Archive for the ‘Money’ Category
— Ken Cook NMLS ID 208452
September of 2009 brought devastating flooding to many areas of metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. During this time flood waters from the Chattahoochee River, the Yellow River, Peachtree Creek and hundreds of other small tributaries and?reservoirs?crested to record levels. During a 24 to 48 hour period as much as 15 inches of rain deluged the already water soaked landscape and created a new line of?demarcation?between flood zone and safe zone.
At least eight people lost their lives, hundreds were injured and thousands left homeless as the Georgia flood receded. What it left behind, as does any flood or other disaster, is wounded lives and dashed hopes and dreams. As a grim reminder of the loss of property there is a raw video feed from CNN attached. Read the rest of this entry »
— Ken Cook NMLS ID 208452
Regardless of the industry there are certain buzzwords or words that seem like they are created simply to confuse the outsider. Near the bottom of the list for business goals should be confusing customers. Unfortunately it does happen and the one who stands the highest chance for damage is the most valuable of all; the customer.
Mortgage professionals throw around terms like an alphabet soup that would frighten even Vanna White. Words like ten oh three (1003) and respa (RESPA – Real Estate Settlement and Procedures Act) fall out of their mouths like jelly beans out of a pinata.
Making it even a little more confusing for you different agencies use the same term to apply to different meanings and vice versa. Streamline and streamlined for example.
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) makes available a couple of different “streamline” loans. Freddie Mac (FHLMC) has their “streamlined” loan. Essentially they are the same product and if you phone an FHA lender and ask for a “streamlined” loan they will neither laugh at you nor hang up on you.
For all practical purposes streamline loans, whether a streamline refinance or otherwise, indicate something less is required or they go faster than a standard loan. For the FHA streamline refinance a little less documentation is required and sometimes less evidence of value is required.
— Ken Cook NMLS ID 208452
The IRS has released their new form for the first time homebuyer’s tax credit.
The most important new line is here:
If you are claiming the credit on your 2009 (or later) tax return, you must attach a copy of the properly executed settlement statement (or similar documentation) used to complete the purchase (see instructions).
It seems the IRS finally wised up that people were fraudulently stating they had already purchased the home when indeed the purchase had not yet been completed.
Link to the document http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5405.pdf
— Ken Cook NMLS ID 208452
There is little secret about the devastation delivered to the real estate industry in the Atlanta area over the last twenty-four months. Values plummeted in 2009 as more properties made their way to the market through increasing numbers of foreclosures leaving banks and investors holding inventory unlikely to resell in months if not years.
Making matters worse many of the foreclosed properties are not in prime condition with many of them needing repairs to return them to livable condition. Add to this trouble the number of properties which have been vandalized while vacant and those continue to set in a deteriorating state further impacting the values of other properties in the area. Read the rest of this entry »
Community Outreach Leader and Licensed Loan Officer NMLS ID 208452 - office address 2300 Windy Ridge, Atlanta GA, 30339— Ken Cook NMLS ID 208452
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY - I don’t want to distribute incorrect information so if you have a viable correction please make it known in the comments.
HR 3458 “The Worker, Home Ownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009″
While it is called an “Extension and Modification of the First-Time Homebuyer’s Tax Credit” it really is an extension and overhaul or re-construction. Modified doesn’t seem to cover it. If you are interested the full text of the Resolution signed into law is found at?this link on Thomas Library of Congress. (This is also based on?S 1678 dated September 16, 2009 and passed unanimously in the Senate.) Read the rest of this entry »
— Ken Cook NMLS ID 208452
Many home loan mortgage programs have different requirements for maximum income levels by borrower and or household. Each state has different areas and often a single MSA or AMI may cover multiple counties. It is always best to consult with your home loan mortgage professional but, only as a guideline, here is the HUD AMI (Area Median Income) list for Georgia as of November 2, 2009. In Georgia call Ken Cook at 678-439-8683
— Ken Cook NMLS ID 208452
Every loan officer who has done their job for more than a week or so has heard the question. Some loan officers avoid it altogether by simply not sending the Truth In Lending (TIL) until they absolutely are required by law to do so. Why? Because in the top left corner in prominent font is a number that confuses almost every borrower and non-financial insider – the Annual Percentage Rate (APR).
The APR disclosure requirement was sort of a good idea when it came out back in 1968 when there was pretty much just one type of home loan: a 30 year fixed interest mortgage. With time and exotic mortgage solutions the APR became highly obfuscated and even a tool of obfuscation. Read the rest of this entry »
— Ken Cook NMLS ID 208452
So you have the down payment – sourced and seasoned just like it needs to be. All saved up, stored away nicely in the bank for the last 60 days, and ready to be invested into a home. The closing costs are there, too, and all perfectly documented for the last two months. Great job! Your down payment and closing costs are in order. This is something to be proud of!
It’s always something that needs to be covered right up front. When the loan officer is taking the application and they know what it requires for down payment and the approximate closing costs they also need to calculate in the specified amount of reserves. What are reserves? Straightforward it is enough to cover the principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (at a minimum). Read the rest of this entry »
— admin
Probably so, the House of Representatives voted on the 8th to give service members who served a minimum of 90 days overseas an extension on their ability to claim the $8000 federal tax credit for first time home buyers. TBWS reported the extension of 6 months based on Housing Wire reports while US News reported a 12 month extension.
Here’s the official story from Congressman Mark Schauer:
WASHINGTON, Oct 8 - Today, Congressman Mark Schauer voted to pass two key measures for our American veterans. The Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act (H.R. 3590), which passed with bipartisan support today, will extend the deadline for taking advantage of the first-time homebuyer tax credit under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for qualified service members by one year. Today’s House passage of an amendment to the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act (H.R. 1016) will help advance the legislation towards a Presidential signature. The bill authorizes Congress to approve investments in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care one year in advance to provide more predictable health care funding for veterans.
If you have questions or comments about the First Time Home Buyer’s Tax Credit, FHA, VA or any other real estate finance questions I will be happy to answer. Telephone me at 678-439-8683
— admin