Apr

16

Making a 13th Mortgage Payment in a Year

Posted In: First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage & Finance

I had a recent client inquire as to whether it was good to make an extra mortgage payment a year, or make them bi-weekly.  Here is a good article that talks about both: http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/DrDon/20060731a1.asp

Mar

17

New FHA Lending Limits- Increased!

Posted In: Mortgage & Finance

The FHA loan limits are as follows: 1-unit $729,750 2-unit $934,200 3-unit $1,129,250 4-unit $1,403,400

Mar

09

Mortgage Assistance, First Time Homebuyers, Berkeley, Oakland, Alameda County

Posted In: First Time Home Buyers, Mortgage & Finance

http://www.oaklandnet.com/government/hcd/loansgrants/homebuyers.html

Mar

06

Housing Snapshot: Seven Bay Area Counties: February 2009

Posted In: Local Market Statistics, Mortgage & Finance, Uncategorized

Mar

05

Rate Watch 3/5/09

Posted In: Mortgage & Finance, Uncategorized

30 Year Fixed Conforming: 5.375%/5.411%APR 30 Year Fixed Agency-Jumbo: 5.625%/5.742%APR 15 Year Fixed Agency-Jumbo: 5.000%/5.194%APR 5 Year Fixed Conforming (1 Point): 4.375%/4.483%APR 5 Year Fixed Int.Only Conforming (1 Point): 4.490%/4.502%APR

Feb

18

Details from the Stim Plan

Posted In: First Time Home Buyers, General Real Estate News, Mortgage & Finance, Taxes

Just signed into effect…thanks go out to Chet Gohd, RPM Mortgage in Berkeley, for helping to navigate through the details.  Here is what matters to you: “There’s a nice windfall for some homebuyers in the economic stimulus bill awaiting President Obama’s signature on Tuesday. First-time buyers can claim a credit worth $8,000 – or 10% of the home’s value, whichever [...]

Feb

12

Investor Mortgage Programs

Posted In: Investing, Mortgage & Finance

This just in from Chet Gohd, mortgage broker extraordinaire, and owner of RPM Mortgage in Berkeley. “I’ve just heard some exciting news and thought I’d pass it along. Fannie Mae, who buys most of the loans which are placed up to $625,500, has just announced that they will be lifting the restrictions for Investor buyers. Currently, there is a maximum [...]

Jan

28

Rate Watch For The Week of 1/26/09

Posted In: Mortgage & Finance

  CONFORMING (under $417k) 30 Year Fixed, No Points    5.125% 30 Year Fixed, 1 Point        4.75% 30 Year Fixed, 2 Points      4.25% 5 Year Fixed, No Points     5.25% 5 Year Fixed, 1 Point         5.0% 5 Year Fixed, 2 Points       4.75% 7 Year Fixed, No Points     5.375% 7 Year Fixed, 1 Point         4.125% 7 Year Fixed, 2 Points       4.875% CONFORMING JUMBO ($417k – $625k) 30 [...]

Jan

13

Rate Watch for the week of Jan. 12

Posted In: First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, General Real Estate News, Mortgage & Finance

Fixed rates, no points.  Adjustable rates, 1 point 30 Year Fixed Conforming: 5.125%/5.161%APR 30 Year Fixed Agency-Jumbo: 5.625%/5.650%APR 5 Year Fixed Conforming (1 Point): 5.375%/4.361%APR 5 Year Fixed Int. Only Conforming (1 Point): 5.000%/4.298%APR 5 Year Fixed Int. Only Jumbo (1 Point): 5.750%/4.618%APR

Jan

10

Contra Costa County Homeowner Repair Loans

Posted In: El Cerrito, General Real Estate News, Home Improvement, Home Maintenance, Kensington, Mortgage & Finance, Richmond

          Did you know that there are programs out there to help low-income homeowners fix up their homes?  In Contra Costa County there is a program called the Neighborhood Preservation Program which is operated by the CCC Building Inspection Department.  The program, created in 1975, makes loans to very-low and low-income homeowners to help fix up [...]