Dump the Junk and Stop Unwanted Solicitations

"Stop Unwanted Communications from Marketers and Spammers"

Most of us already know about the Federal Trade Commission’s national 'Do Not Call List' which will help stop telemarketing calls, but there are other resources you can utilize to help dump the junk.

www.DoNotCall.gov

Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call List: Don’t forget to add your cell phone and fax numbers too.

www.DmaChoice.org

DMAchoice™ is an online tool developed by the Direct Marketing Association to help you manage your mail. Direct mail is divided into four categories: Credit Offers, Catalogs, Magazine Offers and Other Mail Offers. By visiting the DMAchoice™ website you can request to start or stop receiving mail from individual companies within each category—or from an entire category at once.

DMAchoice's™ email Preference Service (eMPS) can help you control the number of commercial emails you receive.  You can register with the eMPS removal file online and the registration is good for five years.

www.OptOutPrescreen.com

OptOutPrescreen.com is the official consumer credit reporting industry website which to accept and process requests from consumers to opt-in or opt-out of firm offers of credit or insurance.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Consumer Credit Reporting Companies are permitted to include your name on lists used by creditors or insurers to make firm offers of credit or insurance which were not initiated by the consumer. The FCRA also provided you the right to “Opt-Out”, which prevents Consumer Credit Reporting Companies from providing your credit file information for Firm Offers. Through this website, you may request to Opt-Out from receiving Firm Offers for either 5 years or permanently.

D.C. Region Poised for Nation's Biggest Housing Gains

Homeowners in the Washington area can uncross their fingers -- 2011 is expected to be the best year for home prices the region has witnessed since the recession, with experts saying the area's market recovery will be tops in the nation.

                       

The region's relatively strong uptick in prices over the last year -- second in the nation -- gives analysts reason to believe the Washington market could see a 6.5 percent increase in home prices over the next 12 months, according to a new report by Clear Capital, which tracks real estate trends. It's the biggest increase the firm is predicting across the country.

"D.C. prices are already going up for all homeowners who have purchased a home in last two years," said Alex Villacorta, senior statistician at Clear Capital. "So they are likely to see positive equity in that purchase."

Preparing Your House for the Market

If you're selling your home, make sure your home has "curb appeal." Remember, you can't change a first impression. If your home looks like a diamond in the rough, think about putting a small investment into cleaning up the outward appearance.

Imagine that you are seeing the property as a potential buyer. You'll want to do a little yard work - clear away dead shrubbery, and trim your trees and lawn. Weed the flower beds or plant some flowers that will bloom in season. Make sure the driveway is not stained, and if you can't afford to paint the home entirely, at least make sure the front door and immediate entryway is immaculate.

Fresh and clean are still the keywords to making a good first impression once the potential buyer walks through the door. Unless a particular window is facing an eyesore or a neighboring building, open the drapes and let the sunshine in! Put your dog in the back yard or garage so he's not jumping on the new people who just walked in.... they might have allergies! There is much you can do to improve the look of your home, without investing a great deal of money.

Call me to get a copy of my pamphlet, "33 Ways to Sell Your Home Fast." I'd be happy to share more tips with you and assist you in obtaining financing for your next home as well.

Why Pay Private Mortgage Insurance?

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is required by most lenders when a borrower puts less than 20% down on a purchase loan. Paid for by the borrower, PMI not only protects the lender from foreclosure, it also enables many buyers to qualify for loans and purchase real estate when they couldn't have otherwise. On January 1st, 2007, legislation went into effect making PMI tax deductible for new borrowers whose personal adjusted gross income is $100,000 or less. This has created additional opportunities for many buyers to finance a more expensive home or, in some cases, to obtain a lower monthly payment, while reducing annual income taxes.

An alternative financing option that borrowers may also consider involves taking out two home loans concurrently. The second loan, commonly referred to as a "piggyback loan", can take the form of a traditional home loan or a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC). It supplements the borrower's funds to help them achieve a 20% down payment, eliminating the need for PMI. However, in most cases PMI can be cancelled once the accumulated equity has reached 20% of the home's value, while a second home loan will have to be paid back in full regardless. Factor in the new PMI tax benefit, and a borrower's monthly payment may actually be lower with PMI versus a piggyback loan scenario.

It's that time of year again...



Hitting the slopes!



Around this time each year I try to line things up so I will have some breathing room around the holidays to free up extra time to spend with family and friends and every year my plan fails!! No matter how sure you are these last few loans of the year will be seamless there is always a hiccup.



As frustrating as it can sometimes be; I enjoy the challenges and enjoy knowing that I am helping people to buy their 1st home or save money in a tough economy when every penny counts. These are the reasons I love what I do and I would love to help you buy your next home or save you money with a lower interest rate. In case there is confusion Embrace Home Loans is not a brokerage, we are a direct lender  offering extremely competitive rates and superior service, if I do say so myself!



THANK YOU to all my loyal customers and referral partners, I couldn't do it without you!

I am looking forward to the holidays as I recognize how fortunate I am to have a happy healthy family, good friends, caring colleagues and a fantastic, first-rate company to work for!

Happy Holidays!!!