New Homes in Loudoun County, Virginia, Buyer REBATE

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Real Estate Consumer Evolution: The Times They Are A Changing!

I KNEW IT!!  I KNEW IT!!

AT LAST!  A survey that reflects my experience working with home buyers.

The survey report contained in Mitchell's post herein reflect my experience far better than most such "surveys" that I read. 

Thanks Mitchell. 

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988. 

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Via Mitchell Hall - Manhattan Real Estate (The Corcoran Group):

In 1981 The Corcoran Report started covering New York City real estate market trends. The market reports became widely quoted in the media and established Corcoran as the residential experts. The quarterly reports are considered the "bible" of market statistics and trends in the city.

In 1995 Corcoran.com was the first Manhattan real estate firm on the web.

In 2008 Corcoran began annual Consumer Reports from a series of survey questions on corcoran.com - a kind of window into the psychology of the market. Results of consumers thoughts on a variety of real estate and lifestyle-related topics are compiled in the report.

In 2010 Corcoran launched an iPhone app

The consumer reports can be dowloaded at http://www.corcoran.com/guides/index.aspx?page=ConsumerReport.

Many of the questions in the report are specific to Manhattan, I excluded them from this post and only included the #1 answer for each question. The information is useful for real estate agents to know what real estate consumer's are thinking.

I was suprised that only 9% of those polled communicate with their real estate agents face-to-face and to learn that the majority of respondents not only use an iPhone as their main mobile device, but that they have over 40 apps on them!  While over 60% of those polled said they were engaged in social media on some level, it still hasn’t caught on as a way to engage a real estate agent or find out about available properties.

Below are some of the results from the latest Consumer Report:

How do you primarily communicate with your real estate agent? Email 65%

How do you prefer to communicate with your real estate agent? By Email 52%

Have you ever contacted an agent to buy or sell an apartment based on an article you read? No 71%

Do you use social networking sites? 60% Yes

Would you hire a real estate agent you met through Facebook or Twitter?
76% No

How did you find your real estate agent? On the Web 40%

Did you ever refer your real estate broker to anyone else? Yes 59%

How many agents did/would you consider before hiring one to sell your property? Two 34%

When hiring an agent to list your property what is MOST important? Experience 40%

Have you ever worked with more than one real estate agent at a time when looking to buy? Yes 60%

When choosing a real estate firm to work with, is it important that it has a good website? Yes 92%

Do you look at real estate market research before deciding to buy or sell? Yes 77%

Do you prefer to see photos of a property you are interested in furnished or unfurnished? Unfurnished 51%

Do you surf real estate websites for fun Yes 70%

Are you actively looking to buy or rent? 85% Yes

Do you plan to move this year? 75% Yes

What is the #1 reason you would consider a new development? 48% Toatally New

Which of these design features is most important to you when buying in new development? Modern layout 24% Large windows 36% New kitchen 28% Latest tech 12%

Are you happy with your current home? No 58%

What age were you when you bought your first home? 20-30 50%

How long have you lived in your current home? 1-5 years 51%

Does a rainy day prevent you from going to an open house? Yes 54%

Do you go to fewer open houses in the winter months? Yes 58%

What’s more important for you in choosing a home? Neighborhood 72% (location, location, location)

Do you read the classifieds when looking for a new apartment or home? No 51%

How do you get your daily news? Online 78%

What type of mobile device do you have? iPhone 44%

Do you have a land line in your home? Yes 52%


Results aggregated from information gathered from corcoran.com’s interactive homepage poll, between April 2009 and March 2010. Average survey duration 7 days. All information copyright The Corcoran Group 2010.

Courtesy of:

Mitchell Hall, Associate Broker, The Corcoran Group

Mitchell Hall, The  Corcoran GroupFollow Me on TwitterFind Me on FacebookFind Me On LinkedInMy Google Profile


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FORECLOSURES FOR SALE IN DALE CITY, WOODBRIDGE in PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY VIRGINIA.

FORECLOSURES FOR SALE IN DALE CITY, WOODBRIDGE in PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY VIRGINIA. 

If you know real estate in Dale City in Woodbridge Virginia, you'll know that there are some wonderful values to be found and there are even better values to be found in foreclosures in Dale City.

EVEN BETTER is a foreclosed, bank owned home for sale in Dale City.  Just look at the spectacular value homes below.

Click the PHOTO link below for more information and photos.  Then call us for a tour of homes in Dale City.  We're ready. 

City Zip5 ListPrice ClosePrice BR FB HB   Lot Acres YrBlt
Woodbridge 22193 $174,900  Photos 3 2 0   0.157 1971
Woodbridge 22193 $169,900  Photos 3 3 0   0.23 1967
Woodbridge 22193 $159,900  Photos 3 1 1   0.223 1972
Woodbridge 22193 $245,000  Photos 5 3 1   0.224 1986
Woodbridge 22193 $249,900  Photos 5 3 0   0.23 1968

Dale City is well located for the Virgiia Railway Express, the VRE, Route 1 and Route 95, "slug stops" and Routes north to Tysons, and Dulles area or for a quick commute to the Pentagon and DC.

Map Prince William County VA 

EXAMPLE OF HOMES IN DALE CITY

   Home in Dale City  Homes in Dale City

 Fishing in Prince William County VA

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

For a tour of HOMES IN DALE CITY or other aras in  PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY VIRGINIA contact Lenn, 800-711-7988.  Ask about our services for home buyer including a FREE One Year Home Warranty for all resale homes. 

To search for all homes for sale in PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY VIRGINIA visit Homesdatabase.com for the area which contains ALL active listings of homes for sale in Haymarket and around the area. 

Occoquan Reservoir - Fishing Opportunities

The main species of interest at Occoquan are largemouth bass, bluegill, and crappie, but opportunities exist for anglers to catch channel catfish, flathead catfish, northern pike, and white perch. No matter the skill level, technique of choice, or time of year, the tastes of all anglers should be satisfied while fishing at Occoquan.For more information about this fabulous "fishing hole" in Prince William County, tour the  

DIRECTIONS TO THE FISHING AREA AT OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR.


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STAFFORD COUNTY HOMES ARE SELLING AND REAL ESTATE IS PRICED RIGHT.

STAFFORD COUNTY VIRGINIA HOMES AND REAL ESTATE ARE SELLING and AT BETTER PRICES. 

HOME PRICES IN STAFFORD COUNTY ARE BETTER THAN LAST YEAR.  The average price for single family homes sold in Stafford County in May, 2010 was $279,907.  In May 2009, the average price for single family homes sold was $282,330.

HOMES IN STAFFORD COUNTY ARE SELLING FASTER in 2010 than in 2009.  In May 2010, the average home in Stafford County sold in 61 days.  In May 2009, the average home was on the market for 103 days before selling. 

THERE ARE SOME GOOD BUYING OPPORTUNITIES IN STAFFORD COUNTY VA.  The average home sold in Stafford County in May 2010 sold for $94.60% of the list price.  In May 2009, the average home sold for 91.51% of the list price.

HOMES IN THE AVERAGE PRICE RANGE FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES OFFERED IN JUNE 2010.   Look what your money will buy in Stafford County TODAY. 

Click the PHOTO link below for photos and more information.  See homes in Stafford in the average price.

City     Zip5     ListPrice PHOTOS      BR     FB     HB # Gar  Lot Acres     YrBlt
Fredericksburg 22406 $289,900  Photos 3 2 0 2 0.201 2002
Fredericksburg 22405 $279,000  Photos 5 3 1 2 0.19 2002
Fredericksburg 22406 $279,900  Photos 4 2 1 2 0.185 2003
Fredericksburg 22406 $279,900  Photos 6 3 1 2 0.244 2003
Fredericksburg 22406 $285,000  Photos 3 3 0 2 0.126 2005
Stafford 22554 $279,500  Photos 3 2 0 1 0.468 2005
Stafford 22554 $280,000  Photos 5 3 1 2 0.134 2006
                   

A bouquet for you.

A GIFT FOR YOU!  Homefinders.com will gift you with a FREE One Year Home Warranty to protect you in the first year of your home ownership.

Ask us about the Homefinders.com New Home Buyers CREDIT of 1% of the purchase price of your new home.

To help you with your research, Homefinders.com has published information articles about buying a home in Northern Virginia. 

Radon Inspection Information for Home Buyers in Maryland and Northern Virginia.
First Time Home Buyers in Maryland and Northern Virginia
Home Inspection Information for Home Buyers in Maryland and Northern Virginia.
Information about Home Finance for Home Buyers in Maryland and Northern Virginia.
Termite Inspection Information for Home Buyers in Maryland and Northern Virginia.
Settlement Procedures for Home Buyers in Maryland and Northern Virginia
Information about Home Warranty for your newly purchased home.

For information about 100% financing in Stafford County, contact Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

WE CAN HELP!!

 

 

EXAMPLE OF HOMES IN STAFFORD COUNTY IN THE $282,000 PRICE RANGE.

Homes for sale in Stafford County    Homes for sale in Stafford County

 


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BITE YOUR TONGUE LENN. . . LENN, MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS. . . NO, I CAN'T STAND IT ANY LONGER!

SOMETIMES I JUST WANT TO SCREAM. . . . 

O.K.  I'm screaming. . . .  Sure it's all CAPS. . . .  Otherwise, who's going to notice?????? 

I WANT TO SEE SOME PHOTOS.

I BELIEVE THAT THE CONSUMERS WHO VIEW OUR BLOGS LIKE TO SEE PHOTOS TOO.

What's that old saying??  A picture is worth 1,000 words.  We know the power of good photos included in an MLS listing.  It would seem to follow that the same advice would work on a blog post.

Am I asking too much???  Seems to me that if an agent can take a photo of an entrance way to a subdivision, they could drive another 50 yards to get a photo of one house in that subdivision. 

Folks don't buy entrance way marques.  They buy homes. 

Folks don't buy market stats.  They buy homes.

ActiveRain makes it very easy to include a photo in any blog post.  Just find the little green tree in the tool bar on your blog post form.  Follow the directions and behold, you have a photo included in your post.  Or, if you have photos posted on a web site, you can post to your ActiveRain blog by URL. 

I wonder if the same agents who publish blog posts about homes in an area with no photos are the same agents who publish a listing report to the MLS with no photos.

It's so easy, even Lenn can do it. 

                                    Home in Bowie Maryland

BTW.  The above advice does not apply to agents in the Maryland and Northern Virginia, DC  real estate market area.  

Please continue to publish articles with no photos to your heart's content.  Local home buyers can always find many photos on my blog posts and web sites.

YES!!  I have sold homes that resulted from consumer contacts after they saw photos or images of homes on my blog posts or web sites. 

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.


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CHINESE DRYWALL. . . MORE DELAY AND ABUSE OF THE AMERICAN HOME OWNER.

CHINESE DRYWALL. . . MORE DELAY AND ABUSE OF THE AMERICAN HOME OWNER.

Jay Markanich provides some good information for home owners who believe that they may have Chinese drywall in their homes. 

See previous articles by Mr. Markanich on the subject of Chinese Drywall. 

Markanich is on top of the Chinese Drywall matter.  Sadly, the news clip also provides more insight into how the government does NOTdo much to protect the American home owners.  From the beginning of this problem, home owners have been seriously damaged by this noxious product, all of which should have been intercepted by the CPSC which is supposed to protect American home owners from these dangerous products.

As the video states, the government has been "tracking this product for two years".  The U.S. government (through Fannie Mae) solution for relief for American home owners???  Homeowners "may" be able to "defer mortgage payments" for 12 months.

Of course, the home owner must first "make the repairs themselves".  The cost of replacement of drywall in a home is going to be in the "$$Thousands of Dollars" to "$$Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars".

Previous articles from Lenn about Chinese Drywall:

chinese drywall: CHINESE DRYWALL ALERT - DRYWALL INFORMATION CENTER - INTERIM REMEDIATION GUIDE. A series. - 04/19/10 05:45 AM
CHINESE DRYWALL ALERT - DRYWALL INFORMATION CENTER - INTERIM REMEDIATION GUIDE.  A series.
IN THIS REAL ESTATE BROKER'S OPINION, we've seen only the tip of this gigantic iceberg size burden on the American home owner.  The numbers are just beginning to come inand reflect some disturbing facts about the widespread nature ... (21 comments)

chinese drywall: CHINESE DRYWALL IS ANOTHER NAIL IN THE FINANCIAL COFFIN FOR THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY. - 04/18/10 09:41 AM
CHINESE DRYWALL IS ANOTHER NAIL IN THE FINANCIAL COFFIN FOR THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY. 
HOW MUCH MORE CAN THE AMERICAN HOME OWNER TAKE?
PLEASE PLEASE, PLEASE, read Jay Markanich's timely and comprehensive article, Chinese Drywall - The Final Solution .
THIS MATTER IS SO SERIOUS FOR AMERICAN HOME OWNERS, IT'S HARD TO WRAP YOUR ... (41 comments)
 

An interesting article about litigation is HERE.,

Another kick in the gut to American home owners. 

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.


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HOW MUCH WILL THE SELLER TAKE? DEPENDS.... HOW STRONG IS YOUR OFFER?

HOME MUCH WILL THE SELLER TAKE?  DEPENDS....  HOW STRONG IS YOUR OFFER?

How much should I offer?  No idea until recent sales in the area are considered.

Will the seller pay my closing?  No idea but you can ask in the offer.

Will the seller wait for me to sell my home?  No idea, but we can ask for a contingency.

Will the seller leave the $7,500 ride on mower?  Don't even think it.

Actually, when a buyer asks those questions, they are assuming that you have the answer, or will make an educated guess.  Of course, you do not know how low the seller will go or much else other than recent competitive sales.  Even a listing agent who has been advised by the seller that he, the seller, will not take a penny less than $XXX,XXX does not know.  Fact is, until a seller is presented with a full written offer complete with the necessary:

  • Amount of the offerLenn May 21, 2010
  • Type of financing
  • Financing Status
  • Terms for settlement
  • Contingencies

EVEN THE SELLER DOESN'T KNOW. 

STUDY THE PROPERTY FIRST.  As a buyer's agent, we cannot possibly know what the seller will "take" for their property.  In fact, until we have examined the recent sales in the area, we don't even know if the list price is reasonable.  On the other hand, until the listing agent has examined the buyer's written offer, then cannot know if the offer is within an acceptable price/terms/conditions that are acceptable to the seller.  

DON'T ASSUME A THING.  Listing agents who assume that a seller will only take $XXX,XXX for the sale of their home and make a statement that "The seller will not take less than $XXX,XXX" may be costing the seller a very good buyer.  Until an agent has read the offer through, they don't know the net to the seller an offer might represent and should not be making decisions for the seller. 

MAKING LOW OFFERS IS NOT NEGOTIATING.  Buyer's agents who tout their negotiating skills to prospective home buyers before analyzing the strength of the buyer's offer, may be met with disappointment in the extreme.  Experienced listing agents are now persuaded by the agents claim of "superior negotiating skills" and look simply to the price/terms/conditions of an offer.  Experienced buyer's agents study the recent sales, condition, how long the property has been on the market, price trends in the area, seller's need to relocate (love that one) and don't forget the master plan. 

Experienced agents, listing or selling, will be very cautious about making conclusory statements about what a buyer or seller will do. 

FACT IS, WE DON'T KNOW. 

As described below, the homes that SOLD in the City of Alexandria sales differed by List Price, Close Price, the Subsidy given by the seller to the buyer and the Days On The Market.  Other variables such as move in date, conveyances, etc. may also make the difference in HOW MUCH THE SELLER WILL TAKE.

City         ListPrice       ClosePrice        Subsidy         DOMP
Alexandria $369,500 $345,000 $5,500 37
Alexandria $369,000 $360,000 0 14
Alexandria $402,500 $402,500 0 0
Alexandria $439,900 $415,000 $3,000 17
Alexandria $450,000 $435,000 0 0
Alexandria $458,900 $453,000 $3,000 121
Alexandria $469,900 $468,500 $9,580 9
Alexandria $489,950 $480,000 $5,000 8
Alexandria $536,465 $535,465 0 3
Alexandria $539,900 $539,900 $10,000 5
Alexandria $549,499 $547,499 $5,000 11
Alexandria $550,000 $558,000 $8,000 208
Alexandria $584,900 $570,000 0 29
Alexandria $549,900 $575,000 0 18
Alexandria $575,000 $575,000 0 0
Alexandria $595,000 $585,000 $15,500 7
Alexandria $619,900 $605,000 0 15
Alexandria $619,990 $619,920 $5,000 10
Alexandria $659,900 $647,000 0 207
Alexandria $675,000 $650,000 0 66
Alexandria $699,900 $675,000 $10,000 20
Alexandria $699,000 $690,000 $15,917 32
Alexandria $685,000 $690,000 $15,090 23
Alexandria $699,000 $690,000 0 18
Alexandria $719,000 $719,000 0 3
Alexandria $720,000 $720,000 0 0
Alexandria $749,000 $725,000 $350 4
Alexandria $753,750 $753,750 $18,743 0
Alexandria $785,000 $785,000 0 0
Alexandria $799,900 $800,000 0 17
Alexandria $729,000 $800,000 0 3
Alexandria $849,000 $835,000 0 32
Alexandria $869,000 $865,000 0 8
Alexandria $899,000 $899,000 0 56
Alexandria $950,000 $950,000 0 559
Alexandria $995,000 $950,000 0 55
Alexandria $974,900 $974,900 $500 0
Alexandria $1,069,900 $990,000 $500 203
Alexandria $1,099,900 $1,020,000 $1,500 189
Alexandria $1,585,000 $1,476,500 0 22
Alexandria $1,575,000 $1,500,000 0 8
         

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.


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YOU KNOW IT'S SUMMER IN VIRGINIA WHEN YOU SEE THE TIGER LILY ON THE ROADSIDES.

YOU KNOW IT'S SUMMER in VIRGINIA when you see the Tiger Lily on the roadsides.

Tiger Lily in Virginia

Courtesy, Lenn Harely, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.


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Think carefully before co-signing anything, your future home may be on the line

DON'T CO-SIGN!

DON'T PUT YOUR CREDIT STANDING IN JEOPARDY!

DON'T BE AN OLD SOFTY!

DON'T GO INTO THE ABYSS!

Don't risk your own credit standing by co-signing for someone who has control over their own money.  Fact is, unless they are credit worthy without your signature, they aren't worth the risk to your own credit with your signature. 

Parents hate to say "NO".  Grandparents hate to say "NO" even more.  JUST SAY "NO".  O.K., so you're an old softy.  Just say "Sorry, NO!"

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

Via Matt Grohe Remax Des Moines (RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts):

This was a painful week for a prospective buyer on one of my listings. He found out after getting his offer accepted that a late payment was made in May on a car loan he consigned on last year. The net result was that his credit score dropped below the level needed for him to get a loan.

Most people want to be helpful, and when a family member or friend who seems to be stable needs a cosigner on a loan the temptation is there to lend a hand. After all, you know this person. They are responsible, they pay their debts, they are honest. However, situations can change, and despite someones best intentions, they may not be able to make the payments on time due to illness, job loss, or other unforeseeen circumstances. And when that happens, the cosigners credit is affected.

In most situations where two people are on a loan there is joint and several liability meaning that if one party bails, the other party is on the hook for the full amount of the loan. In the case of a car loan, lets say the person who had agreed to make the payments just stops making them, and refuses to relinquish the property to boot. You could take the other person to court and seek to have the court award the property to you, but in the meantime you would need to pay on the loan to avoid massive damage to your credit. Also, if there is a tacit agreement between you that the other person will make all the payments, you may not be aware if they are being made in a timely fashion. This can be devastating for your credit.

If you are planning to buy a home and you are approached by someone wanting you to co-sign a loan, you should consider what the worst case scenario would be. If the worst case scenario is that your credit would be damaged and you would not be able to purchase the property as a result, then you need to consider that as being with the realm of possibility.

Again, most people want to help a person in need, especially a child or close relative who may not have any credit or who is just getting their start out of college, a divorce, a relocation or the like. In these situations it's important to remember though that your name and your credit are on the line, and if your credit is tarnished, it may take years to recover from the damage.

 

   

Matt Grohe, RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts 3125 Douglas Ave Des Moines, IA 

Online at: http://www.MyIowaHome.com


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SKEET AT THE SKEET AND TRAP RANGE AT BULL RUN REGIONAL PARK. COME ON OUT!

SKEET AT THE SKEET AND TRAP RANGE AT BULL RUN REGIONAL PARK.  COME ON OUT!

O.K.  I confess.  I dropped everything this afternoon and drove to the Skeet and Trap Range in Centreville, Virginia this afternoon.  It was only about 80 degrees, the sky was clear, low wind, low humidity.  A perfect day for a few rounds of Skeet Shooting. 

THE SWEET TASTE OF SUCCESS. 

I'm normally a Trap Shooter but today the trap range was throwing a lot of broken birds so I moved over to the Skeet Range.  There were 4 friendly familiar shooters ready for a round and they waited while I switched from my trap gun to my skeet gun and got a few boxes of skeet loads.  I was ready.

                Skeet Squad

We shot a round and it was great fun, as always.  So, we shot another round. 

SUCCESS!  I broke ALL THE BIRDS.  ALL 25 IN A ROW. 

Now, that might not seem like a great achievement to some folks, but in the afternoon when the sun is directly in your eyes on one side of the field.  Breaking 25 out of 25 birds is an achievement. 

Anyone who enjoys the sport of Skeet Shooting should visit the Bull Run Skeet and Trap Range in Centreville.  You'll be glad you did.  I am.

What happens when you shoot your first 25 Straight at a range???  THEY SHOOT YOUR HAT.  In the photo below, the Trap Field Manager is preparing my hat (visor) for the shooters.  Dang!  That was my favorite visor, but worth the sacrifice. 

                           Trap Field Manager Getting the Target Ready

                                              THE REMAINS OF MY SHOOTING HAT (a visor).

                       Shooting Hat

               Skeet Squad

                              DOES THIS LOOK LIKE A "POWER SKEET SQUAD"?  It surely was today.

Come on out and enjoy a round or two.  Or, as I often do 6 or 8 rounds.  It's fun.  It'll help you stay fit.

WHO KNOW???  YOU MIGHT JUST BREAK ALL 25 BIRDS. 

Check out the Bull Run web site for directions  and reviews.  Lenn Harley

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Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

When I'm not shooting Trap or Skeet Birds, I own and manage a real estate brokerage, Homefinders.com.  That's fun too.  We serve home buyers in Maryland and Northern Virginia. 

Fairfax Virginia Map


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Part 1: Underwriters and Loan Officers

CONTINUING OUR EXAMINATION OF UNDERWRITERS AND THE RELATIONSHIP TO

  • Loan Officers
  • Processors
  • Borrower
  • Agent

I'm always willing to learn.  The more information we agents have, the better we help our buyers and sellers.

Something tells me that we have just scratched the surface.  Loan guidelines are a moving target these days.  A smart real estate agent is going to work hard to stay on top of the game. 

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com 800-711-7988.

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Via Deborah Garvin California Mortgage Financing (Security One Financial):

A while back Lenn Harley posted a fantastic post on an opportunity she had to meet with an underwriter face-to-face.  It was a great article and Lenn's insight and thought provoking questions prompted me to contact her to see if she would allow me to write about a specific portion of her blog post.   First, I would like thank Lenn for her kindness and generosity in talking with me at great length.  Her wealth and depth of real estate knowledge is considerable and her willingness to share is immense.


I was particularly taken with her series of comments about the relationship between the underwriter and various entities involved in the process of getting a loan through the thing called "underwriting".  The following is Lenn's list:


"WHAT SHALL I ASK?  The meeting had no itinerary, so I decided to simply prepare a list of questions covering the relationship between the

  • underwriter and the loan officer
  • underwriter and the investors
  • underwriter and the loan types offered
  • underwriter and MI companies
  • underwriter and LTV, income/debt ratios
  • underwriter and AMCs
  • underwriter and appraisal problems/reviews
  • underwriter and title companies
  • underwriter and funding resources
  • underwriter and contract dates/contingencies "

 

Pulling on my experience in wholesale lending and the graciousness of the talented underwriters I have had the pleasure of working with throughout the years, I wanted to dissect the various relationship components as a way of "pulling back the curtain" in the finance process.  In order to address them thoroughly I am going to segment these posts into various "Parts"

 

Part 1: The Underwriter and the Loan Officer

 

I recently wrote a blog post "Nanny nanny boo boo....The Underwriter does not like you!" that addresses this issue specifically, Briefly, the "relationship" between the underwriter is based upon the quality of workmanship evident in the loan package.  Underwriting is strenuous and stressful...their job is on the line with every signature and they are also under a lot of pressure to "close" loans.  Think of the proverbial "Catch 22"....the lender needs funded loans to stay in business, but doesn't want to have any loans default.  The firm the loan officer works for (as well as the loan officer) is "underwritten" with each loan submission:

 

Let's start with the loan package itself.  Is it complete...all documents and all pages submitted in the correct order?  Are the copies legible?  Has the loan officer/processor followed the lender's submission standards and stacking order?  Has the loan officer read the guidelines to confirm the file meets the minimum standards for the specific mortgage product?  Has the file been delivered in a timely manner to ensure it can progress through the system in an orderly and timely manner?  Is the loan officer only sending crisis and/or rush files?

 

The loan package exemplifies the loan officer's knowledge, as well as the respect for the underwriter's time and obligations.  More often than not, a file is suspended or declined based entirely on the actions (or lack of action) of the loan officer/processor.

 

**Let me digress a moment to state that more than a few loan officers have been ‘thrown under the bus" by lousy processing.  And, many a good loan officer has left a company because the lack of quality processing cost them business and additional stress.  Most good and talented loan officers choose or stay with a company because of the processing, not the rate sheet!

 

Now, consider the loan officer and the firm that he/she works for:  This area is almost 100% professional reputation and experience.  How long have they been submitting loans/files to the underwriter?  How many files have been submitted in the past month, quarter, year?  How many of the files that were submitted were:  Approved?  Declined?  Suspended?  A good loan officer at a poor brokerage (and vice versa) can be tainted by the actions of the other.  Has the broker ever had a "first payment default" on ANY file they have submitted in the past? (NOTE:  This is the "kiss of death" for any investor or lender.......the broker would likely be put on notice for a buy back of the loan).

 

Ask your loan officer about their relationship with the underwriter.  Do they know them?  (by name, reputation, experience)?  Do they respect underwriters in general?  Beware the "all underwriter's are tough, bad, etc....you are ultimately working with someone who like to play the "blame game". 

 

The "SECRET":  Your loan officer has little prayer of getting an exception or a rush if they are not "known" to the underwriter.  More than once, my underwriter's (both retail and wholesale) have bailed my tail out of the fire on a file.  They are, and have always been, my "Best Friend's" in lending.

Deborah Garvin

loanmonarch@yahoo.com

(619) 787-8212

"contact me when you need knowledge, experience and ethics in the financing process."


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