by Irene Moustakas | Feb 11, 2009 | 1st Time Homebuyers, Tips
Many home buyers take a look at their proposed total homeowner payment responsibilities (mortgage, property taxes, insurance and Mortgage Insurance, if applicable), and think, “There’s no way I can make that payment; I barely have enough take-home pay from...
by Irene Moustakas | Feb 4, 2009 | 1st Time Homebuyers, Industry News, Loan Programs and Products, Tips
I received a lot of additional questions to my January 26th post regarding the 5% down payment option, so I would like to go over down payment requirements for other property types and loan amounts. The following is limited to conventional loans. Down payment...
by Irene Moustakas | Jan 30, 2009 | Loan Programs and Products, Tips
I’ve received many calls recently from referrals and new clients asking about refinancing out of their ARM and into a Fixed Rate Mortgage. Depending on the value of their house, their credit score and qualifying, sometimes I can help them, sometimes I can’t. But...
by Irene Moustakas | Jan 26, 2009 | 1st Time Homebuyers, Industry News, Loan Programs and Products, Tips
UPDATED JANUARY 13, 2010: Please refer to my most recent post regarding minimum down payment requirements. They are based on loan amount range as well as property type....
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 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...