Upcoming Seminar Regarding New Mortgage Rules

Buying or Selling Florida real estate in 2014?  Don't miss this important presentation being held on February 4 at the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Just the facts, ma'am

We want to know the facts.
Want to know what ingredients are that being used in the food we eat; "google it".
Want to know if the chemical being used in your home is safe for your family, animals, and environment: google it.
When you are making a purchase as important and expensive as buying a home of course you want to know the facts and some of the answers you will not on the internet. Who better to ask then those who know first hand, the sellers.

Here are some questions that will help lead you to make the best decision for your investment:

• How long has the property been on the market?
• How much did seller pay for the home?
• How did the seller come up with the asking price? 
• How flexible is the price?
• How much does the seller still owe on the home?
• What is the property worth in the current market?
• How many offers have been received? 
• What is included? 

• real vs. personal property

• Why is the seller moving? 
• What is the neighborhood like? 
• neighbors?
• schools?
• noise?
• crime? 
• HOA?
• any foreclosures in the neighborhood? 

• The history of the home? 
• average cost of the utilities? 
• has the property ever been rented? 
• repairs done? 
• repairs needed? 
• preventative maintenance? 
• remodels?
• flood zone?
• haunted? 
• any problems? 
• roof? how old is it?  
• foundation? Any cracks or areas of concern?
• electrical?
• plumbing?
• termites? 
• What do you like/ dislike about the property? area? neighborhood? 

Do research...

What is close by? shopping? Parks? major roads? public transportation? Any foreclosures in the neighborhood? 

Stay tuned for the next blog on home inspections! 

History of Father's Day

Father's Day is celebrated all over the world to honor and celebrate fatherhood and their influence in society, but do you know how the holiday began?

It was Mother's Day 1909 in Spokane,WA, Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd was listening to a sermon honoring mothers. Having lost her mother young, she and her siblings were raised by their father, Henry Jackson Smart,  she wanted to honor him for the same sacrifices, nurturing, guidance he gave them growing up.
Sonora's original thought was to have the celebration on her dad's birthday June 5th, but that gave the town no time to prepare. So it was on June 19th , the third Sunday in June,  Sonora honored her father and all fathers for the men, teachers, and protectors that they were. Thus creating the first Father's Day.
It took a bit of time to get the word spread about this new holiday even with the help of politician William Jennings Bryan it wasn't until 1916 that President Woodrow Wilson initiated it after attending a Father's Day party with friends. In 1924, nearly a eight years later, President Calvin Coolidge declared it a holiday , but it wasn't until 1966 that President Lyndon B. Johnson made it official. Father's day would be celebrated the 3rd Sunday of June as it was with the first. Americans at first rejected the idea for decades  thinking it was just merchants trying to make profits as they did for Mother's Day, newspapers often make jokes in reference to the holiday. Finally, in 1972 the holiday was acknowledged by the Congressional Act  permanently setting President Johnson's order.


What makes a Dad
God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad
~unknown author

This Father's Day take a moment to thank you dad for all that he has done to make you,

 YOU!!

NAR Member Profile Report

I found this very interesting.  The biggest issue for REALTORS is the difficulties encountered in getting financing for their clients.  The bulk of my new business comes from clients that came to me because their REALTOR sent them to an "in-house" mortgage person or a "to big to fail bank" that couldn't get them approved due to a lack of knowledge or lack of motivation on the lenders part.

Join Me Next Week!

I am happy to announce a presentation focused to help professionals in the real estate industry brought to you by Digital Docs and Forever Marketing, Smart Title and Settlement Service, Inc., and The Mortgage Firm.  This cutting edge hyper-focused event is being put on to showcase the next generation of real estate closing and post closing marketing. The union of these three companies works out in every Realtor’s favor because of the unique benefits each company provides.

·         Digital Closing Docs with Forever Marketing - Created by real estate professionals, for real estate professionals. Digital Closing Docs with Forever Marketing provides you with automatic effective contact with past clients and repeat business—just by closing with Smart Title & Settlement Service Inc.

·         Smart Title and Settlement Service Inc. - Title orders have a 24 to 48 hour turnaround time. Providing nationwide coverage requires them to adhere to the individual state guidelines therefore each state has a different time schedule. Smart Title and Settlement Services Inc. has a network of notary closers and attorneys available day, night, & weekends. They close and disburse accurately and timely.

·         The Mortgage Firm - Suzanne Morton - The Mortgage Firm takes great pride in the ability to offer the most complete selection of financial options available. They are a full service mortgage banker with an experienced, knowledgeable staff who will work closely with you offering you both guidance and support in recommending mortgage solutions that meet your financial situation.

The skill and experience these professionals bring to any real estate transaction will help you close deals and provide repeat business down the road. Please join us for the presentation on April 17^th, 2013 at Slainte Irish Pub in Boynton Beach, Florida at 9:30 am for the presentation.

10 Things That SQUASH Your Mortgage Application

10 things that could SQUASH your ability to get a mortgage...

1. Bouncing from job to job
2. You're a deadbeat paying child support or alimony
3. You continue to apply for credit
4. Closing a credit account
5. Borrowing money for the down payment
6. If buying a condo, current condo owners are in arrears on their association dues
7. Small loan amount
8. Outstanding collections
9. Too many hits on your credit score
10. Double "apping"

Confusing?  Contact us today...

The Mortgage Firm South Florida

Wishing everyone a safe and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Mortgage Firm

The Mortgage Firm

Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, The Mortgage Firm has been providing quality real estate financing since 1995. With a proven track record, we serve the lending needs of real estate professionals, builders and individual homebuyers throughout Florida and Georgia.

Our qualified and licensed professionals offer expertise in every area of mortgage lending: Conventional, FHA, VA and USDA.

We have access to a full range of mortgage sources and all of our lending specialists are dedicated to find the right loan with the best rate, terms and cost to meet your unique needs. But that?s just the beginning. Throughout the lending process, our talented staff will provide regular updates and progress reports so you know exactly where you stand, in person or online.

Now more than ever, experienced people and solid financial resources are two of the most important qualities to look for in a lender. With 15 years of success, The Mortgage Firm is a bonded, insured and licensed loan originator that offers both. We are committed to responsible lending and are well capitalized for the regulatory and industry changes to come.


Welcome to The Mortgage Firm

Here at The Mortgage Firm, we take great pride in the ability to offer the most complete selection of financial options available. We are a full service mortgage banker with an experienced, knowledgeable staff who will work closely with you offering you both guidance and support in recommending mortgage solutions that meet your financial situation.

Our company began with the belief that taking care of our customers would be our #1 priority! We have built a strong foundation because of our clients.

Amy Needs Help

Find out how Suzanne Morton of The Mortgage Firm in Delray Beach, Florida can help you too!  Call me at 561-865-5475 or email me at:  DelrayBeachMortgages@gmail.com or yourbestmortgagechoice@gmail.com.

The Mortgage Firm - "Amy Needs Help"

Hey everyone, please enjoy our new video, "Amy Needs Help"!

First Time Home Buyers

Purchasing a a first home can be very exciting and also very nerve racking. The excitement may take over and you may find yourself doing things a little out of order. Most people think they should find the home they want then start the mortgage process. Those people would be wrong. 

When I speak with first time home buyers I like to know that I was the first stop on their journey to home ownership. When I speak with first time buyers I can make it clear exactly what they are going to be able to afford and give a very good estimation of what a monthly payment will be. This protects the buyer from the disappointment of house hunting outside of their price range. 

When I have buyers into my office I want to make sure they are getting the entire picture so I request these documents:

·        Most recent two years (2010 & 2011) federal tax returns and W2’s or 1099’s

·        Most recent pay stubs if salaried

·        All pages of your most recent two months bank statements or quarterly statements for investment or retirement accounts, if there are any large and unusual deposits be ready to explain where they came from

The process of getting a mortgage can be very challenging and frustrating without the proper guidance from a professional.

Thinking Of Buying A Foreclosure In South Florida?

South Florida leads the nation is distressed home mortgages.  In Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties 25% of mortgages are at least 90 days overdue or in foreclosure, this information according to data released May 9^th from Foreclosure-Response.org.

Because of this glut of foreclosed homes, some analysts’ worry that banked owned homes could flood the market, and drive the prices of homes down even further.  But many others expect values to remain stable because willing buyers are enticed by low prices and historically low rates.

So if you are in the market to buy a new home, the timing could not be better. Low rates, buyers market, and an expert to guide you with all of your mortgage needs.

I have been in the mortgage business for nearly 30 years and have seen everything that the mortgage market can deliver.

Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae Changes

Because regulations change daily in our industry, it's critical that we share updates and insights with referral partners. As you may know, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae recently announced changes to the short sale process. Beginning in June, servicers will be required to make decisions on short sales under new timelines. Additionally, if these timelines cannot be met, there are requirements on keeping borrowers updated on the process. The Mortgage Firm, Inc. and I appreciate our partnership and thank you for doing business with us. If you want to discuss in more detail about this change and its impact, or if there are any opportunities to do business together today, please contact me by phone at 561-336-3258 or email suzanne@themortgagefirm.com.

Housing Relief Plans For FHA Borrowers and Servicemembers

The Obama administration has announced two new steps that will be taken to assist FHA borrowers and servicemembers in a statement released this week.

The administration estimates that 2-3 million FHA borrowers will be eligible.  Plans for FHA borrowers include refinancing at a lower cost and a reduction in the insurance premium.  The FHA currently charges an up-front mortgage insurance premium of 1 percent of the loan balance and an additional 1.15 percent of the balance per year; the up-front premium will be reduced to .01 percent for loans originated prior to June 1, 2009.  Annual fees for refinancing will be reduced to .55 percent.

One provision will have servicemen who were foreclosed upon since 2006 reviewed, and if any are found to have been wrongfully foreclosed upon, they can receive compensation equal to a minimum of lost equity, plus interest.  In addition to foreclosure reviews, service members will be reviewed for interest rates to see if any were charged more than 6 percent after a request to lower the rate.

For veterans, $10 million will go into the Veterans Affairs fund to guarantee loans on favorable terms.