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    August 9, 2009 Posted by brokerdave | Uncategorized | , , , , | No Comments Yet

    FHA Guaranteed Home Loans-Are they for you?

    Shopping for a home can be a nightmare, getting a loan doesn’t have to be.
    Hover over pictures for description.

    Some renovations complete
    FHA is a guarantee program put on be the federal government to help people that otherwise might not be able to get a loan for a home qualify for one. They do this by guaranteeing that the lender will be able to get funds from FHA in case of default.

    A 3.5% down payment is required for an FHA purchase loan, that can be money you have saved or a documented gift from a relative. It can not be from a loan on the tax credit. There are also closing cost that must be paid, that can come from many different places including: your real estate agent, the seller, family, mortgage broker and the lender in the form of premium rates.

    There is no credit score requirement for FHA but most lenders require a 620 fico or above. If you don’t have standard credit some alternate credit may be used such as electric, gas cable, rent etc…  If using non-traditional credit discuss this with your mortgage broker to find the best fit.

    The basic guidelines for FHA are that the loan must make sense. The person(s) must be capable of making the payments. There are many ways of going about this and all of them are not included in this blog. The blog would need to be its own website for that.LOL

    Can I transfer from one lender to another if a case # has alreadty been assigned?

    I think FHA answers this best: Lenders are expected to cooperate in the transfer of case numbers. At the request of a borrower, the case number is to be assigned to the new lender using the Case transfer function in FHA Connection. The transferring lender is entitled to retain any lock-in fee collected from the borrower at the time of application. The transferring lender is required to provide the new lender with the appraisal, if any, but is not required to provide any processing documents, if any. If processing documents are transferred, the fee for providing these documents is to be negotiated between the lenders. No separate charge to the borrower is allowed for the transfer of a case number. In the case of a Master Appraisal Report (MAR), the transferring lender is only entitled to a pro-rata share of the cost of the MAR. For example, if the MAR is for 100 units and cost $10,000, the new lender would pay the transferring lender $100. While a lender may have provided resources to obtain the MAR in anticipation of capturing most – if not all – of the individual mortgage loans, it may not deny an appraisal assignment request to a borrower who wishes to use an alternative mortgage lender.

    How long does it take to get approved? Close?

    It can take from about 7 days up to 45 days, depending on the lender. When discussing rates with your mortgage broker it might also be good to discuss the turn around times with the lenders. A great rate is only good if you can close on time.From final approval till closing most lenders only need a couple of days to gather the documents.

    Why does my mortgage broker want so much information to give me a quote?

    Loan programs vary according to your credit score, the location of the property down to the county level, your down payment (not including closing costs), Loan to value ratio, Debt to income ratio and your credit qualifications. With so many factors and rates that vary based on each bit of criteria in order to get an accurate quote all information requested should be furnished.

    original windowsAre non-occupant co borrowers allowed?

    Yes but the primary borrower must qualify for the payment without their help. They can be used to counter some credit issues. They must understand that they are obligating themselves to pay on the note. For the maximum loan amount the relationship of the two must be family.

    I hear FHA is strict about the condition of the home. Is that true?

    While there are guidelines in place for an FHA appraisal, I don’t think that they are strict, they are items you should have taken into account no matter how you financed the home.

    Do I need insurance?

    Yes lenders require insurance to fund the loan. You will need homeowners insurance and flood if required. An elevation certificate is required to find out if you need flood insurance. Other types of insurance may be required depending on location.

    How do I get an FHA guaranteed loan? 

    You must apply through a company that is approved for FHA. You can apply at my website:  You can also start by getting rate quotes, they are on my website: www.floridadreamloans.com or Zillow.com offer a place where  you can get quotes from many lenders at the same time.Be careful getting rates because they might not all include the same costs. make sure that the have the same criteria, if you get a quote on a thirty year fixed mortgage from one and a quote on a 15 year mortgage from another then the 15 year mortgage will most likely be lower. also, what fees are included? Just because one company didn’t list a fee doesn’t mean they don’t charge it. bottom line compare apples to…, well you get the point.

    What is the difference between FHA and conventional loans?

    FHA requires a lower down payment, at 3.5% it is the lowest available at the moment. Conventional requires a minimum of 10% down, 20 percent if you want to avoid paying mortgage insurance. There are a lot of questions about 5% down programs, they just are not available right now because below 20% down requires mortgage insurance and those companies are not willing to insure them at the moment.

    How much will they approve me for?

    Well, FHA doesn’t approve you for a loan, the lender does but they do have certain criteria to be eligible for the program. This part is called Debt-to-Income and needs to be discussed with me or your mortgage broker because it varies based on income and expenses. Some expenses are included and some not, that will vary based on individual situations. For example: your car payment might be included but if you only have three payments left we could exclude it and that would increase how much you can borrow. this is where the information you provide to your mortgage professional is important, you should not leave anything out because everything might have an impact on your ratios and if you don’t disclose it up front then you may be denied later.

    I was denied a loan should I apply with someone else?

    You have already been through this once and it didn’t work but it might not be the end, look online and try to find an expert on FHA that might be able to package the loan better. You might not have been really denied, they might have just run it through their software an didn’t think you would get approved. There is still hope but hopefully you tried to get approved before puting in a contract, which brings me to the next question.

    camera not included
    Do I need to get pre-approved before shopping for a home?

    I post this all the time but this is for any new fans of my blog. So you waited until the contract was in and then called a mortgage broker, bad idea. It takes up to 45 days to get a loan, sure every one says they close in 7 days. Hopefully you don’t believe them, it takes time to get all of your paperwork together and it takes time for me to get mine together along with my processor, an appraisal, an inspection, title insurance, conditions, insurance, survey now once every one else is done the underwriter has to look aver everyones documents. This all takes time, get started before you shop for a home! Anyways, how do you know how much you can afford? Oh your friend said 3 times your income, then ask him for the money.LOL

    Hombuying is a major decision, I will make a deal with you: Treat this as if it is one of the most important things you do in your life and I will treat it as if it is  the most important transaction of mine.

    Please post any other items you think should be included in this.Call me any time for questions, up late most nights. Are you an early riser, you might just want to send me an e-mail, I was up all night blogging. LMAO

    David Chamberlain
    UMAX Mortgage
    727-239-2188
    www.floridadreamloans.com
    http://www.floridadreamloans.com/loanapplication

    July 25, 2009 Posted by brokerdave | Financing, Real Estate, homebuying | , | No Comments Yet

    Do I Need To Get Pre-Approved for a Loan Before Shopping for a Home

    Yes You should be pre-approved first. It is a big mistake shopping for a home without being pre-approved unless you are paying cash. Lets say you are out shopp for a home and think you can afford $250,000, you spend 8 weeks shopping have looked at 74 homesand find one yoou love. Then you write an offer it is accepted but you can’t get the loan. You have wasted your time along with the sellers and both agents to find out you only qualify for a $200,000 loan. 
    There are some other reasons to get pre-approved, Lately with the HVCC rules it takes longer to get an appraisal. If you are going FHA, some lenders are backed up on those loans.It could take some time to place your loan, why would you want to put your Broker at a disadvantage?

    Your offer will look better. Offers submitted with a pre-approval letter tell the seller that you are serious, if you are competing with another buyer you might come out ahead.

    To get pre-approved- you need to fill out an application and provide some documents to your mortgage broker which could include:

     

    • Bank statements
    • W-2’s
    • Tax returns
    • paystubs
    • Loan application
    • Verification of employment
    • Verification of deposit
    • many more

    You will also need time to shop for a broker. You probably shouldn’t pick the first broker that comes along. Compare a few of them based on rates and fees, did they respond promptly? Why haven’t you said anything about applying at my bank? I am biased I am a mortgage broker so I think we are the best. A bank is stuck with their products, A mortgage broker is not, we can shop around for a better rate and usually get a better rate. If the bank denies you a loan you have to start all over again unless you use a mortgage broker then it is almost as simple as repackaging your file and submitting it to another lender.

    David Chamberlain
    727-239-2188
    david@floridadreamloans.com

    Free Rate Quote

    Loan Application

    July 10, 2009 Posted by brokerdave | Financing, homebuying | | No Comments Yet

    Shell and shelf companies may be used as vehicles for financial fraud.

    Special Alert

    SA-54-2009
    April 24, 2009

    TO: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (also of interest to Loan Officers)
    SUBJECT: Lending to Shell and Shelf Companies
    Summary: Shell and shelf companies may be used as vehicles for financial fraud.

    The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was recently alerted by the Better Business Bureaus of possible fraudulent or improper activity involving businesses advertising that they can assist borrowers, who may not otherwise be able to qualify for a loan, obtain an unsecured business line of credit. These businesses do this by selling a “shell” or “shelf company” to the potential borrower. The potential borrower is then able to substitute the creditworthiness and business history of the shell or shelf company for their own in an attempt to obtain credit. While financial institutions may use different underwriting based on their risk tolerance, in one example, potential borrowers were advised to request a line of credit below $150,000, suggesting that bank underwriting standards at this level are less stringent. These businesses promise that the borrower will not have to provide business or personal financial statements, income tax returns and personal guarantees, an d that the lending financial institution will not pull a personal credit report. These businesses promise positive results while typically charging large upfront fees.

    The term “shell company” generally refers to a limited liability company and other business entity with no significant assets or ongoing business activities. The term “shelf company” refers to a shell company that is created and left with no activity—or put on the “shelf” to season. The shelf company can then be sold to someone wishing to start a company without going through steps to create a new one. Common reasons for purchasing a shelf corporation include:

    Saving the time involved in the process to create a new corporation;
    Creating an appearance of corporate longevity; and
    Gaining easier access to investment capital and credit.
    If a company is thought to be “seasoned” or have historical longevity, it may boost investor, lender and consumer confidence and give the appearance of an established history of creditworthiness.

    Shell and shelf companies typically have no physical presence other than a mailing address, have no employees and produce little, if anything, with independent economic value. They can be created domestically or in a foreign country. Shell and shelf companies are often formed by individuals and businesses to conduct legitimate transactions. However, they can be and have been used as vehicles for common financial crime schemes such as money laundering, fraudulent loans and fraudulent purchasing. By virtue of the ease of formation and the absence of ownership disclosure requirements, shell and shelf companies are an attractive vehicle for those seeking to conduct illicit activity.

    Providing financial services to shell and shelf companies involves varying degrees of risk, depending on the ownership structure, the nature of the customer, the services provided, the purpose of the account, the location of services, and other associated factors. The potential to abuse shell and shelf companies for illicit activity must be recognized, and financial institutions should be vigilant in monitoring such companies on an ongoing basis. Financial institutions should assess the risks involved in each shell or shelf company relationship and take steps to ensure that the risks are appropriately and effectively identified and managed.

    Financial institution management should establish appropriate due diligence at account opening and during the life of the relationship to manage risk in these accounts. Longstanding regulatory lending guidance advocates that financial institutions request the identity of the shell or shelf corporation’s principal(s) and evaluate the appropriate factors of creditworthiness when extending credit. Important information for determining the valid use of these entities includes the type of business, the purpose of the account, the source of funds and the source of the wealth of the owner or beneficial owner.

    Financial institutions should act promptly when they believe fraudulent or improper activities have occurred related to activities of a shell or shelf company. Appropriate actions may include, but are not limited to, filing a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) in accordance with suspicious activity reporting regulations. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network encourages using the narrative section of the SAR form to completely and sufficiently describe the suspicious conduct. The narrative should use the term “shell,” as appropriate.

    For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC’s website at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2009/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

    Sandra L. Thompson
    Director

    April 24, 2009 Posted by brokerdave | Uncategorized | | 1 Comment

    It’s Friday You Know What That Means, More Bank Closures

    Press Release
    Metcalf Bank, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Assumes All of the Deposits of American Sterling Bank, Sugar Creek, Missouri
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 17, 2009
    Media Contact: LaJuan Williams-Dickerson (202) 898-3876 E-mail: lwilliams-dickerson@fdic.gov

    American Sterling Bank, Sugar Creek, Missouri, was closed today by the Office of Thrift Supervision, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Metcalf Bank, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, to assume all of the deposits of American Sterling Bank.
    The Missouri offices of American Sterling will reopen on Saturday, and the offices in California and Arizona will reopen on Monday as branches of Metcalf Bank. Depositors of American Sterling Bank will automatically become depositors of Metcalf Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers of both banks should continue to use their existing branches until Metcalf Bank can fully integrate the deposit records of American Sterling Bank.
    Over the weekend, depositors of American Sterling Bank can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.
    As of March 20, 2009, American Sterling Bank had total assets of approximately $181 million and total deposits of $171.9 million. In addition to assuming the failed bank’s deposits, Metcalf also agreed to purchase approximately $173.6 million in assets. The FDIC will retain the remaining assets for later disposition.
    The FDIC and Metcalf Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on approximately $100 million of American Sterling’s assets. Metcalf Bank will share with the FDIC in the losses on the assets covered under the agreement. The loss-sharing arrangement is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The agreement also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers.
    Customers who have questions about today’s transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-866-954-9528. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., CDT; on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., CDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., CDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., CDT. Interested parties can also visit the FDIC’s Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/amsterling.html.
    The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund will be $42 million. Metcalf Bank’s acquisition of all the deposits was the “least costly” resolution for the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund compared to alternatives. American Sterling Bank is the twenty-fourth FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year. The last FDIC-insured institution to be closed in Missouri was Hume Bank, Hume, on March 7, 2008. Source: FDIC
    ————————————————————————————————-
    Press Release
    Nevada State Bank, Las Vegas, Nevada, Assumes All of the Deposits of Great Basin Bank of Nevada, Elko, Nevada
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 17, 2009
    Media Contact: LaJuan Williams (202) 898-3876 E-mail: lwilliams-dickerson@fdic.gov
    Great Basin Bank of Nevada, Elko, Nevada, was closed today by the Nevada Financial Institutions Division, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Nevada State Bank, Las Vegas, Nevada, to assume all of the deposits of Great Basin Bank of Nevada.
    The five offices of Great Basin Bank of Nevada will reopen on Monday as branches of Nevada State Bank. Depositors of Great Basin Bank of Nevada will automatically become depositors of Nevada State Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers of both banks should continue to use their existing branches until Nevada State Bank can fully integrate the deposit records of Great Basin Bank of Nevada.
    Over the weekend, depositors of Great Basin Bank of Nevada can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.
    As of December 31, 2008, Great Basin Bank of Nevada had total assets of $270.9 million and total deposits of $221.4 million. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Nevada State Bank agreed to purchase approximately $252.3 million of assets. The FDIC will retain the remaining assets for later disposition.
    The FDIC and Nevada State Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on approximately $143.4 million of Great Basin Bank’s assets. Nevada State Bank will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-sharing arrangement is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The agreement also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers.
    Customers who have questions about today’s transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-866-782-1969. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., PDT; on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., PDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., PDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., PDT. Interested parties can also visit the FDIC’s Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/greatbasin.html.
    The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund will be $42 million. Nevada State Bank’s acquisition of all the deposits was the “least costly” resolution for the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund compared to alternatives. Great Basin Bank of Nevada is the twenty-fifth FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the second in Nevada. The last FDIC-insured institution to be closed in the state was Security Savings Bank, Henderson, on February 27, 2009. Source FDIC

    April 18, 2009 Posted by brokerdave | Uncategorized | | No Comments Yet

    Answers for homebuying questions

    The first step once you have decided to purchase a home is to get your finances in order. If you have any bad debt, take care of that. You can find out by going to www.annualcreditreport.com from there you can get information from all three major credit agencies. If there are any inaccuracies you can dispute them with the credit agencies. At this point you should contact a mortgage broker in your state and show them your credit report. By doing this you are not having your credit pulled by a third party which could drop your score a few points. (What are points: They are a way of evaluating how much of a credit risk you are.) Your Mortgage broker could refer you to a credit counseling agency or may say lets proceed with getting you pre-approved.

    You should be pre-approved for a loan before shopping for a home. It is a big mistake shopping without it unless you are paying cash. Lets say you are out shopping for a home and you think you can afford one at $250,000, you spend 8 weeks shopping have looked at 74 homes and find one you love. Then you write an offer it is accepted but you can’t get a loan. You have wasted your time along with the sellers, agents and your mother-in-laws. Only to find out you qualify for a $200,000 loan.

    To get pre-approved you need to fill out an application and provide some documents to your mortgage broker which could include: home address for the past two years, social security number, landlords for the past two years, name and address of employers for the past two years, w-2 forms, tax returns past two years w/ schedules, two most recent paystubs, bank statement past 3 months, checking , savings and credit union account numbers an locations, IRA/401K information and your mother-in-laws maiden name. You might also be required to provide debt info such as car payments, student loans, divorce decree or separation agreement, divorced personal debts, payments automatically drafted from your accounts along with an explanation for any late payments, judgments, liens to name a few. While these might seem lengthy all of them might not apply to you based on your situation and the type of loan your mortgage broker is trying to get you approved for.

    Why haven’t you said anything about applying at my bank? That is because I am a mortgage Broker and I am biased. A mortgage broker works to get you a loan with any number of lenders not just your bank, the mortgage broker works for YOU not the bank.

    Yea but how do I chose a mortgage broker? This is very important step, Ask for referrals from friends, family and people in the real estate community. Then ask a lot of questions, interview a few of them. Don’t necessarily go with the person who looks at your credit report and says I can get you a 2.5% interest rate. They will not have enough info at that point to give an accurate quote. Go with the Broker who will work for your best interest. Ask them their qualifications, are they FHA approved, what lenders do they work with. A lot of blogs and newspaper articles on the internet tell you to ask how they get paid, It is simple in florida we are required to disclose it within 3 days of you application. This might be an important question but the bottom line is that you are paying for it in one way or another. You should not have to worry about this if spend your time finding an honest hardworking mortgage broker.

    Next: Finding a Real Estate Agent

    David Chamberlain Realtor/Mortgage Broker

    http://www.greatbeachagent.com

    http://www.floridadreamloans.com

    March 17, 2009 Posted by brokerdave | Real Estate, Uncategorized | , , , , | No Comments Yet

    How to choose a residential Realtor

    Part 2 Buyers side
    Before you shop for an agent make sure you get pre-approved for a loan. That way if you have any credit issues you can fix them while you are looking for a home. Also why waste your time searching for a home when you don’t know how much a lender will lend you. Web Reference: http://www.floridadreamloans.com/AreYouPre-Approved
    Unlike the sellers side I don’t see the need to interview a number of agents, I would suggest putting a few to work and see what happens. This way you can judge them based on actual work performed as opposed to what they say they will do.
    I would ask for referrals from friends and family along with scouting for them on the internet, visiting offices and open houses. Once you find a few that you have a connection with, ask them to set you up on some type of automated internet search that updates automatically based on your criteria(size, location, price etc). I use what’s called a client gateway Example ; it appears as a personalized website. You can save, comment or exclude properties. It is a great tool to communicate with clients but not all realtors associations provide such a tool, some just give agents sheets of properties.
    In either case over the first couple of days communicate about the properties. See what type of responses you get and how fast, the agent should start narrowing down what you want even in the first couple of days. Ask a lot of questions about the neighborhoods even if you know the answers to the questions to get a feel for their knowledge of the area. The agent should check their e-mail a few times a day. They should answer their phone or respond promptly. At some point inquire about lowball offer on one of the properties, this serves a couple of points, if they immediately find a way out of doing a lowball offer get rid of them. If they try to calculate what the value is then says lets go lower it to give us some room, you might want to keep them. Each response will vary but the goal is to try to find out if the agent is willing to negotiate and how far they are willing to go. I hear a lot of agents say they don’t want to insult the seller, if the agent tells you this get rid of them.
    Qualities you should find in a good agent during this process: Honesty, quick responses, availability, knowledge of market and good communication skills. They should not pressure you into buying a home, it is your job to pick a home. There job is to help you find your house, then help you get it at a good price at the right terms.
    A few days of this should help you choose an agent. Once you have chosen an agent stick with them and let the other agents know that you have chosen to work with another agent exclusively and why you chose them.

    December 21, 2008 Posted by brokerdave | choosing an agent, homebuying | | No Comments Yet

    This is broken into two parts because the sellers needs are different than the buyers needs. Someone could use the same agent for both sides of the transaction however, it is not necessary.
    Sellers: Your agent should be willing to do open houses, print advertising, internet advertising and should already have a list of buyers to show the property to. This agent should have good communication skills and be honest enough to tell you things you might not want to hear. They should be very critical of your house, your asking price and your motivation to sell. Before you choose your agent, you should interview 3 to 5 agents based on referrals, searching on the internet or by going to open houses. Do not pick them by walking into an office. After all, just because they are in an office does not mean they are currently active in Real Estate. Personally, I know several agents that go to the office everyday but do not do any business. Now, let’s break down the qualifications to sell a home. How are the agents phone&communication skills, for example: did they answer their phone when you called or return your call promptly and did they show up for your interview or appointment on time? Printed advertising is best for open houses and can be valuable in our tourist areas. Internet advertising is critical. There is no excuse for not having a presence on the internet. Find out if they are on Trulia.com. If they are, you can actually lookup their profile and check out their answers to the consumers questions on their blog. Although this is not necessary, it does help you find out about the type of agent and person they are according to their answers and to what you are looking for. If they do not have their own website or buyers have to fill out a form to view listings on their website…do not use them. Let me explain: When they enter the data on your home into the MLS, it is syndicated to other websites, but that really is not enough. They should have it syndicated through their own website and also update the information on Craig’s list, Kijiji and a number of other websites available to them. A lot of people may not pay much attention to the list of buyers, but this could be the most valuable asset a listing agent could have. When they show one of their houses or have an open house, they have the opportunity to get information on the buyers criteria for the home they are looking for, such as price range, number of bedrooms, location etc. Than when your home is listed, your agent can go through the list of buyers and see if it matches any of their criteria.
    How do they do an open house? If they pay for a $30 ad in the local paper and throw a sign out-do not use them regardless of how many open houses they are willing to do.Now, let me explain how I do my open houses. I hold an open house once a month and I spend a lot of time and money on them because they are important. I pay for the advertising in the newspaper with the map if possible. I hand out flyers to all the neighbors, I put signs on the major intersections leading to the home in advance to let the public know the date, address and times I will be holding the open house. I send post cards to neighboring communities with the same information. If the seller agrees, my wife&I supply & prepare food and beverages. On the day of the open house I handout flyers to the gas stations in the area and make sure there are enough signs out, so that from any direction they may be driving they are visible to any potential buyers. Before I became a mortgage broker, I made sure I invited one to the open house or had one available by phone to qualify the potential buyer in case they wanted to write an offer on the spot. (Speaking of offers, when interviewing your potential agent, ask to see a sales contract, if they have one this is a good sign, they are prepared as I always am)
    Ask all the agents you are interviewing to bring a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) along with them, however, do not tell them how much you hope to get for your home. When you are looking over the CMA, ask questions and ask them to explain the values. Again, do not tell them, at any point how much you want to sell your home for and do not choose your potential agent because they said your home was worth more than the other agents. Look over all the information and pick the CMA that is MOST ACCURATE, NOT THE BEST. If the most accurate CMA is lower than you want to sell your home, than do not waste yours and your agents time, just let them know you are not interested in selling. On the flip side of that, if you list with the agent that has the highest (but inaccurate) CMA, than you are setting yourself up for disappointment if your home does not sell within the time amount you allotted and you will have to drop the price at that time. Please keep in mind that with the way todays market conditions are, you will be chasing the market by lowering your price every 3months.
    During the interview process of choosing your agent, ask them what they suggest to “prep” your home, that way when you do choose your agent, you will already have some input from more than one agent and even though you are not using all of the agents you can still use their ideas. Also during the interview, ask them what their marketing plan is and what will change, if the home does not sell in 30, 60 or 90 days.
    And here is my last tip. Buy a new toilet seat! Cheap, but well worth it!
    David Chamberlain
    http://www.greatbeachagent.com/
    http://www.floridadreamloans.com/

    December 17, 2008 Posted by brokerdave | Uncategorized | | No Comments Yet

    Flat fee Vs Traditional

    Flat fee Vs Traditional
    Why don’t agents show flat fee listings? Agents do show flat fee listings not all, but most. I try to avoid it if possible. A lot of people seem to say “but it is in the best interest of the buyer to show all homes”. No it is not, it is in the best interest of the buyer for me to find the buyer a home they like and can afford that we can close on.If we don’t close it was a waste of time for the both of us.
    Example discount broker 1: I am showing a multi unit property to a buyer. The listing agent shows up 45 min late in a tank top with no bra on eating fried chicken as we walk the property. She hadn’t called any of the tenants to ask for access to there units. Buyer decided not to make an offer
    Example discount broker 2: I found the home in the MLS called the company to show it. They said thats fine it is vacant on lockbox. We went to the home to find a moving truck in the driveway, they had closed two days before. I had tried to show a few of this companies properties this was the first time someone actually resonded to me.
    Example discount broker 3: I was looking for a unit in a particular complex and found one on another agents website. I had showed a couple of the agents other listings. This one was a flat fee that didn’t include the mls. The agent told me that there was no compensation avalable to other agents. I let the buyer know they decided not to look at the property because the wanted me to be on their side of the transaction. They bought the next unit they looked at!
    It is my opinion that it is great that buyers and sellers have many means available to them but I don’t think that you can compare flat fee vs traditional they are two totaly different business models. Its like Mcdonalds or Outback, a lot of people like Mcdonalds but that doesn’t mean it is good for you. Its your choice beef flavored meat or steak.

    David Chamberlain Realtor/Mortgage Broker
    http://www.greatbeachagent.com
    http://www.floridadreamloans.com

    December 15, 2008 Posted by brokerdave | Uncategorized | | No Comments Yet

    homebuying 101

    Homebuying 101: An in-depth analysis of your role and the role of the mortgage broker, real estate agent, title company, sellers and all other interested parties including the mother-in-law.

    The first step once you have decided to purchase a home is to get your finances in order. If you have any bad debt, take care of that. You can find out by going to http://www.annualcreditreport.com/ from there you can get information from all three major credit agencies. If there are any inaccuracies you can dispute them with the credit agencies. At this point you should contact a mortgage broker in your state and show them your credit report. By doing this you are not having your credit pulled by a third party which could drop your score a few points. (What are points: They are a way of evaluating how much of a credit risk you are.) Your Mortgage broker could refer you to a credit counseling agency or may say lets proceed with getting you pre-approved.
    You should be pre-approved for a loan before shopping for a home. It is a big mistake shopping without it unless you are paying cash. Lets say you are out shopping for a home and you think you can afford one at $250,000, you spend 8 weeks shopping have looked at 74 homes and find one you love. Then you write an offer it is accepted but you can’t get a loan. You have wasted your time along with the sellers, agents and your mother-in-laws. Only to find out you qualify for a $200,000 loan.
    To get pre-approved you need to fill out an application and provide some documents to your mortgage broker which could include: home address for the past two years, social security number, landlords for the past two years, name and address of employers for the past two years, w-2 forms, tax returns past two years w/ schedules, two most recent paystubs, bank statement past 3 months, checking , savings and credit union account numbers an locations, IRA/401K information and your mother-in-laws maiden name. You might also be required to provide debt info such as car payments, student loans, divorce decree or separation agreement, divorced personal debts, payments automatically drafted from your accounts along with an explanation for any late payments, judgments, liens to name a few. While these might seem lengthy all of them might not apply to you based on your situation and the type of loan your mortgage broker is trying to get you approved for.
    Why haven’t you said anything about applying at my bank? That is because I am a mortgage Broker and I am biased. A mortgage broker works to get you a loan with any number of lenders not just your bank, the mortgage broker works for YOU not the bank.
    Yea but how do I chose a mortgage broker? This is very important step, Ask for referrals from friends, family and people in the real estate community. Then ask a lot of questions, interview a few of them. Don’t necessarily go with the person who looks at your credit report and says I can get you a 2.5% interest rate. They will not have enough info at that point to give an accurate quote. Go with the Broker who will work for your best interest. Ask them their qualifications, are they FHA approved, what lenders do they work with. A lot of blogs and newspaper articles on the internet tell you to ask how they get paid, It is simple in florida we are required to disclose it within 3 days of you application. This might be an important question but the bottom line is that you are paying for it in one way or another. You should not have to worry about this if spend your time finding an honest hardworking mortgage broker.

    Next: Finding a Real Estate Agent

    David Chamberlain Realtor/Mortgage Broker
    http://www.greatbeachagent.com/
    http://www.floridadreamloans.com/

    December 15, 2008 Posted by brokerdave | homebuying | | No Comments Yet