Dog Park Proposed for Urbandale!

May 29, 2008

Dogs.  I love them.  They have nothing to do with mortgages, but since I love them – I’m going to tell you about the city of Urbandale’s proposal.  Since Urbandale is a part of the greater Des Moines area, this is good stuff to know.  I grew up in Urbandale and love the community.  Ok, […]

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Underwriting Changes That WILL Effect You!

May 28, 2008

What in the World Are You Talking About Tyler???     I’m sure you won’t be surprised when I say that Fannie Mae has decided to (again) tighten their underwriting criteria.  Starting June 1st, 2008 they will begin underwriting loans with DU (standing for Desktop Underwriter) version 7.0.  I wanted to give you a quick update of what […]

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Will Your Credit Cost You?

May 27, 2008

    Who Cares? It’s not just banks and lenders that rely on credit scores to help make important credit decisions. Nowadays landlords, employers, insurance companies, and even cell phone and other utility companies all reportedly utilize credit scores to decide how they treat relationships with potential customers. This means that your credit is the […]

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A Jam Packed and Short News Week

May 26, 2008

  It’s important to recognize that advice is extremely valuable when looking for a mortgage.  The right advice can literally save you thousands of dollars, while the wrong advice can cost you the same.  I’m talking on this subject because too often when we’re asking the wrong questions when shopping around. The first thing you’ve got to have your antenna up on is […]

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Rent or Buy? Tax Advantages.

May 23, 2008

Gotta Pay the Bills It’s staggering when you think about the cost of living, especially if you’re a renter and not a home owner. If you are currently paying $1,000 a month for rented housing, then over the next three years, your property management company will effectively have reaped $36,000 of your hard earned cash! […]

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Des Moines, Iowa – Real Estate Market Watch – Week of May 12th, 2008

May 22, 2008

I’m a fan of having as much information available before I take action on any big decisions.  I don’t know about you, but I think buying or selling a home is a pretty big deal.   As a blogger, when I receive good information – I pass it on.  Home listings and sales are an […]

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Don’t Be a Trigger Lead

May 21, 2008

So What’s a Trigger Lead? It’s no surprise that the major credit bureaus sell your personal information. One new form they’ve figured out how to make money is known as a “trigger lead”. A trigger lead is acquired when you apply for a home loan. As soon as your credit is pulled for pre-qualification, you’re […]

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What’s In a Cap Rate?

May 20, 2008

Have you heard the term Cap Rate?  Maybe by the water cooler?  Maybe in an investment book?  Maybe on a late night sales commercial?  Have you ever wondered what it means or how reliable it is?   When buying an investment property, investors often consider the cap rate.  Often it serves as a part of […]

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Declining Markets Rule, Gone.

May 19, 2008

The Not So Distant Past Did you hear about the Declining Market’s Policy that Fannie Mae came up with in December?  Hunker down.. It wasn’t very sexy!  In brief: If your home (or the home you’re purchasing) falls into an area that Fannie Mae considered a declining market, they would reduce the maximum amount they […]

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Get Your Check Yet?

May 19, 2008

Remember that stimulus plan?  The one that was going to get you an extra $300-$1,200 or more? Millions of Americans have received their check already.  If you’re one of the lucky ones (like me) that haven’t, yet, you may be wondering when to expect it and how much to expect.  Here’s what you need to […]

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