In today’s marketplace, many buyers are finding themselves involved in multiple offer situations, bidding wars, and high levels of competition for nice- and nicely-priced homes.  While money talks and offering a higher price is the obvious way to win a bidding war, there are many other approaches buyers can take to stand out and above…

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Top Tips To Make Home Buying a Breeze   Tip #1 – Get Pre-Approved NOW        Buying a home a month from now?  Buying a home a year from now?  Not sure if, when, or where you’ll buy a home?  Either way, get pre-approved now!  A pre-approval is the most important planning action you…

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How to Compete in a Seller’s Market?        In most areas of our country, the real estate industry is seeing a marketplace leaning heavily toward a seller’s market.  Low inventory, high competition among buyers, rising prices, and little wiggle room with regard to inspection demands and contingencies are commonplace, all evidence of a…

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Delayed Financing – Cash out for Investment Properties   Often times, it benefits an investor to acquire a new property with a cash transaction.  Rather than obtaining a mortgage initially, offering cash can bring about several benefits.  For one, in a competitive market, sellers will often view a cash offer more favorably than a financed…

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How to cancel PMI (mortgage insurance)   One questions I often get from clients buying a home or refinancing with less than 20% down or 20% equity is “how do I cancel PMI on my mortgage?”.  PMI is a benefit to both the lender and, though harder to recognize, the borrower.  Without mortgage insurance companies,…

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How Does the Fed Affect Mortgage Rates? Along with employment & jobs numbers over the past several months, the Fed and their debate on the future of interest rates has fueled the minute rises and falls we’ve seen on rate sheets over the last several months. Going back to last December’s rate increase, the markets…

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Trended Credit Data is Here   Trended credit data is making waves in the mortgage industry as a new way for creditors to view applicant’s applications for credit.  In traditional models, credit is viewed by an underwriter as a snapshot in time, whereas ‘trended credit data’ has been created to give a risk manager a…

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Step Toward Success Education and action are key to moving mortgage professionals toward their goals By John Meussner, loan officer, Mason-McDuffie Mortgage |   As 2016 continues to unfold, people across the country are obsessed with getting in 10,000-plus steps each day to meet their fitness goals. That challenge is in front of them all day, displayed on…

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Delaware Mortgage Loans   Delaware, though a small state by square mileage standards, is a huge state when it comes to the diversity of homes, properties, and mortgage products available.  While some loan officers claim they can do business in every state, the team at JMLoans would argue that Delaware mortgage loans require a loan…

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“Blend”ing Service & Technology for the Ultimate Mortgage Experience  – Mobile Mortgages   Here at Mason McDuffie Mortgage we’re always focusing on better.  Better loan products.  Better loan officers.  Better operations staff.  Better service.  We know there’s no such thing as perfect in today’s mortgage world, so that’s not what we’re striving for.  What we’re…

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