Home Refinance in Gloucester County, NJ

Have you been thinking about refinancing your home? With all of the negative housing industry news lately, it is easy to forget about lowering your housing bills with a refinance. Rates are currently very low and there is a large percentage of home owners who can benefit from a refinance.

Does your math line-up?

You can refinance to save money every month. You can also refinance to change the loan terms. Typically when home owners change loan terms, it is from a 30 to 15 year loan. The reality is that I've met many home owners who's "math" doesn't line up.  For example, I may ask them when they plan to retire. They answer, "in 10 years", but the facts are that their mortgage will last for the next 30 years, and they can't afford to comfortably make the mortgage payments on their "retired income" (in 10 years).

As the saying goes, "You don't know unless you ask!" Should you refinance now? Maybe. The best plan is to talk to someone with access to mortgage rates and options, that can give you sound advice. Talk to a knowledgeable loan officer today. The worst he/she can say is, "Now is not a good time". Conversely they may help you save money, time, and help you properly plan for retirement.

If you would like to talk to a local mortgage loan officer, feel free to call and I'll do my best to point you in the right direction for your personal needs.

Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in New Jersey. Steve is married with 3 children, has lived in South Jersey his whole life and has 10 years experience as a mortgage loan officer. For more info or questions feel free to contact Steve.

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• Purchase, refinance, rehab loans
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, First Time Home Buyer, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Call direct @ 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail | NJ Loan Officer .com | NMLS ID: 218007

Can I Qualify for a Mortgage with a Large Collection/Derogatory Debt on My Credit?

Can a home buyer qualify for a mortgage with a large collection-type account on their credit, such as a car repossession or a judgment? And if so, does the buyer have to pay it off before settlement?

The answer is YES a buyer may qualify for a mortgage with a large derogatory/collection account on their credit report. If the buyer has to pay it off before or at settlement (or not at all) mainly depends on the underwriter/lender.

When it comes to a collection-type account, lenders will vary as to what exactly has to be done to qualify for a mortgage. Some loan officers will tell a buyer to pay off all collection accounts or anything at all derogatory on their credit. This can at times be some of the worst advice for a home buyer. Here is why ... 

• Paying off a collection account can drop your credit score, and we are talking A LOT of points.
• Not all collections/judgments (etc.) are required to be paid off.

Buyers: Get approved FIRST - Then see what the requirements are to go to settlement. Even if a lender requires an account to be paid off, it can almost always be paid at settlement. This is better for the buyer as they can save the money required and it won't drop their credit score before settlement.

There is another potential option: Sometimes a buyer is allowed to bypass paying off the entire collection if they can clearly document satisfactory payments on the account for 12+ months. In this case the monthly payment is calculated into the buyer's monthly installment debts.

TIP: If a loan officer quick looks at your credit report and tells you to pay every collection and/or derogatory account off, and then come back to him/her to get qualified, then you should probably find another loan officer to work with, one who has a much better grasp on the realities of the credit scoring model.

Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in New Jersey. For more info or questions feel free to contact Steve.

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• Purchase, refinance, rehab loans
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, First Time Home Buyer, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Call direct @ 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail | NJ Loan Officer dot com | NMLS ID: 218007

No not a horse, but a Philadelphia Phillie. On my recent tour of Citizen's Bank Park, there is a section in the stadium that has the shadows of some of the great Phillies. This was one of my favorites, and if you call yourself a Phillie's Phan, you have to know this one ...

Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in New Jersey. For more info or questions feel free to contact Steve.

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• Purchase, refinance, rehab loans
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, First Time Home Buyer, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Call direct @ 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail | NJ Loan Officer .com | NMLS ID: 218007

Real Estate Professional in Training and YOUR HOME is the Training Ground!!

Everyone is a "newbie" at some time. We see managers training the teenager at Taco Bell or the "Student Driver" signs atop of cars.   But when was the last time you saw a "Real Estate Professional in Training" badge on a Realtor or loan officer?

Never?

A good real estate company will hold an agent's hand during the "baby" stage. And a good lender will make sure a complete mortgage application is completed for a new loan officer. Sadly what often takes place is a "sink or swim" training method and some poor soul's home purchase is the training ground.  We've seen this with both newbie real estate professionals and often with the "I'm using a relative" scenario.

Is it a fair question to ask a professional how many transactions they have completed lately ... this year ... EVER?  ABSOLUTELY.

I'm working with a newbie ... I'm scared!

As a home buyer, working with a new agent or loan officer isn't necessarily a curse. Just because a real estate professional is new to the business doesn't mean they have to be new to professionalism! Indeed, some new real estate professionals are years ahead of some of the "dead wood" that has been around for years. (And I would tell some people to their face if they asked!). If a newbie has strong support, you can feel confident they should do a fair job. If they lack support and they are green, then you are rolling the dice and "good luck" with them handling one of the largest transactions of your life.

Real estate transactions are highly detailed. The home buyer should never be the training ground that a new agent or officer learns the ropes on. They might lose a commission check if the transaction doesn't close. A home buyer however may lose a home, a place to stay, a lot of money, or even worse.

As a home buyer, DO NOT be afraid to ask questions upfront and put the professional you choose to work with to the test. Any professional worth your time will welcome the questions and concerns. And that is a fact, because in such a situation, the professional has the oppurtunity to shine, which will help all parties understand one another and work better together.

(Side Notes for the Professional ... As a new agent or loan officer, do not accept a company that treats training as a "put out the fire" situation. If the company you are joining doesn't have a training program written down before you join them, be skeptical about what training you will recieve. Some owners/managers are nothing more than glorified salespeople and are only looking to make money from you. They don't care about your success. Don't line their pockets as you make a bad reputation for yourself.)

Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in New Jersey. For more info or questions feel free to contact Steve.

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• Purchase, refinance, rehab loans
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, First Time Home Buyer, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Call direct @ 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail | NJ Loan Officer .com | NMLS ID: 218007

Reverse Mortgage Scams

(Alternate title: Dealing with My Stupid Criminal Loan Officer Peers)

I wish I could say that this was a "stupid criminal" situation like Jay Leno loves to see.  It is not. If you would like to get really ticked off, read on.  I received a call two days ago from a reverse mortgage client of mine. They closed about a year ago. Mr. Jones (as we will call him) called me to ask me this question:

"I recieved a call today from a loan officer. He said that the mortgage company that we closed our loan with went out of business, and that we need to sign new paperwork. He said he was going to send us a new mortgage package. He told us to just sign everything and send it back. Is this right and should we sign?"

Does it make you start to wonder how many seniors are scammed this way? 

Just in case you are wondering, once a loan is closed, you can have 1,000 banks go out of business. YOU DON'T NEED to resign anything.  This scenario above is a complete scam. And I hope it makes you as irrate as it makes me!

One would hope that after all the industry changes in the past year that the scum in this business would be gone. Nope. They just have invented new ways to crush someone to make a fast buck.

The great news is that Mr. Jones still had my number handy and called me first. That move just saved him $1,000's plus massive heartache.  (the LAST thing a senior in his late 70's needs!!) I plan to have Mr. Jones tell the loan officer to send that new loan package out, so that I can then go personally pick it up, and forward the same scenario to any and every banking official I can get a hold of.

Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in New Jersey. For more info or questions feel free to contact Steve.

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• Purchase, refinance, rehab loans
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, First Time Home Buyer, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Call direct @ 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail | NJ Loan Officer .com | NMLS ID: 218007

Timing Is Everything

Here's a fun little picture my wife took when we were heading into our development last night. This big guy was in the street atop a bridge, which means he worked REALLY hard to get to the wrong place. (Ain't that so true in life!). If I'm not mistaken, this is the second time I am rescuing this guy ...

Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in New Jersey. For more info or questions feel free to contact Steve.

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• Purchase, refinance, rehab loans
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, First Time Home Buyer, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Call direct @ 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail | NJ Loan Officer .com | NMLS ID: 218007

New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) mortgage interest rates as of May 10, 2010. This includes the Smart Start NJ First Time Home Buyer Program.

Smart Start allows a home buyer to obtain the required downpayment for an FHA loan. As an example, a home buyer purchase a home for $100,000.  Their required down payment would be 3.5% (or $3,500). In this situation their loan amount would be $96,500. The Smart Start program offers the buyer 4% of the loan amount or in this case $3,860. ($96,500 x 4%). This covers all of the required down payment for an FHA loan and even puts some money towards the closing costs (which the seller can pay the rest if negotiated correctly).

First Time Home Buyer 30 Year Term

5.250% - First Mortgage with no Smart Start assistance

5.625% - First Mortgage with 2% Smart Start assistance

5.750% - First Mortgage with 3% Smart Start assistance

6.000% - First Mortgage with 4% Smart Start assistance

The 40 year team requires an additional add-on of .125%

Home Plus

5.625 with 3 points

Purchase/Rehabilitation Mortgage Program

5.625 with 3 points

Other NJHMFA options include Police and Fire Loans and Live Where You Work. Steve Kappre and Treasury Mortgage are an approved and servicer of NJHMFA Smart Start loans.

Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in New Jersey. For more info or questions feel free to contact Steve.

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• Purchase, refinance, rehab loans
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, First Time Home Buyer, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Call direct @ 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail | NJ Loan Officer .com | NMLS ID: 218007

Smart Start and other NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency options have a strong place in the real estate market in South Jersey, and these are great loans for NJ First Time Home Buyers, Police and Fire loans, Live Where You Work, and more. As you can see the income limits are rather generous and allow the majority of first time home buyers to have down payment assistance options. Indeed, most first time buyers can get into a home and can recieve funds to cover the entire down payment needed (as is the case of a 3.5% down payment requirement for an FHA loan).

You must work with an approved lender (like Treasury Mortgage) for this option, and the mortgage and the assistance program are all one program and must be utilized as such.

Amherst Farms, Mickleton, NJ (East Greenwich) Home for Sale

(Updated Photos)

	200 Hopkins Road Mickleton, NJ 08056 For Sale By Owner in Amherst Farms, Mickleton, NJ
Home Photo Gallery Virtual Tour Property Map Payment Info Request Showing Contact Me Contact Seller Directly Daytime: 856-419-3561 Evening: 856-419-3561 eMail: Contact	Price : $599,000 Bedrooms : 4 Bathrooms : 3.5 Square Foot : 4,200 Lot Size : 32,670 Community : Amherst Farms County : Gloucester Property Type : FSBO Year Built : 2007 click for more information and pictures Property Description 2 story home with walk out basement on wooded premium lot. Property backs up to preserved land with enourmous yard and mature trees. Quiet street located conveniently close to 295 with easy commute to Philly and Delaware. Gourmet kitchen with 42" maple cabinets, double oven, corian, large center island, and walk-in pantry. Separate laundry room. There is rough plumbing in the unfinished basement for a full bath. Storage galore in the huge basement (approx. 2,000 sq.ft). Double-hung windows t/o entire home. Two car side-entry garage with insulated door. Call for a tour. Features List 4 Bedrooms 3.5 bath Full Basement Florida Room Sunroom Gourmet Kitchen Princess Suite Jack-n-Jill Bath Master Suite 2-Story Family Room Fireplace 2-Story Foyer Hardwood Floors 3 Zone Heat/AC 1st Floor Office Crown Molding t/o Wainscotting Walk-out Basement Family Room Living Room Formal Dining Room
Equal Housing Opportunity.

Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in New Jersey. For more info or questions feel free to contact Steve.

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• Purchase, refinance, rehab loans
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, First Time Home Buyer, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Call direct @ 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail | NJ Loan Officer .com

Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in New Jersey. For more info or questions feel free to contact Steve.

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• Purchase, refinance, rehab loans
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, First Time Home Buyer, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Call direct @ 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail | NJ Loan Officer .com

Home for Sale in Cherry Hill, NJ (Camden County) | 4 Bedroom Newly Renovated Colonial | For Sale By Owner

Put this one on your list of homes to see! Two story colonial that is newly renovated with 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, 2 car garage, Central Air and Heat and more! Call for a tour today.

	1909 Birchwood Park Drive North Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 Two Story Colonial Newly Renovated
Home Photo Gallery Virtual Tour Property Map Payment Info Request Showing Contact Me Richard DeGrace Daytime: 609-209-3700 Evening: 609-209-3700 eMail: Contact	Price : $324,900 Bedrooms : 4 Bathrooms : 2.5 Community : Point of Woods County : Camden Property Type : FSBO click for more information and pictures Property Description Lovely 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bath Colonial home has just been renovated. New Eat in Kitchen with a sliding door to the large, fenced in back yard. The family room has a fireplace with a full brick wall and mantel. This home also has a formal dining room and living room. New bathrooms with ceramic tile. On the second level this home has plenty of space for your family with generously sized bedrooms and large master suite with private bath. The full finished basement is also a great area for the family. Other amenities include a large laundry room/office, 2 car garage, central air and gas heat. Features List NEW KITCHEN NEW BATHROOMS KITCHEN GRANITE FOUR BEDROOMS 2.5 BATHS FENCED IN YARD TWO CAR GARAGE FIREPLACE FINISHED BASEMENT GAS HEAT CENTRAL AIR CERAMIC TILE BATHS NEW CARPETS NEW WINDOWS NEW SIDING
Equal Housing Opportunity.

Amherst Farms in Mickleton | Gloucester County, NJ | 4+ Bedroom Homes, Large Yards, Perfect Location

If you are looking for a great place to live in Gloucester County, with perfect access to 295, Delaware, and Philly, but just far enough away from it all, check out Amherst Farms in Mickleton, NJ (Gloucester County).

Located in a more private setting with large yards, these 4+ bedroom homes are only a few years old and have the kind of accents and appointments that higher-end homes require; Molding and trim through-out the entire house, 2-story family rooms, English and walk-out basement options, acre lots, wooded settings, sunrooms, 2-3 car garages and more.

There is a huge common area complete with playsets for younger kids, a large walking path, a backstop and over-sized baseball field, and a huge wooden bridge over a beautiful stream area complete with the wildlife you would expect to find in a more rural setting.

All pictures on this page were taken at some area of Amherst Farms. The majority of the wildlife pictures were taken in front or back yards, except for the turtle (who was just outside the development trying to "cross the street"!)

All pictures taken by Steve Kappre

Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in New Jersey. For more info or questions feel free to contact Steve.

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• Purchase, refinance, rehab loans
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, First Time Home Buyer, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Call direct @ 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail | NJ Loan Officer .com

Home For Sale By Owner in Mickleton, NJ - Amherst Farms (East Greenwich) Looking for a property that screams location, location, location? Here is an opportunity to own a 4-bedroom home in Mickleton New Jersey. Just 3 years old and ready to move in!

	200 Hopkins Road Mickleton, NJ 08056 For Sale By Owner in Amherst Farms, Mickleton, NJ
Home Photo Gallery Virtual Tour Property Map Payment Info Request Showing Contact Me Steve Daytime: 856-419-3561 Evening: 856-419-3561 eMail: Contact	Price : $599,000 Bedrooms : 4 Bathrooms : 3.5 Square Foot : 4,200 Lot Size : 32,670 Community : Amherst Farms County : Gloucester Property Type : FSBO Year Built : 2007 click for more information and pictures Property Description 2 story home with walk out basement on wooded premium lot. Property backs up to preserved land with enourmous yard and mature trees. Quiet street located conveniently close to 295 with easy commute to Philly and Delaware. Gourmet kitchen with 42" maple cabinets, double oven, corian, large center island, and walk-in pantry. Separate laundry room. There is rough plumbing in the unfinished basement for a full bath. Storage galore in the huge basement (approx. 2,000 sq.ft). Double-hung windows t/o entire home. Two car side-entry garage with insulated door. Call for a tour. Features List 4 Bedrooms 3.5 bath Full Basement Florida Room Sunroom Gourmet Kitchen Princess Suite Jack-n-Jill Bath Master Suite 2-Story Family Room Fireplace 2-Story Foyer Hardwood Floors 3 Zone Heat/AC 1st Floor Office Crown Molding t/o Wainscotting Walk-out Basement Family Room Living Room Formal Dining Room
Equal Housing Opportunity.

Michael's Florist and Greenhouse of West Deptford Can Help You Spruce Up Your Gloucester County Home and Landscape!

Whether you are buying a new home or sprucing up your current home, having a great landscape is an important part of home ownership, and it s certainly important when buying or selling a home. A front yard that "pops" when a buyer first drives up can be a huge benefit.

I've trusted Michael William's Florist and Greenhouse for the last 2 years and plan to do a sizable overhaul of my own landscape. That is one of the reasons I dropped by his place located in West Deptford, NJ. The pots at right are a client's own that Mike has help set-up with just the right size and type.

One of the most welcoming aspects of purchasing plants at Michael's is that he always gives some easy to remember advise on how to care for the plants. Many of us do not have a green thumb, and so a little advise goes a far way.

Well the season is just beginning and as you can see by the pictures here (all taken at Michael's), little stems and buds are starting to pop all over the place. There are plants for decoration, others for eating (you simply CAN NOT beat a Jersey Tomato!), and even others for helping control pests.

Michael's is currently preparing for their opening on April 1st, so that they can help you prepare for all of your plant, garden, and landscaping needs!

Driving Directions

From 295 South: take exit 20. Make a right onto Mid Atlantic Parkway. Make a left at Crown Point (Route 44) and then an immediate left on Fowler Road. Nursery is at the end of the road.

From 295 North: Take exit 20. Make a left at the light onto Mid Atlantic Parkway. Head straight to the light on Crown Point Road (Route 44). Make a left, and then an immediate left onto Fowler Road. Nursery is at the end of the road.

Call Mike @ 856-848-3945

E-mail Mike @ mikewh328@verizon.net

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Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in New Jersey. For more info or questions feel free to contact Steve.

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• Purchase, refinance, rehab loans
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, First Time Home Buyer, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Call direct @ 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail | NJ Loan Officer .com

Should Realtors Advise Their Clients to Not Accept Offers from Buyers Pre-Approved for USDA Financing?

If you don't know by now, USDA plans to be out of funds by the end of April of this year. So the question begs to be asked; Should listing agents advise their sellers go under contract with buyers purchasing using a USDA mortgage?

Without doubt there is a portion of buyers that can only finance a home using 100% USDA financing. Even the 3.5% FHA required down-payment is too much for some buyers. So should buyers be required to also be approved for alternate financing? Some lenders refuse to even write these loans out of fear. Or maybe ignorance.

With the first time buyer tax credit coming to an end soon, and most likely the number of home buyers thinning to some degree, all bases should be covered. At the very least a lender, buyer, and Realtor should all be on the same page and have their buyer's facts disclosed. If a buyer can only utilize USDA financing, then everyone needs to notified of how fast things must move, and the potential negative consequences.

USDA financing is a fanastic program. Denying a home buyer and seller to go to contract out of fear can be just as bad as going into a contract blindly. Lay out the facts; No surprises for buyer or seller. Keep the lines of communication constantly open. The reality is that you may have only one buyer to ever go under contract for a particular home. Can you risk saying "no"?

Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in New Jersey. For more info or questions feel free to contact Steve.

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• Purchase, refinance, rehab loans
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, First Time Home Buyer, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Call direct @ 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail | NJ Loan Officer .com

Will I Get a Better Interest Rate with a Higher Credit Score?

by Steve Kappre, NJ Loan Officer

The simple answer: Maybe, but there are many variables.

As a rule of thumb, the higher the credit score the better the rate you will receive (or the less fees you will pay). This is most relevant when talking about conventional loan programs. For the best rates and options you want a credit score of 740 of more.

What can make my rate higher?

• Credit scores below 740
• A property's status: Second home or investment property loans
• Type of property: Condo vs. single family vs. mobile home vs. multi-unit
• Loan amount: Conforming loan vs. jumbo vs. super jumbo

And the list can go on and on. Each variable can add to the interest rate and/or the cost of the loan. Some combinations can get very expensive as well as very limiting on your financing options.

FHA and VA loans are different than conventional. Many lenders will be able to offer the same rate for an FHA or VA loan if you have a 620 or better credit score. Some lenders will require a 660 or better credit score to get a better rate (or less fees).

What you may find from lender to lender is that the rates offered or the options allowed may fluctuate for the exact same program and financing scenario. On top of the guidelines that Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, or VA set, lenders may place their own restrictions, commonly known as lender overlays. Lenders can go as far as to not allow certain loan options even though FHA, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac may allow the option themselves.

Keep doing you research. If you find yourself getting different answers to the same questions, you are probably talking to either loan officers that do not know what they are talking about, or one or more lenders you are talking to are telling you their guidelines based off of their particular lender overlays.

So the final answer is ...

Higher credit always helps - but isn't always required to get the best rates. Many lenders can offer the same rates for certain loans whether your credit score is 620, 720, or 820.

Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in New Jersey. For more info or questions feel free to contact Steve.

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• Purchase, refinance, rehab loans
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, First Time Home Buyer, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Call direct @ 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail | NJ Loan Officer .com

Zero Down Mortgage Options for New Jersey May Soon End

by Steve Kappre, NJ Loan Officer

One of the strongest loan options for buyers these days is the USDA Mortgage Loan, which has some great features such as 100% financing (zero $$ down) and NO MONTHLY mortgage insurance. It also allows home sellers to pay for most or all of a buyers closing costs.

Some may think this loan is too risky to even consider, but there are checks in place. In fact, this program has common sense guidelines such as debt ratios that can't be "out-of-whack" and some minimum credit score requirements. It also requires full documentation of income, assets, job history, etc.

Here is the bad news ...

When a USDA loan is written for a home buyer, there is a guarantee for the mortgage that is "locked in" once the loan is approved. The issue right now is that USDA estimates that it will be out of money around late April of 2010, which means that this great financing option will no longer be available, at least until the government decides to allocate more money to this program.

What to do now?

If you require this type of financing, than you need to get under contract ASAP on a home. Let us look at an example time-line; If USDA is out of funds by the end of April ... and it takes 2-3 weeks to fully approve a USDA loan ... and it takes one week to negotiate a contract for a home and have it signed by all parties ...

That puts us at the middle-to-end of March ... or RIGHT NOW.

Some buyers will be counting on the USDA loan and the first time buyer tax credit, and with even just a little delay or hiccup can miss out on everything.

Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in New Jersey. For more info or questions feel free to contact Steve.

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• Purchase, refinance, rehab loans
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, First Time Home Buyer, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Call direct @ 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail | NJ Loan Officer .com

The End of NJ First Time Home Buyer Mortgages for Buyers Below 620 FICO Scores

by Steve Kappre, NJ Loan Officer

It was a nice run while it lasted, and over the last 6-12 months we were effectively able to put quite a few NJ first time home buyers into homes. As of March 15, 2010, NJ HMFA (Smart Start, Tax Prefund, and other options) will not allow a borrower to have a middle credit score below 620.

Another tightening of guidelines will no longer allow buyers to use alternative credit and have no credit score. In the past, a lender could fund such a loan by placing 4 trade-lines that were not already on a credit report (i.e. cell phone bill, auto insurance, gym membership). Now if this is done and there still is no credit score, the loan can not be approved per NJ HMFA guidelines.

It is another blow in the world of mortgage financing.

There ARE some good buyers out there that have credit scores slightly below 620 that would make solid home owners. It is unfortunate that these guidelines restrict otherwise solid home owners. But the line has to be drawn somewhere. This makes the knowledge and understanding of credit scores and reports more important than ever!

With the end of NJ first time home buyer programs for buyers with credit scores below 620, it is more important than ever to work with a highly qualified, local mortgage loan officer. If your credit is marginal or below 620, call today for advice on how to raise your score to qualify for the Smart Start, Tax Prefund, or other HMFA program.

Credit Links

Credit Scoring - What Makes Up My Credit Score? (1 of 6)

Credit Scoring - Payment History (2 of 6)

Credit Scoring - Balances (3 of 6)

Credit Scoring - History (4 of 6)

Credit Scoring - Mix of Accounts (5 of 6)

Credit Scoring - Inquiries (6 of 6)

Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in New Jersey. For more info or questions feel free to contact Steve.

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• Purchase, refinance, rehab loans
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, First Time Home Buyer, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Call direct @ 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail | NJ Loan Officer .com

When Repairing Your Credit, Don't Forget About Good Debt

by Steve Kappre, NJ Loan Officer

Anyone who takes the initiative to restore their credit profile should be commended. Keep in mind though  that along with removing negative debts and history, many times new debt (that is good debt) needs to be established.

As time passes, older items on a credit report have less and less effect on the credit scores. This is good in the case of bad debt, and not so good in the case of good debt. Good debt would be considered an account that has been active, has on-time payment history, and has low balances (in regards to the allowable limit).

Good debt can be a mortgage, a car loan, credit cards, or installment loans. Some debts are a little better to have than others but that is beyond the scope of this piece.

As a individual makes the effort to rid their profile of negative items, for the score to improve, the credit scoring system will need to see some timely (on-time) accounts. If your credit is too damaged to open a bank loan or credit card, the common method of re-establishing credit is through a secure credit card, which is basically a credit card where you put the "credit" upfront ($500 limit on a card would require a $500 deposit, for instance).

So remember, knowing how to correctly remove and repair items on the credit report is only part of the equation. Be sure to establish new, good debt. 

Credit Links

Credit Scoring - What Makes Up My Credit Score? (1 of 6)

Credit Scoring - Payment History (2 of 6)

Credit Scoring - Balances (3 of 6)

Credit Scoring - History (4 of 6)

Credit Scoring - Mix of Accounts (5 of 6)

Credit Scoring - Inquiries (6 of 6)

Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in New Jersey. For more info or questions feel free to contact Steve.

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• Purchase, refinance, rehab loans
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, First Time Home Buyer, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Call direct @ 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail | NJ Loan Officer .com