September 1, 2008 – 3:55 pm
To all you frugal and industrious folks who either own a home or are working towards your dream of homeownership I say to you: HAPPY LABOR DAY!
August 31, 2008 – 8:51 am
I don’t think my radar is any more tweaked than usual, but I did pick up quite a few quotes in today’s NYTimes.com which point to the American Dream of homeownership and the “intangible benefits” of same.
I have long said that you simply cannot put a number to quantify the intangible benefits of homeownership. [...]
August 29, 2008 – 8:57 am
This afternoon we’re closing another loan we rescued from previous disaster with not one, but two other mortgage companies. This morning, we’re continuing to process the “rescued” loan from two nights ago.
Last night I spoke with yet another Realtor down and out because he had a purchase transaction dragging on and on into [...]
August 28, 2008 – 8:42 am
I did it again last night: I wrote a loan application to save a purchase where the Buyers had gone to two other mortgage companies. Those companies couldn’t find a way to approve their loan request.
The mortgage biz ain’t rocket science. Why is it so difficult for mortgage people to get their act [...]
August 27, 2008 – 9:00 am
Holy Cow! You would think the market was still red hot the way Sellers are (still) behaving! Either they have no patience with the new (difficult) paradigm of mortgage financing or they still think their homes are worth $42Million!!!
Really, of late I’m seeing this ridiculous attitude from Sellers threatening to kill deals and [...]
August 23, 2008 – 11:09 am
Things will slow down when it comes to processing a loan application and purchasing a home. That’s the old way and it’s new again; as it should be.
August 21, 2008 – 8:23 am
You would think the downturn in the mortgage business would have finally “separated the wheat from the chaff.” Unfortunately, there are still people hanging on the fringes of the mortgage business claiming to know what they’re doing.
August 20, 2008 – 7:36 am
I learned early on one fundamental of buying a home: it’s all about the monthly payment. If you can’t afford the payment, you don’t buy the house. Pretty darned simple math, really.
I’m happy to report our good pal Craig Newmark of Craigslist fame is featured in a NYTimes.com piece. Some silly shenanigans on the part of the corporate folks at eBay trying to corrupt Craig’s ever-sensible 21st Century approach to commerce and all things internet. Blah-blah-blah.
Still, there are great insights in the piece [...]
March 20, 2008 – 10:47 pm
The word on the street is this: in the first week of April, Stated Income Loans will cease to exist.
As it stands, the PMI companies will begin refusing to insure such loans. PMI is required when your downpayment is less than 20%. The PMI or “Private Mortgage Insurance” protects the Lender for the [...]
