Your Favorite Mortgage Guy

I said it the other day...

If you’re looking at a refinance / IRRRL your VA loan... PLEASE talk to me and NOT some Blue Falcon in a call center.

Most call centers have a terrible reputation and you’d never know it based on their name… or maybe you would.

CFPB Orders NewDay USA to Pay $2.25 Million for Illegally Luring Veterans and Military Families into Cash-Out Refinance Loans | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau The CFPB took action against repeat offender New Day Financial (NewDay USA) for deceiving active duty servicemembers and veterans seeking cash-out refinance loans.

Happy Sunday morning!!
Working away here and helping with offers on new home purchases for my Veteran home-buyers in MN and WI.

Nobody does more VA business in MN and western WI than the Military Mortgage Guru. 🦅🇺🇸🦅

Its Friday.

We wear RED... til they all come home. 🦅🇺🇸🦅

Lets make it a GOOD RED Friday!!

Click here for some Jocko: https://bit.ly/goodbyjocko

Free money!! 💲💲

If you are a FTHB (first time home buyer) and fits into the definition of a First-Generation Home Buyer... you can qualify for a special Down Payment Assistance (DPA) program.

This can provide you with up to 10% of the purchase price of the home (or $32k whichever is less) 🏠🏠

These funds are FORGIVEN after 5 years of ownership. 🤷🤷‍♀️

If you are a local Realtor®️ or homebuyer looking to qualify... contact me asap!!

FYI... this is significantly more attractive than some of the DPA programs being solicited right now... for a handful of reasons. I can explain more in detail.

PHONE CALL ☎️

Realtor®️: Hey Steven... remember me?

Me: SURE do Faith! How you doing!?

Realtor®️: (maybe paraphrasing a little 😎) You ROCKED the VA loan for my Veteran buyer last year... and I have 2 or 3 more Veterans who are looking for a loan. I told them I know the best damn VA lender this side of the Mississippi and they should PUNT the "online lender" they were getting chain-yanked by before.

Me: IGY6... send em my way and I will get it done!!! 🇺🇸

(IGY6 is a military term for I Got Your Six... meaning "I got your back")

Mortgage Refinancing advertisements and posts 💔💔

Right now... it is NOT likely you will save enough money per month to recoup the closing costs you have to pay.

Rates are going to start slipping down as inventory increases so it may be better to wait.

Unless you need cash out... I suggest HOLDING TIGHT for a little bit on a REFI.

Are you a Veteran and being solicited for a IRRRL / Streamline refi? Again... please be careful. Contact me to review or give a 2nd opinion.

WHY?

If rates are truly on a slow move down... and you refinance now the savings may be minimal (but allowed within guidelines). Great... but then if they go down again... and you want to grab an even lower rate you will have to try to factor in more closing costs and not even get thru your first set to "break even" before wanting to do it again?

Are you Renting now and looking to buy... OR one of my trusted Realtor®️ friends?

My teammate was just able to use "seller concessions" to pay offf the buyers' "Rental Termination Agreement Fee" AND a chunk of their closing costs! This saved this family thousands of dollars 💲

Does your lender go above and beyond to make it happen?

We have several Mortgage / FTHB programs with no/low down payments.

nmls #261849 & 1969375

Just saw that today was PTSD Awareness Day.

Please everyone: acknowledge the strength and resilience of those living with post-traumatic stress disorder. Witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event can leave lasting impressions.

Its real.

WEDNESDAY WORDS OF WISDOM:

• Compliment three people every day.
• Watch the sunrise at least once a year.
• Be the first to say "Hello."
• Live beneath your means.
• Treat everyone like you would like to be treated.
• Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen.
• Forget the Joneses.
• Never deprive someone of hope. It may be all they have.
• Pray not for things... but for wisdom and courage.
• Be tough-minded but tenderhearted.
• Be kinder than necessary.
• Don't forget: a person's greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.
• Keep your promises.
• Learn to show cheerfulness even when you don't feel like it.
• Remember that overnight success isn’t overnight. It usually takes about 15 to 20 years.
• Leave everything better than you found it.
• Remember that winners do what losers don't want to do.
• When you arrive at your job in the morning, let the first thing you say brighten everyone's day.
• Don't rain on other people's parades.
• Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.

80 years ago today...

🇺🇸 Does the VA Require a Home Inspection on a VA Loan?

👎NO!

👉A Veteran is NOT required by the VA to get a Home Inspection done when using a VA Home Loan. The VA does require a Pest Inspection (when below the "frost line") whether it is a purchase or a refinance transaction with a VA Loan. The only exception to the pest inspection is on a VA IRRRL Refinance.

This is a common question that comes up and there is some confusion around what inspections the VA requires. VA MAY Require the following inspections to be done
✅ Pest Inspection
✅ Well Water Test when there is a Well
✅ Septic Inspection when there is a septic system

BUT no home inspection is required because the VA relies solely on the VA Appraisal to determine the property condition.

Working on this rainy Memorial Day and getting offers accepted and rolling for some of my Veteran homebuyers is fun. 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

Time to search the Googler again for more thoughts on VALOR 😎

According to GOODREADS: The spiritual aspect of VALOR is evidenced by composure—calm presence of mind.

Tranquility is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of VALOR, as daring deeds are dynamical.

A truly brave man is ever serene; he is never taken by surprise; nothing ruffles the equanimity of his spirit.

This weekend is all about HONORING the brave souls who have shown true – courage in the face of adversity. We remember and give thanks for their sacrifice.

VAL·OR /ˈvalər/

Valor is honor plus dignity. It's gallant bravery and strength, especially on the battlefield or in the face of danger. Valor comes from the Latin valorem for “strength, moral worth,” with the sense of “courage” added later.

When you know your people... and they know you🧐

Email early this morning asking if a local CONDO is approved for VA and FHA financing. The listing agent saw that ALL of the other listings on other units in this development were listed as CASH or CONVENTIONAL only.

After confirming the name of the association... I was able to confirm that both FHA and VA loans are approved for financing. This opens up lots more buyers in today's market and ALSO the ability to serve our local Veteran community.

REALTORS: if you need this answer... please let me know. Also, my team has the history of getting qualified HOA associations approved for VA financing in 1-3 weeks.

(Images of the agencies below does not assume that I am part of HUD or the VA... only that I know what I'm doing when originated loans for each of these 😜)

Question:
From a professional standpoint... am I a Steven or a Steve to you?

FAKE NEWS:

When any company that I've ever worked at in the past starts sending you texts and emails about a made up progam called a Preferred Customer Program"... please laugh as hard as I did and roll around on the floor. 🤣🤣🤣

Then OPT OUT. 😍

There is only one

Its RED FRIDAY.
Remember
Everyone
Deployed

Its time.

Back to a time to build something great again.

If you're local to the Twin Cities / Western WI OR, heck... even someplace around the country and looking for a solid and fun team to associate with: IGY6.

pricing
products
flexibility
fun
growth
teamwork
LO or BM with a team

Reach out to me for a private conversation.

But, but, but... VA appraisals take too long 🤣🤣

* Ordered on Tues the 28th
* Accepted by appraiser on the Wed the 29th
* The appraiser went to the property right away
* Appraiser uploaded report to the VA portal on Sat Dec 2nd
* We jumped in on Dec 6th and saw it was there... sent to the UW and she issued the NOV (Notice of Value) on the 7th

LESS THAN A WEEK!!! (kinda)

Closing on a VA purchase within 2-3 weeks CAN happen if all things fall into place. 🦅🇺🇸🦅

We're CTC on our end... and ready to get docs out :)

Gobble Gobble...

http://www.northpointe.com/steven-brand

Today we salute our Veterans and thank them for their service and sacrifice. Happy Veterans Day! (and Happy Hang-Over day for the Marines Oorah.)

Effective October 25th, Northpointe Bank increased its standard conforming loan limits, up to $750,000 for 1-unit properties in non-high-cost markets; and up to $1,125,000 for standard conforming properties in Alaska and Hawaii. What does this mean for you? New loan limits will apply for Northpointe loans closed on or after October 25, 2023.

Looking to finance a home above conforming loan limits? Our Northpointe Jumbo program offers competitive financing with loan amounts up to $3,000,000. Connect with me today to learn more.

http://www.northpointe.com/steven-brand