Southern California Mortgage and Finance

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? Get an application hereHello, and happy summer! I just wanted to let you know that the buying and selling guides have been updated for summer, and I want to share them with you. You can find them by clicking through these links:Click here for the Summer Home Selling Guide!Click here for the Summer Home Buying Guide!Use them as you need to, and if you know any family that could use this information, I would appreciate it if you would pass it on to them. I'm positive they will find this information very valuable.We have a few more months of beautiful weather here in Southern California, so I hope you enjoy it! As always, if you have any questions for me, feel free to reach out at any time. I always love to hear from you!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? Get an application hereToday, I just wanted to share a few updated documents with you. Both the buying and selling summer guides have arrived, and I just wanted to make sure everyone has a copy.Click here for the Summer Home Selling Guide!Click here for the Summer Home Buying Guide!I highly recommend that you blog about these, send them to prospective clients, and share them with your colleagues. There is a lot of great content here from Keeping Current Matters and I think that everyone you share it with will find value in it.Every time I get a new prospect who is looking to buy and gets pre-approved with my team, I give them a buying guide. Every time I work with someone who is thinking about selling, they get the selling guide.Feel free to make it your own by taking my information out of the last page, putting your email address at the bottom of each page, and just use it as you see fit.I hope all is well in your business right now, and look forward to talking to you soon!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? Get an application hereToday I am joined by a special guest, Angela Hamann from Carrington Real Estate Services. Angie will help answer a question that I get all the time: What are the three essential tips when selling your home?The three most important things are pricing your home right, staging it, and making a good first impression with professional photography.Pricing your home is extremely important. Angie recommends pricing your home a hair below market value. You will get a stampede of buyers and multiple offers. Another option would be range pricing, where you have the buyer's wish low price and the seller's hopeful high price. That way, you can negotiate the price to somewhere in between.Staging your home is crucial. You're going to move, so you may as well start packing. Start depersonalizing your home. Put everything away, and reduce items in your closets and cabinets by 50%.The second step in home staging is to walk through your home with a Realtor and a handyman. Have them give you a list of things that will help get your home sold. There could be quite a few things you don't know about that would be simple, cost effective ways of fixing your home, including getting higher wattage light bulbs to make your home as bright and cheery as possible.When it comes to first impressions, photography is key. 95% of buyers are starting their home search online. If you don't have great photos or a video, they will just move on to the next one. You want to have professional photos of your home online in order to entice buyers. If you have any other questions about today's topic, you can contact Angie at 619-813-6602 or email Angela@SanDiegoHomesForSale.com. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. We would love to hear from you.

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? Get an application hereSearching for a new home can be a stressful endeavor, but it doesn't have to be. Today, we're going to talk about the 5 things to look for when viewing a home, so you don't make any costly mistakes when buying this summer.Location: Is the house next to a busy street? Is it next to a freeway? What are the schools like? Is traffic congested near your home?Size: Are the rooms going to fit all of your furniture? Are they big enough, or are they too big? Make sure there is enough room for all your amenities!Windows: These tend to get expensive, so you want to determine whether the windows will need to be upgraded. Situation of house: Is your home close to your neighbors? Is the home west facing or east facing? Does the home get much natural light? Roof: Like the windows, if the roof needs to be repaired, it will be awfully expensive. Make sure it is in good shape!If you have any questions about the home buying process, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to share some tips and tricks to help ease your buying experience! 

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? Get an application hereToday, real estate extraordinaire Jeremy Katz joins us discuss buyers who are on the fence. Why are they waiting? Are they missing out on a wonderful opportunity to buy in Southern California? We'll tackle these questions and more.Most buyers begin the home search online, and a lot of times they only see active properties listed on various websites. They don't get to see pending homes or homes that are sold. As a buyer, which properties would you rather see, desirable homes that are selling or homes that have sat on the market for an extended period of time? If you're a buyer on the fence, the only homes you're seeing are the ones that no one picked! When you get with the right lending partner and the right Realtor, we can get you on the cutting edge of the market. This means you'll be introduced to properties as soon as they get on the marker or, sometimes, we'll show you homes not yet listed and For Sale By Owner properties. The Southern California market is pretty balanced right now, depending on the area you live in. Regardless of conditions in your neighborhood, it never hurts to have an aggressive agent who can tell what is and what isn't happening in a given market to give you the best shot of accomplishing your buying goals. Buyers who work with our team are getting about a 4% discount off asking, while the average MLS buyer is only getting a discount of 2%. These outcomes for our clients are the result of an active approach to the market.If you have questions about getting pre-approved and finding great homes in our strong market, give me a call or shoot me a quick email. You can reach Jeremy for all your real estate-specific needs at (619) 497-1834 orJKatz@SDHouseHunting.com. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? Get an application hereToday, we want to elaborate on an unfortunate fact: Zillow is wrong more often than they're right. When you're thinking about buying a house in San Diego or anywhere in Southern California, you're likely to start the process online. Many people use Zillow's Zestimate feature to determine whether a home is priced correctly, but it's not the most reliable tool. In San Diego, Zestimates are wrong 55% of the time! When looking closely at Zillow's numbers, we found Zestimates are only within 5% of a home's true value 42.8% of the time! Additionally, Zestimates in San Diego are off by 20% in value nearly 20% of the time. Would you consider that to be a good estimate?If you have certain selling goals you want to accomplish, or if you're trying to determine how much you should offer on a home, you are likely using the wrong numbers if you're basing your decisions on a Zillow Zestimate. The best way to accomplish your buying, selling, or investing goals is to work with a real estate professional who knows the market inside and out.If you have questions about this topic, or if you would like us to put you in contact with an agent you can trust, give us a call or shoot us an email. We would love to give you a hand! 

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? Get an application here Today, a very special guest and good friend of mine joins us to discuss real estate tips for buyers. Miguel Saenz is an entrepreneur, investor, house flipper, and expert real estate agent, and he wants to share the top five things to look for when purchasing a home in Southern California.Neighborhood: Take a look at your future neighbors and ensure there is no clutter in the yard. No one appreciates living next to messy neighbors.Curb appeal: Take a look at your house and ensure it looks great from the outside. You're going to be looking at it for quite some time after purchasing it!Functionality: How does the interior look? Can you see yourself living there?Roof: Ensure there is no leakage or damage to the roof. If you don't take a good look at it before buying, it could cost you a whole lot of money down the road.Exterior: Look at the foundation of the home and ensure there is no cracking or sinking. These are other problems that become more expensive the longer you wait to correct them!  There you have it: 5 tips from an expert in the home buying business. If you have any questions for Miguel, or if you want more information about available mortgage packages, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I would love to hear from you!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? You can simply apply by clicking this linkThe summer real estate season is almost here and I feel it's a good time to go over the do's and don'ts of the loan process. Let's jump right in:The DO's:Keep your records in good order! If a lender requests to see documentation of any kind, you need to be able to share it with them. Be aware that underwriters typically verify your income and tax documents through your employers CPA and/or IRA tax transcripts. Hold on to your new pay stubs as received.Continue saving income account statements, keeping all the numbered pages of each statement.Document gifts: If you're receiving gift money from relatives, they will need to sign a gift letter, which we'll provide, and an account statement evidencing the source.Continue payments on current residence: If renting, continue to pay your rent on time and save your proof of payment; you may also need to show sufficient equity, a lease, and a receipt of first month's rent and security deposit. If you're selling your current residence, be prepared to show your HUD-1 Settlement Statement.Keep your credit shining. Continue making payments on time - your score may be pulled again, and any negative change to your score could cause you to lose your approval and your home. Things have changed: Underwriters require more documentation now than ever before. Even if requests seem silly, intrusive, and unnecessary, please remember they wouldn't ask for it if they didn't need it! The DON'Ts:Apply for new credit: Changes in credit can cause delays, it can change the terms of financing, and even prevent closing. If you must open a new account, or want to borrow against retirement funds, we ask that you consult with us first.Change jobs during the process: Probationary periods, career or status changes, such as from a salaried to a commission permission, leave of absence or a new bonus structure, can be subject to very strict rules. Make any undocumented deposits: Primarily large deposits must be sourced, unless they are identified. Make copies of checks and deposits slips, keep deposits small, and avoid depositing cash.Wait to liquidate funds from stock or retirement accounts: If you need to sell investments, do it now and document the transaction. Don't take the risk that the market could move against you, leaving you short of funds to close.Be afraid to ask questions: If you're uncertain about what you need or what you should do, my team and I are here to help you through the process. Purchasing a home is much easier to do when you have financing in place before you make an offer. We're here to help you get started, and it's never too early to do that. Give the Alex Caragiannides Team a call when you're ready!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? Get an application here In today's video I'm going to get away from real estate and focus on personal development for a little bit. A long time ago I was told that you could dictate where you went in life by reading more books and choosing the type of people that you surround yourself with. My life has been improving more and more as I've read more good books and surrounded myself with intelligent, successful people.The 'A' stands for accepting all the things that you cannot change. This is part of the serenity prayer and I try to recite it every morning. This is a great philosophy to live by in my own opinion.'B' stands for being grateful for everything that you have. Every morning when I wake up, I journal for about fifteen minutes about things that I am grateful for. It really helps me determine what's important in my life and what is not.The 'C' that I'm talking about is creating daily progress towards your goals. When I journal in the morning, I write down my goals for the day and keep track of them. I think I can hold myself more accountable for doing the things that I need to do when I have written them down. I write down anything from daily goals to weekly goals to yearly goals. I think it really helps me attack my dreams and make them come to fruition. I could speak about this for hours, but I'll leave you with this. I cannot express how important I believe personal development is. The only way to improve your life is to improve yourself.As always, please contact me with any questions you have about real estate in Southern California!I'm always here to help you!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? Get your application hereInterested in our FREE VA Loan Workshop? Register hereNeed to determine your monthly payment for a mortgage? Use our mortgage calculatorThere is a lot to consider before you purchase a home. While there are endless things to consider, we're going to tackle a few of the major thoughts that should be crossing your mind when you commit to buying a property in Southern California. One major consideration is how much home you will be able to comfortably afford. Going through the pre-approval process is the best way to determine this. This will then allow you to focus solely on homes that you know you can afford. It's always easier to find a home when you can narrow down your search.Once you know your financial limitations, you need to pinpoint the type of home that you want. There are single-family homes, condos, etc. Knowing exactly what type of home you want will allow you to act quickly once the home you want appears on the market. Here in Southern California the market moves quickly, so speed and efficiency are critical. It's also important to keep in mind how long you will be living in your home and how it will meet your needs in the future. Planning for the future is extremely important.Generally speaking, you should have a good idea of what the buying process looks like before you commit to purchasing. This is probably a time where you'll find that the internet doesn't have all the answers. Most often a purchase will include a multitude of steps: offers, negotiations, acceptance, inspections, contracts, loan applications, appraisals, title, loan, etc. The process doesn't always take the same order, so it really pays off to speak to a local professional such as myself before you commit. Please feel free to contact my lending team when you're ready to buy in Southern California. We would be more than happy to walk you through the process!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? Get an application here Can you borrow extra money if you want to make home improvements?VA borrowers can add up to $6,000 to their loan to make energy-efficient improvements to their home. Known as an Energy Efficient Mortgage, or an EEM, these unique loan products allow homeowners to make select upgrades and repairs to their property in order to maximize energy efficiency.Spending money on energy improvements can lessen your heating, cooling, and other related energy costs for years to come. Those monthly savings on energy costs can be funneled into additional payments to the mortgage principle, or it can be used on dozens of other household necessities. Veterans interested in EEM should consult with their lender and be sure to arrange a home-energy audit from a professional firm! Call the Alex Caragiannides Lending Team today to speak with a knowledgeable mortgage specialist! 

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? Get an application here Today, we answer the question of whether it's possible to pay off a VA loan early. Let's jump right in...VA loans do not have any kind of prepayment policies. This means that borrowers can pay off their home loans early, without penalty. This is a significant advantage to homeowners who want to cut down on interest costs over time.Paying an additional $50 or $100 toward your premium could shave off years and tens of thousands of dollars of your 30-year fixed-rate mortgage! As always, if you have any questions about VA loans, or if you need lending assistance of any kind, give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We would love to help! 

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? Get an application here Can someone else sign on a VA loan with you? This is another great question, and one we'll answer here today.Veterans and active-duty service members can have someone sign on the home loan with them, but there are some restrictions. The co-borrower must be a spouse or an eligible veteran. Parents, friends and significant others who do not fall under one of those two headings cannot be a co-borrower on a VA loan. Married veterans can obtain a VA loan on their own, but if they live in a community property state, their spouse's active debt and and income will be factored into the loan application.  If you have any questions about this topic, or if you need lending help of any kind, give us a call to speak with a mortgage specialist. We would truly love to give you a hand! 

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? Get an application here Today, we answer the question of whether you can have more than one VA loan at a time! Your VA entitlement isn't a one-time benefit! Borrowers who qualify can utilize their VA home loan benefits over and over. Most veterans will have only one VA-backed mortgage at a time, but there are situations where veterans can have more than one VA loan at a time. Most of those circumstances are related to relocation needs, including deployments and new jobs.VA loans are for primary residences only. You can't use your VA loans to purchase investment properties or businesses!If you have any questions, give us a call to speak with a VA loan specialist! We would love to hear from you! 

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? Get an application here Can you borrow more than the value of your home with a VA loan? This is a question we hear a lot, so today we'll answer it for you! Here are some details to be aware of:On a VA purchase loan, veterans can borrow up to the appraised value of the home, including some costs and fees associated with the loan. Home buyers interested in making their homes more energy efficient can add up to $6,000 of improvements to an energy-efficient mortgage.With a VA cash-out refinance, we can help homeowners refinance up to 100% of their home's value. Homeowners can use that cash to pay bills, renovate their home, etc. Did that answer the question? If you would like to discuss this topic in further detail, give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We'll set you up with a mortgage professional who will help you make the decision that's best for you and your family! 

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? Get an application here If you are the spouse of a deceased veteran, are you eligible for a VA loan? This is a question we hear often, so today we'll try to answer it for you!VA loans are available to some nonmilitary personnel, including both unmarried and remarried spouses. An unmarried spouse who's veteran died on active duty, or because of a disability connected to his or her service, is eligible for a VA home loan benefit. Surviving spouses who obtain a VA loan with the veteran before his or her death can also obtain an Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL), better know as a VA streamline refinance.  Surviving spouses who are married upon or after turning age 57 and on or after December 16, 2003, may also be eligible for a VA home loan. Surviving spouses who are married before that date are no longer eligible to participate. The spouse of an active duty member who is listed missing in action or prisoner of war for at least 90 days is also eligible for a one time use of the VA home loan benefit.For more details about VA loans, give the Alex Caragiannides Team a call to speak with a VA loan specialist! We would love to help you take advantage of this great program, and we thank you for your service! 

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? Get an application here Affordability is extremely high right now, and conditions are just right to purchase a home right now. In times such as these, why not let the market build up equity for you naturally? Owning a home in an appreciating market can build up equity faster than you can save money.For example, a $400,000 home that appreciates by 6% gains $2,000 a month in equity. Could you save that much money every month?One of the best reasons to buy a home now is to get ahead of rising prices and interest rates. Even though when you purchase a home with 3% down and pay private mortgage insurance, you can rest easy knowing that the rates for PMI are substantially lower than they have been in the past. Another reason to buy now is that if you're renting, you can immediately turn your monthly payments into equity. The rent you're currently paying is probably similar to what you would be paying for a monthly mortgage. Also, when you own a home, you gain many different tax advantages. Buying a home is a temporary cost that may sting a bit at first, but this investment will pay for itself over and over again. If you're looking to buy a home in Southern California, let's set up a time to talk soon, because these low rates and high affordability will not last forever. Contact me at your convenience!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? Get an application here When considering the VA loan process, are you confident you understand the ins and outs well enough to guide your military clients to closing? The Caragiannides Team is dedicated to educating and serving military families and veterans and to helping facilitate the VA loan process when they are ready to buy a home. We believe that educating borrowers empowers them to better understand and control the home buying process. We also believe that providing real estate professionals like you information on the VA loan process will result in a streamlined, efficient process that will help ensure our military and veteran clients receive the best possible service.We've created a series of short videos to help answer the most commonly asked questions about the VA loans. We hope you'll find them useful and share them with your clients to help them better understand the process. We also have free VA workshops twice a month for real estate professionals and borrowers interested in learning more! For more information or additional assistance, give the Alex Caragiannides Team a call or shoot us a quick email. We would love to hear from you! 

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? Get an application here In recent years, mortgage guidelines have been tightened and documentation requirements have been expanded and followed more closely. But does this mean it's more difficult to secure a mortgage? Getting a pre-approval can help you avoid the potential pitfalls long before you become obligated by a contract of purchase. There are a handful of specific advantages once you're pre-approved. Once you have a pre-approval in hand, you'll be certain about the price range that's right for you, how much cash you'll need to close, and what your maximum monthly payment will be. Understanding your limits will help you negotiate with confidence - plus, since sellers like a sure thing, you'll have an advantage over other buyers in the marketplace. Your approval is typically valid for the shelf life of the documents used to obtain it. These include a credit report, pay stubs, bank statements, W-2s, tax returns, etc. The usable life of these documents will vary, but it's usually safe to say your approval is good for up to four months. During this time, it pays to file all the important financial documents so they're readily available for future updates.It's completely acceptable to change your mind. There's no obligation to purchase a home or use a particular loan program once you've been pre-approved. In fact, pre-approval simply helps you to know exactly what's involved in the buying process. Purchasing a home is much easier if you have financing in place before you make an offer.We're always here to help you get started, and it's never too early to do just that. Give the Alex Caragiannides Team a call whenever you're ready!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Are you looking to apply for a mortgage? You can simply apply by clicking this link to take you to the application. If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are purchasing a new home or refinancing their existing home, please forward  this email to them or reply back to this email with their contact information. I very much appreciate your referrals. I'll take excellent care of them!If you're considering buying a home with your Veteran's Association loan, then you will want to tune in to this video blog because I will be discussing the best ways to take advantage of this incredible offer. My team and I are willing to answer all the questions you might have surrounding a VA loan, because we specialize in helping veterans find great homes at great prices. Our mission is to educate and serve military families. We want to help you, and we invite you to come to our free VA loan workshops which we hold twice per month.If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. You have served us faithfully, and we would love the opportunity to serve you!