MortgageVox: August 2006 Archives

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Aug31	Are Mortgage Brokers Responsible for the Current Housing Situation? Taffy Wagner August 31, 2006 Know More: Current News, Mortgage Brokers 2.0, Mortgage Brokers Remember when you were in college and if something wrong happened, you wanted to blame someone else. When in all reality, you should have been blaming yourself. Well, does this apply in the mortgage business? People secured a home with an ARM, when the mortgage rates adjust and they are faced with foreclosure, who do they blame? Are the mortgage brokers responsible as if they were a parent? At the end of the day, the consumer is responsible. However, I believe the mortgage broker should take the time to educate the consumer and give them additional information. No the mortgage brokers are not responsible for the housing situation. As an adult we all make choices that have consequences. Therefore, take the time to do the research and find out all the valuable information before getting into a situation so you can make an informed decision. Posted at 5:00 PM \| Permalink
Aug31	Mortgage Marketing Business - Key Factor Taffy Wagner August 31, 2006 I have to tell you if there is one thing I learned early is communication is key to any business. This could be the difference between success or failing. Why? In the mortgage industry you have to form relationships. There... Continue Reading Posted at 3:00 PM \| Permalink
	Mortgage Rates Taffy Wagner August 31, 2006 I believe it is time that we look at some mortgage rates. After all the news over the last few weeks about rates increasing or rates staying the same and the affect it was having. It is now time that... Continue Reading Posted at 1:00 PM \| Permalink
	Starting Over a Year Later - After Katrina Taffy Wagner August 31, 2006 I am sure there are many people that lost homes to Hurricane Katrina and initially did not know where to start. If you knew of a person that lost their home and you are in the mortgage industry, what would... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink
	Networking in the Mortgage Industry Taffy Wagner August 31, 2006 We all know that network marketing is powerful. Here it is in the mortgage industry that another partnership has been formed. AT&T has landed a new data housing and networking contract with mortgage lender Homefield Financial in Irvine, California .... Continue Reading Posted at 5:00 AM \| Permalink
Aug30	Another Drop in the Mortgage Industry Taffy Wagner August 30, 2006 Slowly but surely there are a lot of mortgage companies taking a drop in profits based on what is happening in the market. If consumers are taking a hit, then so shall the companies. More and more people are not... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 PM \| Permalink
	Loan Fraud in Colorado Taffy Wagner August 30, 2006 It has to happen here it has happened every where else. Colorado is not immune to mortgage fraud. I read about this former prosecutor in the Denver Post that cleaned up mortgage fraud 34 years ago in New York .... Continue Reading Posted at 3:00 PM \| Permalink
	Same Story Different City Taffy Wagner August 30, 2006 Over and over we hear about foreclosures happening. If you heard a story every day about foreclosures, would that lead you to be cautious when you are purchasing a house? It definitely would make me more conscious. Why? Because I... Continue Reading Posted at 1:00 PM \| Permalink
	HR Block Losing Money? Taffy Wagner August 30, 2006 This is one time that I had to sit down and really see what was being said. It was reported in the Kansas City Star that shares of HR Block, Inc. lost 8.7 percent of their value Friday saying the... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink
	Homes Lost to Katrina - Is There a Solution? Taffy Wagner August 30, 2006 Today marks the one year anniversary that Hurricane Katrina tore through the gulf coast. Homes were destroyed, business were lost, people died and everyone watched the coverage on the news. Yet, here it is one year later and homes remained... Continue Reading Posted at 5:00 AM \| Permalink
Aug29	Mortgage Marketing Genius - Says Who?? Taffy Wagner August 29, 2006 How do you become a mortgage marketing genius? There are many ways to market your business. I came across this website purely by accident but thought it was worth talking about. When I entered mortgagemarketinggenius.com this guy comes across the... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Can you be Fined for Do Not Call Lists? Taffy Wagner August 29, 2006 Remember when the Do Not Call Registry first came out and you registered. Despite your registration, it seems as though you still get those sales calls. After you politely share with them that you are on the Do Not Call... Continue Reading Posted at 4:00 PM \| Permalink
	Public Officials are not even Safe in the Mortgage Game Taffy Wagner August 29, 2006 This is a little different than a previous story where a public official was the one that was almost foreclosed on. This time a councilwoman in Kansas City signed two mortgages on the property last year for some people. Ironically,... Continue Reading Posted at 1:00 PM \| Permalink
	Is it the Road Home or the Road Less Traveled Taffy Wagner August 29, 2006 I remember watching the news where this Hurricane Katrina victim has been denied housing because she has not complied with the government rules for housing. I have to stop and ask the question, if she has not complied why is... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink
	Savings or Mortgage - Which do you Do? Taffy Wagner August 29, 2006 I have been sharing with people that savings is very important. However, if you have credit card debt and not paying that bill are you truly saving? Is it important to pay some of the bill and have some savings,... Continue Reading Posted at 8:10 AM \| Permalink
	Breaking News - Mortgage Fraud the Crime of Industry Individuals Taffy Wagner August 29, 2006 I have to admit it amazes me the number of people in the mortgage industry that are committing fraud. Anyone from an appraiser, to mortgage broker to even a parole officer is committing mortgage fraud. Sure the parole officer took... Continue Reading Posted at 1:00 AM \| Permalink
Aug28	Tips for Getting more Bang for Your Mortgage Dollars Taffy Wagner August 28, 2006 I remember when we were in the process of purchasing our house there were several things I had read as for cutting down on some of the costs of the mortgage. 1) The first thing I remember is that... Continue Reading Posted at 5:15 PM \| Permalink
	Refinance for The Money Taffy Wagner August 28, 2006 What would be the reasons you refinanced your home? Could it be one of the following: 1) need to do home improvements; 2) pay off some bills; 3) college money for a child; or maybe even 4) need some extra... Continue Reading Posted at 2:00 PM \| Permalink
	How Many Ways Can you Sell Your House? Taffy Wagner August 28, 2006 I remember when we were thinking about selling our first house, we thought you could either use a realtor or sell it ourselves. Those were the only options. Option one meant we had to pay a commission and option two meant... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink
	Another Mortgage Company Makes the Inc. 500 List Taffy Wagner August 28, 2006 This is turning out to be a good year for several companies in the mortgage industry, despite what is currently happening in the industry. Then again, I am sure the lists are based on the previous year’s business and not... Continue Reading Posted at 5:00 AM \| Permalink
	Financial Services Expanded Taffy Wagner August 28, 2006 In the current mortgage industry, there are highs and lows. Every day we hear about housing being foreclosed on, mortgage fraud, mortgage technology and even associations merging together. This time Teledraft has completed acquiring a stake in privately held Pacific... Continue Reading Posted at 1:00 AM \| Permalink
Aug25	Monitoring Broker-Facilitated Fraud Taffy Wagner August 25, 2006 I must tell you this story caught my eye. Why you may ask? There is so much fraud happening in the mortgage industry, it made me wonder if anyone was closely watching what is happening. Furthermore, how it is happening.... Continue Reading Posted at 1:00 PM \| Permalink
	GMAC Mortgage chosen as Special Servicer Taffy Wagner August 25, 2006 GMAC has been around for a long time. They have been chosen by Radius Mortgage Capital, LLC as Special Servicer. I remember when I reacquainted myself with our contact person at our mortgage lender’s office, she stated that she was... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink
Aug24	Ameritrust in the News Again Taffy Wagner August 24, 2006 Wait before you begin thinking it is something bad. Ameritrust has had its share of bad news, however this time they should be proud of themselves. Inc. Magazine has listed it in the 500 ranking of fastest-growing private companies in... Continue Reading Posted at 2:00 PM \| Permalink
	Mortgage Associations Merged Taffy Wagner August 24, 2006 There are many associations out there if you are in the mortgage industry, well any industry. Which one do you join? Which one specifically meets what you are looking for in terms of assistance? Now you do not have to... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink
	Consumer Advocate Taking Charge Taffy Wagner August 24, 2006 If every time you watch the news or read your local newspaper you saw a threat of someone losing their housing based on misinformation, would you be eager to take a stand? Well, that is what Consumer Advocate Harj Gill... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink
	ARMs Readjusting Taffy Wagner August 24, 2006 Oh my goodness. I am feeling bad for a lot of people that are getting ready for the ARM adjustment. I cannot stress enough that people are not even prepared for this. In the news today, I read there is... Continue Reading Posted at 5:00 AM \| Permalink
	Is a Home an Appreciating Asset? Taffy Wagner August 24, 2006 I have to share this because it will definitely make you think. One of my friends and I were having a discussion this morning about the home which I found very interesting. We were talking about the home and I... Continue Reading Posted at 12:05 AM \| Permalink
Aug23	Shopping for a Home Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 Why do people even shop for a house? I thought about this and came up with a few reasons: 1) Tired of paying rent. Have heard over and over they are just throwing their money away and getting no benefit... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 PM \| Permalink
	Residential Mortgage Market - Another Major Player Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 I have always believed that Countrywide and Wells Fargo were some of the major players in the residential mortgage market. Sure there are others; but I believed between the two of them, they could keep the market going. The other... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 PM \| Permalink
	Know your Credit before Purchasing a House Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 Before you decide to buy a house, whether you are aware or not they are going to check you credit. Do yourself a favor and begin checking your credit one year prior to your decision to purchase a house. Why?... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 PM \| Permalink
	Scotsman Guide add Benefit to Advertising Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 We are in a day and age where people are maximizing every opportunity get their name out there. Marketing is crucial in the mortgage industry. The internet has become one of the biggest areas that people are branching out in... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 PM \| Permalink
	Benefit being a First-Time Buyer Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 Higher home prices and interest rates have been high. In addition to those factors, there has been an overwhelming increase in foreclosures. That means there are more houses that have returned to the market. It would appear that a buyer... Continue Reading Posted at 7:11 PM \| Permalink
	Can you Back out of a Refinance? Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 When people are in the stages of purchasing a house, they are overwhelmed with so much information they do not realize they can back out. I believe this is based on a couple of things: communication and failure on the... Continue Reading Posted at 6:09 PM \| Permalink
	Jobs Decline Even in Real Estate Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 As I was watching the morning news on Fox over the weekend, they were saying how building homes increases jobs. I could understand that. If that premise is correct, now that builders are having to delay building is there an... Continue Reading Posted at 5:06 PM \| Permalink
	The ARMs Have It Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 Almost every day now in the news you hear about what is happening with ARMS. Even as I was flipping through channels on this past Sunday, the morning national news on Fox were talking about the housing industry. Is it... Continue Reading Posted at 2:50 AM \| Permalink
	Lenders Buy Back Loans Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 Wait a minute? Some lenders are being pressured to buy back loans that people could not afford in the first place. The people became negligent and did not even make the first payment. Well, why would you even grant the... Continue Reading Posted at 1:50 AM \| Permalink
	Large Debt does not equal Mortgage Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 I have heard of people having a large amount of debt and that is not mainly made up of their mortgage. Have you? When a person comes to you in this situation, what do you recommend? If someone had eighty... Continue Reading Posted at 12:50 AM \| Permalink
Aug22	Many using Temporary Solutions Taffy Wagner August 22, 2006 More and more people are using their credit cards to pay for their primary expenses. Why? With increasing gas rates, rising cost of groceries and even cost of sending youth to college has increased what are we to do? One... Continue Reading Posted at 11:51 PM \| Permalink
Aug19	Dreams of Living in Hawaii - Costly or Not? Taffy Wagner August 19, 2006 I remember when I was younger I wanted to go and visit Hawaii . But as I got older that tourist spot became less of a desire. I have had friends that have lived there and shared with me about... Continue Reading Posted at 2:30 AM \| Permalink
	Mortgage Radio Taffy Wagner August 19, 2006 Have you ever listened to a radio show that is geared towards mortgages or houses? Well, here is your chance. YourHome-YourMoney.com Mortgage radio is joining forces with TalkShoe.com. I have to admit each one of these names I find a... Continue Reading Posted at 1:30 AM \| Permalink
Aug18	Questions to Ask a Mortgage Banker Taffy Wagner August 18, 2006 There are definite questions you should be asking when dealing with a mortgage banker. Remember they are not the same as a mortgage broker. Here are some questions you should ask: 1) Will this loan be sold on the secondary... Continue Reading Posted at 11:30 PM \| Permalink
	People in Housing Trouble become Victims Taffy Wagner August 18, 2006 How many times have you heard about someone who was behind on their mortgage payments and they signed a few documents thinking this company was going to help them? Lo and behold, next think you know they have signed over... Continue Reading Posted at 10:30 PM \| Permalink
	Turquoise House in the Neighborhood Taffy Wagner August 18, 2006 Have you ever driven through the neighborhood and all the houses look the same? Well almost every house until you get to this one. Looks as if they rebelled and did not want to conform to the neighborhood. This house... Continue Reading Posted at 9:30 PM \| Permalink
	Closing Costs Options Taffy Wagner August 18, 2006 The other day I shared about the closings costs and several states that were very high. Sometimes people are not realistically prepared for the closing costs once they hear that final number. Is there a way to reduce your closing... Continue Reading Posted at 8:30 PM \| Permalink
	Realtors Conference and Expo Taffy Wagner August 18, 2006 In an industry where the rates change almost daily and timing is crucial, I imagine there are seminars regarding technology almost every month. As a realtor or mortgage broker, it is important to be kept abreast of changing technology, marketing... Continue Reading Posted at 7:30 PM \| Permalink
	Help for the Busy Realtor Taffy Wagner August 18, 2006 Real estate agents are always busy working with different clients and their homes. There are many details to buying a house and/or selling a house through a realtor. A realtor has to be a person that takes care of a... Continue Reading Posted at 6:45 PM \| Permalink
Aug17	Questions to Ask a Mortgage Broker Taffy Wagner August 17, 2006 As you prepare to purchase a home, I believe you could not ask too many questions. The more questions you get answered as you are beginning this process, the mistakes you can alleviate. You will make a better decision which... Continue Reading Posted at 11:30 PM \| Permalink
	Sixth Mistake Brokers Make Taffy Wagner August 17, 2006 Charging too much because of a lack of knowledge regarding certain elements. They may charge two to four points on loans. Do they have to charge points? This is one reason you need to have an experienced broker that knows... Continue Reading Posted at 10:30 PM \| Permalink
	Top 10 Areas At Risk for Mortgage-Rate Shock Taffy Wagner August 17, 2006 More and more in the news, there are stories regarding people in foreclosure based on the increase in mortgages. ACORN has done a study of home mortgages and stated the top 10 areas most at risk for ‘rate adjustment’ shock... Continue Reading Posted at 9:30 PM \| Permalink
	Nominations for 2006 Broker Awards Taffy Wagner August 17, 2006 Do you know a broker that should be nominated for an award? They are truly an asset to the mortgage industry. Sure there are a lot of people in the industry committing fraud. That does not mean everyone is committing... Continue Reading Posted at 8:30 PM \| Permalink
	Inflated Incomes of Applicants Taffy Wagner August 17, 2006 When I first began writing this blog, I talked about being aware of someone wanting to inflate the incomes of applicants. This does hurt the borrower in the long run because they are not actually able to afford their homes.... Continue Reading Posted at 7:30 PM \| Permalink
	New Mortgage Firm Taffy Wagner August 17, 2006 I imagine that with everything that is happening in the mortgage industry, more partnerships will begin to surface. A.G. Edwards and Sons, Inc. and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage have formed and co-own a joint venture that will be a mortgage... Continue Reading Posted at 6:30 PM \| Permalink
	Housing for Single Mothers and Children Taffy Wagner August 17, 2006 Home ownership is sometimes difficult to attain for single mothers. Factors such as credit issues, lack of down payment and low income kept them from purchasing a house. They do not even believe they could qualify for a mortgage. HomeAid... Continue Reading Posted at 5:28 PM \| Permalink
	Bad Credit - Getting a Home? Taffy Wagner August 17, 2006 In my email junk mail box over the last couple of days, I have had emails titled Bad Credit Loan. Do not worry about unfavorable credit. If you are in a situation where your credit is not favorable, why would... Continue Reading Posted at 1:30 AM \| Permalink
Aug16	Minorities Sticker Shock?? Taffy Wagner August 16, 2006 I read a couple of articles in the news lately that minorities pay higher mortgage interest or face 'rate shock' over home loans. I did not find this surprising because when minorities begin the process some are not fully knowledgeable... Continue Reading Posted at 9:30 PM \| Permalink
	Access to Home Loans Online Taffy Wagner August 16, 2006 Home loans have been online for a while. However, if you were selling your home on your own, maybe you did not know this was available. ForSaleByOwner.com has selected Ditech.com as its online mortgage services provider. In my opinion, this... Continue Reading Posted at 8:30 PM \| Permalink
	Wells Fargo and Trans Union go to Trial Taffy Wagner August 16, 2006 How many times have you disputed misinformation on your credit report and it has not been corrected? Do you know there are legal steps you can take to get that information corrected? Well, consumers are taking Wells Fargo and Trans... Continue Reading Posted at 7:30 PM \| Permalink
	Mortgage Fraud Continues Taffy Wagner August 16, 2006 Over the last several weeks, I have included a story here and there regarding mortgage fraud. It appears that mortgage fraud is rampant and no one has been safe. I believe that it has happened in every state. Today I... Continue Reading Posted at 6:35 PM \| Permalink
	Choosing a Mortgage Broker Taffy Wagner August 16, 2006 How do you choose a broker when there are so many to choose from. Every where you look there are signs or ads in the newspaper regarding mortgage brokers and different loans. The following are some criteria when you are... Continue Reading Posted at 5:30 PM \| Permalink
	Homes being used as a Bank Taffy Wagner August 16, 2006 Remember when our grandparents bought a house and they paid for everything in cash. I remember if they had equity built up in their home, the equity remained until they sold the house. Once they sold the house, they received... Continue Reading Posted at 4:30 PM \| Permalink
	Mortgage Industry News Taffy Wagner August 16, 2006 You may have noticed by now that I write a lot about the current news. I do this because there is so much happening in the mortgage industry every day that it is important that you know what is happening.... Continue Reading Posted at 3:28 PM \| Permalink
Aug15	Topdot Mortgage Taffy Wagner August 15, 2006 I have not ever heard of this company but felt because of the name it was some research on my part. This is a company that is based on the East Coast that is expanding to the West Coast. Congratulations... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	New Mortgage Chief Named Taffy Wagner August 15, 2006 At least once a month or less there are changes in top management taking place at various companies throughout the states. It does not even surprise me any more when a new person is placed in a position of management.... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink
	Education on Banking and Mortgages Taffy Wagner August 15, 2006 You can never get enough education when it comes to certain industry. Book knowledge tends to enhance the practical application of the how and whys of things being done. You would not want to go into the banking or mortgage... Continue Reading Posted at 6:00 AM \| Permalink
	Juicyleads.com sells 1 Millionth Lead Taffy Wagner August 15, 2006 There are many things a mortgage broker can do to get leads. Here is a mortgage lead company that has received tremendous growth. That’s right readers, Juicyleads.com has gone from a startup only a few years ago to selling its... Continue Reading Posted at 5:00 AM \| Permalink
	Steps to Finding a Mortgage Broker Taffy Wagner August 15, 2006 If you are in the market for a house and decide you would like to use a mortgage broker, do you know what steps to take? Are you getting recommendations from friends or just go to the phone book and... Continue Reading Posted at 4:00 AM \| Permalink
	Served Your Country - Can You Get Help as a Veteran? Taffy Wagner August 15, 2006 Before I begin to write this one, I have to tell you this is definitely a push your button subject for me. Why? I am a veteran and it is sad to see the lack of assistance veterans receive. Here... Continue Reading Posted at 3:00 AM \| Permalink
	The Mayor is Overdue??? Taffy Wagner August 15, 2006 Times are tough and life happens. What happens when the Mayor is overdue on his mortgage? I read this article over the weekend where the Mayor of Desert Hot Springs paid up on an overdue mortgage in the 11th hour. The... Continue Reading Posted at 2:00 AM \| Permalink
	Positive move for Louisiana Bank Taffy Wagner August 15, 2006 We have all read and saw about the tragedy of the hurricanes in Louisiana. The people are still dealing with houses that have been destroyed and lack help in repairing them. There is a lot still going on that we... Continue Reading Posted at 1:00 AM \| Permalink
Aug14	Fraudulent Mortgage Brokers are they common? Taffy Wagner August 14, 2006 More and more I continue to read about fraudulent brokers and others that are taking advantage of homes. There has to be a way to reduce the number of fraudulent people in the industry. People have inflated property values and... Continue Reading Posted at 9:52 PM \| Permalink
	Next Step in Application Process Taffy Wagner August 14, 2006 A couple of days ago I shared the first step in the mortgage application process which was gathering various documents. Of course that step can be quite daunting and time consuming. It could even have you rethinking the entire home... Continue Reading Posted at 7:50 PM \| Permalink
	Home Equity Line vs Home Equity Loan Taffy Wagner August 14, 2006 Could you use a home equity line or a home equity loan? First you must know the difference. The value of your home and credit worthiness are factors when it comes to a home equity line. How many times have... Continue Reading Posted at 6:50 PM \| Permalink
	Second Mortgage Loans Taffy Wagner August 14, 2006 Is there a benefit to a second mortgage loan? Will it be a benefit or a detriment to you to take a second mortgage loan? The second mortgage loan is one of the types of home equity loan. Although it... Continue Reading Posted at 5:50 PM \| Permalink
	Upcoming Convention and Gala for Real Estate and Mortgage Professionals Taffy Wagner August 14, 2006 Here is an opportunity to network with other professionals and celebrate accomplishments. The Asian Real Estate Association of America will hold its 1st Annual Convention and Gala on October 15th. There is so much going on in the real estate... Continue Reading Posted at 4:50 PM \| Permalink
	Caring for Elderly Taffy Wagner August 14, 2006 Shouldn’t we take care of the elderly! Our young people are going to do exactly what they see their parents do. Oh yes, even down to caring for their parents they will repeat what they saw. I read an article... Continue Reading Posted at 3:52 PM \| Permalink
	Paperless Office Remains a Dream Taffy Wagner August 14, 2006 A paperless office is something that many people dream about. I agree with the reader in the mortgage industry as well as other industries, this will only be a dream. There are many legal ramifications that present themselves if you... Continue Reading Posted at 12:55 PM \| Permalink
	Checking out the Competition Taffy Wagner August 14, 2006 As a reader posted, check out what the competition is doing and do it better. I agree with the reader. In every industry there is always a way to complete a task better, whether it is more customer service, follow-up... Continue Reading Posted at 11:52 AM \| Permalink
Aug11	Mortgage Fraud Happening in Atlanta Taffy Wagner August 11, 2006 It is true mortgage fraud appears to be running rampant no matter where you look. Now it is happening in Atlanta . What upsets me is that there are law enforcement people involved. This time a parole officer and a... Continue Reading Posted at 11:10 PM \| Permalink
	Pay Despite Damage! Taffy Wagner August 11, 2006 If you remember when the victims of the hurricanes were on television, we all saw damaged and destroyed homes. People were missing, yet some of them had to continue to pay on their homes that they could not live in.... Continue Reading Posted at 10:10 PM \| Permalink
	Thinking Outside of the Mortgage Box Taffy Wagner August 11, 2006 I read a statistic that 1 in 10 home mortgages are in foreclosure. The last few months even here in Colorado it was 1 in every 100 home mortgages are in foreclosure. That is a grim statistic. That means to... Continue Reading Posted at 9:10 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Is It a Bad Time To Buy? Taffy Wagner August 11, 2006 If you are a mortgage broker, what do you recommend when people walk in the door? Sure they are full of questions and concerns from all the news regarding foreclosures and mortgage interest rates. Do you tell them it is... Continue Reading Posted at 9:10 PM \| Permalink
	How Much More Will it Costs? Taffy Wagner August 11, 2006 Purchasing a home is one of the major expenses that most people will incur in their life. When preparing for home ownership you expect some costs, but this week Bankrate.com released a closing cost study it did. I am not... Continue Reading Posted at 8:10 PM \| Permalink
	Marketing for Mortgage Brokers Taffy Wagner August 11, 2006 Is there a bullet proof marketing plan? What do you believe are the top ways to market your business? I am not a mortgage broker but I definitely would begin doing some research and develop a plan. For example, I... Continue Reading Posted at 7:10 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Are the Undocumented a Market? Taffy Wagner August 11, 2006 As I was reading this article titled, “Undocumented untapped market for US mortgage lenders,” various thoughts ran through my mind. Yes, there are undocumented immigrants in the and they should become a citizen. Can we see beyond the dollar signs?... Continue Reading Posted at 6:10 PM \| Permalink
	Fifth Mistake Mortgage Brokers Make Taffy Wagner August 11, 2006 I could see how this might happen: refusing to adapt to the marketplace. If the market is changing rapidly and you cannot keep up that is one thing. However, I would think as a mortgage broker, the person would realize... Continue Reading Posted at 5:08 PM \| Permalink
Aug10	American Dream for Misissippi Families Taffy Wagner August 10, 2006 Many people think about the American dream of homeownership. Yet, they find it difficult to obtain. There are different factors that keep people from homeownership such as lack of information, lack of downpayment, and even not understanding the entire process.... Continue Reading Posted at 1:50 PM \| Permalink
	Key Players in the Mortgage Process Taffy Wagner August 10, 2006 When you decide to purchase a home, there are a lot of players in the process. It is not just the buyer, seller and lender. There are a few more people than that. Take a look at this list: Buyer... Continue Reading Posted at 12:50 PM \| Permalink
	Mortgages being Sold Taffy Wagner August 10, 2006 Do you realize as a mortgage broker that there are times when mortgages are resold to another loan servicing company? Can you imagine what this does to the consumer, especially if they are not notified! I imagine most times the... Continue Reading Posted at 12:50 PM \| Permalink
	Credit Reporting Agencies Taffy Wagner August 10, 2006 Credit reports are essential when it comes to a mortgage because interest rates are based on the credit score. There three major reporting agencies are TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. Everyone can get one free credit report from each agency once... Continue Reading Posted at 11:50 AM \| Permalink
	Fourth Mistake Brokers Make Taffy Wagner August 10, 2006 Basically if it is a deal that is worth millions of dollars why would they come to you? Sure you are all excited because it has even come across your desk. Let’s think about it, they already have a funder... Continue Reading Posted at 10:50 AM \| Permalink
	Foreclosures Worse by the End of the Year Taffy Wagner August 10, 2006 Yikes! Can you believe that this will potentially happen? I can believe this is going to happen. That would be because housing will reset and mortgage payments will increase. They can increase by as much as 20 percent. Of course,... Continue Reading Posted at 9:50 AM \| Permalink
	Applications Declined...Now Applications Increase Taffy Wagner August 10, 2006 Last week we discussed how the mortgage applications declined based on the current market. This week the applications are on the raise and that is based on the fact the interest rate did not change. I know that a lot... Continue Reading Posted at 8:57 AM \| Permalink
	Builders Seeing Oversupply Taffy Wagner August 10, 2006 What is happening in the housing market is affecting everyone. Housing builders are seeing more houses on the market for sale. I imagine this is because the number of houses that have returned to the market based on foreclosures, there is... Continue Reading Posted at 7:46 AM \| Permalink
Aug 9	Mortgage Payment Protection Plan Taffy Wagner August 9, 2006 I am not sure I was aware that this existed. Mortgage payment protection plan is in case you become unemployed, get sick and cannot pay your mortgage. This plan would help you pay your mortgage while you get back on... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink
	Denver's Housing Inventory Soared Taffy Wagner August 9, 2006 Once again when I sat down and was reading this story in The Denver Post, I was very surprised to see this story. As a matter of fact, I do not know why I was surprised because foreclosures are happening... Continue Reading Posted at 6:00 AM \| Permalink
	Mortgage Lenders Fund Record Loans - Who Would Have Known?? Taffy Wagner August 9, 2006 Based on all the information I have read in the last week, I found it surprise to read that “Mortgage Lenders Fund Record Loans.” What made these groups unique or special. After all everyone in the mortgage industry is probably... Continue Reading Posted at 5:09 AM \| Permalink
	Third Mistake Mortgage Brokers Make Taffy Wagner August 9, 2006 Forgetting to focus is the third mistake that mortgage brokers make according to an article I read. As far as I am concerned, that is a problem. That happens in a lot of areas and to a lot of people... Continue Reading Posted at 4:00 AM \| Permalink
	Credit Re-Cap Taffy Wagner August 9, 2006 This afternoon during our virtual book tour the discussion was about credit and the role of bad credit in relationships and when purchasing a house. Most people fall into bad credit because they have not been taught about managing money.... Continue Reading Posted at 4:00 AM \| Permalink
	Free Online Tool for New Home Buyers Taffy Wagner August 9, 2006 Yesterday I shared some links to various calculators. Little did I know that The Mortgage Toolbox had designed a more resourceful tool. Their tool allows consumers to find real answers about their home financing option. More and more people are... Continue Reading Posted at 3:03 AM \| Permalink
	Steps to a Mortgage Application Taffy Wagner August 9, 2006 I remember very well when we got ready to do the mortgage application there was a lot of documentation required. Documents required are proof of income – pay stubs, copy of income tax forms as well as W-2, bank statements,... Continue Reading Posted at 2:00 AM \| Permalink
	Rates Stay the Same Taffy Wagner August 9, 2006 Hooray! Even though there was a meeting today at the Fed Reserve regarding interest rate, the rates did not change. Everyone was waiting with baited breath because of what has been happening in the market. Rising rates, increased foreclosures and... Continue Reading Posted at 1:00 AM \| Permalink
Aug 8	Mortgage Calculators Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 In my opinion, I think you need to have a good mortgage calculator before you purchase a house. This will enable you to realistically guestimmate when it comes to a mortgage as well as looking at points, or interest only... Continue Reading Posted at 10:30 PM \| Permalink
	Home Buying for Women Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 Growing up in a single parent household, I know that there are single women who believe that they would not be able to afford a house. That is not necessarily true. It is just a fact of looking at their... Continue Reading Posted at 9:45 PM \| Permalink
	AttenHut Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 At ease. There is mortgage-lender boot camp. Basic training. Being ex-military when I think of basic training, my mind goes to discipline, instruction and a time of learning the rules. I imagine the same could be said for the mortgage... Continue Reading Posted at 9:45 PM \| Permalink
	Drying Up in the Desert Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 Supposedly Las Vegas Valley home sales are drying up. I must say I am very surprised that I was in Las Vegas about two months ago and there was a lot of new home building going up. Partially that said... Continue Reading Posted at 8:45 PM \| Permalink
	Experience in Mortgage Industry Counts Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 Lisa Caravella whose had more than 17 years of specialized experience in relocation and mortgage industry has been appointed by Countrywide as Executive Vice President in its relocation and corporate division benefits. I believe it is crucial to have someone... Continue Reading Posted at 7:45 PM \| Permalink
	Lead Generator for Mortgage Industry Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 By now you know being in the mortgage industry can be tough. Why? It is a very competitive field. One of the most important factors is getting clients. If you have not mastered a way to get clients, then you... Continue Reading Posted at 6:45 PM \| Permalink
	Online Consumer Gets Top Spot Second Time This Year Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 One thing the title says to me is E-Loan knows what it is doing. E-Loan which is an online consumer direct lender, received the highest overall rating for online best practices implementation in the Keynote Systems: Web Excellence Q3 2006... Continue Reading Posted at 5:45 PM \| Permalink
	More Technology for Mortgage Industry Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 Pricing and accuracy are key components in the mortgage industry. These two factors can also be very crucial if incorrect. It can be the difference between closing a deal and the deal being delayed for days because of incorrect information.... Continue Reading Posted at 4:48 PM \| Permalink
	Virtual Book Tour Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 I wanted to share with you that yours truly and Bettye Jamerson, a fellow KMM author are launching The Virtuous Woman Virtual Book Tour beginning on August 8 – 10, 2006. During this tour we will be discussing communication as a... Continue Reading Posted at 2:29 AM \| Permalink
	Another Mistake by Mortgage Brokers Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 As a mortgage broker you should be aware of the mistakes that are common so that you can avoid them. Also if you know what the common ones are, you should be able to help a colleague from making them... Continue Reading Posted at 1:27 AM \| Permalink
	More Terms to Know Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 Here are some more terms that you should be aware of: 80/10/10 - A structured mortgage where the buyer places a 10% down payment on a home and takes a home equity loan on that amount. The result is a... Continue Reading Posted at 12:24 AM \| Permalink
Aug 7	Loose Change Pays Off Mortgage Taffy Wagner August 7, 2006 I could not resist talking about this story. How many of you collect loose change? My hand is raised. I keep all the loose change that I have in my purse and put it in a jar. Then I dump... Continue Reading Posted at 11:50 PM \| Permalink
	Mortgage Brokers and Mistakes??? Taffy Wagner August 7, 2006 Can mortgage brokers make mistakes? According to Joseph Mardesich, president of National Apartment Finance there are common mistakes but there are steps you can take to implement corrections. I will share what the top mistake at this time and continue... Continue Reading Posted at 11:20 PM \| Permalink
	Housing Services of Chicago Partners with a Corporation Taffy Wagner August 7, 2006 More and more days everyone is realizing just how serious the housing market is and how much people do not understand what they are getting themselves into. New Century Financial Corporation helps revitalize Chicago ’s Auburn-Gresham Community. They will be... Continue Reading Posted at 10:50 PM \| Permalink
	Foreclosures All Around - Next Move? Taffy Wagner August 7, 2006 I have to admit this is quite a hot topic no matter where you read. I read this story titled “Just say no to foreclosure.” Many people all over the world are facing foreclosures and they need help and do... Continue Reading Posted at 10:30 PM \| Permalink
	Credit Score Paints a Picture Taffy Wagner August 7, 2006 As a mortgage broker or mortgage lender, the one of the first items if not the first item you should check of a potential client is their credit score. Of course you should only check it with their permission. The... Continue Reading Posted at 9:57 PM \| Permalink
	Puzzled Mortgage Holders Taffy Wagner August 7, 2006 As a mortgage banker or mortgage broker, how many times have you seen a puzzled potential homeowner come into your office? Often times when people are buying homes, they have a lot of questions but are afraid to ask for... Continue Reading Posted at 8:58 PM \| Permalink
	Tips for Potential Home Owners Taffy Wagner August 7, 2006 One of the items that home owners should be aware of is home mortgage interest. Why you ask? Because home mortgage interest is deductible up to $1 million worth of mortgages used to acquire or improve your main personal property... Continue Reading Posted at 8:10 PM \| Permalink
	Foreclosed Property Investment or Not? Taffy Wagner August 7, 2006 If you are a mortgage broker or lender and someone asked you if investing in a foreclosed property was a good idea, what would your response be? Think about it with all the foreclosed properties on the market, could you... Continue Reading Posted at 7:34 PM \| Permalink
Aug 4	Are Students Prepared to Purchase Houses? Taffy Wagner August 4, 2006 Student tuition has gone up, student loan rates went up and everyone is feeling the crunch. When students graduate from college, they think about securing employment and possibly housing. I remember when I graduated from college one of my main... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 PM \| Permalink
	Home Buyer Beware!! Taffy Wagner August 4, 2006 If you are a mortgage broker or mortgage lender and decided to give a seminar with that title, what do you think would happen? Would people come to the seminar out of curiosity or fear? I would think you as... Continue Reading Posted at 10:30 PM \| Permalink
	Tools to Assist For Sale Buy Owners Taffy Wagner August 4, 2006 I remember when we decided to sale our first house on our own because the market was good at that time. We believed our home would sale rather quickly and it did not before we moved into our other home.... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 PM \| Permalink
	Marketing Real Estate on the Internet Taffy Wagner August 4, 2006 Technology is driving many industries, so I should not surprise anyone that real estate is going virtual as well. One of the main things that I found interesting was that when we were selling our house, that we could list... Continue Reading Posted at 9:30 PM \| Permalink
	Opportunity as a Self-Employed Consultant Taffy Wagner August 4, 2006 There comes a time in everyone’s life when they are tired of working for someone else and want to be on their own. What usually gets a person to that point? Is it years of dedication and lack of appreciation?... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 PM \| Permalink
	Rent or Buy???? Taffy Wagner August 4, 2006 Let’s say you have a client straddling the fence. They are presently renting and would love to own a home; however, based on the current market they are not sure about purchasing a home. What do you do? Is your... Continue Reading Posted at 8:30 PM \| Permalink
	Expansion Occurs in my own Backyard Taffy Wagner August 4, 2006 Imagine my surprise this morning when I read that Cherry Creek Mortgage Co is expanding while others are shrinking in this mortgage market. They just bought Premier Mortgage which is based in Greenwood Village . I would not be surprised... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 PM \| Permalink
	Educate The Buyer Taffy Wagner August 4, 2006 If you are a mortgage lender or even a mortgage broker, do you believe your top priority is to educate the buyer? Every day there are more stories in the media of foreclosure and mortgage fraud. I believe it is... Continue Reading Posted at 7:35 PM \| Permalink
Aug 3	One Company Selling Another Part of Its Company Taffy Wagner August 3, 2006 KeyCorp based in Cleveland is considering selling its Champion Mortgage subprime lending subsidiary. Could this be based on everything that is happening with the mortgage industry, they believe they are losing money? Has KeyCorp shifted its focus based on what... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 PM \| Permalink
	Fastest Increase in 14 Years - This Time It Is California Taffy Wagner August 3, 2006 Everyone must continue to remain knowledgeable about purchasing a house. Foreclosure activity in California increased at the fastest rate in at least 14 years during the second quarter. That tells me that people are in trouble with higher interest rates,... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 PM \| Permalink
	Business expands in the Mortgage Industry Taffy Wagner August 3, 2006 As the market shifts in the mortgage industry, more companies are joining forces to create a better situation for everyone involved. Today it is Bradford Mortgage that is joining with ACM. Bradford Mortgage is already a full-service mortgage bank, who... Continue Reading Posted at 9:20 PM \| Permalink
	Changes in the Housing Market Taffy Wagner August 3, 2006 Every day there is a lot of news regarding the housing market, whether you are a mortgage lender, mortgage broker, mortgage banker and now a home builder. Home builders in Orlando on Wednesday were wanted that the industry will remain... Continue Reading Posted at 8:50 PM \| Permalink
	Chase Come on Down Taffy Wagner August 3, 2006 Chase is the next company to cut 170 jobs. They are cutting jobs in their Milwaukee home mortgage and home equity loan collections area by February 2007. It is apparent that no one is immune from having to reduce and... Continue Reading Posted at 8:20 PM \| Permalink
	"Mortgage Mechanic" becomes a Team Member Taffy Wagner August 3, 2006 The title says it all. I do not know Bob Tefft but the fact that he is known as the “Mortgage Mechanic” tells me he is well versed in the area of mortgages and breaks it down in lamens terms... Continue Reading Posted at 7:50 PM \| Permalink
	New Technology for Lenders and Mortgage Servicers Taffy Wagner August 3, 2006 Loan Protector Insurance Services, a leading independent provider of customizable lender-placed insurance programs for lenders and mortgage servicers, announces new features to Easy Place and Easy Track. Technology is always being changed or upgraded and it seems that is what... Continue Reading Posted at 7:20 PM \| Permalink
	Demand for Home Loans hit a Four Year Low Taffy Wagner August 3, 2006 If you are like me and have been watching your own neighborhood, you would wonder if there was a demand for home loans. I say this because there are many properties for sale in our neighborhood. Yet right across the... Continue Reading Posted at 6:55 PM \| Permalink
Aug 2	Mortgage Professionals Taffy Wagner August 2, 2006 There are many mortgage companies out there. Sure some companies are alike and there are some unique aspects from other companies that set them apart from others. How do you find out about different companies? Do you contact the different... Continue Reading Posted at 11:50 PM \| Permalink
	Housing Initiative Taffy Wagner August 2, 2006 Everyone has heard of the American Dream but may not be able to attain it for one reason or another. More and more people need to understand that they can afford the American Dream at an affordable price. Vermont Housing... Continue Reading Posted at 11:30 PM \| Permalink
	Law Enforcement is Taxed Taffy Wagner August 2, 2006 Mortgage fraud is happening all over the world. It does not matter what state you are in believe me it is happening. Law enforcement people that are in the position of handling mortgage fraud and holding people accountable are being... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 PM \| Permalink
	Another Hand reaches out to help Homeowners Taffy Wagner August 2, 2006 I am very excited when organizations or individuals step up to help one another. I applaud Pro-Home, Inc. for stepping up to help homeowners facing foreclosure get through the path of crisis. Every day, someone is not able to pay... Continue Reading Posted at 10:30 PM \| Permalink
	JUMBO Loan Taffy Wagner August 2, 2006 I had not ever heard of this term before. When I hear the word “jumbo” that means big to me. Bigger than what you would expect I would say. If you need to borrow more than $417,000 for your home,... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 PM \| Permalink
	One company acquires another leads to win-win Taffy Wagner August 2, 2006 Shearson Home Loan Signs an agreement to acquire Allstate Funding and it is a win-win for both. That is a nice way for business to be done where everybody wins. Both of these organizations have a total combined mortgage loan... Continue Reading Posted at 9:31 PM \| Permalink
	Home Buying Fever is Here Taffy Wagner August 2, 2006 What is the one thing that usually happens when the kids get out of school? People think of moving if they were waiting until the end of the school year. They begin driving around to new home developments to see... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 PM \| Permalink
	Home Equity Line Not as Easy as Before Taffy Wagner August 2, 2006 At one time a home equity line was a practical way of doing remodeling, paying for education or even paying off debt. Not that I would have used a home equity line for paying off debt but that was an... Continue Reading Posted at 8:38 PM \| Permalink
Aug 1	Lack of Security Online Taffy Wagner August 1, 2006 When you fill out information online, have you ever thought about the security of your information? Even if you were completing an online survey, did you ever think about the wrong person receiving your information? I have often looked to... Continue Reading Posted at 4:59 PM \| Permalink
	US Lender in 50 States Taffy Wagner August 1, 2006 Did you just win the lottery and decided to buy a villa in Rome ? You go to a mortgage banker in Washington, D.C. You share with the banker what has happened and what you would like to do. The... Continue Reading Posted at 3:59 PM \| Permalink
	Sales Leads Taffy Wagner August 1, 2006 Numbers is the name of the game when you are in sales. I imagine as a mortgage broker, you have to have a method of getting your clients? Is it referral business, do you send newsletters to a certain demographic... Continue Reading Posted at 2:59 PM \| Permalink
	Fraud City Workshops Taffy Wagner August 1, 2006 I have to admit I believe having fraud prevention workshops is necessary. It seems every time I was doing research on the internet in the last couple of weeks, there were more stories about fraud in the mortgage business than... Continue Reading Posted at 1:59 PM \| Permalink
	Affordable Million Dollar Properties Taffy Wagner August 1, 2006 If you are in the real estate or mortgage business, have you ever thought about trying to get a client into a million dollar property? Do you know of prospective clients that would be interested in a million dollar property? ... Continue Reading Posted at 12:59 PM \| Permalink

« July 2006 | Main | September 2006 »

Aug31	Are Mortgage Brokers Responsible for the Current Housing Situation? Taffy Wagner August 31, 2006 Know More: Current News, Mortgage Brokers 2.0, Mortgage Brokers Remember when you were in college and if something wrong happened, you wanted to blame someone else. When in all reality, you should have been blaming yourself. Well, does this apply in the mortgage business? People secured a home with an ARM, when the mortgage rates adjust and they are faced with foreclosure, who do they blame? Are the mortgage brokers responsible as if they were a parent? At the end of the day, the consumer is responsible. However, I believe the mortgage broker should take the time to educate the consumer and give them additional information. No the mortgage brokers are not responsible for the housing situation. As an adult we all make choices that have consequences. Therefore, take the time to do the research and find out all the valuable information before getting into a situation so you can make an informed decision. Posted at 5:00 PM \| Permalink
Aug31	Mortgage Marketing Business - Key Factor Taffy Wagner August 31, 2006 I have to tell you if there is one thing I learned early is communication is key to any business. This could be the difference between success or failing. Why? In the mortgage industry you have to form relationships. There... Continue Reading Posted at 3:00 PM \| Permalink
	Mortgage Rates Taffy Wagner August 31, 2006 I believe it is time that we look at some mortgage rates. After all the news over the last few weeks about rates increasing or rates staying the same and the affect it was having. It is now time that... Continue Reading Posted at 1:00 PM \| Permalink
	Starting Over a Year Later - After Katrina Taffy Wagner August 31, 2006 I am sure there are many people that lost homes to Hurricane Katrina and initially did not know where to start. If you knew of a person that lost their home and you are in the mortgage industry, what would... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink
	Networking in the Mortgage Industry Taffy Wagner August 31, 2006 We all know that network marketing is powerful. Here it is in the mortgage industry that another partnership has been formed. AT&T has landed a new data housing and networking contract with mortgage lender Homefield Financial in Irvine, California .... Continue Reading Posted at 5:00 AM \| Permalink
Aug30	Another Drop in the Mortgage Industry Taffy Wagner August 30, 2006 Slowly but surely there are a lot of mortgage companies taking a drop in profits based on what is happening in the market. If consumers are taking a hit, then so shall the companies. More and more people are not... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 PM \| Permalink
	Loan Fraud in Colorado Taffy Wagner August 30, 2006 It has to happen here it has happened every where else. Colorado is not immune to mortgage fraud. I read about this former prosecutor in the Denver Post that cleaned up mortgage fraud 34 years ago in New York .... Continue Reading Posted at 3:00 PM \| Permalink
	Same Story Different City Taffy Wagner August 30, 2006 Over and over we hear about foreclosures happening. If you heard a story every day about foreclosures, would that lead you to be cautious when you are purchasing a house? It definitely would make me more conscious. Why? Because I... Continue Reading Posted at 1:00 PM \| Permalink
	HR Block Losing Money? Taffy Wagner August 30, 2006 This is one time that I had to sit down and really see what was being said. It was reported in the Kansas City Star that shares of HR Block, Inc. lost 8.7 percent of their value Friday saying the... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink
	Homes Lost to Katrina - Is There a Solution? Taffy Wagner August 30, 2006 Today marks the one year anniversary that Hurricane Katrina tore through the gulf coast. Homes were destroyed, business were lost, people died and everyone watched the coverage on the news. Yet, here it is one year later and homes remained... Continue Reading Posted at 5:00 AM \| Permalink
Aug29	Mortgage Marketing Genius - Says Who?? Taffy Wagner August 29, 2006 How do you become a mortgage marketing genius? There are many ways to market your business. I came across this website purely by accident but thought it was worth talking about. When I entered mortgagemarketinggenius.com this guy comes across the... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Can you be Fined for Do Not Call Lists? Taffy Wagner August 29, 2006 Remember when the Do Not Call Registry first came out and you registered. Despite your registration, it seems as though you still get those sales calls. After you politely share with them that you are on the Do Not Call... Continue Reading Posted at 4:00 PM \| Permalink
	Public Officials are not even Safe in the Mortgage Game Taffy Wagner August 29, 2006 This is a little different than a previous story where a public official was the one that was almost foreclosed on. This time a councilwoman in Kansas City signed two mortgages on the property last year for some people. Ironically,... Continue Reading Posted at 1:00 PM \| Permalink
	Is it the Road Home or the Road Less Traveled Taffy Wagner August 29, 2006 I remember watching the news where this Hurricane Katrina victim has been denied housing because she has not complied with the government rules for housing. I have to stop and ask the question, if she has not complied why is... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink
	Savings or Mortgage - Which do you Do? Taffy Wagner August 29, 2006 I have been sharing with people that savings is very important. However, if you have credit card debt and not paying that bill are you truly saving? Is it important to pay some of the bill and have some savings,... Continue Reading Posted at 8:10 AM \| Permalink
	Breaking News - Mortgage Fraud the Crime of Industry Individuals Taffy Wagner August 29, 2006 I have to admit it amazes me the number of people in the mortgage industry that are committing fraud. Anyone from an appraiser, to mortgage broker to even a parole officer is committing mortgage fraud. Sure the parole officer took... Continue Reading Posted at 1:00 AM \| Permalink
Aug28	Tips for Getting more Bang for Your Mortgage Dollars Taffy Wagner August 28, 2006 I remember when we were in the process of purchasing our house there were several things I had read as for cutting down on some of the costs of the mortgage. 1) The first thing I remember is that... Continue Reading Posted at 5:15 PM \| Permalink
	Refinance for The Money Taffy Wagner August 28, 2006 What would be the reasons you refinanced your home? Could it be one of the following: 1) need to do home improvements; 2) pay off some bills; 3) college money for a child; or maybe even 4) need some extra... Continue Reading Posted at 2:00 PM \| Permalink
	How Many Ways Can you Sell Your House? Taffy Wagner August 28, 2006 I remember when we were thinking about selling our first house, we thought you could either use a realtor or sell it ourselves. Those were the only options. Option one meant we had to pay a commission and option two meant... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink
	Another Mortgage Company Makes the Inc. 500 List Taffy Wagner August 28, 2006 This is turning out to be a good year for several companies in the mortgage industry, despite what is currently happening in the industry. Then again, I am sure the lists are based on the previous year’s business and not... Continue Reading Posted at 5:00 AM \| Permalink
	Financial Services Expanded Taffy Wagner August 28, 2006 In the current mortgage industry, there are highs and lows. Every day we hear about housing being foreclosed on, mortgage fraud, mortgage technology and even associations merging together. This time Teledraft has completed acquiring a stake in privately held Pacific... Continue Reading Posted at 1:00 AM \| Permalink
Aug25	Monitoring Broker-Facilitated Fraud Taffy Wagner August 25, 2006 I must tell you this story caught my eye. Why you may ask? There is so much fraud happening in the mortgage industry, it made me wonder if anyone was closely watching what is happening. Furthermore, how it is happening.... Continue Reading Posted at 1:00 PM \| Permalink
	GMAC Mortgage chosen as Special Servicer Taffy Wagner August 25, 2006 GMAC has been around for a long time. They have been chosen by Radius Mortgage Capital, LLC as Special Servicer. I remember when I reacquainted myself with our contact person at our mortgage lender’s office, she stated that she was... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink
Aug24	Ameritrust in the News Again Taffy Wagner August 24, 2006 Wait before you begin thinking it is something bad. Ameritrust has had its share of bad news, however this time they should be proud of themselves. Inc. Magazine has listed it in the 500 ranking of fastest-growing private companies in... Continue Reading Posted at 2:00 PM \| Permalink
	Mortgage Associations Merged Taffy Wagner August 24, 2006 There are many associations out there if you are in the mortgage industry, well any industry. Which one do you join? Which one specifically meets what you are looking for in terms of assistance? Now you do not have to... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink
	Consumer Advocate Taking Charge Taffy Wagner August 24, 2006 If every time you watch the news or read your local newspaper you saw a threat of someone losing their housing based on misinformation, would you be eager to take a stand? Well, that is what Consumer Advocate Harj Gill... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink
	ARMs Readjusting Taffy Wagner August 24, 2006 Oh my goodness. I am feeling bad for a lot of people that are getting ready for the ARM adjustment. I cannot stress enough that people are not even prepared for this. In the news today, I read there is... Continue Reading Posted at 5:00 AM \| Permalink
	Is a Home an Appreciating Asset? Taffy Wagner August 24, 2006 I have to share this because it will definitely make you think. One of my friends and I were having a discussion this morning about the home which I found very interesting. We were talking about the home and I... Continue Reading Posted at 12:05 AM \| Permalink
Aug23	Shopping for a Home Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 Why do people even shop for a house? I thought about this and came up with a few reasons: 1) Tired of paying rent. Have heard over and over they are just throwing their money away and getting no benefit... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 PM \| Permalink
	Residential Mortgage Market - Another Major Player Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 I have always believed that Countrywide and Wells Fargo were some of the major players in the residential mortgage market. Sure there are others; but I believed between the two of them, they could keep the market going. The other... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 PM \| Permalink
	Know your Credit before Purchasing a House Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 Before you decide to buy a house, whether you are aware or not they are going to check you credit. Do yourself a favor and begin checking your credit one year prior to your decision to purchase a house. Why?... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 PM \| Permalink
	Scotsman Guide add Benefit to Advertising Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 We are in a day and age where people are maximizing every opportunity get their name out there. Marketing is crucial in the mortgage industry. The internet has become one of the biggest areas that people are branching out in... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 PM \| Permalink
	Benefit being a First-Time Buyer Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 Higher home prices and interest rates have been high. In addition to those factors, there has been an overwhelming increase in foreclosures. That means there are more houses that have returned to the market. It would appear that a buyer... Continue Reading Posted at 7:11 PM \| Permalink
	Can you Back out of a Refinance? Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 When people are in the stages of purchasing a house, they are overwhelmed with so much information they do not realize they can back out. I believe this is based on a couple of things: communication and failure on the... Continue Reading Posted at 6:09 PM \| Permalink
	Jobs Decline Even in Real Estate Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 As I was watching the morning news on Fox over the weekend, they were saying how building homes increases jobs. I could understand that. If that premise is correct, now that builders are having to delay building is there an... Continue Reading Posted at 5:06 PM \| Permalink
	The ARMs Have It Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 Almost every day now in the news you hear about what is happening with ARMS. Even as I was flipping through channels on this past Sunday, the morning national news on Fox were talking about the housing industry. Is it... Continue Reading Posted at 2:50 AM \| Permalink
	Lenders Buy Back Loans Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 Wait a minute? Some lenders are being pressured to buy back loans that people could not afford in the first place. The people became negligent and did not even make the first payment. Well, why would you even grant the... Continue Reading Posted at 1:50 AM \| Permalink
	Large Debt does not equal Mortgage Taffy Wagner August 23, 2006 I have heard of people having a large amount of debt and that is not mainly made up of their mortgage. Have you? When a person comes to you in this situation, what do you recommend? If someone had eighty... Continue Reading Posted at 12:50 AM \| Permalink
Aug22	Many using Temporary Solutions Taffy Wagner August 22, 2006 More and more people are using their credit cards to pay for their primary expenses. Why? With increasing gas rates, rising cost of groceries and even cost of sending youth to college has increased what are we to do? One... Continue Reading Posted at 11:51 PM \| Permalink
Aug19	Dreams of Living in Hawaii - Costly or Not? Taffy Wagner August 19, 2006 I remember when I was younger I wanted to go and visit Hawaii . But as I got older that tourist spot became less of a desire. I have had friends that have lived there and shared with me about... Continue Reading Posted at 2:30 AM \| Permalink
	Mortgage Radio Taffy Wagner August 19, 2006 Have you ever listened to a radio show that is geared towards mortgages or houses? Well, here is your chance. YourHome-YourMoney.com Mortgage radio is joining forces with TalkShoe.com. I have to admit each one of these names I find a... Continue Reading Posted at 1:30 AM \| Permalink
Aug18	Questions to Ask a Mortgage Banker Taffy Wagner August 18, 2006 There are definite questions you should be asking when dealing with a mortgage banker. Remember they are not the same as a mortgage broker. Here are some questions you should ask: 1) Will this loan be sold on the secondary... Continue Reading Posted at 11:30 PM \| Permalink
	People in Housing Trouble become Victims Taffy Wagner August 18, 2006 How many times have you heard about someone who was behind on their mortgage payments and they signed a few documents thinking this company was going to help them? Lo and behold, next think you know they have signed over... Continue Reading Posted at 10:30 PM \| Permalink
	Turquoise House in the Neighborhood Taffy Wagner August 18, 2006 Have you ever driven through the neighborhood and all the houses look the same? Well almost every house until you get to this one. Looks as if they rebelled and did not want to conform to the neighborhood. This house... Continue Reading Posted at 9:30 PM \| Permalink
	Closing Costs Options Taffy Wagner August 18, 2006 The other day I shared about the closings costs and several states that were very high. Sometimes people are not realistically prepared for the closing costs once they hear that final number. Is there a way to reduce your closing... Continue Reading Posted at 8:30 PM \| Permalink
	Realtors Conference and Expo Taffy Wagner August 18, 2006 In an industry where the rates change almost daily and timing is crucial, I imagine there are seminars regarding technology almost every month. As a realtor or mortgage broker, it is important to be kept abreast of changing technology, marketing... Continue Reading Posted at 7:30 PM \| Permalink
	Help for the Busy Realtor Taffy Wagner August 18, 2006 Real estate agents are always busy working with different clients and their homes. There are many details to buying a house and/or selling a house through a realtor. A realtor has to be a person that takes care of a... Continue Reading Posted at 6:45 PM \| Permalink
Aug17	Questions to Ask a Mortgage Broker Taffy Wagner August 17, 2006 As you prepare to purchase a home, I believe you could not ask too many questions. The more questions you get answered as you are beginning this process, the mistakes you can alleviate. You will make a better decision which... Continue Reading Posted at 11:30 PM \| Permalink
	Sixth Mistake Brokers Make Taffy Wagner August 17, 2006 Charging too much because of a lack of knowledge regarding certain elements. They may charge two to four points on loans. Do they have to charge points? This is one reason you need to have an experienced broker that knows... Continue Reading Posted at 10:30 PM \| Permalink
	Top 10 Areas At Risk for Mortgage-Rate Shock Taffy Wagner August 17, 2006 More and more in the news, there are stories regarding people in foreclosure based on the increase in mortgages. ACORN has done a study of home mortgages and stated the top 10 areas most at risk for ‘rate adjustment’ shock... Continue Reading Posted at 9:30 PM \| Permalink
	Nominations for 2006 Broker Awards Taffy Wagner August 17, 2006 Do you know a broker that should be nominated for an award? They are truly an asset to the mortgage industry. Sure there are a lot of people in the industry committing fraud. That does not mean everyone is committing... Continue Reading Posted at 8:30 PM \| Permalink
	Inflated Incomes of Applicants Taffy Wagner August 17, 2006 When I first began writing this blog, I talked about being aware of someone wanting to inflate the incomes of applicants. This does hurt the borrower in the long run because they are not actually able to afford their homes.... Continue Reading Posted at 7:30 PM \| Permalink
	New Mortgage Firm Taffy Wagner August 17, 2006 I imagine that with everything that is happening in the mortgage industry, more partnerships will begin to surface. A.G. Edwards and Sons, Inc. and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage have formed and co-own a joint venture that will be a mortgage... Continue Reading Posted at 6:30 PM \| Permalink
	Housing for Single Mothers and Children Taffy Wagner August 17, 2006 Home ownership is sometimes difficult to attain for single mothers. Factors such as credit issues, lack of down payment and low income kept them from purchasing a house. They do not even believe they could qualify for a mortgage. HomeAid... Continue Reading Posted at 5:28 PM \| Permalink
	Bad Credit - Getting a Home? Taffy Wagner August 17, 2006 In my email junk mail box over the last couple of days, I have had emails titled Bad Credit Loan. Do not worry about unfavorable credit. If you are in a situation where your credit is not favorable, why would... Continue Reading Posted at 1:30 AM \| Permalink
Aug16	Minorities Sticker Shock?? Taffy Wagner August 16, 2006 I read a couple of articles in the news lately that minorities pay higher mortgage interest or face 'rate shock' over home loans. I did not find this surprising because when minorities begin the process some are not fully knowledgeable... Continue Reading Posted at 9:30 PM \| Permalink
	Access to Home Loans Online Taffy Wagner August 16, 2006 Home loans have been online for a while. However, if you were selling your home on your own, maybe you did not know this was available. ForSaleByOwner.com has selected Ditech.com as its online mortgage services provider. In my opinion, this... Continue Reading Posted at 8:30 PM \| Permalink
	Wells Fargo and Trans Union go to Trial Taffy Wagner August 16, 2006 How many times have you disputed misinformation on your credit report and it has not been corrected? Do you know there are legal steps you can take to get that information corrected? Well, consumers are taking Wells Fargo and Trans... Continue Reading Posted at 7:30 PM \| Permalink
	Mortgage Fraud Continues Taffy Wagner August 16, 2006 Over the last several weeks, I have included a story here and there regarding mortgage fraud. It appears that mortgage fraud is rampant and no one has been safe. I believe that it has happened in every state. Today I... Continue Reading Posted at 6:35 PM \| Permalink
	Choosing a Mortgage Broker Taffy Wagner August 16, 2006 How do you choose a broker when there are so many to choose from. Every where you look there are signs or ads in the newspaper regarding mortgage brokers and different loans. The following are some criteria when you are... Continue Reading Posted at 5:30 PM \| Permalink
	Homes being used as a Bank Taffy Wagner August 16, 2006 Remember when our grandparents bought a house and they paid for everything in cash. I remember if they had equity built up in their home, the equity remained until they sold the house. Once they sold the house, they received... Continue Reading Posted at 4:30 PM \| Permalink
	Mortgage Industry News Taffy Wagner August 16, 2006 You may have noticed by now that I write a lot about the current news. I do this because there is so much happening in the mortgage industry every day that it is important that you know what is happening.... Continue Reading Posted at 3:28 PM \| Permalink
Aug15	Topdot Mortgage Taffy Wagner August 15, 2006 I have not ever heard of this company but felt because of the name it was some research on my part. This is a company that is based on the East Coast that is expanding to the West Coast. Congratulations... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	New Mortgage Chief Named Taffy Wagner August 15, 2006 At least once a month or less there are changes in top management taking place at various companies throughout the states. It does not even surprise me any more when a new person is placed in a position of management.... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink
	Education on Banking and Mortgages Taffy Wagner August 15, 2006 You can never get enough education when it comes to certain industry. Book knowledge tends to enhance the practical application of the how and whys of things being done. You would not want to go into the banking or mortgage... Continue Reading Posted at 6:00 AM \| Permalink
	Juicyleads.com sells 1 Millionth Lead Taffy Wagner August 15, 2006 There are many things a mortgage broker can do to get leads. Here is a mortgage lead company that has received tremendous growth. That’s right readers, Juicyleads.com has gone from a startup only a few years ago to selling its... Continue Reading Posted at 5:00 AM \| Permalink
	Steps to Finding a Mortgage Broker Taffy Wagner August 15, 2006 If you are in the market for a house and decide you would like to use a mortgage broker, do you know what steps to take? Are you getting recommendations from friends or just go to the phone book and... Continue Reading Posted at 4:00 AM \| Permalink
	Served Your Country - Can You Get Help as a Veteran? Taffy Wagner August 15, 2006 Before I begin to write this one, I have to tell you this is definitely a push your button subject for me. Why? I am a veteran and it is sad to see the lack of assistance veterans receive. Here... Continue Reading Posted at 3:00 AM \| Permalink
	The Mayor is Overdue??? Taffy Wagner August 15, 2006 Times are tough and life happens. What happens when the Mayor is overdue on his mortgage? I read this article over the weekend where the Mayor of Desert Hot Springs paid up on an overdue mortgage in the 11th hour. The... Continue Reading Posted at 2:00 AM \| Permalink
	Positive move for Louisiana Bank Taffy Wagner August 15, 2006 We have all read and saw about the tragedy of the hurricanes in Louisiana. The people are still dealing with houses that have been destroyed and lack help in repairing them. There is a lot still going on that we... Continue Reading Posted at 1:00 AM \| Permalink
Aug14	Fraudulent Mortgage Brokers are they common? Taffy Wagner August 14, 2006 More and more I continue to read about fraudulent brokers and others that are taking advantage of homes. There has to be a way to reduce the number of fraudulent people in the industry. People have inflated property values and... Continue Reading Posted at 9:52 PM \| Permalink
	Next Step in Application Process Taffy Wagner August 14, 2006 A couple of days ago I shared the first step in the mortgage application process which was gathering various documents. Of course that step can be quite daunting and time consuming. It could even have you rethinking the entire home... Continue Reading Posted at 7:50 PM \| Permalink
	Home Equity Line vs Home Equity Loan Taffy Wagner August 14, 2006 Could you use a home equity line or a home equity loan? First you must know the difference. The value of your home and credit worthiness are factors when it comes to a home equity line. How many times have... Continue Reading Posted at 6:50 PM \| Permalink
	Second Mortgage Loans Taffy Wagner August 14, 2006 Is there a benefit to a second mortgage loan? Will it be a benefit or a detriment to you to take a second mortgage loan? The second mortgage loan is one of the types of home equity loan. Although it... Continue Reading Posted at 5:50 PM \| Permalink
	Upcoming Convention and Gala for Real Estate and Mortgage Professionals Taffy Wagner August 14, 2006 Here is an opportunity to network with other professionals and celebrate accomplishments. The Asian Real Estate Association of America will hold its 1st Annual Convention and Gala on October 15th. There is so much going on in the real estate... Continue Reading Posted at 4:50 PM \| Permalink
	Caring for Elderly Taffy Wagner August 14, 2006 Shouldn’t we take care of the elderly! Our young people are going to do exactly what they see their parents do. Oh yes, even down to caring for their parents they will repeat what they saw. I read an article... Continue Reading Posted at 3:52 PM \| Permalink
	Paperless Office Remains a Dream Taffy Wagner August 14, 2006 A paperless office is something that many people dream about. I agree with the reader in the mortgage industry as well as other industries, this will only be a dream. There are many legal ramifications that present themselves if you... Continue Reading Posted at 12:55 PM \| Permalink
	Checking out the Competition Taffy Wagner August 14, 2006 As a reader posted, check out what the competition is doing and do it better. I agree with the reader. In every industry there is always a way to complete a task better, whether it is more customer service, follow-up... Continue Reading Posted at 11:52 AM \| Permalink
Aug11	Mortgage Fraud Happening in Atlanta Taffy Wagner August 11, 2006 It is true mortgage fraud appears to be running rampant no matter where you look. Now it is happening in Atlanta . What upsets me is that there are law enforcement people involved. This time a parole officer and a... Continue Reading Posted at 11:10 PM \| Permalink
	Pay Despite Damage! Taffy Wagner August 11, 2006 If you remember when the victims of the hurricanes were on television, we all saw damaged and destroyed homes. People were missing, yet some of them had to continue to pay on their homes that they could not live in.... Continue Reading Posted at 10:10 PM \| Permalink
	Thinking Outside of the Mortgage Box Taffy Wagner August 11, 2006 I read a statistic that 1 in 10 home mortgages are in foreclosure. The last few months even here in Colorado it was 1 in every 100 home mortgages are in foreclosure. That is a grim statistic. That means to... Continue Reading Posted at 9:10 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Is It a Bad Time To Buy? Taffy Wagner August 11, 2006 If you are a mortgage broker, what do you recommend when people walk in the door? Sure they are full of questions and concerns from all the news regarding foreclosures and mortgage interest rates. Do you tell them it is... Continue Reading Posted at 9:10 PM \| Permalink
	How Much More Will it Costs? Taffy Wagner August 11, 2006 Purchasing a home is one of the major expenses that most people will incur in their life. When preparing for home ownership you expect some costs, but this week Bankrate.com released a closing cost study it did. I am not... Continue Reading Posted at 8:10 PM \| Permalink
	Marketing for Mortgage Brokers Taffy Wagner August 11, 2006 Is there a bullet proof marketing plan? What do you believe are the top ways to market your business? I am not a mortgage broker but I definitely would begin doing some research and develop a plan. For example, I... Continue Reading Posted at 7:10 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Are the Undocumented a Market? Taffy Wagner August 11, 2006 As I was reading this article titled, “Undocumented untapped market for US mortgage lenders,” various thoughts ran through my mind. Yes, there are undocumented immigrants in the and they should become a citizen. Can we see beyond the dollar signs?... Continue Reading Posted at 6:10 PM \| Permalink
	Fifth Mistake Mortgage Brokers Make Taffy Wagner August 11, 2006 I could see how this might happen: refusing to adapt to the marketplace. If the market is changing rapidly and you cannot keep up that is one thing. However, I would think as a mortgage broker, the person would realize... Continue Reading Posted at 5:08 PM \| Permalink
Aug10	American Dream for Misissippi Families Taffy Wagner August 10, 2006 Many people think about the American dream of homeownership. Yet, they find it difficult to obtain. There are different factors that keep people from homeownership such as lack of information, lack of downpayment, and even not understanding the entire process.... Continue Reading Posted at 1:50 PM \| Permalink
	Key Players in the Mortgage Process Taffy Wagner August 10, 2006 When you decide to purchase a home, there are a lot of players in the process. It is not just the buyer, seller and lender. There are a few more people than that. Take a look at this list: Buyer... Continue Reading Posted at 12:50 PM \| Permalink
	Mortgages being Sold Taffy Wagner August 10, 2006 Do you realize as a mortgage broker that there are times when mortgages are resold to another loan servicing company? Can you imagine what this does to the consumer, especially if they are not notified! I imagine most times the... Continue Reading Posted at 12:50 PM \| Permalink
	Credit Reporting Agencies Taffy Wagner August 10, 2006 Credit reports are essential when it comes to a mortgage because interest rates are based on the credit score. There three major reporting agencies are TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. Everyone can get one free credit report from each agency once... Continue Reading Posted at 11:50 AM \| Permalink
	Fourth Mistake Brokers Make Taffy Wagner August 10, 2006 Basically if it is a deal that is worth millions of dollars why would they come to you? Sure you are all excited because it has even come across your desk. Let’s think about it, they already have a funder... Continue Reading Posted at 10:50 AM \| Permalink
	Foreclosures Worse by the End of the Year Taffy Wagner August 10, 2006 Yikes! Can you believe that this will potentially happen? I can believe this is going to happen. That would be because housing will reset and mortgage payments will increase. They can increase by as much as 20 percent. Of course,... Continue Reading Posted at 9:50 AM \| Permalink
	Applications Declined...Now Applications Increase Taffy Wagner August 10, 2006 Last week we discussed how the mortgage applications declined based on the current market. This week the applications are on the raise and that is based on the fact the interest rate did not change. I know that a lot... Continue Reading Posted at 8:57 AM \| Permalink
	Builders Seeing Oversupply Taffy Wagner August 10, 2006 What is happening in the housing market is affecting everyone. Housing builders are seeing more houses on the market for sale. I imagine this is because the number of houses that have returned to the market based on foreclosures, there is... Continue Reading Posted at 7:46 AM \| Permalink
Aug 9	Mortgage Payment Protection Plan Taffy Wagner August 9, 2006 I am not sure I was aware that this existed. Mortgage payment protection plan is in case you become unemployed, get sick and cannot pay your mortgage. This plan would help you pay your mortgage while you get back on... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink
	Denver's Housing Inventory Soared Taffy Wagner August 9, 2006 Once again when I sat down and was reading this story in The Denver Post, I was very surprised to see this story. As a matter of fact, I do not know why I was surprised because foreclosures are happening... Continue Reading Posted at 6:00 AM \| Permalink
	Mortgage Lenders Fund Record Loans - Who Would Have Known?? Taffy Wagner August 9, 2006 Based on all the information I have read in the last week, I found it surprise to read that “Mortgage Lenders Fund Record Loans.” What made these groups unique or special. After all everyone in the mortgage industry is probably... Continue Reading Posted at 5:09 AM \| Permalink
	Third Mistake Mortgage Brokers Make Taffy Wagner August 9, 2006 Forgetting to focus is the third mistake that mortgage brokers make according to an article I read. As far as I am concerned, that is a problem. That happens in a lot of areas and to a lot of people... Continue Reading Posted at 4:00 AM \| Permalink
	Credit Re-Cap Taffy Wagner August 9, 2006 This afternoon during our virtual book tour the discussion was about credit and the role of bad credit in relationships and when purchasing a house. Most people fall into bad credit because they have not been taught about managing money.... Continue Reading Posted at 4:00 AM \| Permalink
	Free Online Tool for New Home Buyers Taffy Wagner August 9, 2006 Yesterday I shared some links to various calculators. Little did I know that The Mortgage Toolbox had designed a more resourceful tool. Their tool allows consumers to find real answers about their home financing option. More and more people are... Continue Reading Posted at 3:03 AM \| Permalink
	Steps to a Mortgage Application Taffy Wagner August 9, 2006 I remember very well when we got ready to do the mortgage application there was a lot of documentation required. Documents required are proof of income – pay stubs, copy of income tax forms as well as W-2, bank statements,... Continue Reading Posted at 2:00 AM \| Permalink
	Rates Stay the Same Taffy Wagner August 9, 2006 Hooray! Even though there was a meeting today at the Fed Reserve regarding interest rate, the rates did not change. Everyone was waiting with baited breath because of what has been happening in the market. Rising rates, increased foreclosures and... Continue Reading Posted at 1:00 AM \| Permalink
Aug 8	Mortgage Calculators Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 In my opinion, I think you need to have a good mortgage calculator before you purchase a house. This will enable you to realistically guestimmate when it comes to a mortgage as well as looking at points, or interest only... Continue Reading Posted at 10:30 PM \| Permalink
	Home Buying for Women Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 Growing up in a single parent household, I know that there are single women who believe that they would not be able to afford a house. That is not necessarily true. It is just a fact of looking at their... Continue Reading Posted at 9:45 PM \| Permalink
	AttenHut Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 At ease. There is mortgage-lender boot camp. Basic training. Being ex-military when I think of basic training, my mind goes to discipline, instruction and a time of learning the rules. I imagine the same could be said for the mortgage... Continue Reading Posted at 9:45 PM \| Permalink
	Drying Up in the Desert Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 Supposedly Las Vegas Valley home sales are drying up. I must say I am very surprised that I was in Las Vegas about two months ago and there was a lot of new home building going up. Partially that said... Continue Reading Posted at 8:45 PM \| Permalink
	Experience in Mortgage Industry Counts Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 Lisa Caravella whose had more than 17 years of specialized experience in relocation and mortgage industry has been appointed by Countrywide as Executive Vice President in its relocation and corporate division benefits. I believe it is crucial to have someone... Continue Reading Posted at 7:45 PM \| Permalink
	Lead Generator for Mortgage Industry Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 By now you know being in the mortgage industry can be tough. Why? It is a very competitive field. One of the most important factors is getting clients. If you have not mastered a way to get clients, then you... Continue Reading Posted at 6:45 PM \| Permalink
	Online Consumer Gets Top Spot Second Time This Year Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 One thing the title says to me is E-Loan knows what it is doing. E-Loan which is an online consumer direct lender, received the highest overall rating for online best practices implementation in the Keynote Systems: Web Excellence Q3 2006... Continue Reading Posted at 5:45 PM \| Permalink
	More Technology for Mortgage Industry Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 Pricing and accuracy are key components in the mortgage industry. These two factors can also be very crucial if incorrect. It can be the difference between closing a deal and the deal being delayed for days because of incorrect information.... Continue Reading Posted at 4:48 PM \| Permalink
	Virtual Book Tour Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 I wanted to share with you that yours truly and Bettye Jamerson, a fellow KMM author are launching The Virtuous Woman Virtual Book Tour beginning on August 8 – 10, 2006. During this tour we will be discussing communication as a... Continue Reading Posted at 2:29 AM \| Permalink
	Another Mistake by Mortgage Brokers Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 As a mortgage broker you should be aware of the mistakes that are common so that you can avoid them. Also if you know what the common ones are, you should be able to help a colleague from making them... Continue Reading Posted at 1:27 AM \| Permalink
	More Terms to Know Taffy Wagner August 8, 2006 Here are some more terms that you should be aware of: 80/10/10 - A structured mortgage where the buyer places a 10% down payment on a home and takes a home equity loan on that amount. The result is a... Continue Reading Posted at 12:24 AM \| Permalink
Aug 7	Loose Change Pays Off Mortgage Taffy Wagner August 7, 2006 I could not resist talking about this story. How many of you collect loose change? My hand is raised. I keep all the loose change that I have in my purse and put it in a jar. Then I dump... Continue Reading Posted at 11:50 PM \| Permalink
	Mortgage Brokers and Mistakes??? Taffy Wagner August 7, 2006 Can mortgage brokers make mistakes? According to Joseph Mardesich, president of National Apartment Finance there are common mistakes but there are steps you can take to implement corrections. I will share what the top mistake at this time and continue... Continue Reading Posted at 11:20 PM \| Permalink
	Housing Services of Chicago Partners with a Corporation Taffy Wagner August 7, 2006 More and more days everyone is realizing just how serious the housing market is and how much people do not understand what they are getting themselves into. New Century Financial Corporation helps revitalize Chicago ’s Auburn-Gresham Community. They will be... Continue Reading Posted at 10:50 PM \| Permalink
	Foreclosures All Around - Next Move? Taffy Wagner August 7, 2006 I have to admit this is quite a hot topic no matter where you read. I read this story titled “Just say no to foreclosure.” Many people all over the world are facing foreclosures and they need help and do... Continue Reading Posted at 10:30 PM \| Permalink
	Credit Score Paints a Picture Taffy Wagner August 7, 2006 As a mortgage broker or mortgage lender, the one of the first items if not the first item you should check of a potential client is their credit score. Of course you should only check it with their permission. The... Continue Reading Posted at 9:57 PM \| Permalink
	Puzzled Mortgage Holders Taffy Wagner August 7, 2006 As a mortgage banker or mortgage broker, how many times have you seen a puzzled potential homeowner come into your office? Often times when people are buying homes, they have a lot of questions but are afraid to ask for... Continue Reading Posted at 8:58 PM \| Permalink
	Tips for Potential Home Owners Taffy Wagner August 7, 2006 One of the items that home owners should be aware of is home mortgage interest. Why you ask? Because home mortgage interest is deductible up to $1 million worth of mortgages used to acquire or improve your main personal property... Continue Reading Posted at 8:10 PM \| Permalink
	Foreclosed Property Investment or Not? Taffy Wagner August 7, 2006 If you are a mortgage broker or lender and someone asked you if investing in a foreclosed property was a good idea, what would your response be? Think about it with all the foreclosed properties on the market, could you... Continue Reading Posted at 7:34 PM \| Permalink
Aug 4	Are Students Prepared to Purchase Houses? Taffy Wagner August 4, 2006 Student tuition has gone up, student loan rates went up and everyone is feeling the crunch. When students graduate from college, they think about securing employment and possibly housing. I remember when I graduated from college one of my main... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 PM \| Permalink
	Home Buyer Beware!! Taffy Wagner August 4, 2006 If you are a mortgage broker or mortgage lender and decided to give a seminar with that title, what do you think would happen? Would people come to the seminar out of curiosity or fear? I would think you as... Continue Reading Posted at 10:30 PM \| Permalink
	Tools to Assist For Sale Buy Owners Taffy Wagner August 4, 2006 I remember when we decided to sale our first house on our own because the market was good at that time. We believed our home would sale rather quickly and it did not before we moved into our other home.... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 PM \| Permalink
	Marketing Real Estate on the Internet Taffy Wagner August 4, 2006 Technology is driving many industries, so I should not surprise anyone that real estate is going virtual as well. One of the main things that I found interesting was that when we were selling our house, that we could list... Continue Reading Posted at 9:30 PM \| Permalink
	Opportunity as a Self-Employed Consultant Taffy Wagner August 4, 2006 There comes a time in everyone’s life when they are tired of working for someone else and want to be on their own. What usually gets a person to that point? Is it years of dedication and lack of appreciation?... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 PM \| Permalink
	Rent or Buy???? Taffy Wagner August 4, 2006 Let’s say you have a client straddling the fence. They are presently renting and would love to own a home; however, based on the current market they are not sure about purchasing a home. What do you do? Is your... Continue Reading Posted at 8:30 PM \| Permalink
	Expansion Occurs in my own Backyard Taffy Wagner August 4, 2006 Imagine my surprise this morning when I read that Cherry Creek Mortgage Co is expanding while others are shrinking in this mortgage market. They just bought Premier Mortgage which is based in Greenwood Village . I would not be surprised... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 PM \| Permalink
	Educate The Buyer Taffy Wagner August 4, 2006 If you are a mortgage lender or even a mortgage broker, do you believe your top priority is to educate the buyer? Every day there are more stories in the media of foreclosure and mortgage fraud. I believe it is... Continue Reading Posted at 7:35 PM \| Permalink
Aug 3	One Company Selling Another Part of Its Company Taffy Wagner August 3, 2006 KeyCorp based in Cleveland is considering selling its Champion Mortgage subprime lending subsidiary. Could this be based on everything that is happening with the mortgage industry, they believe they are losing money? Has KeyCorp shifted its focus based on what... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 PM \| Permalink
	Fastest Increase in 14 Years - This Time It Is California Taffy Wagner August 3, 2006 Everyone must continue to remain knowledgeable about purchasing a house. Foreclosure activity in California increased at the fastest rate in at least 14 years during the second quarter. That tells me that people are in trouble with higher interest rates,... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 PM \| Permalink
	Business expands in the Mortgage Industry Taffy Wagner August 3, 2006 As the market shifts in the mortgage industry, more companies are joining forces to create a better situation for everyone involved. Today it is Bradford Mortgage that is joining with ACM. Bradford Mortgage is already a full-service mortgage bank, who... Continue Reading Posted at 9:20 PM \| Permalink
	Changes in the Housing Market Taffy Wagner August 3, 2006 Every day there is a lot of news regarding the housing market, whether you are a mortgage lender, mortgage broker, mortgage banker and now a home builder. Home builders in Orlando on Wednesday were wanted that the industry will remain... Continue Reading Posted at 8:50 PM \| Permalink
	Chase Come on Down Taffy Wagner August 3, 2006 Chase is the next company to cut 170 jobs. They are cutting jobs in their Milwaukee home mortgage and home equity loan collections area by February 2007. It is apparent that no one is immune from having to reduce and... Continue Reading Posted at 8:20 PM \| Permalink
	"Mortgage Mechanic" becomes a Team Member Taffy Wagner August 3, 2006 The title says it all. I do not know Bob Tefft but the fact that he is known as the “Mortgage Mechanic” tells me he is well versed in the area of mortgages and breaks it down in lamens terms... Continue Reading Posted at 7:50 PM \| Permalink
	New Technology for Lenders and Mortgage Servicers Taffy Wagner August 3, 2006 Loan Protector Insurance Services, a leading independent provider of customizable lender-placed insurance programs for lenders and mortgage servicers, announces new features to Easy Place and Easy Track. Technology is always being changed or upgraded and it seems that is what... Continue Reading Posted at 7:20 PM \| Permalink
	Demand for Home Loans hit a Four Year Low Taffy Wagner August 3, 2006 If you are like me and have been watching your own neighborhood, you would wonder if there was a demand for home loans. I say this because there are many properties for sale in our neighborhood. Yet right across the... Continue Reading Posted at 6:55 PM \| Permalink
Aug 2	Mortgage Professionals Taffy Wagner August 2, 2006 There are many mortgage companies out there. Sure some companies are alike and there are some unique aspects from other companies that set them apart from others. How do you find out about different companies? Do you contact the different... Continue Reading Posted at 11:50 PM \| Permalink
	Housing Initiative Taffy Wagner August 2, 2006 Everyone has heard of the American Dream but may not be able to attain it for one reason or another. More and more people need to understand that they can afford the American Dream at an affordable price. Vermont Housing... Continue Reading Posted at 11:30 PM \| Permalink
	Law Enforcement is Taxed Taffy Wagner August 2, 2006 Mortgage fraud is happening all over the world. It does not matter what state you are in believe me it is happening. Law enforcement people that are in the position of handling mortgage fraud and holding people accountable are being... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 PM \| Permalink
	Another Hand reaches out to help Homeowners Taffy Wagner August 2, 2006 I am very excited when organizations or individuals step up to help one another. I applaud Pro-Home, Inc. for stepping up to help homeowners facing foreclosure get through the path of crisis. Every day, someone is not able to pay... Continue Reading Posted at 10:30 PM \| Permalink
	JUMBO Loan Taffy Wagner August 2, 2006 I had not ever heard of this term before. When I hear the word “jumbo” that means big to me. Bigger than what you would expect I would say. If you need to borrow more than $417,000 for your home,... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 PM \| Permalink
	One company acquires another leads to win-win Taffy Wagner August 2, 2006 Shearson Home Loan Signs an agreement to acquire Allstate Funding and it is a win-win for both. That is a nice way for business to be done where everybody wins. Both of these organizations have a total combined mortgage loan... Continue Reading Posted at 9:31 PM \| Permalink
	Home Buying Fever is Here Taffy Wagner August 2, 2006 What is the one thing that usually happens when the kids get out of school? People think of moving if they were waiting until the end of the school year. They begin driving around to new home developments to see... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 PM \| Permalink
	Home Equity Line Not as Easy as Before Taffy Wagner August 2, 2006 At one time a home equity line was a practical way of doing remodeling, paying for education or even paying off debt. Not that I would have used a home equity line for paying off debt but that was an... Continue Reading Posted at 8:38 PM \| Permalink
Aug 1	Lack of Security Online Taffy Wagner August 1, 2006 When you fill out information online, have you ever thought about the security of your information? Even if you were completing an online survey, did you ever think about the wrong person receiving your information? I have often looked to... Continue Reading Posted at 4:59 PM \| Permalink
	US Lender in 50 States Taffy Wagner August 1, 2006 Did you just win the lottery and decided to buy a villa in Rome ? You go to a mortgage banker in Washington, D.C. You share with the banker what has happened and what you would like to do. The... Continue Reading Posted at 3:59 PM \| Permalink
	Sales Leads Taffy Wagner August 1, 2006 Numbers is the name of the game when you are in sales. I imagine as a mortgage broker, you have to have a method of getting your clients? Is it referral business, do you send newsletters to a certain demographic... Continue Reading Posted at 2:59 PM \| Permalink
	Fraud City Workshops Taffy Wagner August 1, 2006 I have to admit I believe having fraud prevention workshops is necessary. It seems every time I was doing research on the internet in the last couple of weeks, there were more stories about fraud in the mortgage business than... Continue Reading Posted at 1:59 PM \| Permalink
	Affordable Million Dollar Properties Taffy Wagner August 1, 2006 If you are in the real estate or mortgage business, have you ever thought about trying to get a client into a million dollar property? Do you know of prospective clients that would be interested in a million dollar property? ... Continue Reading Posted at 12:59 PM \| Permalink

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