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Archive for the 'CW Mortgage' Category

Countywide Mortgage Update: Buy Your Home with 3% Down and No Mortgage Insurance!

family under roof artist conceptNot a bad deal!  The key is purchasing a property owned by Fannie Mae through it’s HomePath program.  These homes are eligible for special financing terms that are available no where else.

Financing Benefits to You

There are many HomePath properties available in the San Diego and Riverside county areas.  Contact your local Real Living Lifestyles agent (WWW.RLLIFESTYLES.COM) for information on HomePath homes available in your area.  I’ll be happy to discuss your HomePath financing options with you as well!

Paul Gonzales, Countywide Mortgage Lending (760) 746-7388  [email protected], NMLS #CA-DOC290493

Related Posts: CW Mortgage, Escondido, Financial news, Great Real Estate Deals, Home Loans, homes for sale, Mortgage News, Real Estate News, Real Living, Real Living Lifestyles, San Diego

Countywide Mortgage Update – Higher Mortgage Rates and Lower Loan Amounts Coming Soon?

blond eyes looking upHEADS UP!  The cost of real estate financing may be going up, and the size of cheaper loans may be going down – all very shortly! Since I last reported on this in April, the Federal government has done nothing to change either of these two prospects.

Higher Rates

On June 30th the Federal Reserve is scheduled to end its subsidy of interest rates including mortgages, by terminating its purchase of U.S. Treasuries.  While arguments abound about whether this program, known as “Quantitative Easing” or “QE2” has helped or hurt the economy, many analysts are concerned that the ending of this program could put upward pressure on interest rates, particularly mortgage loans.

More Costly Loans

The current “jumbo” or high-balance loan limits for both conventional (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) and FHA loans are scheduled to be rolled-back to considerably lower loan amounts on October 1st.  The Obama Administration has signaled that it does not intend to press Congress to extend the current (higher) loan amounts beyond that date.  This may not be an issue in the Midwest but could impact real estate markets such as Southern California.  In San Diego County that will likely mean the maximum conventional and FHA loan limits could drop from $697,500 to below $600,000 depending on what formula HUD uses to compute the new lower limits.  Loan amounts above the new limits will fall into the more expensive, higher interest rate and tighter underwriting rules for true jumbo loans.

Home Buyer or Home Seller?

For either party with an interest in real estate today, these two events should prompt urgency in buying or selling that home.  Whether you are shopping for or looking to sell that home, you may be well served by being proactive and getting ‘er done.  Contact your Real Living Lifestyles agent today, get the facts and get moving now!

For more information – Paul Gonzales, Countywide Mortgage Lending (760) 746-7388  [email protected], CA-DOC290493

Related Posts: Area Information, Buyers, Coastal Living, CW Mortgage, Escondido, Home Loans, homes for sale, Interest Rates, Investment Properties, Lifestyle, Mortgage News, Real Estate News, Real Living, Real Living Lifestyles, San Diego

Countywide Mortgage Update – Home Buyers and Sellers: Two Important Events That Will Affect You Very Soon

ya dont sayIf you are planning to either purchase or sell a property this year, there are two scheduled events coming up rapidly that may have a significant impact on you:

Higher Interest Rates?

On July 1st the Federal Reserve will complete its $600 Billion dollar purchases of US Treasury Bonds. Many analysts believe that with the Fed pulling out of the Treasury market, demand for such bonds will lessen, causing interest rates including mortgages to rise.

More Expensive Loans?

On October 1st the current conforming “jumbo” loan limit in San Diego County is scheduled to be reduced from $697,500 to $625,500 (or lower). For home buyers looking to purchase a home in the approximate price range of $500,000 to $900,000, this will push them into the limited, “true” jumbo loan category. Such jumbo rates and prices are significantly higher than current conforming rates.

What This Means

While no one knows what, if anything, the Federal government may do about these two scheduled events, the impacts are quite clear:

** THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR ** The next several months may prove to be the absolute best time this year (and beyond) to buy or sell that home. Contact your Real Living Lifestyles real estate agent today, get the facts and get moving now!

for more information – Paul Gonzales, Countywide Mortgage Lending (760) 746-7388  [email protected], CA-DOC290493

Related Posts: Area Information, CW Mortgage, Escondido, Financial news, Home Loans, homes for sale, Interest Rates, New Homes, Real Estate News, San Diego

Yes – You May Still Deduct Mortgage Insurance (PMI) – For Now

Although Congress passed this law back in 2007 and extended it through this year (2011), this remains a common question for owners of real estate.  Mortgage insurance is typically a monthly expense that occurs when a property is purchased with less than 20% down payment or refinanced with less than 20% equity.

42-15927058Homeowners who itemize their income tax deductions on the Federal Schedule A tax form can claim the PMI by entering it on line 13, in the section entitled “Interest You Paid”. You should find this figure on the form 1098 mailed to you by your lender at the beginning of each new year.  The deduction may be taken for coverage issued by the Federal Housing Administrations (FHA), Veterans Administration and the USDA Rural Housing Service as well as private insurers.

There are, of course, limitations and restrictions. For example, the PMI deduction is allowed provided you took out the mortgage on or after January 1, 2007.  The total amount you may deduct may be limited or reduced based on your income and how you file (for example, married filing jointly vs. married filing separate returns).  Above those maximum income limits the percentage of PMI you may deduct is reduced for every $1,000 that your income exceeds your particular limit.  The current law allows this deduction through the end of this year.

For more general information checkout the following link on Bankrate.com:Deducting private mortgage insurance http://www.bankrate.com/finance/taxes/deducting-private-mortgage-insurance.aspx#ixzz1Gand6lk2

Nothing discussed above should be construed as tax advice.  Heed the caveat and always seek advice from a tax professional.

Paul Gonzales, Countywide Mortgage Lending  (760) 746-7388  [email protected]  NMLS CA-DOC290493

Related Posts: CW Mortgage, Education, Financial news, Home Loans, Homeowners, Industry Updates, Mortgage News, New Homes, Real Estate News, tax credit

Great News For San Diego! – Congress Extends 2010 Loan Limits Through 2011

Congress just passed a resolution extending the 2010 maximum conventional and FHA loan limits through 2011.  This is especially good news in “high-cost” markets like Southern California.  The conventional limit will remain at $417,000 and the “high-balance” limit in San Diego County will remain at $697,500.  These maximum limits apply to both conventional (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) and FHA.  The new loan limits are normally not announced until very late in the year (this being an election year may have motivated Congress to move a bit quicker).  In any case, the President is expected to sign the resolution shortly.

Paul Gonzales, Countywide Mortgage Lending (760) 746-7388, [email protected]

Related Posts: CW Mortgage, Financial news, Home Loans, Industry Updates, Mortgage News, Real Estate News

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