John Meussner's Blog

Tis' the Season (For Increased Loan Limits)       Each year toward the end of the year, new year loan limits are announced for conventional and government loans.  While VA loans have had their caps removed (a huge benefit for VA borrowers!), FHA and conventional loans are capped each year based o...

Gratitude for Good Health This year was a tough one.  I made the most income I ever have, exceeded my professional profit goal of 10% improvement over last year, saw some amazing places, met some tremendous people, was able to make an impact on other's, and yet, it was a tough year.  Back in Marc...

Thankful for My Career      I'm a pretty lucky guy in a lot of ways, and I have a ton to be thankful for.  One thing that I'm continuously filled with gratitude about is my career.  I've been in the mortgage industry for over a decade (13+ years now!), and for many years it was a struggle.  I ent...

Help Give Back This Holiday Season I'm not the type to ask someone to do something I wouldn't do.  In work, in the gym, with their diet, sleep habits, or, in this case, donating to a cause bigger than themself. Last year, I asked for help to bring supplies to people effected by the Carr fire in n...

Fed Rate Cut       The fed has again cut rates - this time by .25%.  When a Fed rate cut occurs, there's generally a lot of confusion in the markets (and for good reason, they're complicated!), and often even within the real estate community. First, what is a Fed rate cut?  Well, it's a reduction...

Engaging with Video      You suck at video.  It's the truth.  If you haven't done it, you're going to be bad.  But your 2nd video will be about 20% better than your first.  And your 3rd will be about 20% better than your 2nd.  Eventually, you'll figure out your lighting, and start being OK with y...

How to Answer the Tough Questions  BLINK!  And the market's changed.  It happens all the time.  A market moves from hot, with homes selling in days, often for more than list price to ice cold, seemingly over night.  Price cuts take hold, days-on-market (DOM) increases and home owners and sellers ...

Are We Talking Ourselves Into Recession?      Recently, the "R" word has been in the headlines quite a bit.  As with every headline, there's a "devil's advocate" position, and recently, one expert warned that if we keep talking about recession, that could CAUSE a recession!        Yes, fear is a ...

It's Time To Move Your Contract Period to 45 Days PSA for real estate agents across the country - 45 days is officially your new 30 days.  Think it's a benefit to go 30 days?  Well, with the yield curve on treasuries officially inverting today, we're officially in a refinance boom.  What does tha...

How Big Data Can Help Your Tiny Real Estate Business      I'm just going to get the pitch out of the way.  The data I have available (and perhaps even more importantly, the data I know how to translate and effectively communicate to clients) can help you close more real estate transactions.  It c...