Hello Everyone,

I wanted to share with you some information on the new FHA Refinance program. Mark Stander is with Coldwell Banker Mortgage and he shares the following with you.

Everywhere you go, you hear the same sad things: "The rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer." "There just isn't enough to go around." "It takes money to make money." This can lead you to believe that there is some mystical force out there that regular people like you and me just can't tap into. If you subscribe to this way of thinking long enough, you may be tempted to say, "Since it takes money to make money and I have no money, then what hope is there for me?" There is plenty of hope, as long as you don't listen to the wrong people. Media naysayers are definitely the wrong people.

It is a common misconception that today's real estate market is in such an irreparably dire state that one would be a fool to start investing in properties. If this were true, however, why would people still be doing it? Real estate investors continue to make money every day; if you believe otherwise, you've simply been talking to the wrong people.

If this sounds easy, that's because it is easy - what could be simpler than seeking out someone who has achieved success in the field of real estate investing, and asking him or her what strategies do and do not work. This really is something that absolutely anyone can do. So, you may ask, why isn't everyone doing it? Well, there are two simple reasons that the vast majority of Americans aren't out making their fortunes in property investing right now: first, they've been listening to the people who claim that making money is an impossible feat. If you've been hearing that you will never succeed in your entire life, it's no wonder that you're reluctant to try your hand.

Most people are scared of trying to make money, based on cynicism and negative hype.

Secondly, most people do not become successful investors because they over complicate things. Successful investors follow a systematic plan, allowing their wealth to steadily grow. They do not risk it all to make a quick buck off of some dubious money making scheme. Most people do not have the discipline to fore go flashy scams and persevere on the proven path to wealth. The adrenaline rush of making a gamble is certainly tempting, but those who succumb to this temptation frequently end up worse off than they were when they started.

Sensationalism is a proven way to appeal to basic human nature, and that's why, rather than informing people about the tried and true ways that money can be made, the news media instead focuses on scaring the average Joe into believing in a grim picture of how the world works. With this kind of negativity on display on television and in print, it's no surprise that many see the world as a bleak place, where it is next to impossible to get ahead.

Fortunately, this destructive and self-defeating perspective is far from accurate.

If you want to succeed, the first step is to break through the wall of cynicism that you've more than likely developed as a result of a lifetime of listening to media sensationalism and the pessimists you encounter in your day-to-day life. You need to start listening to the people who know that success is possible, and, furthermore, know exactly what one needs in order to achieve it. These folks will tell you that in order to make money in real estate, you'll need to formulate a systematic plan, and you'll need to stick to it. Why would you listen to those who haven't found success, when you could be getting the facts straight from investors who have made money as real estate investors.

I heard a quote from Warren Buffet the other day.   

    "When I see people get greedy I get Scared...When I see people get Scared I get Greedy"

Think about it.

I'm often asked if this is a good time to buy a home. Some clients are concerned that home prices may fall further than they have already. They are assuming that the best course of action is to wait for the bottom in the market and then buy. The problem with this approach is that you don't know where the bottom is until you see it in the rear view mirror, meaning until you've missed it!

Home prices are one factor in determining your cost of ownership, but so are interest rates and financing availability. Even though interest rates have gone up in the last six months, they are still near historic lows. Since your monthly mortgage payment is a combination of paying down your principal and paying the interest owed, if home prices come down a little further but interest rates go up, it could cost you even more to service a mortgage on an identical home!

While a home is a major investment, it is also the center of your personal life. It's important to live in a home that reflects your taste and values, yet is within your financial "comfort zone." To that end, it may be more important to lock in today's relatively low interest rates and low home prices, rather than to hope for a further break in prices in the future.

Please give me a call if I can be of any assistance in determining how much home you can afford in today's market.