by Irene Moustakas | Jan 20, 2009 | Loan Programs and Products
California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) is and has been an excellent option for first-time homebuyer financing. Unfortunately, it has been temporarily suspended. CalHFA provides its loans through state-issued bonds, but because of our state budget crisis, there are...
by Irene Moustakas | Jan 14, 2009 | General Market News, Industry News
I wrote a blog post on this subject in September. To get a better understanding of its foundation, see my previous post: http://loansbyireneblog.com/2008/09/02/for-better-or-for-worse-new-appraisal-process-come-january-2009/ Essentially, the Home Valuation Code of...
by Irene Moustakas | Jan 12, 2009 | Business Promotion, Miscellaneous
Hello! Please remember that you can subscribe to my blog using the link to the right. Subscribing allows you to receive updated blog entries directly in your email inbox. You will not get spammed nor solicited in any way. Please let me know if you have any questions...
by Irene Moustakas | Jan 8, 2009 | General Market News, Industry News, Rates
Interest rates are incredible, but I want to point out some recent limitations to these excellent rates. Normally, in terms of points vs. no points vs. no points/no fees, interest rates tend to work in .25% increments. For example, you would be quoted in the following...
by Irene Moustakas | Jan 4, 2009 | Miscellaneous, Tips
Many homeowners are getting that letter in the mail – the one that states how home values in the area have dropped and they are freezing your equityline. Other homeowners have gotten notices that their equityline is officially closed. When your equityline is frozen....
by Irene Moustakas | Dec 29, 2008 | Business Promotion
When new clients and referrals ask me for an interest quote, I have a quick series of questions that I ask them. If you’re seeking a quote, you’ll get the same from me, so I wanted to list them here: What is the current loan balance, interest rate and monthly payment...
by Irene Moustakas | Dec 23, 2008 | Industry News, Tips
In this low interest rate environment, we have an opportunity to buy and refinance at some amazing rate levels. I last saw such low rates in 2003, but we are now in a completely different lending landscape. Lenders are very cautious of who they are lending to and want...
by Irene Moustakas | Dec 3, 2008 | Loan Programs and Products, Miscellaneous
We all know how the concept of risk and return in our financial lives normally works … the more risk you take on, the greater your potential profit (or loss) can be. The less risk, the less you can potentially make (or lose). In “normal” markets,...
by Irene Moustakas | Dec 1, 2008 | General Market News, Industry News, Rates
GREAT news: The Federal Reserve announced last week that it would buy $600 billion worth of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Mortgage-Backed Securities. With the guarantee that the government will buy these mortgages, rates dipped dramatically. This action by the Fed will...
by Irene Moustakas | Nov 20, 2008 | General Market News, Industry News
The Fed Minutes from the October meeting were released yesterday, and the hot topic was the concern over deflation. This news caused stocks to tumble and investors to pour their money into the security of Treasury Notes. Generally, the Fed has two jobs: the first is...