Today is New Year's Eve, and my wife and I will be Bring In The New Year quietly together in our house, and enjoying a glass of Portuguese Port Wine.  Our years of partying and whooping it up are long gone, and we just enjoy a nice quiet evening together at home counting down the seconds to the New Year in front of our TV Set. Today was a productive day, I Pre-Qualified a First Time Homebuyer, and Locked in a rate for a Borrower that I will be meeting with early next week.  In fact the week even though it was a short week in which everyone seemed to be winding down, i turned in two loans, and have two more already lined up for next week.  For me this is a good way to end the present year, and a great way to bring in the new. Tomorrow will be of a day of celebrating with our family, and ... 12/31/2010

Thanks for stopping by to www.BuyCTRealEstate.com! Here is a link to the most up to date, current listings in Middletown Connecticut. Also feel free to click the additional links below for other features. Of course if you need help at anytime, just call me at 860-539-5373! Current Middletown CT properties for sale Search Everything! - Search all active listings in CT currently available from all agencies.   Auto-Search - Receive automatic notifications of properties that match specific criteria entered by you. Totally customizable, totally automatic, totally free! See Carl's Listings - See only Carl's current listings.   Carl's Sold Properties - A small sampling of recently sold properties by Carl. Carl's Testimonials - See what people are saying about Carl's service! Carl Guild provid... 11/26/2010

  This past week William Walton asked me if I would post a blog on Assuming A Mortgage.  William has been getting some questions on what is involved in  Assuming A Mortgage and wanted to see what is involved in doing that. First of all an Assumption of a Mortgage is in the simplest terms: An agreement between the buyer and seller where a buyer takes over a seller's mortgage and becomes responsible for making the monthly payments. This can be a big advantage to both the Buyer and the Seller.  The Buyer purchases the house without incurring some of the closing costs involved in the purchase of a home, and the Seller is likely to get a higher selling price for his house.  Also the Buyer assumes the mortgage at the Seller's existing interest rate.  Another advantage to the Buyer is that th... 11/13/2010

LADIES AID, HOLIDAY BAZAAR  THIRD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 94 MINER STREETMIDDLETOWN, CT  06457 NOVEMBER 13, 2010  FROM 10:00AM TO 2:00 PM Are you getting into the holiday spirit.. or want to?  If so, the ladies Aid of the Third Congregational Church in Middletown Connecticut is holding their annual Holiday Bazaar tomorrow, November 13th, 2010 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Thinking you should have coffee first before you go?  Don't bother.. they are having a coffee and cookie bar.  So between the caffeine and the sugar from the cookiess.. you will be flying. Start your Christmas shopping early by purchasing handcrafted gifts and/or homemade cookies and baked goods.  Come with friends and meet some there.  You can even enjoy lunch of a quiche, corn chowder, clam chowder and homemade sandwiches (e... 11/12/2010

Don't believe everything you hear. Homes ARE selling here in Central Connecticut! Check this out!  List Price: $146,900 Sale Price: 145,000 Contract Date: 9/9/10 Close Date 10/15/10 DAYS ON MARKET ... 21! So what's the North Star Real Estate Recipe for Home Sale Success?  1. Combine the Right Price, with a pinch of time and money to make your home look it's very best.  2. Add the North Star Condo Marketing Experts, let simmer for a few days.  3. Add a pre-approved buyer to the mix, then let the North Star Real Estate Professionals work their magic negotiating the best deal and managing the transaction to the very end.      4. Savor your warm and inviting new home and share with your friends and family just in time for the holidays ... Enjoy!  SOLD in 21 Days! Quail Run Village 161 Cynth... 10/20/2010

Americans older than the age of twenty five may recall acquiring their first credit card through a parent's mailbox unsolicited around age 18, enabling them to be a credit card holder and to incur any debt associated with it.  In the past, young adults received credit cards having no credit history and no proof of income.  As late as 2009, it was very easy for people under the age of 21 to be approved for credit cards upon simple application.     Controversy surrounding credit card use by those under 21 has received attention as more and more Americans are haunted by bad credit. A recent study concluded that 9 out of 10 students attending college admitted to charging school expenses to their credit cards.  The trend remains as school costs continue to rise while teen and college employm... 09/12/2010

THIRD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 94 MINER STREET MIDDLETOWN, CT  06457 Tomorrow is supposed to be a gorgeous day here in Connecticut.  If you and your family are looking for something to do, and make a day of it.  May I suggest you attending the annual Fun Fair? I went last year and the BBQ alone is worth the trip.  OMG!!  I could not get enough.  There are games for the children, and entertainment to boot. So come on over to The Third Congretational Church on 94 Miner Road in Middletown CT.  You won't regret it.   FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT    Info about the author: Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Ro... 09/11/2010

I posted a blog yesterday "Strategic Defaults are a big part of the problem" giving my reasons why I feel that Strategic Defaults Are A Contributor To Guideline Changes, and that i would post another blog to point out some of the Guideline changes that have come about because of Foreclosures and Shortsales. I feel very strongly about this issue, because I see firsthand every day the impact that Foreclosures are have on the ability of others to purchase a home, that anything that voluntarily further contributes to that is inexcusable in my opinion.  Strategic Defaults are completely voluntary and a CHOICE to do so, and NOT out of NEED.  I started off yesterday's blog with my definition of what I understand a Strategic Default to be, so I will state it again: Strategic Default: A foreclos... 08/28/2010

Lending guidelines have been tightening and will continue to tighten for the foreseeable future, and Strategic Defaults are a big part of the problem why this is happening.  Before I go any further I want to give my definition of what I understand a Strategic Default to be: Strategic Default: A foreclosure that results NOT from the Homeowners inability to make his/her mortgage payment, but as a result of the Homeowners CHOICE to not make the mortgage payment, because the property has decreased in value and presently is no longer worth what they paid for it. This blog is written based on that definition and that being MY understand is of a Strategic Default is.  If you understand a Strategic Default to mean something else, then this blog does not apply to you.  So if you are going to def... 08/27/2010

When did FICO scores become so powerful? Ranging from 300 to 850, the three digits that make up your FICO credit score carry inordinate power. If your FICO score is at the upper end of the scale, between 700 and 850, your life choices seem limitless. Bankers smile upon you as you walk through the door. Elite credit cards are yours for the asking. Home and auto loans are quickly approved. Credit is never a problem. However, if you are among the majority of Americans who are unfortunate enough to have a FICO score below 700, credit will be hard to come by and you'll have to fight hard for every penny. If you are among the 25% of Americans whose credit scores have dropped below 600 since the recession hit, kiss credit goodbye. FICO scores of 599 and below place you in the high-risk categor... 08/20/2010

Assistant Secretary for Housing/Federal Housing Commissioner, David H. Stevens released today a Special Edition Newsletter announcing the expected changes to the FHA Upfront Premium and Monthly Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP).  In the Newsletter he states: "As I have previously stated in my testimony before Congress, FHA will lower its upfront premium simultaneously with the increase to the annual premium¹. It is our intention that effective on September 7, 2010, FHA's upfront mortgage insurance premium will be adjusted down to 100 basis points on all amortization terms and the annual mortgage insurance premium will increase to 85-90 basis points on amortization terms greater than 15 years². A Mortgagee Letter will be forthcoming once President Obamasigns the bill into law, but with t... 08/05/2010

It has been a week since I traveled up to Boston with Ed Silva and Valerie Osterhoudt to attend RainCamp Boston.  It was my first RainCamp, but most likely will not be my last.  It would be nice though if the next RainCamp around here was not held in a major city where it cost an arm and a leg to park, and battle through several miles of bumper to bumper trafic.  But even if it is the trip will be well worth it, and I would probably make it again. I took lots of notes, because there was way to much VALUABLE material for me to remember,  A suggestion that I would make for future RanCamps would be to provide a power point of the material, which could be made avaliable for a price, for those who would like to purchase it. I have already began to apply some of what I learned up in RainCamp ... 08/02/2010

Former Hospital for Special Care Patient Receives M. Gertrude McCue Award While we at McCue Mortgage are know for our expertise in working with First Time Homebuyers, and our knowledge of CHFA, FHA, VA, USDA, as well as Conventional Loans, we are also known for our community involvement.  One of the areas that McCue Mortgage is involved in communities throughout Connecticut is in recognizing citizens for their community service. In a Press Release today our Vice President of Marketing, Gary Kulick announced that "the most resent recipient of a McCue award for outstanding community service was Dorothy Kijewski of New Britain as the 2010 recipient of the M. Gertrude McCue Volunteer-of-the-Year Award.  Dorothy was presented with this award on Monday, July 26th.  Dorothy is a former patien... 07/28/2010

Lenn Harley wrote a blog on Sunday in which she rightfully questioned the accuracy of what was being stated on another blog about Pre-Approval Letter. The writer of the blog that Lenn was questioning, stated that her Loan Officer had informed her that he would no longer be able to provide her with a Pre-Approval Letter for her Buyers because of restrictions imposed by RESPA. This information was incorrect, Pre-Approval Letters are very much alive and well. But before I go any further let me give three very quick definitions of what I consider a Pre-Qualification Letter, Pre-Approval Letter, and a Loan Commitment Letter. Keep in mind that these are MY definitions, and MY opinion.  Pre-Qualification Letter: Loan Officer pulls credit, and inquires about income and maybe bank information. F... 07/20/2010

ANNUAL ICE CREAM SOCIAL,   THURSDAY JULY 8TH FROM 6:00 PM TO 8:00 PM    THIS IS A BYOB EVENT BRING YOUR OWN BANANA... for your sundae if you wish.   The THIRD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH on 94 Miner Street in Middletown, CT is holding their annual ice cream social today, July 8th between 6 and 8pm, and again on August 12th.  I can't believe a year has gone by since I went to this ice cream social/fundraiser.  It is an event for the whole family.  You make your own sundaes.. you have a choice of either chocolate or vanilla Hersey Ice Cream and there are LOTS of toppings to choose from.  Here are some that might be there...     Last year I counted over 10 different choices.   To start you have a choice of hot fudge, hot butterscotch or strawberries.. then you have all the toppings.  The price f... 07/08/2010

  ****************************************************************************************************************** Info about the author: George Souto is a Loan Officer who can assist you with all your FHA, CHFA, and Conventional mortgage needs in Connecticut. George resides in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Higganum, Haddam, East Haddam, Chester, Deep River, and Essex. George can be contacted at (860) 573-1308 or gsouto@mccuemortgage.com 07/03/2010

This week Congress passed H.R. 5569, this is the Bill that that everyone has been waiting months for to extend National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  Unfortunately it only extends it to September 30, 2010, which means that the House and Senate will have to continue to address this issue as we begin to approach that date. The good news is that the Bill is retroactive to May 31, 2010, the day the lapse began. While the issuance of new and renewed flood insurance policies can resume, we can't help but to be concerned about the long term re-authorization of the NFIP and whether the industry will face once again another lapse in a three months. Let's hope that Congress and the Senate wake up to the fact that Buyers will not be able to obtain Mortgages in Flood Designated Areas without Flo... 07/02/2010

It is official the First Time Homebuyer Extension ............. PASSED!!!  And he is our official announcement that we are sending out to all our business partners.     ****************************************************************************************************************** Info about the author: George Souto is a Loan Officer who can assist you with all your FHA, CHFA, and Conventional mortgage needs in Connecticut. George resides in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Higganum, Haddam, East Haddam, Chester, Deep River, and Essex. George can be contacted at (860) 573-1308 or gsouto@mccuemortgage.com   07/01/2010

Quik update First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Extension. The House today passed HR 5623 to extend the closing date deadline for First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit September 30, 2010. Our lobbyists in Washington have advise us that there is a chance that the Senate will pass this bill today or tomorrow. The Conference Committee on the Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Bill reconvened today to address a bank fee provision.  This is an effort to gain the 60 votes needed in the Senate to pass the Bill that the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit is attached to. The bank fee provision is an important provision to Senator Scott Brown (R-MA).  The plan is to have the House vote on the revised Bill tomorrow and the Senate to vote on it on Thursday, if they are able to determined that they have secured the 60 ... 06/29/2010

Today was Flag Day, and in my house that is a day to be proud of what our Flag stands for, and the values it represents.      ****************************************************************************************************************** Info about the author: George Souto is a Loan Officer who can assist you with all your FHA, CHFA, and Conventional mortgage needs in Connecticut. George resides in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Higganum, Haddam, East Haddam, Chester, Deep River, and Essex. George can be contacted at (860) 573-1308 or gsouto@mccuemortgage.com 06/14/2010