Texas Land Title Association
Advanced Solutions International | Texas Land Title Association Advanced Solutions International | Texas Land Title Association Membership Associations Unions Clubs YMCA Museums Association Management General Membership Fundraising Event Management Media Commercial Government Products > Industry Solutions > Membership Ten Years Later, the Texas Land Title Association Continues to Benefit and Grow With Its iMIS System “ iMIS has continued to be a useful software tool for us over the last 10 years because ASI has focused on understanding the specific needs of associations,” stated Leslie Midgley, Executive Vice President at the Texas Land Title Association (TLTA), ASI’s first iMIS customer. TLTA feels that the needs of associations have changed and as technology has advanced, ASI has responded to those changes and advancements with enhancements and new products. “They (ASI) have made it their business to respond to user feedback by updating the software to better serve the needs of their users,” added Midgely. In fact, TLTA has received more than 12 upgrades of iMIS and have upgraded from iMIS LAN to the Microsoft SQL version in the last decade. The TLTA is a non-profit state trade association that represents over 600 Texas title insurance companies, abstract companies and title insurance agents that are engaged in the transference of title to real property. “With iMIS , they have been able to capture an overwhelming majority of the market share for Title companies in Texas through education, advocacy, and other valued services,” stated Mark Jones, President of enSYNC Corporation, the TLTA authorized iMIS Solution Provider. The Flexibility to Handle Growing and Changing Needs iMIS has been particularly useful to the TLTA in managing their meetings and educational programs. “ iMIS allows us to plan a meeting from start to finish without using a lot of different software programs,” stated Midgley. In the area of membership, iMIS has allowed them to keep better track of information about their members. “Over the years, we have determined that we need to store more and more data, and iMIS has allowed us the flexibility to expand and change.” Authorized iMIS Solution Provider, enSYNC Corporation, provides support to TLTA for their iMIS system. They have been an integral part of TLTA’s satisfaction and success with the product. “Both Mark Jones and Clark Jones are great to work with and are always there to help us solve a problem or overcome a challenge. Currently, they are working with us to increase our skills with report writing using Access and Crystal and to help us utilize more of the features that iMIS offers,” commented Midgley. “ iMIS is still meeting the business needs of the organization after 10 years, that really says something about the greatness of the product,” summed up Jones. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy © 2005 ASI, Inc. Site designed and developed by ASI Web Services Group , managed by iMIS Content Manager.
Selling Home & Garden
Home Buying - Home Buying and Home Selling Advice - Buying a Home You are here: About > Home & Garden > Home Buying / Selling Home & Garden Home Buying / Selling Essentials 10 Things Home Buyers Shouldn't Do Best Tips for First Time Home Buyers "Must-Do" Tasks Before You Sell How to Buy a Home, Step by Step For Sale by Owner Advice Articles & Resources How To Buy a Home How To Sell a House Celebrity & Historic Credit Reports & Scores Design & Remodel Home Maintenance Inspections & Appraisals Investing & Foreclosures Modular & Manufactured Mold, Radon, Lead, etc. Mortgage Advice Moving & Relocation Real Estate Careers Real Estate For Sale Vacation Homes Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Home Buying Books Foreclosure Books Mortgage Books Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Home Buying / Selling newsletter! See Online Courses Search Home Buying / Selling From Janet Wickell , Your Guide to Home Buying / Selling . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Getting Ready to Sell Your House Guests and lots of activities make it difficult to show a house during the holidays, so home owners sometimes put off selling their homes until after the first week in January, when life starts returning to normal. If you're in that category take some time to evaluate the condition of your home before you list it with an agent or sell it by owner . Be sure to analyze your situation to determine if selling is your best move, then think about the home's curb appeal and get the interior and exterior in tip-top shape . It's not a bad idea to do a few inspections to make sure the house is ready for potential buyers. Handle as many tasks as you can now and you'll find that the sales process will be a breeze. Monday December 26, 2005 | permalink Before You Buy Gas Logs Gas logs are growing in popularity every year, so manufacturers have geared-up to offer us a wide selection of appliances. You'll find gas logs to put in a hearth, freestanding gas stoves, and fully contained fireplace units that are mounted to a wall. But did you know that the dangerous gas byproducts produced by gas logs is not always vented to the outside? It's important to understand the differences between vented and vent-free logs before you buy a gas log fireplace. Saturday December 24, 2005 | permalink Pros and Cons of Becoming a Real Estate Agent You've decided you want to become a real estate agent, but what's your motivation? Do you understand the type of work real estate agents do and are you savvy about the true pay they receive for their work? It can be a rewarding career choice, but it's definitely not the best option for everyone and there are lots of things to consider before you decide that a real estate career is right for you. Wednesday December 21, 2005 | permalink Step-by-Step Directions Help You Measure Square Footage Each year, home owners discover that their new home's square footage is not the figure that was stated when the house was advertised. Owners sometimes decide to sue the people who were involved in the transaction, especially if the difference is significant. Real estate agents and for sale by owner sellers can reduce their risks of encountering a lawsuit by knowing how use accepted standards to measure and calculate a home's square footage . Get it right the first time so that everyone's happy with the results. Wednesday December 21, 2005 | permalink Buying Land for Your New Home If you've looked and looked, but can't find the perfect combination of land and house, maybe it's time to consider building. And while buying land for your new home can seem intimidating at first, you'll find it really isn't a horrible task if you fine-tune your wants and needs before you start searching for real estate. Tuesday December 20, 2005 | permalink Buying a Home with Great Resale Potential A few generations ago it wasn't unusual for people to live in the same home for many years, somtimes the rest of their lives after becoming homeowners. We're more mobile today, always "moving up" to a larger house or relocating to a new town. So it makes sense to put some thought into buying a home with good resale value , one that will sell easily and put extra dollars in your bank account if you do decide to move. Tuesday December 20, 2005 | permalink What's a Quit Claim Deed? Home buyers usually receive a general warranty deed when they purchase real estate, because it's a type of deed that offers several guarantees from the seller that the title to the property is good. Another document that's sometimes used is a quit claim deed . It works perfectly for some situations, but it's important to understand the limitations of a quit claim deed before accepting one when you purchase real estate. Friday December 16, 2005 | permalink How Credit Scores Are Calculated Everyone looking for a mortgage to buy a home--and that's most of us--finds out right away that credit scores play a huge role in the types of loans and interest rates that are offered to them. It's helpful to study your credit reports and scores before you apply for a mortgage, and to do it as early as possible to give yourself time to correct errors before a lender takes a look. Wednesday December 14, 2005 | permalink Moving Tips and Timeline Buying a home is exciting, but let's face it... moving is a chore. A big one. The only way I know to get through it without an excess of stress is to manage the moving process in little steps instead of letting it overwhelm you at the last minute. Start early and stay organized and you'll be ready for the moving truck before you know it. Monday December 12, 2005 | permalink Typical Home Buyer Closing Costs Closing costs are the expenses associated with buying real estate. You can expect to pay a large chunk of your closing costs the day the trasaction is complete, when the property becomes yours, but some closing expenses are nearly always paid before that day. There's no single set of expenses that every home buyer must pay--every transaction is different--but it's a good idea to become familiar with typical closing costs so that you'll have a better understanding of the items billed to you on your HUD-1 settlement statement . Wednesday December 07, 2005 | permalink Display Latest Headlines | | | Read Archives powered by Movable Type Important disclaimer information about this About site. Advertisement Related Blogs Mortgage Fraud Blog The Real Estate Blog The Money Pit Most Popular Modular and Manufactured Homes Finding Your Best Place to ... Home Buying Don'ts First Time Home Buyer Tips Before You Sell Your Home What's Hot Coping with Unethical People How To Buy Land Real Estate Appraisal Before You Buy a Log Home Package Home Buying / Selling - GuideReviews Related Topics Home Repair Architecture Credit / Debt Management Housekeeping Landscaping Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About Oprah's Life Vacation Ideas Shop Safely Online VIDEO: Craft Rooms VIDEO: Christmas Traditions What's Hot Coping with Unethical People How To Buy Land Real Estate Appraisal Before You Buy a Log Home Package Home Buying / Selling - GuideReviews Headlines Getting Ready to Sell Your House Guests and lots of activities make it difficult to show... Before You Buy Gas Logs Gas logs are growing in popularity every year, so manufacturers... Pros and Cons of Becoming a Real Estate Agent You've decided you want to become a real estate agent,... Step-by-Step Directions Help You Measure Square Footage Each year, home owners discover that their new home's square...
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How to Buy a Home and Other Real Estate - Home Buying Advice You are here: About > Home & Garden > Home Buying / Selling > How To Buy a Home Home & Garden Home Buying / Selling Essentials 10 Things Home Buyers Shouldn't Do Best Tips for First Time Home Buyers "Must-Do" Tasks Before You Sell How to Buy a Home, Step by Step For Sale by Owner Advice Articles & Resources How To Buy a Home How To Sell a House Celebrity & Historic Credit Reports & Scores Design & Remodel Home Maintenance Inspections & Appraisals Investing & Foreclosures Modular & Manufactured Mold, Radon, Lead, etc. Mortgage Advice Moving & Relocation Real Estate Careers Real Estate For Sale Vacation Homes Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Home Buying Books Foreclosure Books Mortgage Books Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Home Buying / Selling newsletter! See Online Courses Search Home Buying / Selling > How To Buy a Home How To Buy a Home and Other Real Estate Find the answers to your questions about buying a home or other real estate. The home buying tools here help you understand all of the steps you must take to have a successful and stress-free home buying experience. Subtopics Blogs (3) Home Seller Disclosures (4) Boundary Surveys (3) Mortgage Info and Advice @ Condo, Townhouses, Co-ops (8) Offers and Contracts (7) Easement & Right of Way (4) Real Estate Auctions (1) eCourses (3) Real Estate Deeds (2) Eminent Domain (5) Real Estate Glossary (57) Escrow and Closing (9) Title Insurance (5) First Time Home Buyers (2) Working with Agents (9) Home Buying Book Reviews (2) Articles & Resources Sort By : Guide Picks | Alphabetical | Recent 10 Things You Shouldn't Do When You're Buying a Home You might be pre-approved for a home mortgage, but that doesn't mean buying a home is a sure thing. Here are ten things you shouldn't do before the keys are in your hand. 11 Steps to Buying a Home You'll feel more confident about your home buying journey when you understand what is required of you and every other person who is involved in the transaction. Use this step by step home buying guide to get started. Buying a Home with Good Resale Potential Most of us won't live in the same house for the rest of our lives, so it makes sense to at least try to buy a home with good resale potential. Here's some advice to help you do just that. Coping with Buyer Remorse Are you suddenly feeling queasy about the house you just agreed to purchase? You might have a case of buyer remorse, a condition that sometimes occurs between the time your home buying contract is accepted until you actually go to the closing table. Here's some advice to help you determine if your concerns are valid or a simple case of nervousness. Dealing with Unethical and Incompetent People Are you uneasy about some of the events that are taking place during your home buying transaction? Is your real estate agent, attorney or other person involved less than helpful--or worse, unethical? Then it's time for you to take charge of the transaction and do what's necessary to make sure your interests are protected. Staying Secure if the Real Estate Bubble Bursts I'm sure you've heard talk about the real estate bubble, a condition that occurs when real estate values balloon very rapidly, then burst, driving prices downwards. You can help protect yourself from a bursting bubble by following a few basic guidelines. Taking Your Final Walk-Through When you're buying a home, it's essential to do a final walk-through inspection prior to closing. Learn the best times for you to take your walk through and find out what you should be on the lookout for. Working With a For Sale By Owner Seller Advice to help you work effectively with a for sale by owner seller. These tips help you avoid problems at or before closing. Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About Oprah's Life Vacation Ideas Shop Safely Online VIDEO: Craft Rooms VIDEO: Christmas Traditions What's Hot Coping with Unethical People How To Buy Land Real Estate Appraisal Before You Buy a Log Home Package Home Buying / Selling - GuideReviews Headlines Getting Ready to Sell Your House Guests and lots of activities make it difficult to show... Before You Buy Gas Logs Gas logs are growing in popularity every year, so manufacturers... Pros and Cons of Becoming a Real Estate Agent You've decided you want to become a real estate agent,... Step-by-Step Directions Help You Measure Square Footage Each year, home owners discover that their new home's square...
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Real Estate Investing Books and Courses Find Out Which Real Estate Investing Courses Will Really Make You Money! Read (and Write!) Amazon-style Reviews Of The Most Popular Real Estate Investing Courses & Real Estate Investing Seminars & Speakers. Home Page Real Estate Courses Latest Reviews Site Map Contact Us For A Limited Time... Subscribe To Our Newletter and Get Our... 7 Day E-Course "The Top 5 Mistakes All Investors Make And How You Can Avoid Them" Retail Value of $29.99 - yours absolutely FREE! Name : Email : Best Sellers November 2005 Apartment House Riches By David Lindahl Real Estate Investor Business Plan By Steve Cook Quick Cash Quick Turning Houses By Chuck Smith Texas Houses For Pennies II By Darius Barazandeh Borrowing Millions From Private Lenders By Alex Gurevich What's New Motivated Seller Magnet By Ben Innes-Ker What's New How To Create A Bullet Proof Corporation By Bill Bronchick What's New Alternative Real Estate Financing By Bill Bronchick What's New Apartment House Riches By David Lindahl Best Seller Subject To Is What I Do By John "Cash" Locke Best Seller Deals On Wheels By Lonnie Scruggs Best Seller Ugly House Workshop DVD By Steve Cook Best Seller Quick Turning Houses For Amazing Profits By Chuck Smith Swap links with us! Click here if you own a real estate web site and you'd like to join our reciprocal link program and get more traffic. We are currently only linking to real estate related websites. If your website is not real estate related please don't link to us. Real Estate Investing Site Map Real Estate Investing Courses | Latest Reviews A.D. Kessler A.D. Kessler is the publisher of "Creative Real Estate Magazine" and other real estate investing products and programs. Al Aiello Albert "Al" Aiello is a CPA and has written several tax courses for real estate investors. Alex Gurevich Alex Gurevich sells real estate investment information products on how to raise and use private money, and how to "Super Charge" your cash flow. Alan Cowgill Allen Cowgill is the author of a course on how to raise private money to fund your real estate investment deals. Barney Zick Bernard "Barney" Zick has written 19 home study courses about creative real estate investing. He is also the author of a negotiation book called "The Negotiating Paradox." Barry Grimes Barry Grimes has written a creative real estate investment eBook called "Real Estate Jobbing 101." Ben Innes-Ker Ben Innes-Ker has written a creative real estate investment eBook called "Motivated Seller Magnet." Bill Bronchick William "Bill" Bronchick is a real estate attorney who has authored several books and courses on real estate financing, asset protection and more. Bill Gatten Bill Gatten has authored several books on real estate investing and is the inventor of the "Equity Holding Land Trust(tm) System" -- the PACTrust (tm) and NEHTrust(tm). Brad Martineau Bradley "Brad" Martineau is the author of "The Complete System" a book of "No Money Down" strategies. Bruce Norris Bruce Norris is the author of the "Making Power Profits" real estate investment series. Bryan Wittenmyer Bryan Wittenmyer has authored several books on the subject of creative real estate investing and how to develop and manage cash flow streams. Carleton Sheets Carlton Sheets is probably responsible for teaching more people about real estate investing than any other person. He is the king of late-night infomercial gurus. Charlie & Randy France Charlie and Randy France are the "Get The Deed" people. Their creative real estate investing courses deal with buying and selling property "Subject To" or "Sub 2" the existing financing. Chuck Smith Chuck Smith is a retired cop who has written a real estate course on quick-turning houses. Claude Diamond Claude Diamond is a creative real estate investor who uses lease options. He also has a mentoring program for beginning real estate investors. Darius Barazandeh Darius Barazandeh is a real estate attorney. His creative real estate courses offer information on real estate investing in tax liens, asset protection and more. David Alexander David Alexander is an expert bandit sign advertiser and he teaches courses on beginning and advanced subject to investing. David Butler David Butler is the author of "Tin Can Alley." He specializes in mobile home investing and mobile home parks. David Lindahl David Lindahl wrote a real estate investing course called "Apartment House Riches." Dean Graziosi Dean Graziosi is the author of a real estate investing course called "Think A Little Different" which he sells through an infomercial. Diane Kennedy Diane Kennedy is a "Rich Dad" Advisor for Robert Kiyosaki. She is a tax accounting expert and has written a book called "Legal Tax Loopholes." Dolf De Roos Dolf De Roos is one of Robert Kiyosaki's "Rich Dad Advisors ."TM He also puts on real estate investment seminars. Dwan Bent Twyford & Sharon Restrepo Dwan & Sharon have written real estate investing books and courses on short sales, wholesaling, and foreclosures. Dyches Boddiford Dyches Boddiford has written several books on various creative real estate investing topics including mobile home investing and asset protection. Ed Garcia Ed Garcia instructs a real estate seminar with Terry Vaughan on how to get bank lines of credit to finance your real estate investments. Ernest Tew Ernest Tew has one of the brightest minds in creative real estate investing. His primaryspecialties are mobile home parks and asset protection. Gary DiGrazia Gary DiGrazia is the author of a real estate investing course on buying probate properties called "Diamond Farming." Gerhard Cronje Gerhard Cronje is the author of "Marketing To Attorneys". H. Roger Neal H. Roger Neal writes real estate investing books and courses on fast-flip and rehabbing junkers. Hal Roark Hal Roark has written a real estate investing course called "Landlording Secrets" which shows you how to properly use section 8. Heather Seitz Heather Seitz has written a real estate course on rehabbing. Hugh Bromma Hugh Bromma teaches real estate investors how to invest their self directed IRA's in real estate. Jack Miller Jack Miller is one of the countries leading experts in mobile home investing. Jay Decima Jay Decima offers real estate books and courses on buying and rehabbing "ugly houses." Jeff Beaubien Jeff Beaubien sells real estate investing courses on Lease Option and Lease Purchase strategies. Jeff Kaller Jeff Kaller is "Mr. Preforeclosure." He's has real estate investing courses and seminars on preforeclosure investing and short sales. Jeffrey Taylor Jeffrey Taylor is "Mr. Landlord" and teaches real estate investors how to become better and more efficient landlords . Jerry Hoganson Jerry Hoganson is known as Mr. Mobile Home. Jerry specializes in Mobile Home Parks and Mobile Home note investments. Jim Banks Jim Banks teaches creative real estate investing techniques on the subject of probate investing. Jimmy Napier Jimmy Napier has written several real estate investing books on the subjects of discounted mortgages, buying notes and creating "paper." Joe Brillante & Lou Castillo Joe Brillante & Lou Castillo a real estate investing book called "The A to Z startup kit. Joe Crump Joe Crump is the author of "Zero Down Real Estate Investing" and the publisher of "Real Estate Money Maker" newsletter. Joe Kaiser Joe Kaiser has done a variety of products on creative real estate investing. He has some very interesting & unique approaches to finding foreclosure deals. John (Cash) Locke John "Cash" Locke is a popular writer & of buying real estate "Subject To" and "Bird Dogging." John Beck John Beck can be seen on T.V. infomercials selling his tax lien investing course. John Behle John Behle is the author of "The Paper Game" which teaches real estate investors how tobuy, sell, and create notes. John Burley John Burley has developed a plethora of creative real estate investing courses geared toward building wealth. John Hyre John Hyre is a tax attorney, accountant and real estate investor. He has developed a bookkeeping course for real estate investors and a course on entities. John Schaub Johan Schaub sells real estate courses and seminars on "Making It Big On Little Deals". Schaub has been teaching creative real estate investing for many, many years. John T. Reed John T. Reed is the watch-dog of the real estate investing gurus. He also sells his own real estate investing courses. John Ulmer John Ulmer has written several creative real estate investing books and courses including a private lending course. Jon Richards Jon Richards is the publisher of "Noteworthy Newsletter" a creative real estate investing newsletter about buying discounted cash flows. Kathy Kennebrook Kathy Kennebrook is a Ron LeGrand student who created a marketing system to find motivated sellers. Kevin Myers Kevin Myers is the author of "Buy It, Fix It, Sell It, Profit." Myers has rehabbed numerous single family houses over his 25 year career. Kris Kirschner Kris Kirschner is the author of "The Auto Pilot System For Selling Houses." Lisa Moren Lisa Moren is the author of "Soup To Nuts Real Estate" which is a beginners guide to real estate investing. Lonnie Scruggs Lonnie Scruggs is the best selling author of the mobile home investing book "Deals On Wheels." Lou Vukas Lou Vukas is the author of a real estate investing eBook called"Real Estate Uncovered." Lou Brown Lou Brown is the self-proclaimed "King of Cash Flow." Brown offers real estate investing courses on both acquiring property as well as landlording. Marco Kozlowski Marco Kozlowski sells a real estate course called "Big Fat Checks" which teaches investors how to buy and sell high end luxury homes. Mark Sumpter Mark Sumpter is a real estate investor specializing in the area of short sales. Michael Carbonare Michael Carbonare sells a real estate investing course which specializes in Lease Purchase information. Mike King Mike King has written a real estate investing course and teaches boot camps on forbearances. Pete Youngs Pete Youngs created a real estate investing course called "Rehab 101." Peter Conti & David Finkle Sell courses on lease options, buying apartment buildings, negotiating and more. Very active on the seminar circuit. Ray Alcorn Ray Alcorn is the author of "The Deal Makers Guide To Mobile Home Parks." Ray Como Ray Como sells real estate investing courses on transaction engineering, advanced house-buying and marketing for motivated sellers. Richard Roop Richard Roop sells creative real estate investing courses on marketing and finding motivated sellers. Robert Allen Robert Allen has written several best selling real estate investing books including Nothing Down and The One Minute Millionaire. Robert Kiyosaki Robert Kiyosaki is the author of the "Rich Dad/Poor Dad" book series. Robert Kiyosaki also sells a course on creative real estate investing. Robert Shemin Robert Shemin is another real estate attorney and real estate investor who has created courses on both creative real estate investing & landlording. Robyn Thompson Robyn Thompson is most noted for her real estate investing course on buying and selling distressed properties or "ugly houses." She is also a Ron LeGrand student. Roger Dawson Roger Dawson is a negotiating expert. He is the author of "Secrets Of Power Negotiating." Ron Legrand Ron LeGrand is one of the best-known real estate investing gurus. He had authored several creative real estate books and courses on wholesaling, lease options, and buying pretty houses. Russ Whitney Russ Whitney is another name you might recognize from late-night infomercials. Russ Whitney sells real estate investing books and courses as well as seminars. Scott Britton Scott Britton is the publisher of "The University Of Real Estate Letter" as well as a couple of creative real estate investing courses. Scott Rister Scott Rister has authored several real estate investing products on wholesaling, marketing for motivated sellers and more. Scott Scheel Scott Scheel is a real estate investor who invests in commercial properties. He also conducts a commercial real estate investing bootcamp. Stacy Holder Stacy Holder sells a course on rehabbing and speaks for Robert Allen. Steve Cook Steve Cook is an active real estate investor who has written courses on how to Wholesale & Rehab houses. Ted Thomas Ted Thomas teaches real estate investors how to invest in tax liens. Terry Vaughan Terry Vaughan is the author of the creative real estate investing book "Paper Into Gold." Tim Randle Tim Randle is a creative real estate investor who sells a course on how to buy real estate "Subject To", or "Sub 2" as it's also called. Vena Jones-Cox Vena Jones-Cox is the author of home study courses on basic real estate investing, wholesaling, deal-finding, selling on lease/options, and creative finance. Wade Cook Wade Cook is a best selling author of several real estate investing books as well as books on trading stocks. Wendy Patton Wendy Patton is the author of a real estate investing course on lease options. William Tingle William Tingle has written a real estate investing course on buying properties "Subect To" or "Sub 2" the existing financing. William Tingle is an active real estate investor. Wright Thurston Wright Thurston has written several creative real estate investing courses including "Diamonds In The Rough" which teaches investors how to invest in multi-family rentals property. Real Estate Investing | Real Estate Investing Products | Real Estate Investing Links | Real Estate Investing Site Map | Contact Us © 2003-2005 RealEstateCourseReviews.com™ • All Rights Reserved. No part of this web site may be reproduced electronically or otherwise without express written permission Loading Page...
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Viewpoint Paid Discussion: Mortgages and Investments Wednesday, August 17, 2005 at 1 p.m. ET I'm interested in hosting a Viewpoint paid discussion Viewpoint discussion archive Welcome to Viewpoint, a live discussion forum on washingtonpost.com. This forum offers washingtonpost.com sponsors a platform to discuss issues, new products, company information and other topics. Mortgage Loans and Investment Properties Interested in a mortgage, home equity or refinance loan? Want to learn more about investment properties? Lonnie Cooper, top producer at Absolute Mortgage Co., was online Wednesday, August 17 at 1 p.m. ET to discuss mortgages, the recent interest-only craze or the ins and outs of investment properties. Lonnie Cooper is a senior loan officer at Absolute Mortgage Incorporated in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Lonnie closes approximately $7 million per month in mortgage volume over the past four years. Before coming to Absolute Mortgage, he worked as a loan officer at Independence Mortgage Group and was made partner. Lonnie also owns several rental properties and can provide suggestions and solutions for being a landlord. Lonnie is a graduate of Penn State University. The transcript follows. _______________________ washingtonpost.com: Welcome to Viewpoint. Our guest today is Lonnie Cooper with Absolute Mortgage Co. to answer your questions about loans, mortgages and investment properties. Let's get started! Lonnie Cooper: Lets do it. _______________________ Oaks, Pa.: How do you close so many loans each month? Lonnie Cooper: Hello Oaks, I close approximately 35-40 mortgages each month. _______________________ Washington, D.C.: Hi Lonnie, Thanks for taking my question. My husband and I have been in our house for about a year. We recently received a notice from our mortgage company that basically said our escrow amounts hadn't actually covered everything that the escrow pays for (taxes and insurance). So, we had a shortfall, and we should send in a large chunk of money so our mortgage wouldn't increase by $150 a month beginning in October. Okay. So, even if we do send in the large amount, our mortgage is still going to increase by about $70 because of our increased county taxes. Now, I'm a newbie at this, but is this normal? Does this happen to other people, etc.? Does everyone's mortgage increase when their county taxes increase? We have a 30-year fixed mortgage by the way. I'm sure I sound like a complete idiot, but any insight you could share would be great, since in the past we have had ZERO response from our mortgage company when we've had questions. Lonnie Cooper: I'm sorry to hear that you are getting zero response from them. Taxes often go up and unfortunately the lender has to re-structure your escrow account accordingly. You certainly don't sound like an idiot. _______________________ Washington, D.C.: I keep on hearing that interest only loans are a bad choice and that people are using them to afford homes they could not with a traditional 30. What do you think? Lonnie Cooper: Interest only loans are very popular right now. Unfortunately, many people are taking them for the wrong reason. If used properly by the right person, an interest only loan can make sense. In the current housing market, homes are becoming less and less affordable and an interest only loan is the only way that many people can qualify for the loan. My personal opinion is that if you can't make at least the amortizing arm payment (meaning principal and interest) then you probably are looking at too much home. _______________________ Edgewater, Md.: I am in the process of buying a house that I think we will have for a long time, but I am thinking about starting out with an interest only loan with a 7 year arm and refinancing at some point to a 30 year mortgage. Do you think this is the wrong approach? Lonnie Cooper: I do think it is the wrong approach. Rates are at an historical low. 7 years from now you very well may be looking at not only a large rate spike but also a much bigger payment when the principal is also involved. _______________________ Fairfax, Va.: I have a home equity loan and I am maxed out at $100k. I want to extend that to upgrade my house. Do I have to totally apply for a new loan or can I just ask the bank to extend the line of credit? Lonnie Cooper: Hello Fairfax, Often the lender that you have with the existing home equity loan will allow you to extend it. _______________________ Arlington, Va.: What is the best loan product for new construction that will not deliver until mid-spring 2006? We would like to lock in our rate asap but do not know what is the best. Thank you. Lonnie Cooper: Hello Arlington, Many builders have special deals with local banks and their own mortgage companies. They offer long term locks for your situation with a variety of options. Regarding the product, my answer would be the same for you even if you were closing in 30 days- Take an arm if you know that this isn't your 'long-term' home or go with a fixed if it is. _______________________ Camarillo, Calif.: What is your opinion on mortgages for retired people? Your opinion on paying cash for property or financing it? Thank you. Lonnie Cooper: Hello Camarillo, I often get asked by people in the 70's and 80's whether or not they can apply for a 30 yr mortgage. Even though lenders can discriminate for income, credit, employment etc, they can't discriminate for age. So, that being said, if you need the money take it. Mortgage money is the cheapest out there. There are reverse mortgages out there as well for retirees. They often make sense as well. "Cash is king" as they say- but if you have it and it helps you sleep at night paying for your home outright is a wonderful feeling. (Or so I've heard) _______________________ Rockville, Md.: Hi Lonnie, I am a consultant and have a 2-3 year assignment that will keep me in Baltimore during the work week. I currently own a home in Rockville and have a roommate. Recently, I have been thinking about buying a place in Baltimore and also getting a roommate there to help pay for the mortgage. What are the implications of borrowing equity from my current home to buy the new home? What are the tax implications of actually residing in both homes? -Sandra Lonnie Cooper: Hello Sandra, I try not to give out too much info on tax advice as it often varies from state to state. I believe that the other home needs to be 50 miles from your primary residence to qualify as a 2nd home. If its not, it would be viewed as a rental property- ie higher rate etc. There are definitely deductions available for rental properties - consult your CPA. _______________________ Fairfax, Va.: My primary loan is for $300,000 and is a 30-year. I am looking at getting a vacation property. What can I do to get the best rate on my second property? Lonnie Cooper: Hello Fairfax, If its a true second home aka vacation property, the rate will be identical. If there is plenty of equity in your current home you can take out a line of credit, but they are variable and prime seems to be going no where but up. Our rates are available at www.absolutemortgageco.com and my extension is 104 if you'd like to talk later. _______________________ Goshen, Ind.: Could you please elaborate on what the pros and cons of interest only loans and what is negative amortization? Thank you. Lonnie Cooper: Hello Goshen, I was cut short on my response previously. I'd like to apologize to the submitter of that question. Some quick pros are: 1- They create a significant amount of cash flow 2- They enable you to qualify for more 'house' Cash flow enables the owner to take that difference and invest it into the stock market or pay down other non deductable debts. Cash flow for a real estate investor allows for immediate positive income. Qualifying for more house enables for example a young Doctor get into a larger home knowing that his income will be going up in the near future. _______________________ Washington, D.C.: Is this a good time to look for investment property, even though the market is about to bust? Lonnie Cooper: Investment properties are always available, but because of the national real estate buying craze the 'deals' are much harder to find. Like anything else in life, its a matter of hard work and who you know- meaning get a great realtor and an even better mortgage guy. (Okay so I'm a little biased on this one) Regarding the market bursting- many top analysts feel its going to slow down but not necessarily bust. If your question is would you be buying at the top of the market right now, I'd have to say probably. _______________________ San Diego, Calif.: What is a free float down? Lonnie Cooper: Hello San Diego, A free float down is a product that Absolute Mortgage (the company that I work for) offers along with a few others. Basically its a s simple as "if the rates go lower while you are locked in, you get the lower rate" Its a product that brings a lot of people to us and when the rates go down, people love benefitting from it. It basically makes locking in a win-win _______________________ Falls Church, Va.: Does Absolute Mortgage offer long-term interest only loans and are these available on investment properties? Thank you. Lonnie Cooper: Yes, we offers long term interest only loans. These come in quite a variety. They can be fixed/adjustables that are fixed for the first 10 years or 30 years fixed that are interest only for the first 20 years. There are some that are interest only for all 30 as well. The rates obviously vary on all of these. Yes, we have I/O loans for invest. properties as well. _______________________ Bethesda, Md.: I was looking to buy a plot of land for a second home sometime down the road. What type of land loan products are available and do you offer such a mortgage? Lonnie Cooper: Hello Bethesda, There are many land loan products out there. The majority of them are not 30 year fixed loans, but realistically if you are building on the land in the future you wouldn't want one anyway. Local banks are often the best for this. We don't offer them. _______________________ Reston, VA: Is there a hard-fast rule about refinancing? I thought there used to be a rule that if rates .5 point below your rate you would refinance. Is that still a good rule? Lonnie Cooper: Hello Reston, Thats a great question. The old 'rule of thumb' was that the rate had to be 2% lower. That is certainly no longer the case. We offer what is called a 'True No Cost" mortgage where you can refinance with no costs at all. The costs are not rolled into your principal balance- we pay them. As an example- if you have a 30 yr fixed today at 6.0% and you owe 200k then at todays rate of 5.5% it probably wouldn't make sense to refinance with a traditional closing cost loan. However with a 'True No Cost' loan at say 5.875% you'll save thousands over the life of the loan for simply signing your name. _______________________ Yardley, Pa.: Hello Lonnie, I recently purchased a new home and would like to refinance the 2nd loan for Home Improvements. How long would I have to wait in order to accomplish this? The home was purchased for $279k, but with the right repairs and can be valued at $350k. Christian Lonnie Cooper: Hello Christian, Most 2nd mortgage lenders have at least a 6 month "seasoning" rule for 2nd mortgages in that they won't let you take out a new 2nd based on your new/higher value. We have some products with no seasoning that would allow you to accomplish what you are looking for. Yardley is fairly close to West Chester, Pa. feel free to stop in. _______________________ Front Royal, Va: I have a rather high fixed rate mortgage currently and I am looking to refinance. I have one negative on my credit report which is probably a few months away from coming off which would greatly increase my credit scores. Would you recommend waiting until my credit is clean or refinancing now to take advantage of these great rates. My average score is 674 but should be in the mid 700's. Thanks. Lonnie Cooper: Hello Front Royal, Great question. You guys are full of the. With a 674, I'd recommend giving the refinance a shot now. With the right amount of equity in the property and assets in reserve you very may still be approved. _______________________ Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.: Does Absolute Mortgage offer loans in other states and what is involved to apply as far as upfront fees (does this vary state to state or based on the loan amount or credit scores)? Thanks Lonnie. Lonnie Cooper: Hello Ponte Vedra, (That is a beautiful part of Fla if I may say so myself) We are licensed in a number of states that are listed at www.absolutemortgageco.com. The owner doesn't believe in charging up front fees- its a much cleaner way of doing business. _______________________ Wilmington, Del.: I currently have quite a bit of equity in my home (primary residence) and was looking to do quite a bit of renovations to the property - which would increase the value. Would you recommend to refinance my existing mortgage for cash out or get a Home Equity Loan or Line. I currently have a 30-year Fixed at around 6% and plan on living in the home for quite some time. Thank you very much. Lonnie Cooper: Hello Wilmington, See my response above for a "True No Cost" loan. It would work great for you. The home equity lines are very popular, but most are variable and again- prime seems to be consistently going up. _______________________ Cherry Hill, N.J.: What is involved with a No Doc or stated income loan? Lonnie Cooper: Hello Cherry HIll, The question is what is not involved- We have a "True No Doc" loan in which we don't even ask if you are employed. We don't need any bank statements etc. Its just a credit score and a pulse. _______________________ Newark, Del.: Is there any tried and true rule to figure out if a home improvement project is worth doing in order to add value to your home (adding garage or addition, finishing a basement., etc.? Lonnie Cooper: Hello Newark, I don't know if there is such a rule. If you ask a contractor you may get a different answer though. In speaking with property appraisers over the years, a sure fire return is adding square footage. (As long as you don't over-improve for you neighborhood) Kitchens and bathrooms also provide the highest return for improvement projects. _______________________ Clinton, Md: If you sell a home (designated investment prop) less than 2 years after settlement, do you have to put the proceed into another investment property otherwise pay the taxes? Lonnie Cooper: Hello Clinton, This one is probably best answered by a cpa. My unoffical opinion is as follows: A 1031 tax deferred exchange can be done regardless of how long you've owned the home. If you keep the property for at least 12 months then you'll pay long term capital gains vs. short term. _______________________ washingtonpost.com: Our hour is up. Thank you for taking all of our questions, Lonnie. Lonnie Cooper: You are very welcome. Its been a pleasure. I hope to hear from you all again. Lonnie _______________________ RELATED LINKS absolutemortgageco.com Mortgage Rates Mortgage Calculator Affordability Qualification Payment Tables --