Colorado Springs Real Estate and Mortgage Tips

Twenty plus years in this career encompassing real estate, title insurance and mortgage lending... and I STILL learn something new every day, STILL have deals fall apart, and I STILL have clients and Realtors get angry with me. I don't know about you, but I constantly evaluate my business.  How c...

I don't know how long it's been since I wrote my last blog, recorded my last YouTube video, taught my last class, sent out my last mailing or flyer....  Heck, I ran out of business cards a month ago, and I haven't even gotten new cards printed. It's just been a crazy busy summer.  But yikes, what...

Often when you see mortgage rates published, you will see them with a "cost" or a "credit".  A lot of Realtors and most of the general public do not understand this.  You often see a "lender credit" on a settlement statement, but where does that come from?  And how does "buying down a rate" reall...

Systems solve everything....  It's my mantra, and while systems can't actualy solve EVERYTHING.... they do solve most of the problems people have with not only their business, but life.  Systems, processes, proceedures, guidelines.  They were all put in place to solve problems and prevent them fr...

I get a lot of frantic calls from agents writing offers wanting to know how much they should ask for in seller concessions so that the buyer will not have to bring any money for closing costs.  It never fails that they ask, "What is a good percentage to use?  3%? 3.5%?".  Then, sometimes they don...

FHA just changed their guidelines allowing some borrowers to purchase a home just one year after a bankruptcy, short sale or foreclosure. The shortened waiting periods aren’t for just anyone, but it certainly creates opportunities for some borrowers to purchase a home NOW. These pre-approvals mus...

Chances are if you didn't put 20% down on your home that you are paying monthly mortgage insurance that's costing you an arm and a leg.  And if you're hoping to purchase a home with less than 20% downpayment, mortgage insurance may be pulling your payments UP (usually between $200- $300 a MONTH) ...

Chances are, you're well aware that we recently saw the sharpest increase in interest rates in 26 years.  Yikes!  Buyers are climbing back on the fence hoping for better days.  Well, buyers, these are the better days.  Pretty much everyone agrees that we have seen rates bottom out and that we are...

Once again, our beautiful city is in flames.  Many, many homes are lost in the Black Forest area.  And this time around, we're not just evacuating families, but lots of horses and animals. Just a year ago this month we experienced the most devastating fire in the history of the state, and this on...

Seller Concessions Did you know that different loan programs and products have different amounts that they allow for seller concessions?  Here's a little cheat sheet to help you remember what's what.  Please keep in mind that total concessions can never equal more than the buyers total cost to cl...