Mortgage Smart 
Required Reading
Must read articles for anyone who owns or is planning to buy a house.
Book Store
Check here for a complete selection of books and programs to make you a better real estate investor and mortgage borrower.... Read more
10 Top Tips for Moving
Hire professional movers or do it yourself?... Read more
A smart use of home equity?
Been looking twice at those offers for a home equity loan to "consolidate" your debt? Paying off high-interest credit-card debt with a home-equity loan can help financially troubled families.... Read more
A Solid Real Estate Appraisal will Nail Down a Home's Worth
Pay too much, and you lose money when you sell. Pay too little, and you'll probably want to know why someone is willing to sell below market. Either way, it's important to know exactly what a property is worth before buying.... Read more
Adjustable Rate Mortgages: Not a good deal in 2008
With interest rates on fixed-rate mortgages averaging close to 6 percent in recent months, many people are finding that there is no real savings but more risk with adjustable rate loans.... Read more
Affordable Mortgages
Just about anyone can buy a home. With new low down payment mortgages, and special programs for low income households, many more families can now qualify for home mortgages.... Read more
Audit your mortgage payments or mortgage escrow account
Use these programs to audit your mortgage account to assure your payments are being applied correctly.... Read more
Automated Mortgage Underwriting
Chances are, when you apply for a mortgage, your loan will be underwritten immediately by a computer. While automated underwriting will not solve every loan problem, it certainly makes buying a home faster, better, and cheaper for most home buyers.... Read more
Avoid Foreclosure: Refinance your sub prime loan with FHA
Don't lose your home. FHA has a new program to assist those with sub prime loans. Check it out with an FHA lender.... Read more
Builders Risk Insurance
Builders risk insurance is a form of property insurance that covers property owners and builders for projects under construction, renovation or repair. It is similar to normal homeowners insurance but designed to provide insurance during the construction... Read more
Building Your Home in Florida
Building a new house can be fun but can also be a disaster. To achieve the best results research the builder and use a bank or credit union construction loan to fund the construction.... Read more
Commercial Loans Prepayment Penalties
Borrowers are looking for the security of long term fixed rate commercial loans but then balking at the prepayment penalties that come with them. But do you really understand how these prepayment penalties work?... Read more
Commerical Real Estate Book Store
A great place to start learning about commercial real estate with the best selection of commercial real estate books.... Read more
Compare Mortgage Rates
How do you know that the mortgage rate you are being offered is competitive? Check out the national average rates for today.... Read more
Construction Book Store
Learn about residential construction before building your house or selecting your builder.... Read more
Construction Lien Laws in Florida
Construction lien laws are designed to help the sub contractors that work on your house by protecting them from non payment. If you are building a house in Florida you should read this.... Read more
Construction Loan Disbursement Procedures
Construction loans are designed to assure adequate funds to complete the construction of the house.... Read more
Construction Loan Survey Requirements
All lenders require a survey of the property before construction and again after the foundation is poured to assure proper placement of the house on the lot. The survey must be prepared by a licensed surveyor registered in the State of Florida.... Read more
Debt Consolidation Loans
Been looking twice at those attractive sounding offers for a debt consolidation loan? Paying off high-interest credit-card debt with a home-equity loan can help financially troubled families make ends meet.... Read more
Escrow Accounts: Are Mortgage Lenders Sitting on Your Money?
Most mortgage holders tend to think of escrow payments as a byproduct of borrowing. It doesn't have to be. Should you get interest on your escrow account?... Read more
Evaluating Income Property
Evaluating income property carefully will help make the right decision. Learn the concepts of cash flow, cap rates, competitive rents, and how appraisers will evaluate the property.... Read more
Florida Building Permit Directory
Click on the Florida county where you are building and get to the right department for your permit.... Read more
Homeowners Insurance
Protecting your home and its contents is probably one of the most important financial decisions you will make. Understanding the details regarding your home and what insurance does can help you be sure you have the right coverage.
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House Poor?
Use this website’s mortgage calculators to compute how much house you can afford. Don’t buy a house on emotion, buy it by the numbers. You will sleep better at night.
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How can I get information about mortgages?
Information about PITI, TIL, Discount Points, mortgage loan fees, credit, APR, sample disclosure documents... Read more
I Can’t Get a Mortgage
Many lenders offer FHA or b-c loans which stands for credit that is not classified as "a" credit The lower the quality of the credit, the lower the "grade."... Read more
Mortgage Escrow Account
Why do lenders require escrow accounts? What do they do for you? Are they only a method for banks to get free use of your money? Or do they hold a greater purpose in our society?... Read more
Mortgage Loan Application Checklist
In today's tight mortgage market preparation puts you one step ahead. The mortgage application checklist will help you prepare.... Read more
Mortgage Loan Closing
Settlement of a mortgage loan is a legal process, so specific procedures and requirements will vary according to local laws, but the following outline of closing practices will help you through the process.... Read more
Mortgage Loan Closing Checklist (Sample)
Ever wonder what goes on with your loan while it is in process? Here is a mortgage lender's checklist that is used to check your file before closing.... Read more
Mortgage Loan Compliance Notices
Lenders are required to give you certain disclosures which are listed here. In addition you will receive a Truth in Lending (TIL) form that shows all the costs associated with your loan.... Read more
Mortgage Loan Modification Instead of Refinance
Lenders don't want to tell you about a little secret that can save you, the borrower, thousands of dollars in refinance costs. It's called loan modification. ... Read more
Mortgage News
Mortgage news can affect mortgage borrowers even if you already have a mortgage. Here is a good way to keep current on the latest news.... Read more
Mortgage Servicing Rights
As a borrower you have certain rights under the law regarding the transfer of your mortgage servicing.... Read more
Mortgage Terms
When you go out to shop for a mortgage you probably are going to hear many unfamiliar terms. Because of all the options available, obtaining a mortgage loan can be a real adventure. And since so much is at stake, your knowledge of the jargon will help you... Read more
New FHA Lending Limits
FHA loan limits make FHA loans available for most refinancing and home purchases. T... Read more
Predatory Lending: Defend Yourself!
Known as predatory lending, unscrupulous lenders use hidden fees and unneeded refinancing to part borrowers from their money. Recent examples with sub prime loans show how borrowers can suffer.... Read more
Private Mortgage Insurance
Private mortgage insurance (PMI) provides coverage to the mortgage lender in the event of default. The premium is paid by the borrower. Mortgage lenders generally require private mortgage insurance on all high loan-to-value ratio loans... Read more
Profit from Foreclosures
Pre foreclosure investing requires a little more work but it will help you make better investments.... Read more
Regulations That Help You Shop for a Mortgage
Whether you submit a completed application or a loan representative prepares your application for a loan, the lender is required to give you a copy of the Real Estate Settlement Protection Act booklet titled Buying Your Home: Settlement Costs.... Read more
Remodeling Contracts
Several forms of contracts are available for homeowners to pay the contractor for home improvements. It depends on your situation as to making the best choice.... Read more
Remodeling Loans
Here's a step by step process to finance your remodeling project. What type of financing is available? Which is best? What is a remodeling or "rehab" loan? How do they differ from other mortgage loans?... Read more
Reverse Mortgage - A Mortgage That Pays You Back
Dorothy Rogers credits a reverse mortgage with allowing her to keep her property after her husband died.... Read more
Sample Commercial Loan Commitment Letter
A sample of a lender's typical commercial loan commitment letter.... Read more
Search Engine
Search our site for the information you need.... Read more
Selecting Your Builder
Selecting the right builder can mean the difference in your emotional and financial well being.... Read more
The Commercial Real Estate Loan Application Process
When you are shopping for a commercial real estate loan you should know what to expect and how to be prepared.... Read more
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Debt Consolidation Loans
Pay off high interest credit card debt with a sensible consolidation loan and sleep better at night. ... Read more
Title Insurance
Title insurance is just what its name implies. It insures that the title on your home is clear of any liens, easements or claims.... Read more
Top Ten Ways to Build Your Mortgage Borrowing Power
Nothing can deflate the joy of buying a new home more than worrying about being turned down for a mortgage loan. Avoid disappointment by sharpening your credentials before you go hunting for a loan.... Read more
Top Ten Ways to Save Money on Your Mortgage
Whether you are buying a home or have a home, there are some tricks to save money on your mortgage.... Read more
Your Right to Cancel Private Mortgage Insurance
Homeowner’s Protection Act offers homeowners the right to cancel under certain circumstances.... Read more
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