by Irene Moustakas | May 3, 2022 | Uncategorized
Every year, the esteemed Scotsman Guide honors the nation’s top-producing residential mortgage originators. This year, I am graciously excited to receive the 2022 Scotsman Guide Top Originators Award! I qualified as a top mortgage broker, by most loans closed, and by...
by Irene Moustakas | Mar 28, 2022 | Uncategorized
California voters voted “yes” to Proposition 19 in November 2020, but there is an active petition to repeal it; if you are interested in adding your signature and are a Santa Clara County voter, please reach out to me by April 8th. I believe that most voters read the...
by Irene Moustakas | Mar 7, 2022 | Uncategorized
Just in the past week, I have had two clients approach me to check on interest rates and if refinancing makes sense since they now have an influx of cash from a rental property sale. For both of them, their goal was to pay down their primary home’s mortgage with the...
by Irene Moustakas | Jan 19, 2022 | Uncategorized
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has announced that pricing of interest rates for vacation homes and high balance loans will be increasing. The implementation date of these increases will be April 1, 2022, which means lenders are starting to roll the...
by Irene Moustakas | Jan 13, 2022 | Uncategorized
Well, we knew it wouldn’t last forever. Rates in the high 1% (10 or 15 Year Fixed) and 2% range quickly have become a thing of the past. There are two main reasons for this: Rising InflationThe Federal Reserve started tapering its mortgage stimulus program, with the...
by Irene Moustakas | Jun 28, 2021 | Uncategorized
Have you tried to refinance in the past year or so into historically low interest rates, but did not get approved because you didn’t qualify due to low income? It’s so disheartening to know you can save so much money, but don’t fit within...
by Irene Moustakas | May 20, 2021 | Uncategorized
Most people have heard of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and usually in conjunction with one another. And if you have ever received a home loan, it is highly likely that your loan is or was owned by one of these two government-sponsored enterprises. Fannie Mae and...
by Irene Moustakas | Aug 17, 2020 | Uncategorized
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac instituted a “refinance fee” of .5% in a surprise move last week. No one in the industry had any idea or warning that this was going to be implemented overnight. So this means that if you want to refinance, your loan will now...
by Irene Moustakas | May 5, 2020 | Uncategorized
As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the government has stipulated two important allowances in regards to your mortgage. Firstly, there is a moratorium on foreclosure proceedings, and secondly, you have the right to a forbearance...
by Irene Moustakas | Jan 22, 2020 | Uncategorized
Yes, you can! And in many cases, at least in the program that I am highlighting here, it is treated as an owner-occupied loan, even though your parents will be the ones living there. This means you get a better interest rate and qualify for lower down payment...