Gene Mundt - Let's Talk Mortgages & Real Estate! : December 2010

     Seems like I'm finding a plethora of great posts here on AR as of late.  The following blog written by  Leslie Ebersole, Baird & Warner Real Estate, 962 So. Randall Road, St. Charles, IL,  (one of my favorites here on ActiveRain) ... is an excellent example of that fact.

     Those presently in the process of selling their homes are hearing a boat-load of reports, statistics, and heresay about the process of selling of their home and the amount of time it might take to achieve that goal.

     Leslie Ebersole's post addresses that topic and also offers some advice and guidelines for sellers that ... if heeded ... should make the process of selling their home much more easy and smooth.

     I re-post this blog with that hope in mind for all my clients and readers.  Should you need additional information and guidance, please do not hesitate to contact Leslie Ebersole, if in the St. Charles, Illinois, area.

     If I can be of assistance to you with your financing and credit needs, please contact me.  I will be happy to help in whatever manner possible ... or offer up a referral for a professional in your area.

Gene

     I've received quite a few requests for an update of pics on my new grand-daughter Marilyn from AR friends over the holidays.

     So in response to those requests (no arm-twisting necessary), I offer up the following photos.  This little girl is a beauty and has her grandpa wrapped around her finger already ...

                           My 2 Marilyns

Some cute kid, huh???

     I thought the list of important dates that  Lyn Sims - Northwest Suburbs, Schaumburg Homes - Re/Max Suburban (IL)  provides within this post and subsequent re-blog would be of great assistance to my personal clients presently in, or thinking about entering contract to buy a home, as well as others too.

     Pair all of these dates with the dates and requests being made throughout our mortgage processing, and you can see how everything gets pretty confusing for buyers ... or gets forgotten.

     Lyn Sim's  concise listing of important dates (and the explanation that accompany each) is a holiday gift that keeps on giving ... one that helps make the process of buying a home some easier. 

     I hope that this list gets printed-up and saved for use many many times!

Gene

     Today I was reading a blog posted here on ActiveRain.  The blog topic and resulting discussion that caught my eye was regarding the fear that many buyers are currently feeling when addressing  closing costs  and the mortgage application document  "Good Faith Estimate"  for their home purchase.    

    Seems buyers have heard the recent mortgage industry weather reports and they're skittish.  They see there are potential storms ahead in the lending seas.  They have little faith in the weather changing.  The construction of the ships they're utilizing seems somewhat faulty to them.  They have heard that ship captains might choose a path for their sailing that takes them smack into the eye of the storm.  These buyers are just not sure they'll ever reach their destination successfully.       

    There is no denying that the mortgage process has become much more intricate and hard to understand. This is a reaction to the problems and issues that surround the present mortgage crisis.  Costs, details, and mortgage options must now be spelled-out in mandated, explicit detail.  All of those things are good and serve to guide and protect those entering into mortgage lending.  

     But ... while trying to offer positive guidance and protection, the industry went "overboard" with demands for more documentation and expectations of the average home buyer.  Admittedly, it's become overkill for everyone involved!        

    It's easy to understand why buyers fear and dislike the whole process.  From beginning to end, truthfully, it's much harder to navigate everything about lending and the process of getting to the Closing table. The reaction to addressing the problem is the antithesis of what was hoped for.  While trying to whittle away a problem which was initially the size of a pontoon boat  ... a monstrous battleship was created.  And yes, boarding that boat can be pretty scarey!       

     And this brings me to the real point of my post ...       

     No lender can currently change the present demands being made for documentation.  Rules are rules.  Regulations are regulations.  Federal guidelines are Federal guidelines.  Underwriters will demand what Underwriters want and need.        

     There is no changing that, so my advice is to quit trying to row your boat upstream and against the tide!           

     This is YOUR Captain speaking!        

     What WILL make your mortgage processing less stressful, more manageable, and ultimately successful?  

      Your choice of mortgage lender!  Experience.  Knowledge.  Expertise.  Reputation.  Closing-Success Rate.   THOSE are the important attributes to weigh and check-out when choosing your lender.  But NO lender can provide a smooth and successful closing if you, the buyer/client, does not also contribute to a successful mortgage processing.       

     At this point, you hopefully have chosen me  as your lender  because of my many positive attributes.  My EXPERIENCE ... my KNOWLEDGE... my EXPERTISE ... my CLOSING-SUCCESS RATE.  If that is true, you must trust and rely on my ability and desire to ...  

• Share and discuss your financing options with you.  (Please, hone your listening skills.) 
• Construct the best path for a beneficial and successful closing together. 
• Once that path is chosen ... Listen and Follow Suggestions/Instructions for moving forward toward that successful Mortgage Closing based on  my professional attributes you chose and are listed above.  YOUR best interests are MY best interests also. 
• Be Organized with your communications, note-taking, documentation, and financial records.  That will speed-up response and processing time on both ends.   

     It is  my professional attributes  ... teamed with your listening skills, credit abilities, organizational skills, and willingness to produce requested documentation in a timely manner ... that will determine whether you reach your ultimate goal of a successful Mortgage Closing.             

     Much of the fear surrounding the mortgage process can be addressed and conquered by choosing and working with the right lender ... and through adaptation of the skills mentioned above.             

     Putting the time, energy, and muscle into finding the right professional mortgage lender for you ... and then placing your trust in your choice will calm fears.  Trust ... that the attributes that guided you in choosing to work with me are the very same attributes you should trust moving forward through processing.  I will provide you with honest assessments, strong guidance, and helpful answers. Trust ... that my experience, expertise, knowledge, and past closing successes will serve you well during your mortgage processing journey.       

     Ahoy!  Fears are cast overboard!  I will be your trusted Captain...                          

     The act of "giving" gets alot of attention during the holidays ... which is only appropriate.  Much time is also focused on choosing the recipients of the many gifts being bestowed on a personal level and to charities.  This is true whether in  Naperville  or Joliet, IL  ... or across the country on the coasts.        

     This is definitely an area where my wife is the CEO and professional in our home.  I always kid Marilyn that I have to keep my eye on her or she'd give the house away.        

     While on the internet the other day, Marilyn found some information pertaining to a cause that assists many Chicagoland (and nationwide) charities and crisis shelters.  Maybe it's because we've become grandparents recently, but this particular cause appealed greatly to both of us ... so we're passing the information on to you as we thought it might appeal to you too.            

     Called  "Project Night Night", this charitable organization donates over 25,000 Night Night Packages each and every year.              

     Homeless children are provided childhood essentials ... a stuffed animal, a children's book that is age-appropriate, and a new security blanket ... tucked away in a brand-new tote bag.  These gifts are meant to provide the children known reliable comforts, thus reducing trauma and and advancing the emotional and cognative well-being of those children assisted.       

     Over 10,000 volunteers across our nation assist in this beneficial cause. You can help  "Project Night Night"  in a variety of ways.  You can volunteer your time and services to this important charity.  You can sponsor Night Night Packages or contribute towards the building of a Night Night Package through a donation of funds.  Items utilized within the packages can also be donated to this charity.        

     For information on how YOU can assist a homeless child through  "Project Night Night"  ... go to http://www.projectnightnight.org.         

     A listing of those charities from your area (both local and nationwide) assisted by  "Project Night Night"  can be found at: http://projectnightnight.org/Shelters.html.  As you'll see, they do good work and bring joy in Naperville and Joliet, IL ... and many many more places with need.       

     Thank you for reading this post ... and please considering helping a child in need, especially during this year's challenging holiday season.        

     Have a Happy Holiday and a Wonderful New Year!

Although E.J. "Mike" Carlier, MarketLink Realty is out of Apple Valley MN ... this post's message pertains to those presently in a house hunt (and future buyers) in all markets across the USA.

I can add that ... as of this writing ... interest rates have headed up at a fairly quick pace.  They've jumped over a full point in just the last week or so.

Those interest rate spikes mean more dollars and cents to your monthly payment over the length of your loan.  That means you must qualify for a higher payment.  That means you may or may not obtain the loan if you're a more marginal applicant. 

Get my drift?  Simply stated, you can wait yourself right out of mortgage approval and buying the home you want!  Add limited availability and time restraints of regional home purchase assistance programs and monies into the mix ... and the gamble of waiting becomes even larger.

Heed the message contained here and then talk with your real estate professionals.  Weigh your options.  Listen to their advice and counsel ... and then take action accordingly.

Gene   

Linda Kemp of Keller Williams Infinity, Naperville, IL is a real "Myth Buster" within the re-blog I offer here of her most recent post.  She "busts" through some pretty well-known and long-running myths too.

The "truths" she serves up to those presently selling their home, or those contemplating that move, are compelling and address the reality of the current home market.

Should you be a seller ... or potential seller ... please take the time to read and absorb the wisdom Linda Kemp delivers for your benefit.  Then find Linda Kemp ... or a knowledgeable agent and Realtor in your area ... to guide and assist you through your home's sales process. 

Especially right now in the present challenging market ... it is NO TIME to be trying to tackle a home sale on your own.  You need to surround yourself with intelligent, experienced, and professional real estate industry professionals throughout your entire transaction, from start to successful closing.

And ... should you hear other myths during your own sales or buying process ... please ask questions, seek guidance, and get assistance from those real estate professionals involved in your transaction.  Communication is key to a smooth and successful closing.

Best of luck to you during any transaction you presently are in ... or decide to enter ...

Gene

     If you live in Chicagoland, you know that "it's beginning to look alot like Christmas!" The recent snowfalls have covered our area with a fair quantity of the powdery white stuff.        

     If you're a parent and have kids ... or are just a kid-at-heart, you also know that this is prime time for outdoor winter sports and activities.  Bundling up and lacing up the skates is a ritual that is looked forward to in the colder weather climates.  Should you be lucky enough to live by a shallow creek, you can find a myriad of ways to skate and play outside all day.       

     Our region is blessed with a number of very good arenas and locations for indoor and outdoor skating, hockey, sledding, and more.  With the schools' winter holiday break coming up, I thought it timely to add a listing of some of those locations/arenas for viewing and use.           

      Admittedly, and perhaps somewhat guiltily, I'm also a huge hockey fan (talk to my wife about that) and love to promote the learning and playing of this exciting sport.  It's a very healthy workout and a great game!           

     The following is the small list of our region's winter sports and activity arenas that I have compiled for your use.  It covers Chicagoland arenas/locations.        

     Feel free to print and keep this listing for your ease in finding and/or contacting these venues.    

Rocket Ice Arena Ice Skating Rink  180 Canterbury Lane, Bolingbrook, IL   (630)  679-1700 http://www.rocketice.com  

International Ice Centre Ice Skating Rink  1581 W. Normantown Road Romeoville, IL   (815) 886-4423 http://www.internationalicecentre.com  

Inwood Ice Arena Ice Skating Rink   3000 W. Jefferson Street Joliet, IL   (815) 741-7275 http://www.jolietpark.org  

Downers Grove Ice Arena   5501 Walnut Avenue Downers Grove, IL   (630)  971-3780 http://www.downersgroveicearena.com  

Seven Bridges Ice Arena   6690 So. Route 53 Woodridge, IL   (630)  271-4400 http://www.sevenbridgesicearea.com        

All Seasons Ice Rink   31 W. 330 North Aurora Rd. Naperville, IL   (630)  851-0755 http://www.allseasonsicerinks.com  

City Skate at Civic Center Plaza   150 Dexter Court, Elgin, IL (847)  931-6140  http://www.cityofelgin.org  

Roselle Town Center Plaza Ice Skating Rink   Corner of Main and Prospect Streets, Roselle, IL   (630)  980-2000   http://www.roselle.il.us  

McCormick Tribune Ice Rink @ Millennium Park   Michigan Avenue & Madison Street, Chicago, IL   (312)  742-1168   http://www.millenniumpark.org  

The Rink at Wrigley   Clark Street and Waveland Avenue, Chicago, IL   (312)  617-7017 http://www.rinkatwrigley.com  

The Park at Rosemont   River Road between Bryn Mawr & Balmoral Avenues, Rosemont, IL http://www.rosemont.com  

Alexian Brothers Skating Plaza @ The Arboretum of So. Barrington   100 W. Higgins Road, So. Barrington, IL   (847)426-6200   http://www.shoparboretumsb.com  

Century Park North  1001 Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills, IL    (847)  996-6616 http://www.vhparkdistrict.org  

Darien Sportsplex Ice Skating Rink   451 Plainfield Rd, Darien, Illinois 60561   (630) 789-6666 http://www.darienparks.com  

YMCA Ice Skating Rink   211 W 1st St, Elmhurst, Illinois 60126   (630) 834-9200 http://www.elmhurstymca.org/programs/IceRink.php  

Center Ice Of Du Page Ice Skating Rink   1n450 Highland Ave, Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137
(630) 790-9696   http://www.centericeofdupage.com/  

Fox Valley Ice Arena Ice Skating Rink   1996 S Kirk Rd, Geneva, Illinois 60134   (630) 262-0690  http://www.foxvalleyicerink.com/    

Bundle Up!   Keep Warm!   Stay Safe! 

Have a Whole Lot of Fun!    

     If you're like me, and the family's official holiday light installer, you are currently facing (or just have gotten done facing) the annual untangling and checking of the multiple strands of lights to be installed as decorations for your home ... inside and out.

     The mystery of this yearly task is ... how did some of these stored strands quit working while lying in storage in the crawlspace/attic of my home?  I KNOW I didn't place them back into storage if they had quit working at the end of the previous holiday season.  

     Yet ... there they are.  Incapable of lighting up or working another year.  What to do with those old lights that are broken or burned-out has always bothered me.  Throwing them away has just seemed such a waste and fundamentally wrong. 

     Think of the millions of lights that end-up in the trash!  It boggles the mind!  

     The citizens of Will County, IL, now have a better answer to this dilemma.  The recycling program of the county now includes drop-off/recycling sites that will accept these worn-out and broken holiday illuminations.

     12 locations within Will County, IL, have been made available for drop-off of these items.  The sites are as follows: 

• 299 Canterbury Lane, Bolingbrook
• 25461 S. Fryer St., Channahon
• Forest Preserve District of Will County office, 17540 W. Laraway Road, Joliet
• 17112 Prime Blvd., Lockport
• 24645 S. Eastern Ave, Manhattan
• 19004 Wolf Road, Mokena
• Monee Reservoir, 27341 Ridgeland Ave, Monee
• 1100 S. Cedar Road, New Lenox
• Reed-Custer School District, behind maintenance garage, 162 S. School St., Braidwood
• 195 S. Budler Road, Romeoville
• 30200 Town Center Road, Beecher
• Troy Township Highway Department, 25358 Seil Road, Shorewood.

     (Please note that the hours at these drop-off sites vary.  See: www.willcountygreen.com for info on operating hours.)

     With so many drop-off sites available to the residents of the county, it is easy to accomplish and do the "right thing" regarding the discard of these lights.  Keeping these old holiday lights out of our landfills is important ... saves energy ... and prevents water and other pollution to our environment.

     It's an easy task to accomplish now in the Will County area.  Print-up or write down the location that is closest to you and keep it on hand for future use and reference.  These sites also accept electronics through the entire year for recycling.

     Should you have further questions regarding the recycling of your holiday lights ... or other recycling programs and efforts ... please go to www.willcountygreen.com.  Will County, IL has stepped-up recent efforts to address the environmental needs of its residents through this website.  It's just another way that the local county government is trying to stay current and address the needs of the residents living within its midst. 

     Establishing relationships, and then building upon them with reliable, trustworthy, and knowledgeable referral partners can make the world go round.  There is just a never-ending list of reasons you want to keep doing business with these professionals ... and refer them and their services to others.       

     For me personally, and with my mortgage services and clients, Stringham Insurance Agency... located out of Mokena, Illinois, is such a referral partner.  I  have written of this Agency, and its' owners Richard and Mary Ann Stringham, in a prior post.  (See: Stringham Insurance Agency in Mokena, IL.   Your "Small Town Professionals".)       

     I receive timely tips, reminders, personalized information, suggestions, notices, and more ... besides great service and rates ... from the Stringham Insurance Agency. 

     An email received today from Richard Stringham, (Owner of the Agency) proves the very points I make above.        

     Richard saw an alarming bit of information contained in a communication passed to his Agency.  He immediately email blasted his clients, friends, and loved ones ... offering up the information as a pre-emptive form of another type of insurance protection.  Knowledge!       

     In this particular case, being educated about the possibility of a danger  IS  insurance  for all that read it.  It has been debated online as to whether the following tale is actually fact, or a very colorful way to get a message across.  But either way (whether fact or fiction) ... the message that results from this tale is worthwhile.  It pays to be aware and alert ... making the tale worth passing on and repeating.         

     I pass the following information on to you so you too can be aware, educated, and prepared.  In an industry that thrives on passing out and receiving business cards, meeting strangers, and conducting business in homes and offices that may be vacant and/or remote, once again I say ...  why not be cautious?  Why not stay alert to possible dangers?  This is true whether a professional or consumer. And whether this specific tale proves true or not ...      

     As the Stringham Insurance Agency urges at the end of this communication .... please pass this info on!  It could prove extremely beneficial to someone you know and love and save them from harm. It is the message that is important here folks.  Please take note of that ...

    Thank you again to Richard Stringham of the  Stringham Insurance Agency  for alerting us to this safety concern!           

     PLEASE READ:              

     A man came over and offered his services as a  painter to a female putting gas in her car and left his  card. She said no, but accepted his card out of  courtesy and got in her car. The man then got into a car driven by another gentleman. As the lady left the service station, she saw the men following her out of the station at the same time. Almost immediately, she started to feel dizzy and could not catch her breath. She tried to open the window and realized that the odor was on her hand; the same hand which accepted the card from the gentleman at the gas station. 

    

     She then noticed the men were immediately behind her and she felt she needed to do something at that moment. She drove into the first driveway and began to honk her horn repeatedly to ask for help. The men drove away but the lady still felt pretty bad for several minutes after she could finally catch her breath. Apparently, there was a substance on the card that could have seriously injured her. 

     This drug is called 'BURUNDANGA'and it is used by people who wish to incapacitate a victim in order to steal from or take advantage of them. This drug is four times more dangerous than the date rape drug and may be transferable to simple cards.   

     So take heed and make sure you don't accept cards at any given time you are alone or from someone on the streets.   This applies to those making house calls and slipping you a card when they offer their home repair services. 

                                 PLEASE SEND THIS ON ... ESPECIALLY TO THE FEMALES YOU KNOW!!!! 

   **    Once again, please take note ... the specifics of this tale may be a little hazy ... but the message that we can take from it is good and clear.  Stay safe.  Stay alert.  Stay educated and aware about those nearby and in your midst.  Take stock of those around you.  Take measures to protect and keep yourself safe.  Do not make calls or take appointments alone in offices, homes, or remote locations.  Make sure people know where you are.  What your schedule is.  Get info.  Get names, telephone numbers, specifics.  Be smart and stay alive ...