Jumbo Loans aka a Jumbo Mortgage

What is a Jumbo Loan?

A jumbo loan is a non-conventional loan that agencies such as FHLMC and FNMA, will not buy and trade due to the loans cost. When lender offers a mortgage loan, they normally do not keep the mortgage for the duration of the loan. They sell the loan on the secondary market to agencies such as FHLMC and FNMA.

Jumbo loans were designed to help people with high incomes afford homes in higher price range. Whether it be a luxury home or a smaller home in a higher end neighborhood. With home prices rising more middle-income Americans have turned to Jumbo loans to purchase their dream homes.  

a.k.a. "Jumbo Mortgage"

The pro's of a Jumbo Loan

- You need the money, you get the money

- No need for multiple loans

- Variety of different Jumbo loan programs

- Dropping interest rates

- Easier to apply for

- Refinancing can bring huge savings

- Special offers from banks & lenders

The con's of Jumbo Loan

- HIGHER interest rates

- More difficult to get

The bottom line is that if you are considering a jumbo mortgage loan, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

As with any major purchase, weigh your options, both the pros and cons to ensure you make a well informed decision for your loan. 

Pre-approved!!

What is pre-approval?
 It is a written commitment from the lender (The Mortgage Firm) stating that the borrower (you) qualify for a particular loan amount based on your credit information and income.

Why?
There are many reasons to get pre-approved. The most important reason for accurate idea of how much you can afford. This will ensure that you only look at houses that are truly in your price range. A pre-approval letter is essential in a competitive real estate market. If you make an offer on a house without a pre-approval the seller will not take your offer as seriously as someone who has been pre-approved. This means you could lose out on your dream house.

**Most bank owned homes will require a pre-approval letter 
from the lender before accepting the offer**

How do you get pre-approved?

First contact your lender (me) 

You will need to provide:

• W2 from the past two years
• Your pay stubs for the past 2 months
• Your tax returns for the past 2 years
• Your checking and savings account statements for the past two months
• Your statements for all other assets for the last two month
• Current mortgage statement or contact information for current landlord
• If you are self-employed: you will also nee your business tax returns for the past two years as well as your year-to-date profit and loss statement with a balance sheet
• As your lender I will also need to pull a current credit report for you and the co-borrower.
• If you are divorces, separated, or paying child support or alimony- documentation will be needed

We will analyze your credit report for any red flags, the credit score will affect your ability to qualify for a loan, as well as the rate your can get. A score above 720 will get the most favorable rates. 

What happens if you are denied?

This just means that you have some work to do. Three most common ways:

1. Correct the errors that may have been discovered in your credit report
2. Decrease the debt and improve your debt to income ratio
3. Increase your down payment amount in order to qualify for the price of the home you want

What NOT to do after you have been pre-approved

• Do Not apply for a new credit card
• Do Not make any major purchases
• Do Not pay off all debt
• Do Not co-sign any loans
• Do Not change jobs
• Do Not ignore your lenders requests
• DO keep a paper trail of all deposits
• DO stay current on existing accounts
• Do Discuss seller 

For more information specific to your situation is available, just a phone call away! 

Federal Housing Administration (FHA)

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is a United States government agency as part of the 
National Housing Act of 1934. 

The goals were:

• To improve the housing standards& provide home financing through insurance of mortgage loans 
• Stabilize the mortgage market. 

4 out of 10 of the American population were renters
The new practices allowed a number of people who could afford the down payment and monthly payments.

When the FHA was first introduced to Americans, the industry was "flat on it's back".
Over 2 million construction workers were without jobs.
The terms for those who were seeking a mortgage were difficult to meet.

1965: It became part of the Department of Housing & Urban Development Office, aka HUD. 

1940's: The FHA helped finance military housing and homes for the  veterans returning from the war. 

1950's & 1960's: helped spark production of million of privately owned apartments for elderly and handicapped,as well as lower income Americans. 

1970's: Thousands of apartment building were struggling to survive, the FHA's emergency financing kept troubled properties a float. 

1980's: Home prices were on a steady decrease & the possibilities for potential home buyers to get financing they needed during the recession.

2001: Nations home ownership rate has soared to an all time high of 68.1%

The FHA insures the loan so the lender will offer a better deal!

The government insures FHA Loans, making the home the collateral and giving lenders protection against default.

Who is eligible?

• First-time Home-buyers
• Low Income Households
• Low Credit Scores
• Poor Credit History
• Bankruptcy
• $0 Out of pocket cash

The Advantages to FHA?

• Smaller down payment (3%)
• Lower Costs & closing cost can be included in mortgage
• Easier to qualify
• Flexible Credit Guidelines
• No income requirements

Tip for First Time Home Buyers- By making your FHA Loan payments on time, you are building your credit and equity, you'll have the option to refinance into a conventional loan, with even better rates and NO MORTGAGE INSURANCE.

"Take the first step to home ownership and contact me for more information about 

FHA Loans!

             

VA Loans, are you eligible?

Here are the basic eligibility requirements for a VA Loan:

¨ 90 days or more active duty service during wartime

¨ 181 days or more of active duty during peacetime

¨ You were not dishonorably discharged

¨ You are active duty and meet the above requirements

¨ You are the surviving spouse of a veteran who died during service or 

    because of service-related injuries and you have not remarried

(If you're a reservist, you will need six years of service and an honorable discharge - OR - if you've been deployed for 90 days or more in a combat zone, then you will be eligible for a VA Loan)

Alright, so we have established that you are eligible, but now comes the next question – Do you Qualify for a VA Loan? If you are confident that you'll have no problem qualifying for a VA Loan, then the next step is to get your Certificate of Eligibility, which you can obtain from the VA or your VA Loan Officer can obtain one for you as well. Credit You don't have to have great credit to qualify for a VA Loan. Lenders will vary on what they are looking for credit score-wise, but most require a 620 minimum score. Lenders are going to look at your last 12 months to make sure you've been timely with all your payments as well. One late payment won't disqualify you, but lenders want to know you are on top of your credit.  Income The VA wants you to not only have enough money to make your mortgage payment each month, but they want you to have money left over after everything has been paid as well. This is called your residual income and there is a minimum requirement depending upon your location and family size.  Employment The VA likes it when you are employed - it makes you an attractive borrower when they know you have steady income and it's been that way for 2 consecutive years. There are circumstances where VA will allow for less than 2 years, but you will need a good explanation and documentation to support it.  Bankruptcy If you've had one - don't fret, it's not the end of your VA quest - you just have to wait. VA requires that you're two years removed from a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy discharge and 1 year removed from a Chapter 13 discharge. Also, VA requires that you've had no late payments while paying off a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. *If you are confident that you'll have no problem qualifying for a VA Loan, then the next step is to get your Certificate of Eligibility, which you can obtain from the VA or your VA Loan Officer can obtain one for you as well.

Join Me!

I'm happy to announce a presentation focused to help professionals in the real estate industry brought to you by Digital Docs and Forever Marketing, Smart Title and Settlement Service, Inc., and The Mortgage Firm.  This cutting edge hyper-focused event is being put on to showcase the next generation of real estate closing and post closing marketing. The union of these three companies works out in every Realtor’s favor because of the unique benefits each company provides.

·         Digital Closing Docs with Forever Marketing - Created by real estate professionals, for real estate professionals. Digital Closing Docs with Forever Marketing provides you with automatic effective contact with past clients and repeat business—just by closing with Smart Title & Settlement Service Inc.

·         Smart Title and Settlement Service Inc. - Title orders have a 24 to 48 hour turnaround time. Providing nationwide coverage requires them to adhere to the individual state guidelines therefore each state has a different time schedule. Smart Title and Settlement Services Inc. has a network of notary closers and attorneys available day, night, & weekends. They close and disburse accurately and timely.

·         The Mortgage Firm - Suzanne Morton - The Mortgage Firm takes great pride in the ability to offer the most complete selection of financial options available. They are a full service mortgage banker with an experienced, knowledgeable staff who will work closely with you offering you both guidance and support in recommending mortgage solutions that meet your financial situation.

The skill and experience these professionals bring to any real estate transaction will help you close deals and provide repeat business down the road. Please join us for the presentation on April 17^th, 2013 at Slainte Irish Pub in Boynton Beach, Florida at 9:30 am for the presentation.

 

Wishing everyone a wonderful & safe Holiday Season and a Happy New Year! 

A Little Bit About Suzanne Morton of The Mortgage Firm

 

 

I believe in making ethical common-sense loans that benefit the customer, our real estate partners and our company.  I am here to select the best possible loan program for you and will guide you throughout the loan process.

 Being a mortgage originator is about building relationships, not just conducting a transaction.  My clients over the past 22 years have relied on my accountability and my ability to work effectively in obtaining the financing they desire either for a new home purchase, refinance or investment property.

I am proud to be a part of The Mortgage Firm which has been providing quality real estate financing since in 1995.  I enjoy being a part of a team where our sole focus is providing you the best experience possible and delivering your loan on-time with no surprises. 

I am also active in the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, the South Florida Chamber of Commerce, Coastal Conservation Association and The Florida Cattlemen’s Association.

I am always available to my current and future clients and real estate partners through the following contacts:

 Delray Beach office:  DelrayBeachMortgages@gmail.com

1045 E. Atlantic Ave., Ste. 307, Delray Beach, FL  33483   Phone:  561-865-5475

 Boynton Beach office:  yourbestmortgagechoice@gmail.com

240 S. E. 23 Ave., Boynton Beach, FL  33435                        Phone: 561-336-3258

 

Cell Phone:  561-389-5102

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Florida Mortgage Fraud Resources

The list of resources below has been compiled for anyone that suspects that they may be a victim of any type of fraud or scam. The list was originally designed as a resource to report mortgage fraud, predatory lending scams and identity theft in Florida but may also serve those who are victims of many types of fraud in Florida. Other types of fraud may include:

Internet Scams Phishing/Email Scams Credit Card Fraud Investment Scams

Financial - Debt Elimination Business/MLM Scams Etc.

FBI Field Offices, Mortgage Fraud
White Collar Crime Supervisor
http://jacksonville.fbi.gov/
7820 Arlington Expressway, Suite 200
Jacksonville, FL 32211-7499
Phone: (904) 721-1211

White Collar Crime Supervisor
http://miami.fbi.gov/
16320 NW 2nd Avenue
North Miami Beach, FL 33169-6508
Phone: (305) 944-9101

White Collar Crime Supervisor
http://tampa.fbi.gov/
500 Zack Street, Room 610, FOB
Tampa, FL 33602-3917
Phone: (813) 273-4566

Florida Attorney General - Consumer Protection
http://myfloridalegal.com/consumer
The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
Phone: (850) 414-3300

HUD Field Office
Jacksonville Field Office
Charles E. Bennett Federal Building
400 W. Bay Street, Suite 1015
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: (904) 232-2627
Fax: (904) 232-3759

Miami Field Office
909 SE First Avenue
Miami, FL 33131
Phone: (305) 536-4456
Fax: (305) 536-5765

Orlando Field Office
3751 Maguire Boulevard, Room 270
Orlando, FL 32803-3032
Phone: (407) 648-6441
Fax: (407) 648-6310

Tampa Field Office
500 Zack Street, Suite 402
Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: (813) 228-2026
Fax: (813) 228-2431

HUD Regional Office
Atlanta Regional Office
40 Marietta Street
Five Points Plaza
Atlanta, GA 30303-2806
Phone: (404) 331-4111
Fax: (404) 730-2392

Florida Department of Banking and Finance
Division of Financial Investigations
http://www.flofr.com/
101 East Gaines Street, Suite 516
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0350
Toll Free: (800) 848-3792 (Florida only)
Phone: (850) 410-9275
Fax: (850) 410-9628

Nationally Chartered Credit Unions
Region III – Atlanta
http://www.ncua.gov/AboutNcua/org/Region3.htm
7000 Central Parkway, Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: (678) 443-3000
Fax: (678) 443-3020

State-Chartered Credit Unions
Florida Division of Banking
101 East Gaines Street, Ste. 636
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0350
Phone: (850) 410-9111
Fax: (850) 410-9548

Savings & Loan Association or Savings Bank
Office of Thrift Supervision
http://www.ots.treas.gov/resultsort.cfm?catNumber=88&dl=17&edit=1
E-mail: consumer.complaint@ots.treas.gov
Southeast Region - Atlanta
1475 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Phone: (404) 888-0771
Complaints: (800) 842-6929

National Fair Housing Alliance
To locate your local office:
http://www.nationalfairhousing.org/
National Contact: E-mail: nfha@nationalfairhousing.org
1212 New York Avenue, NW Ste 525
Washington, DC 2005
Phone: (202) 898-1661
Fax: (202) 371-9744

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Division of Consumer Services
http://www.800helpfla.com/~cs/complaints.html
2005 Apalachee Parkway
Terry Rhodes Building
Tallahassee, FL 32399-6500
Phone: 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352)

Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) Home Page
DBPR Customer Contact Center
http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/re/complaint.html
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1027
Phone: (850) 487-1395
Fax: (850) 922-4191

Better Business Bureaus
Better Business Bureau of Northeast Florida
http://www.bbbnefla.org
E-mail: info@bbbnefla.org
4417 Beach BV., Suite 202
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Phone: (904) 721-2288
Fax: (904) 721-7373

Better Business Bureau Serving Southeast Florida and the Caribbean
http://www.bbbsoutheastflorida.org
E-mail: info@seflorida.bbb.org
2924 N Australian Ave.
West Palm Beach, FL 33407 –
Phone: (561) 842-1918
Fax: (561) 845-7234

Better Business Bureau of West Florida
http://www.clearwater.bbb.org
E-mail: info@bbbwestflorida.org
PO Box 7950
Clearwater, FL 33758 -7950
Phone: (727) 535-5522
Fax: (727) 539-6301

Better Business Bureau of Northwest Florida
http://www.nwfl.bbb.org
E-mail: info@nwfl.bbb.org
PO Box 1511
Pensacola, FL 32591 -1511
Phone: (850) 429-0002
Fax: (850) 429-0006

Better Business Bureau of Central Florida, Inc.
http://www.orlando.bbb.org
E-mail: info@orlando.bbb.org
151 Wymore Road, Ste. 100
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 -
Phone: (407) 621-3300
Fax: (407) 786-2625