Tom's Blog

During lunch, I enjoy taking a break and skimming through different news pages on the web. Well, one on MSNBC certainly caught my attention today. A carpenter in Oakland, CA apparently regularly does his work in the nude! Not in his home, but at his clients home. This particular day he was buildi...

There has been a lot said in the media over the last 2-3 months about the mortgage industry. The best advice I've heard is don't believe everything you hear. The market is definitely slower than a year ago for buying and selling. And, yes, there have been many changes. But there are still many pe...

The Buyer:1)Giving incorrect or incomplete information on the application2)Late payments on mortgage or rent3)Loss of borrower or coborrower employment4)Borrowers making large purchases on credit before closing5)Lack proof of verifiable income6)Borrower switching from salary to commission7)Don't ...

Well the emails have started trickling in over the last couple of days. The latest change for the lending side is lenders are eliminating short term ARMs. Commonly referred to as a 2/28. This means the rate is fixed for the first two years and then adjusts thereafter. The advantage was for some c...

I am wondering if anyone has measured or knows about the success or failure of magnetic signs for the side of your vehicle. I've seen the trend grow quite a bit in my area as of late. I'm always looking for ways to get my name out but I wonder if its worth the 40-50 bucks. It just doesn't appeal ...

I know that the market is changing, but what lengths some people will go to in order to "steal" a deal away is sad. I've done this long enough to expect this type of behavior from some brokers. But we are talking about a top 10 lender in the US! This happened to a fellow broker today and I just h...

As mortgage rates rise many consumers don't quite understand why they aren't being offered the 5.5% rate they saw on tv the night before. After all, they have great credit! Unfortunately you never have time or the magnification to read all of the fine print thrown up on the screen just before the...

I have heard so many different views on what happened to the mortgage side of the real estate industry. Frankly I think it is truly for the better. I agree that there has been and still will be some "over-tightening" on lending practices, but something needed to change. In reality, they simply re...

When you apply for a mortgage many people either aren't told what their credit score is or are told this is your score and this is what I can offer you. When ever your credit is pulled for any reason you are entitled to a free copy of that report. The advantage when applying for a mortgage is you...