The loan limits for 2020 are higher than in 2019. Here are the loan limits by loan product: Conventional – $510,400 VA – $510,400 FHA – $331,760 (Maricopa County, other counties may differ) USDA – $251,862 These limits mean that to qualify for the above loan product, the loan amount cannot exceed the limit. Loans...
Tag: #ExcellenceInLending
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INVESTING: STOCK MARKET OR RENTAL PROPERTY?
Let’s compare the two: The nice thing about stocks is that you simply invest your money in a fund and sit back and watch it, hopefully, grow. Obviously, it is not this easy, as a lot of homework needs to be done up front to make sure you are placing your funds in the right...
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WE HAVE CLOSED MANY VA LOANS
One of the best mortgage loans is the VA loan; if you are a veteran, you should consider this loan. For conforming loans, the VA loan allows 100% financing and does not have mortgage insurance. Instead, there is a one-time funding fee that can be paid at closing in cash or rolled into the loan....
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COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE (CRE) FINANCING & FED POLICY
Today’s post is written by Michael Green, Commercial Loan Originator for Counsel Mortgage Group, LLC. The Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate cuts have sent a surge of excitement through the commercial real estate (CRE) market. Fed influenced rates have returned to 2018 lows, however, the Fed’s interest rate reductions have little to do with conventional...
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RATE ENVIRONMENT: UP OR DOWN?
Right now, we are in a decreasing interest rate environment. Is there somewhere you can look to determine if interest rates are going up or down? We look to the interest rate on the US 10-year Treasury Note as a leading indicator for mortgage rates. As the 10-year rate goes up, mortgage rates tend to...
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FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS
First time homebuyers will call me asking for a FHA loan. I guess the urban myth is that there is not a low-down payment option for conventional loans. However, this is not true. Conventional loans can be obtained for as little as 3% down. So, what results in a better option for the...
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HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS AND LENDING
Did you know when you apply for a loan there are actually 2 approvals that take place? The lender reviews the file based on your credit and income, and also reviews the collateral. The collateral must be sufficient in order for a loan to be approved. When the collateral is a condominium, there is increased...
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HAPPY VETERANS DAY
We hope everyone is having a great Veterans Day! Thank you to all the men and women who have served in our military to keep us safe and free. Are you a veteran? We support our vets and have many veteran employees. Jim Moore is licensed in Arizona as a Mortgage Loan Originator and an Army...
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VARIABLE RATE LOANS AND FED POLICY
Today’s post is written by Michael Green, Commercial Loan Originator for Counsel Mortgage Group, LLC. Reminder from our last issue: You’ve heard of ZIRP – zero interest rate policy – from 2008-2015. Now get ready for NIRP – negative interest rate policy. Currently about $16 trillion of sovereign bonds (all countries that issue),...
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IS REVERSE MORTGAGE RIGHT FOR YOU?
One way to understand what reverse mortgage is, is to understand forward mortgage. A forward mortgage is the mortgage you know, you borrow money, the loan is secured by your home and you pay it back. For the reverse mortgage, you also borrow money, the loan is secured by your home, but you don’t have...