Author: john (John Rapasky)

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IS AN APPRAISAL NEEDED WHEN APPLYING FOR A MORTGAGE?

An appraisal may not be needed when applying for a mortgage. How can you get an appraisal waiver? Generally, an appraisal is needed to get a home loan, but, there are instances where this requirement is waived. Most home loans are sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. When underwriting these loans, they are submitted...

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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

Pre-qualification v. pre-approval, what is the difference? A pre-qualification is based on information provided to the loan originator. The information could be as simple as a conversation about your income, assets, and debts, to providing the supporting documentation. A pre-approval is where an underwriter reviews your file, including the loan application, credit report, income and...

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CHECK YOUR CREDIT REPORT IN ADVANCE

Are you considering buying a home?  It may be worthwhile to review your credit report beforehand. To check your credit for free go to: www.annualcreditreport.com Many sites promise free credit reports, but this website is the only official site authorized by Federal law; It is sponsored by Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. You are allowed to...

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HOW SHOULD CRE INVESTORS PREPARE FOR THE NEXT DOWNTURN

  Today’s post is written by Michael Green, Commercial Loan Originator for Counsel Mortgage Group, LLC.   A recession is unlikely to hit this year, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t start preparing. Experts say that this is the perfect time for investors to reevaluate portfolio performance to prepare for the next downturn—whenever it...

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PLEDGING ASSETS

With the way the stock market is running, many people do not want to liquidate their accounts to make a large down payment on a home. They are conflicted because they want to make a large down payment to get a better interest rate, but do not want to sell the assets in their investment...

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CAN I SKIP A PAYMENT, OR TWO?

Have you heard you can “skip” a payment, or maybe even 2 months payments, when you refinance? Is this practice considered tricking the system, or getting away with something? No, in fact, you may be front-loading more cash at closing. This is how it works: The first thing to understand is how a mortgage payment...

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WE SUPPORT OUR VETERANS

Are you a veteran? One of the best loans is the VA loan. To start, you would need your DD214 form and Certificate of Eligibility for a VA loan. We can help you obtain the Certificate.  You may be able to qualify for 100% financing. We support our vets and have many veteran employees who...

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COUNSEL MORTGAGE GROUP

  We are a brokerage based in Arizona licensed to provide services in both Arizona and California.   We have relationships with many banks, insurance companies, and private investors and have access to wholesale rates and products that are not directly available to the public. We canvass our resources daily to find the lowest rates...

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ARE YOU FEELING CONFUSED BY ALL THE MANY LOAN PROGRAMS AND PRODUCTS?

I often get asked, “What do I need to do to shop for a loan?” There are many different programs, products, and sales pitches, making it confusing to determine which loan product to choose. Even a plain 30-year fixed mortgage can be confusing, as some lenders will offer incentives such as payments to closing costs...

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WHAT ABOUT THAT “OTHER” SBA LOAN?

Today’s post is written by Michael Green, Commercial Loan Originator for Counsel Mortgage Group, LLC. Most people talk about SBA loans as if there’s only one, and that typically being the 7(a). The other equally useful in the right situation is the 504. This doesn’t get much exposure, probably because it’s more complex. I recently...