy and costly foreclosure process.Why Some Homeowners Choose ItA deed in lieu can help you: Resolve the situation quickly Reduce legal and court costs Limit credit score damage Possibly erase the remaining loan balance It offers a clean break and can make a difficult financial situation more manageable.Local Insight for Pittsburg...
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By Brian Madigan, LL.B., Broker
(RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage (Toronto))
Commercial Bond Yields CMB 5 Year - 2.87%* Est. CANHOU 12/15/30 [-0.02%]     10 Year - 3.52%* Est. CANHOU 03/15/36 [-0.04%]     Floating Rate insured cost of funds 2.87% [-]     Prime Rate 4.70% [-]     GoC 2 Year - 2.53% CAN 09/01/28 [-0.01%]     3 Year - 2.63% CAN 09/01/29 [-0.02%]     5 Year - 2.73% CAN 09/01/30 [-0.02%]     10 Year - 3.16% CAN 06/01/35 [-0.04%]  
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By John Lake, Sarasota and Cape Cod Mortgage Ba
(Shamrock Home Loans)
It’s the Tenth day of the government shut down, no data, bond markets flat and October Rate cut, are you still there? Are we still going to have a meeting?Some perhaps good news? The Bureau of Labor Statistics is calling back some furloughed workers to put together CPI numbers for the end of the month!Given the lack in market data, we were combing through every piece of information and trying to spin it into rate cut rumors. It’s like having the National Enquirer as our source of news!Yesterday we got the Fed minutes from the last meeting, showing a divided Fed. What will the lack of Data due to sway voting members? If inflation persists, will it impact the vote.Today Christopher Waller was interviewed on CNBC and said the job market is weakening and is perhaps negative. GDP is up. You ...
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By Joe Metzler, Sr Loan Officer
(Cambria Mortgage)
What Causes Mortgage Rates To Change? Insights from the Joe Metzler Team in St. Paul, MNMinneapolis, MN: If you’ve ever shopped for a mortgage, you’ve likely noticed something frustrating: the rate you were quoted in the morning might change by the afternoon. At Cambria Mortgage’s Joe Metzler Team, serving St. Paul and the greater Twin Cities, we believe an informed borrower makes the best decisions. Here’s what really drives those daily—sometimes hourly—rate fluctuations.Mortgage Rates Change ConstantlyIt’s perfectly normal to see one or more rate changes in a single day. In fact, it’s unusual not to. A “rate change” isn’t always just the percentage; it can also mean a shift in the points required to secure that rate. A rate offered with “no points” in the morning could cost a quarter-...
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