Equifax Breach – Is Your Information Safe?

From my friends at CAG Group – Yesterday Equifax announced that it had been breached back in July and as many as 143 million US consumers are impacted. The company is offering free credit monitoring for those impacted by this breach. I checked my personal information – took 45 seconds – and determined it […]

CFPB fires a warning shot! Realtors and Lenders Beware!

The CFPB is beefing up its ongoing investigation into Zillow for possibly violating RESPA. Full article here from my friends at HousingWire You’ve been warned: CFPB puts Realtors, Lenders on RESPA violation watch

How Safe is Your Information & Documentation?

Your right to privacy is a significant concern for mortgage professionals who are involved in the solicitation, origination, processing, closing and servicing of mortgage transactions. Multiple laws protect the privacy of borrowers, and violation of these laws can result in serious liability. Privacy laws protect borrowers from the time they receive a solicitation for a mortgage […]

Can I Remove Mortgage Insurance from My Loan?

Answer: To remove private mortgage insurance you must be up to date with your monthly payments. And you have to reach the date when the principal balance of your mortgage is scheduled to fall to 80 percent of the original value of your home. GREAT info from the CFPB’s original article – here To remove private […]

Rent or Buy – Either Way You’re Paying a Mortgage

GREAT words of wisdom from my friends over at KCM – There are some renters that have not yet purchased a home because they are uncomfortable taking on the obligation of a mortgage. Everyone should realize that, unless you are living with your parents rent free, you are paying a mortgage – either your […]

FHA Increased DFW Area Loan Limit! and other useful FHA tidbits

Great news friends – homebuyers in the DFW metro (and surrounding areas) will see increased purchasing power thanks to FHA’s decision to increase loan limits beginning his January (2016). Previously the max loan amount for Dallas – Fort Worth area was $310,500 which means buyers could buy a $321,750 home by putting the very minimum down. However, as of […]

Home Prices & Appraised Values -Sellers need to sell their homes twice?

First American Title issues a quarterly report, the Real Estate Sentiment Index (RESI), which “measures title agent sentiment on a variety of key market metrics and industry issues”. Their 2015 4th Quarter Edition revealed some interesting information regarding possible challenges with appraisal values as we head into 2016. “The fourth quarter RESI found that title […]

20 Millionth VA loan – VA made history in 2013

The Department of Veterans Affairs backed 630,000 mortgages in fiscal year 2013, an all-time high for the benefit program. That record volume punctuates an incredible recent run for VA loans, which have experienced tremendous growth in the wake of the financial collapse. VA loan volume has soared 372 percent since fiscal year 2007, driven in […]

History of New Years Resolutions…and what does Auld Lang Syne really mean??

This week, millions of people will begin their New Year’s Resolutions. Statistics say that about 8% will be successful. Ever wonder where this tradition started? Historians track the origin of this custom to the ancient Babylonians, who used the new year to try to make amends for their wrongdoings of the past year. The New […]

FHA increases loan limits in DFW for 2014

Great news friends – buyers in the DFW metroplex (and surrounding areas) will see increased purchasing power thanks to FHA’s decision to increase loan limits beginning in January 2014. Currently the maximum loan amount for the DFW area is $271,050. With a 3.5% down payment (FHA’s minimum down payment requirement) this yields a purchase price […]