Why do you want a professional real estate appraisal?  America's wealth lies in real estate and figuring out the value is important to your economic well-being.  The job of the professional appraiser is to determine the value by gathering and analyzing the property and appraisers are an important, third-party, impartial people who protects you from "over-paying" and protects the lender from lending too much money on a property that is not worth it.   Where does an appraiser get their information to compare the value?  An appraiser gets information from a variety of sources, including the Realtors® Multiple Listing Service, tax assessors' records, courthouse records, private interviews (if information cannot be found publicly), other appraisers and personal knowledge of the area.  That's... 07/11/2007

Now, let me tell you that home ownership is one of the key ingredients to building wealth. Take any 100 people at the start of their working careers and then follow them for 40 years until they reach retirement age. Here's what you'll find: only 1 in 4 will be really wealthy and financially secure; 5 will continue working (not because they want to, but because they have to); 36 will be dead; and 54 will be broke and dependent on Social Security checks, relatives, friends and maybe even charity for a minimum standard of living. That's 5% successful and 95% unsuccessful.  So, what does that have to do with choosing a mortgage? Plenty! Because the more money you can save and the more equity you can build up in a short period of time, the more wealth you will acquire.  Let me ask you a seri... 07/11/2007

"Prescription before diagnosis is malpractice!"  1.     Before phone or in-person appointment, Fill out form online http://www.opteum.com/sziem2.     We do a credit analysis, review together over the phone3.     Analyze your financial history (page 5 of the 1003)4.     Shawn Ziem gives his diagnosis.5.     We prepare a Needs List and application for mail or appointment.6.     Send out a appraisal request7.     Send out a title work request, Survey (Purchase)8.     Submission of package and lock loan (or choose to float)9.     Approval in 7-10 days10. Change mortgagee clause on the homeowner's insurance policy11. Clear extra conditions for the loan.12. Cleared to close, docs sent to closing agent.13. Closing at your house (Refinance) or where appropriate (Purchase)14. Survey of your expe... 07/11/2007

I have been looking around town and I see alot of activity. I have no crystal ball, but I think things are looking up.Am I wrong? What about your neighborhoods? When I see all the investing and planning that has been going on here, I am sure it is not fueled by those flippers in residential real estate. 04/27/2007