Looking for information about buying a Home in Hernando County? You've come to the right place! From Property Searches, to Mortgage Financing to everything else about Real Estate in Spring Hill Florida. Tom Has got you covered. Check out my blog, and if you have any questions please call me anytime. 352-573-8857
Saturday, October 29, 2011
click and Talk to a Short Sale Specialist Today
Bank of America is offering Florida homeowners up to $20,000 to do a short sale.
Bank of America encourages distressed homeowners to explore a short sale. For a limited time they are offering enhanced relocation assistance to help motivate homeowners to engage in a pre-offer short sale.
An additional benefit of this program is that the DEFICIENCY MAY BE WAIVED!
Basically Bank of America may pay you to SHORT SALE your home and release you from any liability
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY
Bank of America encourages distressed homeowners to explore a short sale as a viable option for avoiding foreclosure. To that end, for a limited time we are offering enhanced relocation assistance to help motivate homeowners to engage with us on a pre-offer short sale. An additional benefit for these pre-offer programs - such as the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) and Bank of America's proprietary program - is that deficiency may be waived for the homeowner.
Eligibility:
Homeowners with property in Florida
Short sales initiated without an offer between September 26 and November 30
The customer will have to be eligible for one of the without offer programs such as the HAFA program or our proprietary program (specific investor participation and eligibility criteria do apply to these programs)
Successful closing of the eligible short sale by August 31, 2012
Minimum relocation assistance is $5,000 and maximum is $20,000, with the specific amount calculated based on the unpaid principal balance
Exclusions:
Ginnie Mae, FHA, VA and USDA loans are ineligible for participation
Lot loans are ineligible for participation
Properties outside the state of Florida are ineligible for participation
Short sales initiated with an offer are not currently eligible for the enhanced relocation assistance
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q:How can I find out if my client/homeowner qualifies for this relocation assistance?
A: Call a short sale specialist at 1-352-688-7022
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Eastern
Q:Do I have to do anything differently when initiating or completing the short sale?
A: No. As long as the homeowner's short sale is initiated between September 26 and November 30, 2011, and the property closes by August 31, 2012, they will be eligible.
Q: Will the relocation assistance funds be reported on the HUD-1?
A: Yes, they will be documented on the HUD-1, and a 1099-MISC will be issued.
Q: Can the relocation assistance funds be used to pay off existing liens?
A: Yes, if the investor approves it.
Q: Is the relocation assistance added to any other incentives, such as the HAFA or Bank of America proprietary program incentives?
A: No. A homeowner will receive the $5,000 to $20,000 in place of the typical incentive paid out by these programs. The relocation assistance is essentially an enhancement to the standard payout offered on these programs.
Q: Is the enhanced relocation assistance available for other programs?
A: Currently, the enhanced relocation assistance is only available to short sale programs initiated without an offer. However, as we gauge the success we may extend this incentive to other programs.
Q: Are there other lenders giving incentives other then BOA
A: YES There are many lenders using this type of incentive program, also the goverment Program HAFA. Call your specialist below to see what programs you are eligible for.
Homeowners may call 352-688-7022 to speak to a short sale specialist about this exciting relocation assistance offering.
*The relocation assistance payment is calculated based on the unpaid principal balance of the homeowner's loan and the type of short sale that the homeowner completes, but will not be less than $5,000 or more than $20,000. The payment amount will be calculated based on the homeowner's loan balance as of August 2011 and the short sale program in which the homeowner is eligible. The payment will be delivered at the time of closing if the homeowner complies with all terms and conditions of the Short Sale Agreement, including the satisfaction of all second liens and presentation of clear title for the property (the relocation assistance payment can be used to clear those liens). If the homeowner does not comply with all terms and conditions of the Short Sale Agreement, the homeowner will not receive the relocation assistance payment. Even if the homeowner receives relocation assistance, Bank of America, N.A., and their successors and assigns may reserve and retain the right to pursue collection of any deficiency following the completion of the short sale, unless otherwise prohibited by law. The amount of the deficiency and relocation assistance will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on the appropriate 1099 Form or Forms.We suggest that homeowners contact the IRS or their tax preparer to determine if they have any tax liability. This offer is for Florida properties only. To receive the relocation assistance, the property must close by August 31, 2012
Contact us NOW
352-573-8857
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HAFA Program
If you complete a short sale under the government's HAFA program you can get up to $4500 combined cash to help you move. The incentive is a big one because the federal government and major banks have realized they would rather you sell your home than abandon it to foreclosure.
Click to Read more
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Lenders offering
Short sale incentives
Bank of America is testing Florida’s foreclosure waters with an incentive program for defaulting homeowners to “short sell” their homes instead of enduring a foreclosure, which can take years. Guidelines for Bank of America’s new Florida Enhanced Short Sale Relocation Assistance program state that a borrower may use the incentive to pay off existing liens or for relocation expenses. FHA, Ginnie Mae, VA and USDA loans are not eligible. Details are available by calling 1-866-880-1232.
Short-sale incentives are an outgrowth of earlier, “cash for keys” programs offered by lenders and real-estate companies. Also, the US Treasury Department has tried to boost the number of short sales with its Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) program, which provides $3,000 for borrower-relocation assistance, $1,500 for servicers to cover administrative and processing costs, and as much as $2,000 for investors who meet certain requirements.
Other Programs FIND OUT MORE CLICK HERE
- Wells Fargo offers incentives of $10,000 to $20,000 to certain homeowners who opt for a short sale or who transfer a home’s title back to the bank. The program is aimed at properties in Florida and other states known for protracted, judicial foreclosures. The money is available only on first-lien loans that the company owns, which is about 20% of its portfolio. Details: 1-800-678-7986.
- JPMorgan Chase has not reported how much it offers for short-sale incentives, though real-estate agents have reported sellers getting $20,000. The lender also has declined to specify how it determines the amount of its incentives. Details: 407-248-3945.
- Citibank has reported it offers an average of $12,000 for borrowers when it owns the mortgage. The amount is determined upfront and varies depending on a borrower’s financial circumstances and mortgage-payment history. The money is disbursed when the short sale closes. Details: 1-866-272-4749.
Call Today to Talk to a Short Sale Specialist
352-573-8857
Monday, October 10, 2011
Home Electricity - Home Improvement
Alternate Home Electricity Systems of today are small scale and able to supply an entire home with its electricity requirements producing zero environmental gasses are silent running and safe to operate. The cost of an Alternate "Home Electricity" Systems is easily paid for within the first year of operation. The majority of your Electricity requirements produced today come from Hydro Electric (dams), Carbon Based Fuels or Nuclear; all of these are very damaging to the atmosphere adding to the green house and global warming effect.
In the last 100 years our civilization has made some gigantic advances; learning to fly, landing a man on the moon and living in space, the electronic tube and the printing press which have both developed and merged into computers and immediate mass media access, eliminating the Black Plague, Polio and extending the average lifespan by 20 years. Our current day demands for Electricity makes our life comfortable and advances our civilization; we are 100% dependent on Electricity. If your Electricity was turned off today how long could you live?
Electricity is one of the biggest Industries in the World and the methods we use to generate electricity have not changed in the last century, Why? Could it be that the CEO's and Scientists in the Electricity World have been sniffing too much glue and have gone brain dead? It certainly appears so when compared to other areas of science advancements. The truth is - Electric Industry is smelling money and do not want you to know of the existence of any Alternate Home Electricity Systems. In comparison to all other Industries, Electricity has been left behind in the Ice Age by remaining wholly dependent on carbon fossil fuels.
It has only been in the most recent 20 years that alternative ways of producing Alternate Home Electricity has been really looked at with the development of Wind, Solar and Magnetic Electric Generators; this is only because the general population has started to become concerned and aware of environmental issues we confront today. There are a few people that have never accepted the suggestion that Home Electricity must be delivered in mass by one provider. They have persistently toiled away in their back yards at a solution to stand alone Home Electricity Systems. This small group of unconventional inventors have successfully designed and built small home electric generator systems that can power your complete home.
These Alternate Home Electricity systems are small sized, silent running, safe to operate and produces zero environment gasses that are harmful to our environment. Yes - you must put in a small effort and follow the very easy step-by-step building manual, some even offer a complete pre-built system, or you can hire a handy man for a day. This small effort on your part has long term benefits for you, no more electric bills to pay and you are taking a major step to reducing your carbon footprint to reducing the global warming effect.
You can find these Alternate Home Electricity systems on the internet and they are comparatively inexpensive, easy to build and install. The saving from your electricity bill will pay back in a year or less of the installation cost. For more information on home electricity systems and to compare the advantages and disadvantages of both, follow the link in this Article to the Alternative Home Electricity Review Site where you can compare the 3 types of systems that best suit you for installation and the area that you live.
The faster we all take some action to becoming less dependent on Fossil Fuels Electricity the quicker this planet will start to heal itself from the destruction done in the past and make a better place for many forthcoming generations.
For More Information About Real Estate In Florida and Homes For Sale In Spring Hill Please visit http://www.agenttrusthernando.com/
Home improvement - Home remodeling
There is only one way to increase the value of your home in Spring Hill FL. Home improvement or home remodeling or remodeling are often used to indicate home projects those need modifications and additions to the existing Home construction. But the type of work is varying based on various communal factors as well as property owners' choices. If they want to sell their home to get more amount from their old homes they might think add some value by investing little amount on their old homes.
In other words it might be used to add extra features and better look to live happily with their children's and etc. In this case home location will also make more impact; home owners will determine the above factor before taking remodeling decision. Whether it may be common hall, kitchen room, bathroom, rest rooms or to dividing as two or three partitions for their kids comfort and flexibility are the major concerns.
Often home owners will opt home improvement when their old home needs fresh look, spacious rooms in case of congested structure, interior design that needs to take place, exterior improvements when Parking places are not sufficient for parking or they even want to develop avenue garden and wall coloring etc. If the task is small or big these need expertise decision to continue further. More over it will save our valuable time and money also.
In any remodeling project the partitions are not an easy task. It takes lot of money and human effort, also every owner want trying to keep properly their previous things like flooring, painting wall adjustments. Unlike other remodeling projects home owners keen to invest more money on kitchen remodeling projects for creating or arranging new cupboards, adding extra features and adding sinks etc.
While remodeling painting is one of the most powerful aspects as it creates different kind of moods whenever people enter the rooms hence it is purely a professional job. In both cases home improvement and home remodeling will serve home owner when they plan cautiously.
Author Bio: Jimson is one of the best authors at hire a contractor now. With the extensive civil engineering experience he has been writing qualitative tips to educate his line of visitors. As Home Remodeling, Home improvement, Remodeling and construction fields need more knowledge and concentration it's viable to every body to have minimum knowledge.
For More Information About Real Estate In Florida and Homes For Sale In Spring Hill Please visit http://www.agenttrusthernando.com/
Search Homes For Sale In Hernando County
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| Agent Trust Realty In Spring Hill FL Can Help You Find The Perfect Home |
About Tina Fingerman
People don't talk about it a lot. But finding the right real estate agent in Spring Hill Florida can be the difference between a happy, stress-free home buying or selling experience, and an unhappy, stressful experience. First, you'll want an agent ready and able to make a full-time commitment to you. Rest Assured that Tina Fingerman is that Agent. Second, for all of your needs you'll want a Realtor with the experience needed to know the local Spring Hill Florida Real Estate Market, neighborhoods, schools, market conditions, ordinances, etc. With her years of experience in the local market - Tina has have the expertise and track record of success you need. Third, you'll want to Finda a Realtor in Spring Hill who embraces the convenience of technology without losing the personal touch.
You'll love the resources available here on Hernando County MLS Search and the e-mail alerts that I send, but these will never replace the time I spend with you, serving as your personal guide through this exciting process of Purchasing Real Estate in Hernando County as well as the surrounding Tampa Bay Real Estate areas. If you are looking for an expert Realtor who can negotiate your transaction to make sure you get the best possible deal on your Real Estate Purchase in Spring Hill then look no further Tina Fingerman is the right Realtor for you. Her years of experience and extensive knowledge about the Spring Hill Real Estate Market will make sure you get the best possible price on your transaction weather you are buying or selling. Check out our site, and feel free to peform all your Hernando County MLS Search on here. If you have any questions on any property you see, please at your convenience at 727-946-2348. You can also email Tina Fingerman.
Applying For A Mortgage In Hernando County? Credit Basics You Should Know
There are so many myths about credit and understanding how credit and credit scores work that I thought I would put together a detailed guide to help everyone better understand Credit Scoring from the basics to the finite details. Because there's so much information I'm going to break it down into a multi-part post. So please check back for another 4 parts to this guide. If you find the information useful please forward to your friends!
Credit Basics: Credit Scores and Credit History
ALL ABOUT CREDIT GUIDE – Part 1Brought to you by:
Steve Fingerman
Branch Manager
Allied Home Mortgage Corporation
Office 352-688-7949
Cell 727-946-0904
The All About Credit Guide is designed to provide information so that you can understand and manage your credit. This guide will be sent to you in topical sections via email over the next several days. I am sure that you will benefit from requesting this guide. You may want to print these guides for future reference.
Your credit is one of the key factors in your ability to obtain home financing. When You start searching for Property In Hernando County you should also start by understanding and knowing how credit works. This way you can get pre-approved for your mortgage in Hernando County and be You may have heard many companies talk about credit, about how important it is and how you need to know what is on your credit report. They are absolutely right. Your credit not only determines whether you qualify for a home loan, it also determines costs such as interest rate on credit cards, premiums on auto insurance, and in fact it can be used to screen your employment. You credit is definitely important. Getting the best mortgage in Hernando County is going to be in large part based on your credit history.
Credit is made up of several components all of which become part of your credit report.
- Applications for credit
- Number of open accounts credit accounts and account age (credit cards and loans)
- Accounts Balances
- Payment history (on-time or late)
- Collections, foreclosures, repossessions
- Bankruptcies, liens and other public records
- Past addresses, employers and names
- Your calculated credit score (FICO score)
750 and up | Excellent |
720-749 | Good |
660-719 | Fair |
620-659 | Marginal |
619 and below | Poor |
Each of the three major credit bureaus will assign a credit score. When it comes to mortgage lending all three credit scores are used in the evaluation of credit with the middle score of the three being the determining factor. For example if a prospective borrower had scores of 719, 728 and 721, the 721 would be the determining score (the middle one). One other important factor to remember is that if you have a co-borrower (e.g. spouse) that the lower of your and all co-borrowers middle credit score will be the score used for loan qualification.
Of the various components that affect your credit score the one that has the most impact is payment history (making on-time payments). That is followed by your credit balances (how much you owe), and how long you have had established credit. The chart to the right shows the importance of each of these factors. However, it should be noted that if a person has a recent bankruptcy, foreclosure, or collection account, those kinds of situations will cause the credit score to drop sharply.
It is important that you review your credit report on a periodic basis. Often individuals find that there are errors and inaccuracies that are causing their credit report to look worse that it really should be. Sometimes credit entries are posted to the wrong account. You may also find collection accounts for medical bill that you thought your insurance had covered. There are some estimates that over 40% of all credit reports have one or more errors on them. But if you don’t look at your credit report, you would not know that they were there.
You can obtain your free credit report from http://annualcreditreport.com/. This website is sponsored by the big three credit bureaus: TransUnion, Experian and EquiFax. Do not go to other credit advertising websites such as FreeCreditReport.com unless you wish to buy additional services. On those websites you may be lulled into a free credit report but in order to receive it you have to sign up for a trial subscription to a service. You are allowed one free report from each of the major credit bureaus each year (up to 3 free reports). Given that it may be a good strategy to obtain a credit report from each credit bureau four (4) months apart and that way you are able to look at the report multiple times each year at no cost to you.
If you do find problems with your credit report, first contact the creditor (card issuer or loan holder) that the problem lies with. If you cannot get a satisfactory resolution with the creditor then contact each of the credit bureaus that shows the reported credit item in question and conduct a formal dispute by writing letters to the credit bureaus stating what the issue(s) is and requesting correction(s) to the credit report. The credit bureaus are pretty helpful when it comes to clearing up issues such as these. You have the right to an accurate credit report under the Fair and Accurate Credit Reporting Act. Anytime you get a positive response from the creditor be sure to ask for the confirmation of correction or removal in writing and keep that document for future reference.
For More Information About Real Estate In Florida and Homes For Sale In Spring Hill Please visit http://www.agenttrusthernando.com/
Home Improvement
Foundation repairs are an essential home improvement. It's important to build the foundation correctly the first time. The Build A Better Home program from Foundation repairs Los Angles. When your choices are few and far between, you need to find the best contractor for the job. Foundation repair Los Angles is one of the best.
Do you waterproof first, or do you install Foundation repairs Los Angles products first? Simply put, it depends on the recommendations of your foundation expert. Is water infiltration causing your problems? Is water collecting around your home? Are your gutters and sump pump working properly? Is your foundation settling due to poor soil support or changing soils under your home? Are there vertical cracks in your basement walls? Are there horizontal cracks in your walls?
These questions all will be answered in the initial inspection of your home. Your foundation engineer will talk you through your individual needs and suggest methods of repair. Generally you will need a combination of Foundation repairs Los Angles and waterproofing. When used together you can be assured that your home will be restored to its original structural integrity while removing water issues that can cause future foundation problems.
An experienced site investigator can use the information obtained to determine not only the specific area of distress but also the underlying cause of the problem. After this information has been compiled and analyzed and only after this it has been analyzed, a plan of structural repair Foundation repair Los Angles can be generated for your home. Your home is your most valued asset and you should treat is as such.
For More Information About Real Estate In Florida and Homes For Sale In Spring Hill Please visit http://www.agenttrusthernando.com/
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Investing Money? You Better Be familiar with the Weather Forecast!
"El Ni?o and La Ni?a are extreme phases of a naturally occurring climate cycle referred to as El Ni?o/Southern Oscillation....
US IMPACT of La Ni?a: La Ni?a often features drier than normal conditions in the Southwest in late summer through the subsequent winter (and in the Central Plains in the fall and in the Southeast in the winter)...In contrast, the Pacific Northwest is more likely to be wetter than normal in the late fall and early winter with the presence of a well-established La Ni?a." - NOAA.gov
If the La Ni?a patterns continue through the spring and summer as most agencies around the world are predicting, this will produce heat waves, especially on the east coast and south east coast (G A, AL, FL). The North American pacific coast normally gets the tropical express that dumps lots of rain on Vancouver and Washington state during a La Ni?a weather pattern.
But because of the arctic oscillation, it is pushing that system further south which is causing all the rain and flooding in southern California and as far inland as Utah where some places are receiving 800% of their normal annual rainfall. In general, the US should fare well - and better than most regions - with plenty of heat and a decent amount of rainfall (though not as much or as timely as rain last year), but this year's crop will not be as good as last year's.
"Bad politics" is probably a factor that is more obvious and easier to see and understand it's impact on investing money in the agriculture sector. With both energy and agriculture, the government continues to act and legislate in such a way that reduces the amount of supply in these sectors as demand continues to increa se and as prices rise (great environment for investing money).
One great example involving both is ethanol. Not only does it cost more energy to produce ethanol with corn than it creates (not to mention the amount of water needed), but the production of the fuel itself heavily impacts the corn market, drastically cutting the available supply for agriculture which again drives up the price (good for farmers and stock holders, bad for consumers).
And because producing ethanol requires more energy than it creates, that further increases the demand and decreases the supply of available energy to the market at a time when the US desperately needs a reliable, steady supply of energy (due to the drilling memorandums, the lack of a viable replacement for energy we currently receive from unfriendly regimes, peak oil, an exploding and energy-thirsty China, etc).
It is plain to see with these problems only continuing to get worse over time that "bad po litics" and the emerging "bad weather" will continue to be bullish for investing money in the energy and agriculture sectors for the foreseeable future.
For More Information About Real Estate In Florida and Homes For Sale In Spring Hill Please visit http://www.agenttrusthernando.com/
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Debt Consolidation Loans In Florida
Why Personal Debt Consolidation Loan
In case of a debt consolidation loan, it becomes quite easy to pay one instalment once a month. Next, the several individual loans become costly in term of interest rate. So, the borrower saves due to lower interest rate. So, in simple terms, a debt consolidation loan simply transforms a number of loans into a single loan.
Consumers in debt who own property in Florida such as a single family home or an investment property in Tampa may get a lower rate through a secured loan using their Florida property as collateral. Due to this collateral, personal debt consolidation loans have cheaper interest rates owing to reduced risk for lender. There are lenders who accept even unsecured loans but in this case the loan amount remains quite low due to increased risk for lenders and rates are incremented to negate the risks. A personal debt consolidation loan offers the following advantages:
? Reduced monthly repayment.
? Improvement in credit record
? Cut off the interest you pay
? One payment instead of several monthly payments
While checking the profile, lender looks at various factors such as the current amount of outstanding loans, credit history, source of income etc in order to disburse these loans.
The key factors in evaluating a prospective borrower of personal debt consolidation loans are
� Amount required
� Credit history
� Payment duration
� Any collateral
� Source of income
The competition among lenders drives them to compromise on some of these parameters and one can bargain a good deal if he is aware of the variations .Internet can be a feasible medium for achieving this.
Summary
For More Information About Real Estate In Florida Please visit http://www.agenttrusthernando.com/
Monday, October 3, 2011
Shop For Mortgage Rates In Hernando County
Interest rates reflect the cost to borrower money as charged by the Lender. The higher the interest rate the higher the monthly payment (given the same loan terms). Interest rates in the mortgage market tend to be pretty volatile. That means that the interest rate offered on any given day can vary from the previous day. The reason is that the perception of mortgage lending risk and the market value of mortgage investments is affected by the mood of the financial markets (just like the value of the dollar and the stock market) and therefore interest rates can change daily or even more frequently. There are laws that protect consumers from usurious (very high) interest rates but reputable lenders such as Allied are well within those parameters.
Interest rates offered can vary by the type of Loan Program, Loan Terms and the Qualifications of the Borrower. For example Jumbo loans typically include a higher interest rate than a Conforming Conventional or FHA loan. In the case of Loan Terms the shorter the loan period (e.g. 15 years versus 30 the lower the rates may be, but if little to no down payment is made on a home, the interest rate could be higher. And finally in terms of Borrower Qualifications the borrower with better credit may get lower rates than one with poorer credit. So just because one individual gets a low interest rate does not mean that another person that got a higher rate was taken advantage of.
How do Variable Rates work? A variable rate loan is one where the interest rate is subject to change based upon ‘financial index' changes. There are several commonly used indexes but the most often used are the US Treasury Bill, LIBOR (London Interbank Offering Rate) and the Prime Rate. When those indexes go up or down that can cause the interest rate to change on the loan.
Most mortgage loans that have a variable rate have a ‘fixed period'. That means there is a period of time (usually in years) that rate remains the same as when the loan was first obtained. For example a 5 year ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgage) will keep the same interest rate for 5 years before being subject to change.
But then the big question is "If my rate is subject to change, how high can it go?" Fortunately there are "caps" that are set to control how much interest rates can change over the life of the loan. There are three caps usually shown like this: 2-2-5. In this example the first cap is the percent that the interest rate can jump when it can first change. So if you started with a 5% rate on a 5 year ARM, then on the 6th year it is possible for the rate to move up to 7% but no higher for that year. But this does not mean that the rate will automatically jump up to 7%, that depends on whether the financial index used moved up or down; it is possible for your rate to go down as well. The second number shows how much the rate could change each subsequent period (or year in this case) so it can never go up more than 2% any given year according to this example. The last number provides a lifetime limit. In this example the interest rate can never go higher than 5% when the loan first started which in this case would be 10%.
So why would someone want a variable rate loan? Because the rate usually starts lower and the borrower is willing to take the risk that the interest rate will not be too high in the future. But some savvy borrowers know that they will not hold the loan (or property) longer than the fixed period of the loan. So they may buy a home with a 7 year ARM but know they will sell the home in 5 years. That way they were able to get a lower rate but do not worry about the possibility of that rate changing based on their plans for selling the home. ARM Loans should be considered very carefully, and not all ARM's are created equal. If you are consindering an ARM it is important to know what the CAPS (the maximum the rate can adjust at intervals) are. Also it is important to know and understand what type of index will be used. The index will determine the rate and the adjustment period's, and some indices are more stabe than others. For more information about ARM's call Steve Fingerman for complete detailed explanation about the benefits and short comings and risk of an ARM. In today's market, ARMS are very seldome being used.
Lower interest rates shouldn't always end up being the deciding factor on accepting a loan. For example one could pick a variable rate program because its interest rate was lower to start with than a fixed rate loan (e.g. 5.0% versus 5.5%). But since the variable rate loan can increase their interest rate in the future, that same 5.0% loan could be 7.0% or higher in the future depending on the financial markets. That person may want the security of a fixed rate and therefore is willing to have a slightly higher rate than an Adjustable Rate Mortgage may provide.
In many cases the Borrower has the ability to "buy down" the interest rate either on a temporary or permanent basis. Obviously the term buy down means that the borrower has to pay for the advantage of a lower rate. In those cases the borrower needs to do their homework to see if the buy down cost versus the monthly payment savings is worthwhile for them to buy down. As a rule of thumb the shorter one plans to stay in the mortgage or home, the less worthwhile buy downs are. But if it will be a many years then the cumulative savings overshadows the initial cost. Be sure to look closely at interest rate buy downs (or Discount Points). A lower rate may not be worth the extra cost.
Sometimes borrowers will choose use a slightly higher interest rate on a loan to cover their up front (closing) costs. To them the initial costs including a down payment are more of a challenge than the monthly payment so they are able to slide the interest rate up a bit to cover their out of pocket costs. For others a quick refinance to take advantage of lower market rates may not utilize the lowest interest rate that is available just so there are no out of pocket costs to conduct the refinance, but they know they will begin saving money right away with the refinance and are not concerned.
"Why is my APR higher than the interest rate that was quoted to me?" APR is the calculated Annual Percentage Rate based on a complex formula. It is not the same as the interest rate you actually pay but it includes the interest rate as part of the calculated number. (The good news is that Mortgage Loans use what is called a Simple Interest which means the interest is not Compounded like a credit card is which makes credit card interest so high. It's not unusual to see credit card APR's around 20% or more!) APR includes in its calculations all of the costs of the loan in addition to the interest rate and divides than into the loan amount reduced by the costs. That may not be easy to understand but the end result is that the APR on a mortgage loan is usually always higher than the true interest rate of the loan.
For More Information regarding Interest Rates or buying a home in Hernando County, and how they can effect your loan please contact me directly and I will be happy to review all of your options with you. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Steve Fingerman
Branch Manager
Allied Home Mortgage
4117 Mariner Blvd.
Spring Hill FL, 34609
Office 352-688-7949
Cell 727-946-0904
Spring Hill Mortgage Lender
Monday, September 12, 2011
Home Buyer's Guide To Purchasing A Home- Part 2
Beyond the Borrower's qualification for obtaining a loan (credit, ability to pay, etc.) the value and condition of the home is the next important consideration. The home is the collateral for the mortgage loan which means that if there is a loan default, then the property is taken and typically sold to cover the unpaid balance of the home loan. Therefore the home property needs to have sufficient value and be in good enough condition so that if default occurs, the lender can sell and recoup the loan money.
There seems to be a lot of confusion between the difference of a County Assessment and an Appraised Value. These are two different thins yet many people associate Assessment with Appraisals. A County Assessment is a method of declaring property value so that a county or other government entity can levy a tax on that property. It is not a true market assessment of what the home could sell for nor is it based on market data. When property values were appreciating rapidly the rule of thumb was that Assessed Value was lower than what one could actually sell the home for so it was understated. But when property values dropped and government entities were short of funds then Assessed Values became higher than what the home could sell for. This makes the use of Assessed Values an unreliable indicator of true market value.
What is A Real Estate Appraisal? An Appraisal is considered to be a process that provides an accurate figure of what the home could actually sell for in the current market.A licensed, professional Appraiser will typically conduct a walkthrough of the home and property, take measurements and pictures and assess the condition of the home. They will then find similar homes (size, features, etc) that have recently sold in the area using county records and determine the subject home's value based on the actual sales price and features of the similar homes. This is what the term "Comps" (comparables) come from. Armed with many other details including zoning, surrounding neighborhoods, and average time to sell a similar home, the Appraiser will determine the market value of the home that the lender will use as the collateral for the home loan.
If the borrower is applying for an FHA, or VA loan then that Appraiser must be approved by those agencies. The appraisal requirements for those kinds of loans are a bit more stringent and may require repairs that need to be completed and re-inspected prior to the loan being approved and funded. Buying a new home under construction requires additional work on the Appraisers part including a review of the materials list, the blue prints and the builder contract to predict the value of the home after it has been constructed.
Due to past abuses in the Lending and Appraisal communities many regulations and restrictions have been put in place to prevent Appraisers from being coerced into provided inflated values.The Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) and new regulations from HUD have the set the tone for the independence and separation of Appraisers to individuals (such as Loan Officers and Borrowers) who are directly involved in the loan origination process. The Appraiser cannot be told what the target appraisal value needs to be (although they will have a copy of the sales contract). The Loan Officer is not allowed to have direct contact with the Appraiser and in fact are not allowed to even select the Appraiser for the loan. The Appraisal Management Company makes the Appraiser selection and conducts all communications with the Appraiser. The Borrower (home owner) cannot try to persuade the Appraiser as to the condition or value of the home and property in any way. This hand-off approach allows true independence and reduces undue influences others may have on the valuation of the home.
Appraisals costcan be anywhere from $400.00 and up depending on the size, location, and use of the property being appraised. It may be important to wait on the appraisal order until one is confident that the loan has a good chance of approval. Otherwise the appraisal may be a sunk cost that cannot be recouped if the loan does not get approved and subsequently funded. We always will hold of on this part of the process until much of the approval process is complete and we are confident that the loan will close, this eliminates wasteful spending of the borrowers own funds and safeguards our clients from having wasted their funds. Generally, by the time the appraisal is complete much of the underwriting is already complete and many of the borrowers conditions have already been satisfied.
Be on the look out for the next series in the Home Financing Guide where we will take in depth look into Interest Rates and go over all the different things that determine rates, including buy downs, paying points and credit. If you have any questions regarding your home purchase in Spring Hill Florida.
Steve Fingerman
Branch Manager
Allied Home Mortgage
4117 Mariner Blvd.
Spring Hill FL, 34609
Office 352-688-7949
Cell 727-946-0904
Spring Hill Mortgage Lender
Home Buyer's Guide To Purchasing A Home- Part 1
This Home Financing Guide is designed to provide information so that you can reach your home financing goals while avoiding mistakes along the way that can not only delay the process but can be costly as well. This guide will be broken down in several posts and I will try to keep it as comprehensive as possible. Check back for updates often as this may easily be a 7 or 8 part blog giving you the most comprehensive information you can find about purchasing and financing your new home. If you have any questions while reading the material, please feel free to call me any time.
Steve Fingerman
Branch Manager
Allied Home Mortgage
4117 Mariner Blvd.
Spring Hill FL, 34609
Your credit is one of the key factors in your ability to obtain home financing. You may have heard many companies talk about credit, about how important it is and how you need to know what is on your credit report. They are absolutely right. Your credit not only determines whether you qualify for a home loan, it also determines costs such as interest rate on credit cards, premiums on auto insurance, and in fact it can be used to screen your employment. You credit is definitely important.
- Applications for credit
- Number of open accounts credit accounts and account age (credit cards and loans)
- Accounts Balances
- Payment history (on-time or late)
- Collections, foreclosures, repossessions
- Bankruptcies, liens and other public records
- Past addresses, employers and names
- Your calculated credit score (FICO score)
Each of the three major credit bureaus will assign a credit score. When it comes to mortgage lending all three credit scores are used in the evaluation of credit with the middle score of the three being the determining factor. For example if a prospective borrower had scores of 719, 728 and 721, the 721 would be the determining score (the middle one). One other important factor to remember is that if you have a co-borrower (e.g. spouse) that the lower of your and all co-borrowers middle credit score will be the score used for loan qualification.
| 750 and up | Excellent |
| 720-749 | Good |
| 660-719 | Fair |
| 620-659 | Marginal |
| 619 and below | Poor |
It is important that you review your credit report on a periodic basis. Often individuals find that there are errors and inaccuracies that are causing their credit report to look worse that it really should be. Sometimes credit entries are posted to the wrong account. You may also find collection accounts for medical bill that you thought your insurance had covered. There are some estimates that over 40% of all credit reports have one or more errors on them. But if you don't look at your credit report, you would not know that they were there.
You can obtain your free credit report from http://annualcreditreport.com/. This website is sponsored by the big three credit bureaus: TransUnion, Experian and EquiFax. Do not go to other credit advertising websites such as FreeCreditReport.com unless you wish to buy additional services. On those websites you may be lulled into a free credit report but in order to receive it you have to sign up for a trial subscription to a service. You are allowed one free report from each of the major credit bureaus each year (up to 3 free reports). Given that it may be a good strategy to obtain a credit report from each credit bureau four (4) months apart and that way you are able to look at the report multiple times each year at no cost to you.
If you do find problems with your credit report, first contact the creditor (card issuer or loan holder) that the problem lies with. If you cannot get a satisfactory resolution with the creditor then contact each of the credit bureaus that shows the reported credit item in question and conduct a formal dispute by writing letters to the credit bureaus stating what the issue(s) is and requesting correction(s) to the credit report. The credit bureaus are pretty helpful when it comes to clearing up issues such as these. You have the right to an accurate credit report under the Fair and Accurate Credit Reporting Act. Anytime you get a positive response from the creditor be sure to ask for the confirmation of correction or removal in writing and keep that document for future reference.
For Additional Information about Credit and The impact it can have on your Mortgage please call me to discuss your needs in detail. I am available any time, and will do my best to give you the best information possible so that you can make sure we are securing the best possible terms on your first home.
Steve Fingerman
Branch Manager
Allied Home Mortgage
Office 352-688-7949
Cell 727-946-0904
Mortgage Brokers Are Dead, Is The Finacial Crisis Over?
While it's true there may have been bad brokers during the housing boom, the uglier truth that no media or regulator wants to cover is that brokers had absolutely no lending authority what so ever! None! So if someone has no authority to make any relevant decisions then one has to ask; Who Did Have The Decision Making Authority? Well that one is simple, that would be the Bank. The same Too Big Too Fail Bank who would have you believe that none of this has been there fault or doing. Too Big Too Fail Banks along with other Bankers and Wall Street Banking Firms created all kinds of Sub Prime loans and then pushed them onto Brokers as their pawns to sell the products they created. Brokers never had the power to make the final decisions on funding. To make matters worse, many of the products they created were designed to fail and they knew exactly when the defaults would more than likely occur. This allowed Wall Street to simultaneously place bets against the very mortgages they were designing as sort of an insurance policy for when they finally blew up in everyone face.
Case in point, I give you Goldman Sachs who did exactly that.
The Truth is we need financial reform, but not in the form that we have seen thus far. HVCC killed the appraisers and made appraisals more expensive and lower in quality than we ever saw before, while at the same time allowing the Big Banks to own and operate some of the largest appraisal management companies in the country. Wasn't the point of HVCC appraisal Independence? Now Loan Officer Compensation regs are doing to the originators what HVCC did to appraisers. Yet we still have not seen much reform with regard to the real culprits, the Too Big To Fail Banks who created, and pushed the products while telling consumers, regulators, and brokers alike that they were all safe. They did this while knowing the opposite was true, but somehow it seems the entire media and congress wants to sweep this ugly truth under the rug. Watch the video below, then let me know what you think? You opinion, views, and input matter and should be shared with all your State and Federal Regulators, and Representatives. After all, they do all work for you don't they? Perhaps they need a prod and reminder of that, because the ones that seem to be represented best are not "The People" they are Too Big Too Fail Banks.
Purchasing a Foreclosure in Spring Hill FL? Some Unexpected Expectations To Watch Out For
Here is the skinny on what you need to know to protect yourself in today's Real Estate Market.
With all the distressed properties out there, and all the short sales there are a number of things that buyers need to be aware when shopping for a home. Buyers today should be extra cautious, as the saying goes: "It's Buyer Beware". That has never been more true than it is today, so here are the basics you should be aware of.
Appraisals can Kill Your Deal.
With the implementation of HVCC which is basically supposed to provide appraiser Independence, lenders don't have the same control over appraisals that they used to. HVCC requires that a 3rd Part Management Company be used in ordering and procuring appraisals. The problem with that? Well many times a management company will "farm out" the appraisal to the lowest bidding appraiser rather the most experienced or familiar with the area. The end result, a poor quality appraisal that may not necessarily reflect the true local market value of the property. It's funny that this is even happening since the end result is the exact opposite of what the rule was intended to do, but none the less, this is the reality of it. According to the National Association of Realtors about 10% of transactions nationally die each month due to issues with Appraisal Values coming in lower.
What can you do to guard against that? For starters, carefully interview your lender. Find out details regarding their appraisal process and who the management company is. For example here at Allied Home Mortgage, Yellow Sign is the only management company we use to order appraisals and they are also an affiliated business. Although they operate independently, their policy is to only hire and approve appraisers with a minimum amount of local experience and also a proven track record of quality work. To further ensure appraisal quality, Yellow sign limits the range of how far they will go for an appraiser to within the subject property area. This ensures that only local professionals who know the local market are going to be used. You can also further protect yourself by making sure you use a knowledgeable local Realtor who has experience in the local market and knows the pricing trends and current market activity. Your Real Estate Professionalshould be able to provide a detailed Comparative Market Analysis also known as a CMA on the property you are interested in buying. A proper CMA will help you and your Real Estate Professional determine what to offer and will make sure your offer and final accepted contract are in line with where the property will actually appraise at.
Undisclosed Problems With The Property
Unfortunately, if you are buying a home from a Bankthat has been foreclosed on the Bank is under no obligation to disclose anything to you about the property. These sales are truly buyer beware and it's crucial that you and your Real Estate Professional implement a carefully thought out Due Diligence Process. In our local are of Hernando and Pasco County sink holes are a prevalent force of nature and should be thoroughly investigated prior to commencement of any Foreclosure Purchase. Un-repaired Sink Holes will devalue your property faster than setting it on fire and watching it burn down. Your Real Estate Professionalshould check with all local building and zoning departments to ensure no prior permits were pulled for both Sink Hole Repairs and all other alterations. An open permit that has never been closed out can lead to numerous other issues. At best case, there may be a fine you have to pay in order to get the permit closed out and final-ed. A not so best case scenario may be the County asking you to tear out anything that was previously done and bring it to code, that's something that can easily add up to thousands of unexpected expenses after you close if it was unknown at the time of purchase. At the very worse case scenario, you may find out that there was prior Sink Hole Activity that was not repaired. If this is the case, you should RUN fast and far from the property, additionally if discovered by your lender it will not be something they would be willing to finance anyway. Some prior Sink Holes may have been repaired by the previous owner prior to the bank taking possession and often times the building department will have all the necessary documents to verify the completion of the repair the scope of the work and even the engineering reports. These cases may offer a huge negotiating opportunity, assuming of course you are comfortable with a repaired Sink Hole. In any case, you and your Realtor's due diligence will go a long way in protecting you from a financially devastating mistake. For information about Sink Holes and the Stigma that goes with them, Jeanne Gavish at Keller Williams in Spring Hill Fl wrote an excellent piece on Sink Holes and The Stigma of a Sink Hole.
Your Lender Demands Repairs
Your Contract may be an AS IS Contract, and you may very well have agreed to purchase the property with all it's inherent minor defects knowing that you can easily deal with the repairs later, but do not expect your lender to look at it the same way. In today's market, banks don't really want another distressed property, especially on a newly originated loan. Things like cracked windows, missing A/C systems or damaged dry wall will more than likely be red flagged by your lender. When looking at homes that need extensive or significant work the Loan Type that you are trying to procure can be the difference between a successful closing or a bout of frustration that will leave you pulling the hair out of your head. FHA has a great program called a 203K. It's essentially a loan that is designed to let you acquire a property which may need repairs and then fund those repairs into your loan. There are 2 types of 203K loans, a streamline 203K and a full blown 203K. The difference is the streamline 203K Loan will limit the dollar amount of the repairs to no more than $35,000.00 and will generally limit the number of items to be repaired to only 2 items. Although Allied will allow more than 2 items on a streamline 203K to repaired many other lenders will not, and although we may allow for more than 2, it's not going to a blank check to repair more than a few different repair types. If it needs extensive work, opt for a full 203K. Expect the time-line of your closing to stretch a little further on a full 203K loansince it will require a HUD Counselor work with you and your selected contractor. Typical closing time for these is about 45 days. You should also retain the services of a reputable and properly trained Home Inspector like Jim Calleri at Affirmative Home Inspection in Spring Hill. A good home inspection will save you from unexpected surprises down the road and will save you from potential financial disaster later.
Title/ Deed Problems With Property
By now we have all heard of Robo Signing, and the foreclosure fraudthat may have occurred on thousands of Foreclosure cases across the country on the part of Attorney's working to speed up the foreclosure process for the Banks. Well we are starting to see the effect of that coming out into the market place. Title issues will derail your deal faster than you can blink an eye and often times they wont surface until you are well into the transaction and are vested both financially and emotionally. Buyers today who are considering purchasing a foreclosed home should consider finding a local title companythat they are comfortable with. Although you may end up being required to use the Bank's choice of title company when it's time to get a deal completed, a local title company can help you with the due diligence process. Local Title Companies can perform a Title Searchfor about $75.00, the may be money well spent considering that finding out about a Title Issue after the Appraisal and Inspections are will cost you between $600-$700 out of your pocket that you may not recover. Recently we had a transaction where we discovered to late into it that there was an issue with the Foreclosure Process and it required the seller( A Bank) to go back and amend the Foreclosure Summary Judgment. This created a cloud on Title and thus the seller could not deliver clear title. The propertyhas subsequently been temporarily taken off the market and the contract has been put on hold while the buyers are forced to wait for the court proceedings to take place and correct the Foreclosure Summary Judgment so that a revised Certificate of Title can be recorded. With out this, the seller or Bank does not have the legal right to sell the property. What's the buyer's recourse? They can move on to a different property. Although they will get their escrow deposit back, the money spent on inspections, appraisals etc is lost forever. Luckily the buyer is in the position to wait it out but many buyers wont be in that position and the delays can be costly especially when you are planning a move from a rental to your new home since you may have to extend your lease a potentially pay a higher rent for the extended time.
For more information on how to better protect yourself in your purchase of Real Estate in Spring Hill Fland the surrounding areas feel free to contact me and I will do my best to make sure you have all your bases covered. You can reach me anytime on the Cell at 727-946-0904. Buying a home is an exciting process, a little careful planning will go a long way to make the experience stays positive and is something you will remember as one of the best times in your life. You can count on the staff at Allied Home Mortgage in Spring Hill to make sure your Real Estate deal goes as smooth as possible. We are here to serve and protect you, our customer for life!
First Time Home Buyer Programs In Hernando County
Home Buyer University Updated Schedule
Free Online Workshops
Welcome to Allied's Home Buyer University
Free Online Workshops For Home Buyers
Here you will find a growing library of workshops that you may view completely free of charge which will provide valuable information that you will need as you prepare for your home purchase.

















