“I used Turbo Tax” responded Timothy Geithner, “it was me not the software” at his Senate Finance Committee hearing.  As Bill Winterberg  CFP® Twitter (@BillWinterberg) commented “think one must override TurboTax’s automatic calc of SE tax and SE 1/2 deduction”.  My question is...

Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS) Closed lower today, increasing Mortgage Rates (see Real Time Rates).  The DOW and all other major indices produced losses as the United States welcomed its 44th President. I guess the markets figured everyone was at the inauguration and wouldn’t notice the selloffs....

Another week for the history books; this week brought us the end of President George W. Bush’s 8 year term, along with more Bailout and negative economic news.  Mortgage rates began a silent uphill hike starting Monday and continued through Friday’s close. This week we watched the 4.00%...

Mortgage rates remained relatively unchanged today (see real time rates). In a speech today Bernanke suggest “the next step should be getting toxic assets, like those tied to subprime mortgages, off bank balance sheets”. (See video)  With Seattle being one of the few that has managed to weather...

What a day. After the FEDs Historic announcement yesterday, MBS acted in proper fashion and started there advance toward never before seen territory.  At one point today (12/17/2008) we witnessed rates reach as LOW as 4.5% (on lender rate sheets).  The party didn’t last long for the 30 YR FNMA 4.5%....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Quartz_crystal.jpg It’s that Time of Year again 2009 predictions. Comment on your TOP Three (3) Real Estate, Finance/Mortgage and Economic 2009 Predictions.  Whoever’s Predictions first come to fruition and scores a Trifecta will win themselves $300 (from Your...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/2959833537/in/photostream/ Preface: The reason for this post is due to the increased activity in mortgage applications and potential clients I have spoken with over the last two weeks, who have informed me after receiving a Personalized Mortgage Plan that they are...

Henry “Hank” Paulson announced they are using Tarp money to target consumer loans (credit cards, car loans, Home Loans) immediately.  The Name of the entity “TALF” – Term Asset Back Loan Facility. Six Hundred Billion will be allocated to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie...

The Short Payoff Refinance, which is done through our standard FHA Loan Program.   Where as a “Short Sale” has become a well known solution for borrowers to avoid foreclosure by selling their home for less than what is owed, the “Short Payoff Refinance” (Short-Pay Refi or SPR) is becoming...

Foreclosure is a hot topic among the press lately.  It’s hard to turn on the television or open up a newspaper without seeing a story about it. But what’s most interesting about foreclosures is that they appear to be concentrated in certain areas of the country.  According to the foreclosure-tracking...