Mortgage Secrets…Learn What the Experts Say

Quote of the Week:

“It is not the crook in modern business that we fear, but the honest person who does not know what he is doing.” ~Owen D. Young

Research has confirmed that one out of every three homeowners have no idea what kind of loan they have. If you and/or any of your family members find yourself in that category, I have set aside some time to review their loan and provide advice to determine what to do next.

When a family member, friend or neighbor needs advice about buying/selling/borrowing, please don’t keep me a secret because you want them to get the best possible result and be delighted that you introduced me, don’t you?

All anyone has to do is give me a call to talk about their own situation or equally as important, to give me the name and number of someone they think will benefit from a relationship with a trusted adviser.

Rarely do I send out the same video twice but, in this case, it’s such a no brainer (saving money) that I would hope everyone would inquire after watching the video. Will you do me a favor? Will you please forward this email to those who you work with or better yet, to a Human Resources person who is authorized to forward this to the entire company ? I’m sure your fellow co-workers/friends/teammates will certainly appreciate their company looking out for them by way of giving them a way to save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars each and every year. This will, of course, spread the word about what we do here as well. Let’s just call it another win/win for everyone. Read the rest of this post

Quote of the Week:

Vision (I made “vision” realllly big because it takes as much energy to think BIG as it does to think small. Pretty cool, right?)

“People who say that life is not worthwhile are really saying that they themselves have no personal goals which are worthwhile. Get yourself a goal worth working for. Better still, get yourself a project. Always have something ahead of you to look forward to…to work for and hope for.”

Dr. Maxwell Maltz

Author and Psycho-Cybernetics

The inspiration for my video this weeks comes from a very personal story of mine that happened last week and it has everything to do with asking the right questions of your paid professional before AND during the loan process. A great point that I mention in my video this week is the importance of knowing what your trusted advisor is going to do for you AFTER your escrow is closed. I mean, don’t you want to know? If you are working with someone who isn’t a cheerleader for what his/her company does for their clients after a transaction is closed, well, I hate to break this to you but, there probably isn’t a whole lot that company AND that person has to offer you by way of continuing education and debt management. It’s an unfortunate part about the mortgage industry. We are doing our part to fix that problem!

Please take a few minutes to watch this video (that was supposed to go out two days ago….arrrrgh!), then read the rest of my email:

http://www.vimeo.com/1125901
Read the rest of this post

“If you owe the bank $100.00, you have a problem. If you owe them $1,000,000, the bank has a problem!”
Donald Trump

3 Ways to Make the Fed’s Moves Work for You

Here’s how to take advantage of low interest rates without letting lenders take advantage of you.

Written by Kimberly Palmer of U.S. News on April 30th, 2008

Consumers still have the chance to negotiate favorable interest rates, which are close to historic lows. Now is the perfect time to call credit card companies to ask for lower rates, lock in favorable financing on car loans, or refinance homes. But it’s not as simple as checking the latest move from the Federal Reserve. Here’s what consumers need to know:

1. Credit Card Companies Are More Willing to Offer Lower Rates

Card providers often say yes to consumers who ask for lower rates, especially when those consumers have a record of paying off their bills each month. But now is a particularly opportune time to shop around or call providers and ask for lower rates, says Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of LowCards.com. Companies are eager to keep their best customers, and the average credit card rate is just over 13 percent, a two-year low, according to IndexCreditCards.com.

More from USNews.com:

• What Fed Moves Mean for Mortgage Rates

• Is Bernanke Worse Than Greenspan?

• FAQ on Paulson’s Regulatory Reform

The downside: Even consumers with so-called fixed-rate cards can find their interest rate climbing again for a variety of reasons unrelated to their own behavior, including economic ones such as higher inflation.

Read the rest of this post

For Immediate Release… Homeowners Gain Edge in Changing Real Estate Market 

It’s no secret that the softening real estate market has caused considerable confusion among homeowners and investors alike who wonder what will happen next and what they can do now to safeguard their investments and still continue to meet their financial goals in the declining real estate market.  

To clear up some of this confusion and provide homeowners and investors with an edge on the changing market, The SC Group Realtors, Silverstar Finance and The CA Educational Institute are providing a free educational seminar titled “Common Sense Strategies to Successful Equity Management.” The seminar will be held at SeaCliff Country Club in Huntington Beach on Thursday, February 21^st at 5:30pm.  

“Never has it been more critical for homeowners and investors to be educated on the current state of the real estate and mortgage markets but more importantly how they can implement successful home equity management strategies to protect their investments from further market fluctuations. As real estate consultants we understand the necessity and value in providing services that allow our clients to make more informed financial decisions and that’s exactly what we plan to deliver with this workshop”, says Tawnya Henderson of The SC Group. 

“In addition, the liquidity crisis that resulted in the recent failure of a number of lenders has shaken confidence in the mortgage industry and left many homeowners wondering how to take the safe road when securing a loan. Many are fearful of their home values continuing to decline and the possible re-cast of an adjustable rate mortgage loan on the horizon. This workshop is designed to address those concerns and provide practical solutions to help clients achieve continued financial freedom”, says Kurtis Kooiman of Silverstar Finance. 

Also, featured at the Learning Annex of Los Angeles this seminar has been incredibly valuable and seats fill quickly so reservations are required and recommended.  

To obtain more information or RSVP to this workshop call Toll Free 1.877.892.1002 or email knewberry@silverstarfinance.com. For more information on The SC Group Realtors call Toll Free 1.877.672.4768, email info@myscgroup.com or go to www.myscgroup.com.

Wow! So, I get home and there it was…an actual Federal Express package from the company where I hold my mortgage. I’m thinking, what on earth could this be? My bank actually Federal Expressed me a solicitation to refinance out of my mortgage and into another one. What’s even better is that the verbiage in the letter was very deceptive. It’s amazing what one little sentence can do to entice one to give them a call, which is of course their primary objective. Banks are getting better and better at soliciting new business…doesn’t mean they’re getting any better at giving valuable advice and good service!

I want you to know that IF this happens to you or anything of the sorts, please give your Trusted Advisor a call. If you decide to inquire with someone else, that’s fine. All I ask is that you give me a call or an email as well and let me know what you’re thinking or what your objectives may be. As always, I will give you the very best advice possible, as I likely have hundreds of more hours of education than any traditional bank Loan Officer. Not trying to toot my horn, I just don’t want any of my friends, family, and clients taking advice from people that haven’t earned the right to give financial advice. Remember, your mortgage IS a large part of your overall financial plan. It’s not JUST a mortgage, it’s an important part of your future.

Also, I wanted to share a radio interview that I did a few months ago with you. I hope you enjoy it. I come on about 25 minutes into the program. This interview was aired along the majority of states along the west coast and was recently re-aired, as the response to the interview was very positive.

www.marketwrapwithmoe.com

Go to “Listen Now.”

Click on “Listen to the Archives”

Password: Lincoln