by Irene Moustakas | Sep 24, 2008 | General Market News
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson are set to testify to the federal government for their $700 billion bailout plan. They’re trying to sell the plan and get it approved so that our federal government will BUY all the bad loans that...
by Irene Moustakas | Sep 23, 2008 | Industry News, Loan Programs and Products
This is unfortunate news that came quickly and unexpectedly. CalHFA is a state-specific governmental agency that helps first time homebuyers get into their first home via down payment assistance programs and other solutions. CalHFA has been instrumental in helping...
by Irene Moustakas | Sep 18, 2008 | Tips
In this credit crunch, lending is becoming much more credit-driven and minimum required credit scores of 680+ or 700+ are the norm. Your goal should be to get in the 700 range, but the higher the better. (Credit scores range from 350-850, 850 being the highest one can...
by Irene Moustakas | Sep 17, 2008 | General Market News
What a week so far in the financial sector… Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy, Bank of America saved Merrill Lynch from bankruptcy by acquiring it and AIG was bailed out by the federal government. These are huge, far-reaching global investment companies and...
by Irene Moustakas | Sep 11, 2008 | Rates, Tips
Every once in a while, a new client or referral will tell me that they saw rates that were lower than what I may be quoting. I appreciate having this conversation because I’m given an opportunity to tell them why. Not why the rates I’m quoting may be...
by Irene Moustakas | Sep 9, 2008 | Rates
The Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac takeover has proved excellent for interest rates. I’m quoting my clients about a half a percent less than I was just 1 week ago on any given loan product. Both national and foreign investors are buying mortgage bonds in full force...
by Irene Moustakas | Sep 7, 2008 | Industry News
It was announced on Sunday, September 7th that the federal government is officially taking control of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a manner of “conservatorship” and that they will be regulated by the newly-created Federal Housing Finance Agency...
by Irene Moustakas | Sep 5, 2008 | General Market News
Interest rates this week improved due to weak retail sales and disappointing unemployment figures. Mortgage interest rates move depending on how the overall economy is doing and react to economic reports that come out on a regular basis. A general rule of thumb is...
by Irene Moustakas | Sep 2, 2008 | Industry News
The credit crunch is making everything harder, interest rates more expensive, lenders much stricter and loans harder to come by. With this credit crunch comes the Home Valuation Code of Conduct, a new Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rule that will be implemented in January...
by Irene Moustakas | Aug 25, 2008 | Tips
I had a meeting with a client the other day and we were discussing credit reports and how many pieces of junk mail he receives from credit card companies soliciting him to open up new credit cards. Obviously he’s on some list (or lists) because, if you’re not aware,...