I was approached by these folks a few weeks ago via email. I attempted to get them to write up the experience themselves (and I would still like you to if you’re reading this), but I wanted to write something about this before I completely forgot about it. This whole exchange is indicative of games …
Category Archives: Mortgages
Buying off a Prepayment Penalty
Been reading some of your informative tips. I am looking at refinancing and getting a $378000 mortgage. Now in the case of having a 3 yr prepay penalty, vs paying 1.5% in points to make it a 1 yr prepay, am i right in assuming it’s wiser for me to pay the points than accept …
Biweekly Mortgage Spam
Sometimes spam makes writing an article all too easy. Here is a piece of spam I got today because my email at work contains “realestate.com”, with identifying information taken out. This goes to show that the financial ignorance of most mortgage providers is astounding. Thank you for your interest in the X Broker Program. Our …
Not Becoming a Victim of Bad Real Estate Practice
This woman made herself a victim stayed in a hotel for 7 weeks looking for my “Dream Home.” And, when I found it, even though it wasn’t in my price range, I knew I would do anything I could to get it. I was vulnerable, emotional and became a victim. Actually, that is not quite …
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Virtues of the Housing and Mortgage Market in the US
The scope of the problems that exist in the United States Mortgage market are huge. Enormously, mind-bogglingly, “How Big Is Space?” type huge. Yet, the problems are almost entirely on a retail level, when one provider works with one consumer. The system works, and it works extremely well. Consider: Most consumers in Europe or any …
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Why You Should Ignore APR
One of the things you get with every mortgage loan quote is an APR, or Annual Percentage Rate. There is even its own special form, the federal Truth-In-Lending (TILA) form. This was mandated by congress back in the early 1970s as a way to give consumers some way to compare between competing loans of equal …
The Searchlight Crusade Mission
(Mild language warning applies, but nothing you can’t say in prime time broadcast TV) When I was twelve years old, my uncle Robert introduced me to the writings of John Masters. John Masters was an officer in the Indian part of the British Army in the waning days of the Raj, starting in 1934 and …
Credit Reports and Credit Score Manipulations
I’ve been to two conferences this week. The stuff for the other one is more important and is going to have to simmer for a little while longer before I’m ready to write an article on it, but the other is a “direct from the providers” seminar on credit reports and credit scores. Some of …
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Credit Lines, Number and Length of Time Open
from an email: On a related note, I hope you might have some advice for us. My husband and I just sold our condo. But we are NOT buying at the moment. Instead we are renting. (Not sure where we are going to be 6 months out and buying does not sound like a good …
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One Loan versus Two Loans
One of the questions we ask all the time is whether to do your financing as one loan or two loans. Until comparatively recently, one loan was the default option, but people have been learning that splitting their home financing up into two loans can save them significant amounts of money. There is significant resistance …