Buying a House Is Easy!

One of the reasons I read the Motley Fool website (www.fool.com) is that it combines some humor with financial advice. I recently revisited an article posted there last spring about buying a home, which makes some basic, but important points about what you should do when preparing to buy a home.

• Make a budget
• Calculate costs of ownership
• Meet with me to review your credit
• Research neighborhoods
• Learn the floor layout at the closest Home Depot or Lowe's!

Read the whole article here.

Mortgage Knowledge is Power!

Of all the things I bring to my relationship with clients, the one they most often mention is that I give them the knowledge and information they need to empower them to make a sound financial decision. I don't make decisions for my clients, rather I provide the best mortgage options available, and help them make an educated decision. I am not a fan of treating a home like a piggy bank, and am much more likely to discuss planning to be debt free than strategizing how to tap equity in a home. Even so, there are many scenarios where refinancing a current mortgage makes sense.

There are some good ideas in this recent article on RealtyTimes.com. Two which I thought were noteworthy:

• Take advantage of the great rates available on fixed rate mortgages to prevent monthly payments from going up when todays crop of adjustable rates hits the first rate adjustment; and
• Use equity in a home to make a significant down payment on an investment property (I suggest 20% to get the best financing on the investment property).

Call me today to find out what your interest rate will be if you decide to get out of your ARM!

Peter Kazaks * 414.807.7277 * Peter@MortgageMKE.com

Vote Today!

This morning I voted. As a homeowner, small business owner, and tax payer, I have the right and moreover the responsibility to vote. I urge you to do the same!

Please take advantage of the opportunity to make your voice heard in our government.

"Feels Like the First Time"

The first thing I do with all of my new clients is go over their credit report line by line, ensuring that they are aware of everything that shows up, and discussing how to protect or earn a great credit score. I had an initial meeting yesterday with a married couple who are in the process of selling their first house and shopping for a larger home to accommodate their growing family. While this couple had been through the financing process before, they had never seen their credit report, let alone had someone explain it to them. After we had discussed the good (and a little bit of bad) which makes up their credit profile, the husband turned to the wife and said, "this feels like the first time I have applied for a mortgage." Was this cheesy? No. The fact of the matter is that many mortgage originators work hard to get potential clients in front of them and "close the deal" as fast as possible. This is not the approach I take--a home is the largest financial decision you will make, and as such, I take it very seriously. It is not unusual for a new client to tell me they did not know much about credit before their meeting, and this particular client hammered the point home in an entertaining way.

If you or someone you know can benefit from advice given by a True Mortgage Professional, someone who is an expert on credit as well as mortgage products, please urge them to talk to me by calling 414.807.7277 or sending an e-mail to: Peter@MortgageMKE.com