Casa Financial Services, Inc.

The Old Days

2012-01-18T19:21:00.001-08:00

FW: great news!

2011-11-10T12:02:00.000-08:00

To: zindimills@cfsonline.biz
Subject: Re: great news!

Thank you for your help. Wow I am so happy. You are the greatest.

Jose

CasaFinancialSD sent you a video: "YOUR Mortgage broker"

2011-11-03T20:45:00.001-07:00

	help center \| e-mail options \| report spam
CasaFinancialSD has shared a video with you on YouTube: Thanks for posting this Murphi, I had a great time speaking at the LeTip of Little Italy luncheon! YOUR Mortgage broker The one and only Man you should be going to when your looking to purchase a new home..
© 2011 YouTube, LLC 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066

You always made me feel like I was your only client...

2011-08-26T12:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all your help Zindi. When ever you and I had contact, you always made me feel like I was your only client.

I will call Patti sometime after I get moved.

Thanks again

John

Congratulations!

2011-08-16T16:12:00.000-07:00

From: Dave K.
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2011 10:25 PM
To: Zindi M.
Subject: Re: Congratulations!

Thank you Zindi for doing sooooooo much and helping our family get this house. We could not have done it without you fighting for us and jumping through all the hoops! I never thought this would have been possible...prayer definitely payed off!!!

Dave

This made my day!

2011-07-15T12:29:00.000-07:00

From: Mauricio Calderon
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 11:54 AM
To: brettmills
Subject: Re: escrow #3718-LYM

By all means, the easiest deal -loan that I have worked this year so far. I will be calling you to pre-approved my next buyers.

MAURICIO CALDERON
REALTY WORLD CALIFORNIA PROPERTIES
DRE #: 01312011
REALTOR®
www.sellwithmauricio.listingbook.com<http://www.sellwithmauricio.listingbook.com/>

Oh, by the way...if you know of someone who would appreciate the level of service I provide,
please call me with their name and number and I will be happy to follow up and take great care of them.

From: brettmills
To: Mauricio Calderon
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 11:46 AM
Subject: RE: escrow #3718-LYM
Hi Mauricio,

Zindi and I really appreciate the way you jumped in and helped us get escrow squared away in the beginning of the transaction; we enjoy working with proactive Realtors such as yourself. I realize that you probably have a Loan Officer that you refer business to, but if that person ever lets you down, doesn't answer their phone, or takes the weekend off, please don't hesitate to call us as we work 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Do you have a current client that needs to get preapproved, or maybe is just dragging their feet? We've spent years on the phones motivating disgruntled clients and bringing them back to the Realtor as a "Ready to Go!" buyer.

Zindi and I are standing by.

Thank you,

Brett Mills
Broker/Owner NMLS #120484
Casa Financial Services, Inc NMLS #120281
9560 Cuyamaca Street #101
Santee, CA 92071

619.644.8344 x 101 office
619.504.7108 cell
619.644.8355 fax

It's official

2011-04-07T13:31:00.000-07:00

From: Ruth McGraw
Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2011 1:09 PM
To: zindimills@cfsonline.biz
Subject: It's official

Zindi you wonderful WONDERFUL woman!!!!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!

Getting my keys yesterday was one of the greatest moment in my life and I KNOW without you help it wouldn't have happened..
Every single person I talk to I tell them about you guys.. I tell them how it wouldn't have happened with out you..

I hope you know that I am truly truly grateful!!

Ps. Escrow just called and I'm getting like, a $1,000 back..

we still need to meet!!!

FW: Laugh til you cry...

2011-04-07T12:25:00.000-07:00

ONLY A MAN
WOULD ATTEMPT THIS

Just try reading this without laughing till you cry!!!

Pocket Tazer Stun Gun, a great gift for the wife.
A guy who purchased his lovely wife a pocket Tazer for their anniversary submitted this:

Last weekend I saw something at Larry's Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 15th anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife Julie. What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse-sized Tazer.

The effects of the Tazer were supposed to be short lived, with no long term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety...??

WAY TOO COOL! Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home... I loaded two AAA batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button.. Nothing! I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button and pressed it against a metal surface at the same time, I'd get the blue arc of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs.

AWESOME!!! Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Julie what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave.

Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn't be all that bad with only two AAA batteries, right?

There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target.

I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and then thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised.

Am I wrong?

So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, and Tazer in another.

The directions said that:
A one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant;

A two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; and

A three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water.

Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries.
All the while I'm looking at this little device measuring about 5" long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference (loaded with two itsy, bitsy AAA batteries); pretty cute really, and thinking to myself, 'no possible way!'

What happened next is almost beyond description, but I'll do my best.

I'm sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side so as to say, 'Don't do it stupid,' reasoning that a one second burst from such a tiny lil ole thing couldn't hurt all that bad.. I decided to give myself a one second burst just for heck of it.

I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and...

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD. WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. WHAT THE... !!!

I'm pretty sure Hulk Hogan ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be found, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs! The cat was making meowing sounds I had never heard before, clinging to a picture frame hanging above the fireplace, obviously in an attempt to avoid getting slammed by my body flopping all over the living room...

Note:
If you ever feel compelled to 'mug' yourself with a Tazer,
One note of caution:

There is NO such thing as a one second burst when you zap yourself! You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor!
A three second burst would be considered conservative!

A minute or so later (I can't be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), I collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape.

* My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace.
* The recliner was upside down and about 8 feet or so from where it originally was.
* My triceps, right thigh and both nipples were still twitching.
* My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs.
* I had no control over the drooling.
* Apparently I had crapped in my shorts, but was too numb to know for sure, and my sense of smell was gone.
* I saw a faint smoke cloud above my head, which I believe came from my hair.
I'm still looking for my testicles and I'm offering a significant reward for their safe return!

PS: My wife can't stop laughing about my experience, loved the gift and now regularly threatens me with it!

If you think education is difficult, try being stupid!!!!

I can fix that!

2011-04-07T12:09:00.001-07:00

I am a man and I can Fix That

What a great day I'm having!!

2011-02-08T15:02:00.001-08:00

I just got back from my weekly meeting with 20 or so fellow business owners and I am pumped. There is nothing better than 20 highly motivated, energetic, and positive people shaking hands, sharing ideas, passing referrals, and honestly doing their best to help each other become more successful. I can only imagine what would happen if 20 or 30 more people came and checked this out.

[cid:image001.jpg@01CBC7A1.38D1B280]

Go to North Dakota! (this is great)

2011-02-04T11:18:00.001-08:00

Maybe we should make North Dakota the capitol of the USA.
This text is from a county emergency manager in Minot, North Dakota

Minot Daily News

WEATHER BULLETIN
Up here in the Northern part of North Dakota we just recovered from a Historic event --- may I even say a "Weather Event" of "Biblical Proportions" --- with a historic blizzard of up to 25' of snow and winds to 50 MPH that broke trees in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded hundreds of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed ALL roads, isolated scores of communities and cut power to 10's of thousands.

[cid:E235DDF7FA294E9BAA94D0C275C81D71@D517215]

FYI:

Obama did not come.

FEMA did nothing.

No one howled for the government.

No one blamed the government.

No one even uttered an expletive on TV.

Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton did not visit.

Our Mayors did not blame Obama or anyone else.

Our Governor did not blame Obama or anyone else either.

CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC did not visit - or even report on this category 5 snow storm.

[cid:56CB52732DC445719F8A196CC78F4F63@D517215]
Nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards.
No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House.
No one looted.
Nobody - I mean Nobody demanded the government do something.
Nobody expected the government to do anything either.
No Larry King, No Bill O'Rielly, No Oprah, No Chris Mathews and No Geraldo Rivera.
No Shaun Penn, No Barbara Striesand, No Brad Pitts, No Hollywood types to be found.

[cid:9594E12771524B40B47C607C8A15315E@D517215]

Nope, we just melted the snow for water.
Sent out caravans of SUV 's to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars.
The truck drivers pulled people out of snow banks and didn't ask for a penny.
Local restaurants made food, and the police and fire departments delivered it to the snow bound families..
Families took in the stranded people - total strangers.

[cid:FC068E1D487A44CDA754AF85585ECFBF@D517215]

We fired up wood stoves, broke out coal oil lanterns or Coleman lanterns.
We put on an extra layers of clothes because up here it is "Work or Die".
We did not wait for some affirmative action government to get us out of a mess created by being immobilized by a welfare program that trades votes for ' sittin at home ' checks.

Even though a Category 5 blizzard of this scale is not usual, we know it can happen and how to deal with it ourselves.

[cid:E1E82AAF55D4431E923E08D9926CDD4E@D517215]

I hope this gets passed on.
Maybe ......
SOME people will get the message ......
The world does Not owe you a living.

12/29/10

Can it be that times are so tough that the American Dream has disappeared?

2011-01-20T10:47:00.001-08:00

Growing up in the South where family means everything, and then volunteering to serve my Country in the world’s finest Submarine Navy, I find it hard to believe that the American Dream has disappeared. I grew up wanting my own home, something that I could call mine, and I refuse to believe that my fellow Americans feel differently, yet the media would have us all live in fear. I for one refuse to live in fear and whole heartedly believe that this is quite possibly the best opportunity in the last 25 to 30 years to purchase real estate for long term purposes. I know that it stinks to be a Seller right now, but if you’re a Buyer with even $5000 down you can pick up an income generating rental property and be on your way to building your Real Estate Empire.

Compare the current housing market to stocks. If Microsoft or Apple suddenly fell to $50 per share, would we all refuse to ever buy that stock again or would we all jump up and grab as much of it as possible knowing that the value will come back? Warren Buffett would tell you that the smart choice would be to buy for the long term value. My advice is to stop spending on what you do not absolutely need, eat in not out, and save, save, save. Once you get this down you’ll notice your bank account start to grow and pretty soon you’ll have your first down payment. I have a client right now that is purchasing a $66k condo with $2100 down and the Seller is paying all of her closing costs. The total payment including principal, interest, taxes, and even the HOA is less than $550 per month. I mean really – where can you rent a decent apartment for that low of a monthly payment? She plans to live in it for one year, saving the difference between her former rent payment and new house payment each month, and then use those savings as a down payment on something a little bigger, brighter, and better.

What are your plans for the future? If it includes finally getting thru Xbox Modern Warfare without getting “killed” or finally getting 5000 friends on Facebook, then we needs to talk about your future.

WE NEVER SLEEP!!!

2011-01-18T13:02:00.000-08:00

It seems that two of the Realtors we worked with years ago were desperately trying to get their "In-House" Lender on the line this past Sunday, but of course that person wasn't answering. We took both the calls from each Realtor and realized that each were hosting their Open House events and had potential clients standing in front of them asking loan questions. After a few short questions and answers we were able to verbally verify income, asset, and employment credentials (stips to follow of course); walk each client thru the payment and cash to close scenarios available, all of which motivated each client to make an offer before the day was out.

What was your Bank/Credit Union Loan Officer doing for you this past weekend; watching football or working for you? Make one call, just one call, and watch your production this year soar - we double dog dare ya!!

What will you do in January to build your business?

2011-01-13T18:12:00.001-08:00

The San Diego Chapter of LeTip are putting on a Mixer and we wanted to invite you (see attach flier with information). This is a great opportunity to make new business connections and fellowship with other LeTip members and their Guests. Think about it, for just $10 you'll find yourself in a room full of potential customers who are all there for noe reason - to shake your hand, learn about what it is you do, get your business card, and then either purchase your service/prodcut or refer their clients who need your service/product. If you happen to know someone who needs to increase their business feel frr to invite them as a Guest. For those of you who want to hit it hard and sponsor a table, drop me a line and I can get you set up.

Shoot me an email if you think you want to attend and I'll get your name over to our Regional so that you're good to go.

Time to purchase!

2011-01-13T13:54:00.001-08:00

Although the media, and all of the “armchair quarterbacks”, will tell you to wait a bit longer until we hit bottom – I am here to tell you that we’re there. The word on the street is that major banking institutions have decided that they are not going to release their foreclosed properties in bulk and that they have decided to sell ‘em off one at a time because they can reap 10% to 20% more profit by doing it this way. What this means to you is that there will be no sudden influx of homes on the market driving the “supply” up and thereby driving the “demand” down. The effect is the exact opposite in that because supply is slowly dwindling therefore demand is actually increasing which drives the competition for quality homes thru the roof. Now don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of run down, purposefully beat-up homes out there (http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local-beat/Cop-Trashes-His-Million-Dollar-Home-104353638.html) but FHA and VA are going to challenge the Seller on the condition of those home and require repairs to be made – which the Seller certainly does not want to pay for. In recent months we’ve actually seen FNMA and FHMLC get tighter and tighter regarding the condition of the home you want to purchase, often mimicking the requirements of FHA and VA loans.

What does all of this mean to you? If you are interested at all in purchasing a property within the next millennium you should contact Casa Financial Services, Inc. to get either approved for a loan or at least put a plan together. I mean really, how much longer are you going to pay for your landlords property providing him/her with the profit, tax write off, etc…?

Give us a call at 619-644-8344 and ask for Brett or Zindi.

Straight from MSN Money webpage!

2011-01-13T11:05:00.000-08:00

Refinance Your Mortgage — Save Money Every Month

"As a general rule of thumb, it's worth looking into refinancing if the going rate is 0.50 percent lower than your current mortgage if you plan to stay in your home," says Timothy McFarlin, a real estate lawyer based in Irvine, CA.

2010-12-22T10:49:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scWKIIt3PdQ

Thank you,

Brett Mills
Broker/Owner
Casa Financial Services, Inc
9560 Cuyamaca Street #101
Santee, CA 92071

Chapter President/Charter Member
LeTip of Little Italy
The Bamboo Lounge (meeting location)
1475 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92103

619.644.8344 x 101 office
619.504.7108 cell
619.644.8355 fax

Casa Financial Services, Inc

http://www.facebook.com/l/a89c0LMukEfEXotonWVkkIiFqdQ;realestate.msn.com

2010-10-27T14:55:00.000-07:00

facebook
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Brutal job market makes entrepreneurs out of young grads - SignOnSanDiego.com

2010-10-27T09:03:00.001-07:00

* Please note, the sender's email address has not been verified.

I absolutely love this article; young people getting it done instead of making excuses! They should have interviewed my friends William Alexander of PrintSteals and Eric Rice of Boom Media, they are the consummate entrepreneurs.

Click the following to access the sent link:

Brutal job market makes entrepreneurs out of young grads - SignOnSanDiego.com*


Get your EMAIL THIS Browser Button and use it to email content from any Web site. Click here for more information.

*This article can also be accessed if you copy and paste the entire address below into your web browser.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/oct/25/tough-job-market-spurs-recent-grads-start-business

Brett Mills wants to tell you about a business on Yelp

2010-10-21T15:15:00.001-07:00

Real People. Real Reviews.®

Hi, Brett Mills says,
Check it out, we're on YELP!

Brett Mills wanted to tell you about:

Casa Financial Services, Inc

9560 Cuyamaca Street #101, Santee, CA 92071

Bookmark

Yelp is the fun and easy way to find, review and talk about what's great -- and not so great -- in your area. Join Yelp!

To stop receiving Yelp messages, click here

20-year-old student named police chief in Mexico town

2010-10-20T15:56:00.001-07:00

20-year-old student named police chief in Mexico town
A 20-year-old criminology student has been named the chief of police in one of the most dangerous municipalities in Mexico's violence-wracked northern state of Chihuahua.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39760545/from/toolbar

Report: Seau drove off cliff - NFL News - FOX Sports on MSN

2010-10-18T12:41:00.001-07:00

Hi,

Say it's not so!

I thought you'd like this:
Click here

Report: Seau drove off cliff - NFL News - FOX Sports on MSN
Report: Seau drove off cliff

This email is a direct message from a friend who wants to share an item of interest with you.
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Gigya Inc., 855 El Camino Real Building 4, Suite 290 Palo Alto, CA 94301.

Bank of America halts all U.S. foreclosures

2010-10-08T10:55:00.001-07:00

Bank of America halts all U.S. foreclosures
Bank of America Corp expanded on Friday its suspension of foreclosures to include all 50 states as anger grows at how lenders have prepared documents to support evictions.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39575033/from/toolbar

Cop Accused of Trashing Home Turning Self In: Lawyer

2010-10-05T18:14:00.001-07:00

Cop Accused of Trashing Home Turning Self In: Lawyer
The San Diego police have placed Robert Acosta on "administrative leave."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39527697/from/toolbar

10 Reasons To Buy a Home - WSJ.com

2010-09-19T07:53:00.000-07:00

Cash is no longer King!

2010-09-17T12:40:00.000-07:00

So here we are, ready to close a home loan refinance in which the Borrower has 50% equity in his home and several hundred thousand in stock. This should be a lay down, easy peezy lemon squeezy, knock out of a loan.

But nooooo! The Lender has decided that the want the Loan Amount lowered by $20,000 to bring his Debt to Income Ration below 30% (which makes no sense). The Borrower finally gave in and stated that he would $20,000 out of his safe deposit box and bring it in at closing. Lender said "No" because the cash cannot be sourced or seasoned, which means there is no way to prove the money was ever his.

I tell ya folks, it is a strange world we live in when a man or woman that can bring in $20,000 cash from a safe deposit box is considered unworthy of refinancing his/her home at less than half it's current value, yet the Fannie Mae HomePath program allows 1st time home buyers to purchase a wreck of a home without requiring an appraisal - opening the door to over paying for a property.

Calgon, take me away.

Article from bizjournals: Payroll violations soar with down economy

2010-09-17T08:50:00.001-07:00

This story was sent to you by brettmills@cfsonline.biz:

Sender's comment:

Joe Archambault at Equity Builders was telling me about this on Tuesday.

Payroll violations soar with down economy

Published: September 13, 2010

Cindy Mitchell, a contractor in the tile business for 20 years, had a hunch her competitors hadn’t been playing by the rules when she discovered some rival companies bid half the amount she did on recent projects.

View full article

Brett Mills Loan Parody

2010-09-16T17:35:00.000-07:00

Why oh why??

2010-09-16T15:50:00.000-07:00

Why is it that these Banks just can't seem to understand that speed of processing the Short Sale is of the utmost importance. Is it really that hard to understand that when we are down to funding, and a change needs to be made on the Sellers side, that they can't take two weeks to make the change and then demand that the Buyer pay per diem penalties?

My kingdom for a decent Transaction Coordinator!

Brett Mills: Frequent Asked Questions.

2009-12-10T15:09:00.000-08:00

Q: How do I know how much house I can afford?

A: Generally speaking, you can purchase a home with a value of two or three times your annual household income. However, the amount that you can borrow will also depend upon your employment history, credit history, current savings and debts, and the amount of down payment you are willing to make. You may also be able to take advantage of special loan programs for first time buyers to purchase a home with a higher value. Give us a call, and we can help you determine exactly how much you can afford.

Q: What is the difference between a fixed-rate loan and an adjustable-rate loan?

A: With a fixed-rate mortgage, the interest rate stays the same during the life of the loan. With an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), the interest changes periodically, typically in relation to an index. While the monthly payments that you make with a fixed-rate mortgage are relatively stable, payments on an ARM loan will likely change. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of mortgage, and the best way to select a loan product is by talking to us.

Q : How is an index and margin used in an ARM?

A : An index is an economic indicator that lenders use to set the interest rate for an ARM. Generally the interest rate that you pay is a combination of the index rate and a pre-specified margin. Three commonly used indices are the One-Year Treasury Bill, the Cost of Funds of the 11th District Federal Home Loan Bank (COFI), and the London InterBank Offering Rate (LIBOR).

Q : How do I know which type of mortgage is best for me?

A : There is no simple formula to determine the type of mortgage that is best for you. This choice depends on a number of factors, including your current financial picture and how long you intend to keep your house. Casa Financial Services, Inc can help you evaluate your choices and help you make the most appropriate decision.

Don't Buy it.

2009-12-08T12:17:00.000-08:00

No matter what I do, no matter where I go I keep hearing the same old thing – “Don’t buy it!” It seems that the general consensus out there is that we’re in the middle of a mortgage meltdown and that prices have dropped so low that you’d be crazy to purchase a home right now. Now, I have to tell you – I just don’t understand this logic. I know that I’m just a simple guy, old submarine sailor, top ten Mortgage Broker, but I thought that the whole point was to buy low, betting that the asset would increase in value, and then sell high? There has to be a reason for all of this craziness?

Maybe it’s the media? I appreciate the media and all their quality updates regarding the current Brangelina situation, I just don’t think that too many of these so-called Experts really understand what type of market we’re in. Contrary to popular belief, this is not a “Buyer’s Market”. A Buyer’s Market would mean that there are so many properties on the market, that demand is low which forces the Seller to lower their price in order to attract and win the offers of those qualified Buyers. On the other hand, we can’t really call this a Seller’s Market either. A Seller’s Market means that there are so few properties on the market that Buyers have to compete to win what few properties are out there. The market we are currently in is actually more of an Auction where there is plenty of inventory, and plenty of Buyers, just quite a bit of competition for the premium properties so the Buyer with the highest bid win the property – plain and simple.

Or maybe it’s the Governments fault with all of their meddling, bailouts, foreign policy, and obvious disdain for the working man? Oh wait, then why would the Fed have dropped rates to a historic low? Or why would they have initiated an unprecedented Buyer Credit to make it easier for Buyers to get in on these deals – and then extended the program into 2010? Have we stopped to even think about what the average working man/woman has at his/her disposal? With only 3.5% down, or 0% down for active/inactive Military, you can successfully bid on and purchase a great home to start and/or raise a family. Not only can you do this with little to no money down at all, but you can borrow the remainder of the balance at lower rates than what existed during the so-called mortgage boom. Cost per square foot is at an all time low, along with record low interest rates, add up to huge savings for Joe Middle Class.
No, I think the reasons so many people make bad choices, or no choice at all, are Fear and Denial. Seriously, how can it be that I’ve been doing this job for a decade and yet almost every single time that I bring up the subject of home ownership I usually get a negative response like “Oh, I can’t afford it.”? My question to this obviously uninformed person is “How do you know?” What seems like a fairly simple question sparks massive emotion, denial, anger, and then amazement – amazement that what they pay in rent is normally more than what they would pay in mortgage for the same square feet. The Fear is that if they actually take the time to figure out what is available, then they might actually have to change their thinking and stop living in Denial.

Now that I’ve gotten all of this off my chest, and believe me I’ve wanted to unload these thoughts for a while; I’ve come to realize that I actually agree with all of those people that keep saying “Don’t Buy It!!” Except what I no longer want to “Buy” is all the bad advice from the doom and gloom, rumor monger, world is gonna end, don’t take a chance, people that we’re all so familiar with that hold us back in so many ways. In fact, the next time I read a news story spouting doom and gloom, or overhear someone advising another to stay out of this market; I’m only gonna have one thing to say – “Don’t Buy It!” because Joe Middle Class can finally get in on home ownership, raise a family in a nice home, and stop paying rent that’s only building someone else’s fortune

Things to look for in a mortgage professional.

2009-11-12T14:40:00.000-08:00

First off, the days of internet mortgages and 1-800-HOLD-FOREVER are long gone.

I can honestly remember screaming to the heavens in frustration every single time I saw a Buyer utilize a cut rate, working from their basement, inexperienced Loan Officer simply because their website looked cool or they were advertising a really low interest rate. I just wanted to yank the Buyer up by the scruff of the neck, shake them, and ask them why they were trusting all of their personal & private data to someone they never even met? As I survey the battlefield, and most of those guys are now out of business, I feel vindicated that I was correct, but also saddened at the mess they left behind. If you weren’t referred to your Mortgage Professional by family/friend, or they cannot offer you a face to face meeting I recommend running for the hills.

Check their credentials!

There is a HUGE difference between a Licensed Lender and a Licensed Realtor. Do you get your teeth worked on by the same person that changes the oil in your car? Why would anyone let themselves get talked into using a Realtor for home loans? The Real Estate course has nothing to do with loans, and no where on the Real Estate Exam does a loan question appear. I admit that it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to amortize over a 30 year period, but I’ll bet you could pull the top 50 Realtor into a room, ask them for an honest answer, and every single one of them would say that a Professional Realtor should not be making loans because of the intricate details and how quickly a Buyer can be misrepresented if the mortgage professional is not 100% on their game. Look, my Plumber knows how to unclog a drain, but darned if I’d use him instead of a Proctologist simply because he can save me a couple of bucks.

FHA and VA certification are a must.

Although FHA and VA require the Mortgage Professional to hold the proper certification to write FHA and VA loans, some have found “loopholes” in the system and are submitting their Buyers’ loans to “third party” vendors. All they do is make an adjustment to the job title, restructure payroll, and presto – they’re rocking and rolling. What this means to you is that the person you’ve chosen to represent you, that would later be held responsible in the event of mistakes, actually doesn’t represent you at all and you’ll be left all alone to plead your case if the law was broken. It’s actually rather simple, the FHA and VA both issue a certificate to us as proof that we’re approved to handle that type of loan. Business plans and audits are the way of life when funding these loans, while fraud is not allowed in any form.

Important Mortgage News.

2009-11-12T14:38:00.000-08:00

Mortgage interest rates were mixed this past week, 30 year mortgage rates stayed above 5.00 percent this week and are slightly higher than last week’s average mortgage rate.

Fifteen year mortgage rates were lower this week over last and 10 year U.S. Treasury yields rose during the holiday shortened week, as of last Friday yields were at 3.43 percent.

Current mortgage rates are expected to remain low for now but will start heading up when strong economic data is reported by the government and inflation becomes a real concern. Another factor that will drive mortgage rates higher is the completion of the Fed program to buy $1.25 billion of mortgage-backed securities. The Fed has already started slowing down the purchases and will complete the program in the first quarter of 2009.

The current mortgage market.

2009-11-12T14:14:00.000-08:00

There seems to be this misconception, mainly propagated by the mainstream media, that this is a “Buyers Market” which couldn’t be any more incorrect. You see, a Buyer’s Market actually refers to a trend where there is much more inventory on the market than there are Buyers to purchase them. In effect, Sellers actually start competing for qualified Buyers and typically try and attract those Buyers thru incentives and/or price reductions. But wait, this gets much more interesting because we’re not actually in a Seller’s Market either. A Seller’s Market describes a market where there are so many Buyers searching for homes that inventory shrinks and Buyers start competing for what’s left.

What we are currently in is what one could only refer to as an Auction. There are tons of properties on the market for sale, Sellers/Banks are demanding top dollar or refusing to sell, so the Buyers are only left with the option of being the highest bidder or losing out. Certainly this would resemble the market during the big refi and purchase boom from 2000 thru 2005, but that market was fueled more by aggressive Adjustable Rate Mortgages and Negative Amortization Loans, which allowed the Buyer to qualify for higher and higher Purchase Prices, while obtaining smaller and smaller interest rates thru these risky loans.

Our market today has none of these options, the 30 Year Fixed reigns supreme, and the typical Buyer quickly finds their Maximum Purchase Power and is then in for the roller coaster ride of their life. We caution our Buyers to develop thick skin, don’t get hung up on one property, and develop the patience of Job because they are truly going to have to fight tooth and nail to successfully out maneuver the competition. Lions, and Tigers, and Bears – Oh my!

Casa Financial Is Back.

2009-11-12T14:08:00.000-08:00

Brett Mills and Casa Financia l are doing some amazing things in San Diego. Casa Financial (www.cfsloans.biz) is a specialized lending firm that partners with current and ex-military, along with the general public to provide top notch service when looking for a home loan. In these times of question Brett and Casa financial have remained a staple of the San Diego mortgage community for years and have nothing but rave reviews from their clients. Brett insists that each loan is reviewed by him before going to the bank. “I just won’t write a bad loan, I have been in the business long enough and plan to stay”, says Mills. Casa Financial was founded by Brett and remains one of the true diamonds in the rough.
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“We lost our son, who we love dearly, last year and had to go dark for a period of time to clear our heads. We are back now and making sure that he sees us daily doing the good things we do. We want to continue to make him proud.” states Mills, an avid family man and pillar of integrity. This small and growing firm was once a powerhouse in the mortgage marketbefore tragedy struck. Casa Financial ensures that each and every person that walks through the door has the same pricing as the last, a rarity in this market. They have not written one bad loan and still thrived as one of the top producing mortgage firms during the boom. Mills, who served 13 years in the Navy, booked the most submarine time in the military during his time in the military. He shows a level of dedication to his business that is only bested by his dedication to his family and this bleeds out into the file of every client Casa Financial serves.
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The Market.

2009-11-12T14:05:00.000-08:00

Mortgage interest rates were mixed this past week, 30 year mortgage rates stayed above 5.00 percent this week and are slightly higher than last week’s average mortgage rate.

Fifteen year mortgage rates were lower this week over last and 10 year U.S. Treasury yields rose during the holiday shortened week, as of last Friday yields were at 3.43 percent.

Why People Get In Trouble With Their Mortgage.

2009-11-12T12:50:00.000-08:00

They put their blinders on . So many Buyers watch the ads on TV, or listen to the commercials on the radio, and actually 100% believe what they are seeing and/or hearing. I promise you that no matter how many times you see that one commercial where they promise you that their 1% interest rate is fixed for 30 years, once you get to the signing table and they slide that 3” thick stack of papers in front of you, what they told you is not what they’re getting ready to sell you.

They allow themselves to be convinced that saving a nickel in fees is worth the risk of working with an unknown entity . The convicted felon working as a Telemarketer from his basement trying to sell you a home loan is NEVER, EVER, EVER going to be able to provide you with personal face to face service, the comfort and security of knowing your personal information is safe and secure, the knowledge that your qualification criteria is being perfectly matched with the Lender, expertise thru years of required schooling and training, years of experience, moral conduct, and down right good ole fashioned hard work. “I can do this myself.”I cannot begin to count how many times I’ve educated a Buyer, walked them thru the entire process, only to see them convince themselves that they could now gallop off into the sunset and negotiate the largest loan that they will ever take in their lives, never stopping to review anything other than the rate. Suddenly, a couple of years later that same Buyer will call me up and ask if they can pop in for a moment of time. I of course being a fine upstanding member of the community looking out for my fellow man will graciously invite them to stop by whenever convenient.

They’ll tell me how they were told it was a fixed rate mortgage, how the interest rate would never increase, that their property taxes were included in their payment and the best one of all – that there was no prepayment penalty on the loan. After a quick review, what we discover is that the Buyer left us for a Bank, Credit Union, or Direct lender who’s Loan Officer’s are paid to do one thing and one thing only – sell the highest rate, with the highest payment on the loan that brings that institution the most profit over the long haul. I explain to this heart broken Buyer that if they’d stayed with us we would have looked out for them and avoided all of this because we do not work for the Bank, Credit Union, or Direct Lender. In fact, those institution’s profit margins are not of our concern because we don’t make our money with them.

I kindly remind the Buyer of the same thing I reminded them before, that as a Broker I only work for the Buyer and am held to full disclosure – no fine print.