Blogs Tagged: loans

10 Steps to Successfully Buying a Home - Step 3: Loan Application Checklist

Posted On: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 6:00am | Posted By: dianehourany
Topics: Buyers and Sellers

There are 9 simple steps to ensure success when you embark on your New Year's resolution to finally buy a home of your own. Step 1, the Initial Consultation, talked about the importance of our first meeting to evaluate your needs and your resources. Step 2, we talked about the Loan Consultation.

Step 3 - The Loan Application Checklist. Today, we talk about what you will need to apply for a loan.

10 Steps to Successfully Buying a Home - Step 2: The Loan Consultation

Posted On: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 - 6:08am | Posted By: dianehourany
Topics: Buyers and Sellers

Yesterday we talked about the first step in buying a home: the Initial Consultation. Today we talk about the best way to go about getting qualified for a loan.

Buyers: How Does a 5% Down Payment Requirement Sound to You?

Posted On: Friday, September 9, 2011 - 1:28pm | Posted By: dianehourany
Topics: Buyers and Sellers

I just learned about a great loan that only requires only a 5% down  payment, no PMI (private mortgage insurance, which saves about $300-$400/month), and you do not need to be a first time home buyer or earn below a certain income, like some of the programs out there.


Tired of Renting? Thinking About Buying Your First Home?

Posted On: Sunday, August 7, 2011 - 5:06am | Posted By: dianehourany
Topics: Buyers and Sellers

With interest rates low, many renters are starting to think about purchasing a home of their own. While simple rental cost vs. mortgage cost comparisons can be very attractive, buying a home is a serious commitment, and there are many factors to consider.

Loans Are About to Get More Expensive

Posted On: Wednesday, July 6, 2011 - 2:21pm | Posted By: dianehourany

If you plan on buying a home in the next 4 to 6 weeks and you think you'll need a loan above $625k, here's an incentive to find that house now:  As of September 30, the Fannie Mae high balance limit of $729k is set to be reduced to $625k.  This will make loans above $625k more expensive than they are now. Many lenders are cutting off loans in the higher amount now or will by the end of July in order to process them by the end of September.

What the interest rates look like:

Extension of Higher Conforming Loan Limits is Great News for SF!

Posted On: Friday, October 1, 2010 - 11:19am | Posted By: matthewgoulden
Topics: Buyers and Sellers

Late yesterday, President Obama signed a resolution that included a provision extending through fiscal year 2011 the current conforming loan limit of $729,750 for high-cost areas, including many in California.  The same limits will also be extended to loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration.

FHA, Fannie Mae loan limits extended to 2011

Posted On: Thursday, September 30, 2010 - 2:44pm | Posted By: robrogers
Topics: Market Statistics

Great news for San Francisco home buyers, Congress has extended the increase in loan limits of $729,750 through Sept 2011!  This move makes many properties within the city eligible for these lower cost loans.  Loan limits over $729,750 are not insured by the government agencies and are generally much tougher to qualify for, and are at a higher interest rate.  If Congress had not passed this extension, the loan limit would have diminished significantly!

LGBT housing protections

Posted On: Friday, July 2, 2010 - 11:04am | Posted By: robrogers
Topics: Laws and Regulations

Great news for the LGBT community.  HUD has announced a new policy giving protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people who file complaints of housing discrimination.  Although we are generally pretty liberal here in San Francisco, this policy extends throughout the entire country.  The new policy carries into rights under loan applications, and lender discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.