Selling Home

Smartmoney.com: Real Estate: Sell Your Home — Fast Thursday December 29, 2005 3:32 PM ET U.S. Markets close in: :28 Search (choose an option below) Quote Charting Earnings Ratings Competition Financials Profile Key Statistics Insiders Site Search News (Enter Symbol) advanced search SmartMoney Select My Portfolio Tools Maps Stocks Advanced Trading Funds ETFs Personal Finance Autos Career Journal College Planning Debt Management Health Care Insurance Life LTC Insurance Real Estate Retirement Tax Guide Economy & Bonds Small Business SmartMoney TV SmartMoney Magazine SmartMoney University Business Travel Technology SmartMoney Mobile Holiday Survival Guide Select Homepage Stock Screener Market Map 1000 Fund Screener Stock Compare Fund Map 1000 Fund Compare XStream Quotes More... Portfolio Tracker Watchlist Calendar Intraday Alerts News Alerts Sector Tracker ETF Center Map of the Market XStream Quotes Stock Screener Stock Compare Price Check Calculator More... 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The Market Now ForexTV Futures Life Stages CEO Interview Sturm Screen Mossberg Report Subscribe Give a gift Customer Service Media Kit Editorial Calendar Custom Publishing Investing 101 Taking Action Strategic Investing Quizzes More... Please enable javascript to properly view the menu. Site Map DJIA 10789.06 -7.20 Nasdaq 2219.66 -9.28 S&P 500 1255.08 -3.09 Rus 2000 679.31 -0.77 10 Yr Bd 4.36 -0.01 DJTA 4248.75 24.82 Wil 5000 12585.54 -25.30 S&P 400 743.20 -0.93 Nas 100 1655.52 -11.58 Sign up now for FREE SmartMoney.com Newsletters Enter your email address below Personal Finance : Real Estate : Selling : Sell Your Home — Fast Real Estate Sell Your Home — Fast By Stacey L. Bradford Click here for more stories by Stacey L. Bradford . In This Section A Seller's Checklist Choosing a Broker Wisely Selling Without a Broker Taxes When You Sell Your Home More... Related Content Ask SmartMoney Who Gets the Home? To Rent or to Buy? Advertisement 4.25% APY with hsbcdirect.com Online Savings. Earn 8X the national savings average and make money into big money. No minimums. No monthly fees. Member FDIC. Email This Story Print This Story Save This Story Send Us Your Comments Add this column to your News Alerts (New!) IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO sell your home in a matter of days rather than months, you might want to take some tips from 32-year-old Mona Ross Berman. To get her Washington, D.C., townhouse ready for sale in early 2004, the interior designer went through every room, sweating the details. She rearranged furniture, added sophisticated coffee-table books and strategically placed vases and throw pillows to create a cozy environment. She then organized every closet to showcase her ample storage space. Finally, she removed all personal items, including her wedding photos, so potential buyers wouldn't associate the house with someone else. "I think that if you can get a home to show well, it can get you [better results] than it really should," Berman says. Her strategy worked. Within four days of placing her property on the market, she had five offers in hand. Long gone are the days when you can simply throw some cookie dough into the oven and get an offer for your house. Thanks to the Internet, home buyers are more sophisticated and demanding than ever before. At a bare minimum, would-be sellers need to dispose of clutter and make any necessary repairs. But to really make a property stand out from the crowd and sell quickly, sellers might need to do the following. 1. Hire an Interior Designer A well-decorated home will sell faster and for more money than one that looks frumpy. That's why more and more sellers are hiring interior designers to do everything from rearrange furniture and paint walls a neutral color to rent artwork. This service, known as "staging," can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a small job to several thousand dollars for high-end properties, says Patricia Dugan, a realtor with The Corcoran Group. Experts across the country agree that the investment is worthwhile for most properties. According to 2002 data from Coldwell Banker, staged homes in the San Francisco Bay area spent just 25.3 days on the market and sold at the asking price, while "non-staged" homes languished on the market for 48.2 days and sold for 2% below the asking price. This information is based on more than 3,000 homes sold between Jan. 1, 2002 and Oct. 31, 2002. 2. Hire an Organizer A lovely décor will get you only so far. To really get the buyers chomping at the bit, you need to highlight your home's storage space as well. That means everything should be clean and organized — closets, bathroom vanities, the garage and basement. It might sound trivial, but your home's sale really could rest on whether your linen closets can comfortably store your towels. If you identify more with Oscar Madison of "The Odd Couple" than with Felix Ungar, it might make sense to hire a professional organizer for $75 to $100 an hour. This is especially helpful for those who've lived in their homes for many years and don't know how to dig themselves out of the mess. Some organizers will even help run a yard sale that could end up paying for their services. If you're not sure how to find this type of service, ask your realtor. Most have a list of pros at their fingertips. 3. Hire a Photographer Up to 74% of home buyers start their search online, according to the National Association of Realtors. Indeed, the Web has become such an important marketing tool that all the realtors we spoke with encourage their clients to hire a professional photographer, which can cost as little as $100, for their online snapshots. Think of it this way: If someone doesn't like how your home looks on the Web, he or she won't bother to make an appointment to see the property in person. Is that a risk you're willing to take? While putting photographs online isn't exactly new, there are some emerging trends. Six years ago it was OK to have one outside shot of the house, says Tara Rogers, director of marketing for Real Living, a Columbus, Ohio-based real-estate firm. Now, some potential buyers want to see up to a 10-picture slideshow detailing multiple rooms before they commit to a walk-through, she says. Dare to post small, grainy pictures, and risk little foot traffic in your home. 4. Try Marketing Gimmicks Despite impressive national home-sale figures, some local markets are starting to soften. For example, homes in the western suburbs of Boston are starting to languish on the market for up to 90 days after previously selling in just 15 to 30, says Nelson Zide, co-owner of ERA Key Realty Services, a Framingham, Mass.-based real-estate brokerage. Zide recently started implementing marketing gimmicks to increase the number of potential buyers to walk through his clients' homes. "I haven't done this in 12 or 13 years," he says. What strategies does he use? Rather than slash the asking price, he might encourage condo owners, for example, to pay the maintenance fees for a full year, or ask home owners to provide buyers with a cash rebate that's marketed as a decorating allowance. Nine times out of 10, such gimmicks cost less than it would to drop the asking price enough to attract a buyer with a smaller budget, says Zide. It's just one more way to get a potential buyer excited about your home. 5. Hold Open Houses The benefits of an open house are debatable. Industry experts agree that they tend to benefit realtors more than home owners. (After all, it's a great way for realtors to get new clients.) But that doesn't mean that they can't work. The key is to hold them at various times of the day and week so that folks with busy schedules can squeeze in a viewing. Real Living's Rogers says her company's agents make sure to schedule open houses on Saturdays, as well as in the evenings so people can stop by after work. Another technique more people are implementing is to hold open houses at the time of day when their house shows the best. If you have a beautiful garden, show it off during the morning before the flowers start to wilt. If you have a stunning view of the sunset, make sure people get to see the late-afternoon light. In other words, if there's one thing that you love most about your home, be sure to share it with potential buyers. For more on selling your home, read our recent article . 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Mortgages, Mortgage Rates and Home Loans by Quicken Loans America's Home Loan Experts SM GO My Quicken Loans Login Great Rates. Expert Advice. Fast Process. Call 800-251-9080 To Get Your Rate   Refinance Refinance Center Learn About Refinancing Refinance Calculators Refinance Loan Options Contact a Refinance Expert Home Purchase Home Purchase Center Learn About Buying a Home Home Purchase Calculators Home Purchase Loan Options Contact a Purchase Expert Home Equity Home Equity Center Learn About Home Equity Home Equity Calculators Home Equity Loan Options Calculators Calculators Refinance Calculators Home Purchase Calculators Home Equity Calculators Contact a Loan Expert Loan Options Loan Options Refinance Loan Options Purchase Loan Options Home Equity Loan Options Contact a Loan Expert Bad Credit Rates Get your loan approved in just minutes over the phone We bring the paperwork to you for signing it's quick and easy! Calculate YOUR potential mortgage payment below. Select Loan Purpose Refinance Purchase Desired Loan Amount: Expected Purchase Price: Choose A State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Current Monthly Payment: Expected Down Payment: Calculate YOUR potential mortgage payment below. Select Loan Purpose     Refinance Purchase Choose A State           Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Desired Loan Amount Current Monthly Payment Expected Purchase Price Expected Down Payment -- Dis-ARM Yourself Now! Lock into a fixed rate today! Quicken Loans' Chairman Dan Gilbert hosts CNBC's "Squawk Box". Read More Start Taking Control of Your Credit! Introducing FreshStart Get approved for your mortgage - even with less-than-perfect credit Get on the path to paying off debt and repairing your credit Consolidate high-interest bills into one low-interest mortgage payment FIND OUT MORE Rates Keep Rising. Get a Fixed Rate Now! The Fed will keep raising interest rates - Get out of your adjustable rate mortgage or home equity line of credit! Lock your rate for 30 years with payment flexibility. Introducing FIND OUT MORE Flexible guidelines to fit your needs! Introducing Advantage1st No doc and full doc options available Cash out and interest-only options Get a low rate on a mortgage that fits your needs FIND OUT MORE Want a low mortgage rate? Call a Quicken Loans Mortgage Banker now to find out how you can get a low mortgage rate and payment flexibility with our SmartArm ® loan. A Quicken Loans Exclusive FIND OUT MORE What's the Difference between Interest Rate and APR? When you get a mortgage, you are charged two different rates--the annual percentage rate (APR) and the interest rate. Understanding the difference between the two rates is important and will help you make an informed decision when shopping for the right lender and the right loan... Read More Archived News Homeowners Can Still Refinance at Low Rates Dec 29, 2005 Despite Decline, Housing Still Strong Dec 28, 2005 More Mortgage News Quicken Loans - We Are Here to Help You! No one makes it easier than the home loan experts at Quicken Loans! We are ready to help you with your new mortgage , refinance , or home equity loan needs — all at great low interest rates. Explore our web site for exclusive home loan options, easy-to-use mortgage calculators , home loan articles, and instant rate quotes on several mortgages. Quicken Loans is America's #1 online mortgage lender. Apply for your mortgage online or talk to a Quicken Loans home loan expert today. Call us now at 800-251-9080. 3,400 home loan experts ready to help you Refinancing | Home Loans | Home Equity Loans | My Quicken Loans Login Mortgage News | Mortgage Rates | Mortgage Calculators | Apply Online About Us | Careers | Contact Us | Feedback | Site Map | Help | Search Security and Privacy | Disclosures and Licenses | Terms of Use © 2000 - 2005 Quicken Loans Inc., All rights reserved. Lending services provided by Quicken Loans Inc., a subsidiary of Rock Holdings Inc. “Quicken Loans” is a registered service mark of Intuit Inc., used under license. Build 2741 2005-10-25 09:50:43

foreclosure property There are

Is Foreclosure Investing for You? Online Catalog | Shopping Cart HOME | Foreclosure Investing | Short Sales | Articles | Financing | Commercial | Mobile Homes | Cash Flow | Legal | News Group CRE Online > Money-Making Ideas > Is Foreclosure Investing for You? Is Foreclosure Investing for You? by Ronald Starr If you are new to real estate investing and considering buying foreclosure properties, you need to be realistic about what you are facing. If you feel more sober about foreclosure investing after reading what I have written below, I will have accomplished my goal. Foreclosure investing is not a good investment approach for beginners. I recommend that you have at least a couple of years' experience with more traditional real estate investing first. The profits from foreclosure investing can be huge. That makes foreclosures attractive. There is an awful lot to know in order to avoid the problems that can occur. If you don't know what you are doing, one disastrous foreclosure investment can wipe out your capital and your enthusiasm for all real estate investing. Three ways to buy a foreclosure property There are three basic approaches to buying properties in foreclosure depending on the stage of the foreclosure process: buying pre-foreclosures, buying at the foreclosure auction, and buying from lender after the foreclosure sale. If you buy from the delinquent property owner before it goes to auction, you have bought a pre-foreclosure deal. Buying at the auction is self-explanatory. If nobody bids, the lender ends up with the property. Buying from the lender after the auction is called buying REOs (real estate owned) or Repos, (repossessions). Sometimes you will see them referred to as "corporation owned" or, my favored term, "lender owned." REOs are the least risky way to buy foreclosures You may have more risk than you would in a regular real estate transaction, but REOs are less risky than in buying at the auction. Since REOs are somewhat similar to a regular sale, they can be pretty safe. You might not get a seller's disclosure. In California, a lender who acquires a property through foreclosure does not have to offer a disclosure to you as a buyer. But, if there are problems after you buy the property, you might be able to sue the lender who sold you the property, or at least threaten to sue them, and they might make things right or pay part of the cost. There's a good chance they will still be around after the sale. The risks of buying pre-foreclosure real estate The next riskiest foreclosure purchase is the pre-foreclosure. If an owner of a pre-foreclosure disappears, you risk not getting anything from him after the sale. A pre-foreclosure seller might be desperate and lie to you about the condition of the property and the neighborhood. There might be liens on the property that the seller "forgot" to mention. The big utility bills become the buyer's responsibility if the pre-foreclosure investor failed to check them out. Ditto for unpaid property taxes. There may be another person on title who did not sign the deed, and so on. In California and, I believe, some other states, there are special laws related to dealing with and buying a property from a homeowner occupant who is in default on a loan. If the contracts and the sale are not done according to the law, the seller has the right to rescind the sale and could, long after the sale, sue to have the sale reversed. There are extreme penalties for violating the law. Remember, "Ignorance of the law is no excuse." You need to know the state law when you do pre-foreclosure investing. Can the seller can legally deed the property to you? What if the seller is already in bankruptcy? The deed is likely not valid unless it has gone through the bankruptcy court. You have to call the local bankruptcy court to check for a possible filing. And, of course, the seller could have filed bankruptcy in another bankruptcy court that you did not call. And, even if the seller does not file bankruptcy until after your purchase, you may have to deed the property back to the seller up to three years after you bought it. If selling the property made the seller destitute, and the seller sold for much below market value--which you hope he did so you could make a good profit--the bankruptcy trustee can require you to deed the property into the bankruptcy estate on the grounds that the sale was a "fraudulent transfer," wherein the seller deprived his creditors of an asset which could help pay the debts. At that point, you become a creditor of the bankruptcy estate. Is this really what you planned when you bought the "great pre-foreclosure deal"? A lot of pre-foreclosure buyers may forego some of the inspections because they are hurrying to buy before the foreclosure auction. Sometimes the buyers will give money to the owner, get a deed, and record the deed themselves in the land records office of the county. The pre-foreclosure buyer has to be very alert to a lot of possibilities and check them out. You must have superior knowledge of real estate investing before you start doing pre-foreclosure investing. But, if you sign a proper sales contract with the owner, get appropriate inspections, go through an escrow with a knowledgeable escrow agent, and look at the property yourself, you probably will not be at great risk. If you use the safeguards above, you are going to have less risk than in most foreclosure auction buys. The risk of buying at the foreclosure auction Buying at the auction is the riskiest foreclosure purchase. At the auction you have no real estate agent to lead you through the process. You have no escrow and no title report let alone title insurance. In most jurisdictions it is an all cash sale. In some states you may have a week to a month to come up with the full purchase price. If you do not raise the money, you lose your deposit. At the auction the people conducting the sale will announce that the successful bidder will receive NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. You have no assurance that there are not other liens or loans on the property. You do not have any inspections by contractors, roofers, pest inspectors, building inspections, water well, or septic system experts. You get no disclosure from the seller as to the condition of the building or what is happening in the neighborhood. Usually you cannot see the inside of the building; perhaps not even the back of the outside. You know nothing about the electrical system, the plumbing, the heating, or air conditioning. If you buy an occupied property, you have to do an eviction, which, in some states, can drag out for a while, preventing you from getting into the property quickly to prepare for resale. Sometimes the occupants, if they are former owners, will vandalize the properties before leaving or steal items, such as cabinets, doors, fixtures, lamps, etc. If you are buying to resell the property quickly for a profit, you had better know if your buyer can readily get title insurance when buying your foreclosed-upon property. When you get a very good deal at a foreclosure auction, you may find that the former owner files a lawsuit to attempt to overturn the sale. So be prepared to hire an attorney and fight for your profit. Experience and knowledge build your foundation Now do you begin to understand why I recommend that beginners not start investing in foreclosures? Start with simpler buying approaches and get some experience with properties, laws, ordinances, deeds, and loans, and so on to provide a foundation. Learn to do title searches as fast as the professionals. Get to know intimately the government offices that have property records and tax assessment rolls. Get to know the property values in an area where you invest. Learn about the problems with properties in different neighborhoods, such as bad soil, poor construction in certain subdivisions, problems with septic systems and wells, and soil contamination. When you have learned all that, start studying up on foreclosures. Study the foreclosure laws in your state. Study law books on the priority of liens, bidding at auctions, title insurance, and bankruptcy. When you fully understand foreclosures, start buying them. I am not trying to stop you from investing in foreclosures. They can be profitable for those who can practice it well. But, few beginners can do it well. I'm telling you to be realistic and get the background that will allow you to be successful in foreclosure investing. The field is rife with risk. You can easily lose your whole investment if you make a single mistake. Please believe me, even with all my years of real estate investing experience, it has happened to me. Good Investing, Ron Starr MORE INFORMATION More on this topic... Customers also bought...

Home Equity Lending The

The National Home Equity Mortgage Association The National Home Equity Mortgage Association | Who We Are Who We Are NHEMA At A Glance NonPrime Mortgage Loan Facts and Statistics Ethics and Standards Conferences and Educational Programs Frequently Asked Questions NHEMA Leadership Staff Directory | Communications Communications Press Releases » Reports and Studies » Equity Update Equity Magazine Advertising Opportunities News Archives NHEMA Joins Effort to Help Gulf Coast Mortgage Professionals Affected by Hurricane Katrina Nonprime Mortgage Lenders Providing Unprecedented Relief ToHomeowners Affected By Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Leading Trade Associations Join Forces To Produce Another Successful NonPrime Mortgage Trade Show NHEMA Statement Regarding Federal Mortgage Loan Data Studies Confirm Risk Factors Drive Loan Pricing Prepayment Fees Lead to Lower Interest Rates - June 23, 2005 Mortgage Pricing Is Based on Risk - June 23, 2005 | Join NHEMA Join NHEMA NHEMA Member Overview NHEMA Member Benefits Information Resources Membership Categories and Fees Organization | Events Events | Links Links | Contact Us Contact Us -- Members only Login NHEMA Conference Schedule January or February, 2006 (exact dates to be determined) NHEMA Emerging Markets Forum Miami, FL February 9-10, 2006 2006 NHEMA Business Technology Roundtable Westin South Coast Plaza Costa Mesa, CA April 6-8, 2006 NHEMA 2006 Annual Conference Doral Resort Miami, FL May 17-18, 2006 NHEMA Fraud Prevention & Detection Workshop Hyatt Regency San Antonio San Antonio, TX June 7-8, 2006 NHEMA Compliance & Servicing Workshop Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Newport Beach, CA News and Current Events Federal Financial Regulatory Agencies Propose Guidance on Nontraditional Mortgage Products The federal financial regulatory agencies issued for comment proposed guidance on residential mortgage products that allow borrowers to defer repayment of principal and sometimes interest. Read more. Speakers at NHEMA Webcast Address Effectively Addressing Federal and State Investigations into Lending Practices Consider the following scenario: an executive vice president at your firm receives a phone call on a Friday afternoon from the state Attorney General's office, advising him that a multi-state investigation has commenced into alleged predatory lending, covering transactions dating back five years. What should your initial response be? Speakers at a fall Webcast, sponsored by NHEMA, considered numerous options. Should you circle the wagons and go into bunker mode? Call a press conference to deny all allegations and paint the action as a baseless, politically motivated witch hunt? Read on to find out. Please Donate to the NAMB Hurricane Relief Fund NHEMA supports the Hurricane Relief Fund, established by the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, to provide financial assistance to its members who have experienced extreme loss from the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina. Many have lost their homes, their livelihoods, and for some, far worse. Please do what you can to support your broker associates on the Gulf Coast by clicking here to make a donation. Nonprime Mortgage Lenders Providing Unprecedented Relief to Homeowners Affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, nonprime mortgage lenders, like other responsible financial services providers, are making unprecedented efforts to help disaster survivors. To learn more, click here . NHEMA Responds to Release of New HMDA Data The Federal Reserve Board released its report on 2004 HMDA data on September 13, 2005. To read NHEMA's statement responding to the HMDA report, click here . To view the HMDA report and the press release announcing it, click here . Studies Confirm Risk Factors Drive Mortgage Loan Pricing An analysis of approximately 1 million mortgage loan applications confirms that borrowers' credit risk profiles directly relate the the APRs on their loans. The analysis, requested by NHEMA and authored by University of Virginia Professors Richard F. DeMong and James E. Burroughs, also clearly demonstrate that loans with prepayment fee clauses have lower APRs than those that do not. To download the studies "Mortgage Pricing is Based on Risk," and "Prepayment Fees Lead to Lower Interest Rates", click here . To view NHEMA's press release, click here . Announcing Online Advertising Opportunities Through NHEMA NHEMA is now accepting limited advertising on the key online information portals for the nonprime mortgage lending industry: the NHEMA Web site and NHEMA's weekly Equity Update and Media Update electronic newsletters. Download the Advertising Kit for rates and other details. NHEMA Releases 2004 Mortgage Fraud Report NHEMA announced today that it is releasing its 2004 Periodic Report on Mortgage Fraud. The report covers mortgage lending in the entire country but concentrates on issues in the NonPrime lending sector. Click here for the complete report. NHEMA Statement on Joint House Financial Services Subcommittee Hearing Regarding Predatory Lending Legislation NHEMA expresses appreciation to the members of the House Financial Services Subcommittees on Housing and Community Opportunity and Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, chaired by Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) and Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL), respectively, for holding todays joint hearing on legislative solutions to abusive and predatory lending practices. Read the complete statement . Interagency Federal Risk Management Guidelines for Home Equity Lending The federal government's bank, thrift and credit union regulatory agencies have issued joint guidance to promote "sound risk management practices for home equity lines of credit and loans." The interagency guidance is "outlines the agencies' expectations for sound underwriting standards and effective credit risk management practices for a financial institution's home equity lending activity." To see the interagency guidance report, click here . More News > Click here to browse Equity Update , an electronic newsletter covering the non-prime mortgage lending industry. About NHEMA The National Home Equity Mortgage Association is the only trade association solely representing the nonprime mortgage lending industry. NHEMA represents approximately 250 mortgage lenders accounting for 80 percent of outstanding nonprime mortgage loans. The association and its members are committed to providing open and available access to credit for all homeowners. Learn more The National Home Equity Mortgage Association 1301 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20004 800-342-1121 2005 National Home Equity Mortgage Association

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VA Loans from the VA Mortgage Center 800-405-6682 Contact Why a VA Loan? Pre-Qualify VA Loan THE VA LOAN SPECIALISTS If you are among the 29 million veterans or active duty service personnel who are eligible for a Veteran Loan, the VA Mortgage Center can help provide you with the advice and resources needed to buy or refinance the home of your dreams, while ensuring you get the best rates on your loan. GET STARTED WITH YOUR VA LOAN Your State: Select... Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District Of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Unsure Loan Type: VA Home Purchase VA Refinance The VA Mortgage Center specializes in helping veterans with all of their mortgage lending needs. Loan Limits Increased - To $417,000! As of January 1, 2006, qualified Veterans and Active Duty military can obtain a loan of up to $417,000 or $625,500 in high cost areas- with no money down. Let one of our knowledgeable, courteous VA specialists help you maximize your VA benefits today. Prequalify now OUR PURPOSE The VA Mortgage Center is founded on 2 principles. First, we believe every military service member and veteran should be aware of their VA Benefits for home loans. Furthermore, we feel that any and all interested service members should be guided through the VA home loan process by a knowledgeable VA loan specialist. DO YOU KNOW IF YOU QUALIFY FOR A VA LOAN? Almost every veteran is eligible for Veterans Affair benefits like VA home loans. These loans are generally the best choice for veterans who are planning to make a home purchase or to refinance an existing home mortgage. YOUR VA BENEFITS The Department of Veteran Affairs, which originated in 1930, provides a variety of financial benefits for Veterans and their dependents. VA home loans are one of the prime VA benefits provided for by this Department. VA LOAN SPECIALISTS VA Mortgage Center's knowledgeable Veteran loan professionals are waiting to answer all of your questions and help you with the entire VA loan application process. You may contact one of our specialists using our simple online form or by calling a specialist at 800-405-6682. PRE-QUALIFY Apply online for a VA mortgage loan Whether you plan to Purchase a Home or Refinance an existing home loan for a better interest rate (or to take out cash), contact us to obtain your Certificate of Eligibility and get Pre-Qualified. Helpful VA specialists are standing by. Please call 800-405-6682 . EQUAL OPPORTUNITY LENDER " I was a bit nervous to make such a large purchase, but the VA Mortgage Center was there for me every step of the way. Kris, my loan officer, was extremely patient with me, and kept me informed daily as to the status of my loan. I love my new home! " - Paul St. Pierre E-7 Master Sergeant, McGuire AFB Read More Testimonials about the VA Mortgage Center VA Loan Information VA Loan FAQs VA Loan VA Loan Qualification Home Purchase VA Refinance Cash-Out Refinance Contact Us Privacy Policy The VA Mortgage Center is a private lender specializing in VA loans , we are NOT affiliated with any government agency . We originate loans in most states . In order for us to best serve our customers, the VA Mortgage Center may share customer information with trusted affiliates.