Protect Your Garage Against Break Ins

PREVENT GARAGE BREAK INS

Our economy is going into a different cycle. It’s time to secure your home. Let’s begin with your garage. Why you ask? Because you leave the door open, its easy to steal the remotes from the visor of your car or use many of the burglary tools on You tube to get in and steal your tools, golf clubs, bikes, and beer in the garage refrigerator. They will carry it all off, and maybe hang out inside for a day or two. Maybe your children will discover them in the act. Don't be a target to the lego bad guy just released above who will look far worse

How to prevent garage theft

Think about how a theft might enter the structure and secure the automatic door opener from:

1.  code grabbers

2. using a wire to pull the emergency release

3. hiding in or around the structure

Begin with the perimeter.

Add motion detector lights which can be purchased from your local hardware store. I prefer True Value as they will talk with you about the pieces you need, and the skill set you have or lack to accomplish adding a motion light to the exterior and perhaps interior of the garage. First you want this to be high enough to not be easy to unscrew the bulb, but also accessible for you to maintain from a ladder. Second don’t leave the ladder out for them to borrow. Many of these tips and tricks can be DIY and done in a day cheap and easy.

Trim back trees and bushes that allow hiding places for a human. I know you love that shrub by the door, but consider the height and depth of the bush- can a person hide behind it easily? Perhaps relocating the plant to another area and changing to something thorny that is airy?

Add a camera which can communicate with your cell phone.

Add a garage shield that reinforces the doors.

Change the door to have a single sided dead bolt.

What can you change to lock from inside if the garage is attached to the home or you are away on vacation?

There are many types of locks and bars to secure and reinforce the big overhead door as well as side doors. These can be inexpensive bolt locks, zip ties added to the overhead emergency release, unplug the power cord when away on vacation, and add a small interior light on a timer. 

I suggest you make friends with trusted neighbors and share keys, or have a secure nearby hidden

in a location to recover keys (not the doormat, not a flower pot, not the mailbox).

What habits leave you open to break in?

Having shiny things visible when the garage door is open or visible from a garage window. Hide your toolboxes under a tarp. Cover your golf clubs with an old blanket. It’s nice to have a pretty clean chrome garage interior but don’t allow bad guys to see what is available to steal.

Don’t leave the garage overhead open.

Don’t have garage remotes visible in and unlocked vehicle.

Can you add a peep hole between the house and garage to view before you exit?

Can you carry something that makes noise in your hand when you walk from the garage to your home?

Each house situation is unique and may take time to consider where you need to reinforce security to

Make the bad guys go pick on someone else.

Be safe. Protect your home.

Much love

C G Barbeau

NMLS 324982

(949) 784-9699

Mortgage Loans 

Latest VA Funding Fee Rules

• Certificate of Eligibility (This can be ordered by the Lender quicker)
• Form 28-1880 (Request for COE)
• Form DD-214
• Form 28-8937 (For service Connected Disability Benefits only)

The funding fee of 2.15 percent must be paid to VA by all but certain exempt veterans. A down payment of 5 percent or more will reduce the fee to 1.5 percent and a 10 percent down payment will reduce it to 1.25 percent. A funding fee of 2.40 percent must be paid by all eligible Reserve/National Guard individuals.

The Veterans Administration provides one of the most amazing products for active and retired military which is the VA Home Loan. This product can be used to purchase or refinance a house. Spouses (widows) of Vets

can also use the loan if they have not remarried.

Don't let the Seller or Agents frown on this way to buy a home.

For some reason agents recall some fictional deal of their past where

the VA inspection was pretty tough on the condition of the property. The real estate needs to meet health and safety codes of the subject address - whether it is county or city codes. The VA protects it's own in that they don't want them living in a house that the roof leaks and is falling apart.

peppers from my garden

air plan on drift wood as art

How to Deal With Insurance After the Fire

Heart image I took last year in Boston's worst snow storm

How to Deal with Insurance After the Fires

California has a huge task of work ahead for us.

Homeowners who want to rebuild need to make 

claims and get planning. This is a list of some ideas

to keep in mind making a claim in the CAMPFIRE or

Woolsey Fire or any wild fire for that matter

You are entitled to assisted living expenses. That means your insurer can cut you a check often on the spot for expenses for expenses you've incurred from your mandatory evacuation. Keep copies of food bills, anything you bought even a soda.

It’s going to be hard to get new insurance and you may have to go to California Fair Plan which is not great. Make sure you add extended replacement cost endorsement. This is basically additional coverage intended to accommodate at least a portion of any unexpected cost increases.

You can also purchase additional coverage for code upgrades. For example, the rules might have changed for electrical systems or insulation since your house was built. Code-upgrade insurance protects you from so-called better-ments that your policy may not address.

Some policies don’t cover the foundation and plumbing, even if you have guaranteed replacement cost. The insurance company is required to settle in thirty days. Although they are human and out there making claims DO NOT assume they are going to help you make a total claim, they work for the company and shareholders. 

Rebuilding will be more costly than normal construction because there will be huge demand. Costs may run higher. Find out what Lowe’s are closing and buy at discount while they are closing stores. Think about using your settlement check and applying for FHA 203H which would allow 100% rebuild costs to add to the check. Call me if you need help with this (949) 784- 9699

Hopefully you have a video or photographs of your personal property, if not begin now and send to relatives who have visited to add to the list.  You won’t recall everything.

Make a complete list

Go room by room in a circle, mentally go through the drawers to recall what you owned

Electronics- televisions, old cell phones in desk, routers, the cable box that the cable company will charge you for (by the way turn off the cable now) printers, scanners, screens, and more.

Cords

Power sources

Cameras

Film

Photographs

Framed artwork

Framed photographs

Carpet, rugs

Furniture: style, fabric, size

Side tables

Lamps

Light fixtures

Tables

Chairs

Dishes

flatware

Pots pans

Kitchen tools, blender, mixer, oven, toaster, broiler, refrigerator, name the make and models

Food in the refrigerator and cupboards

Linens- kitchen ones, bedding, blankets, pillows

Beds

Night stands

Dresser

Bathroom supplies, cleaning supplies, brooms, vacuum,

Bathroom shampoos, creams, makeup, nail polish, razors, tooth supplies, medicines, aromatherapy bottles, perfume,

Jewelry

Clothing oh my gosh this is a huge list- shoes, dresses, pants, party outfits, costumes, winter clothing, bathing suits…

Don’t forget your Christmas ornaments and all the decorations, candles, gee gaws and nick nacks

Then have someone double check again

Ask for help. We are all in this together.
LOVE and hugs and prayers
C G

Loans For Cannabis Business or Employee

Owners and employees of cannabis related businesses can close mortgage home loans. Closing a mortgage loan today is a can of worms. A cannabis grower recently asked me if I am referring to red worms (the type that are great for fertilizing castings) I frowned, no but perhaps in 2017 we may see some Dodd Frank restrictions changed by the new Administration. 

The important thing to know BEFORE you plan to buy a home, or refinance is to prepare in advance. Call and get advice from experts.

The pickle is many marijuana dispensaries, co-ops, growers, and related businesses have struggled with using traditional banks to deposit funds. Also they may have paid themselves or employees in Paypal, cash, bitcoin or other forms of income which aren’t acceptable sources of income. Verified money must be in checking, savings, stock, money market or bond funds in the prior sixty day cycle. Any large deposits over five hundred dollars will not be counted towards down payment, closing costs or reserve funds.

Net income on Federal income taxes for the two prior years are used for income. A start-up company without Federal taxes cannot fit into standard Underwriting Guidelines. Income is averaged with the two taxes and CPA provides year to date profit and or loss, or if Borrower is an employee a year to date pay stub for the past thirty days is used with w-2 forms of two past years. Income is verified through the IRS and employer sources.

Today there are also bank statement loans and debt service ratio loans (DSRL DSR) these can solve some barriers.

There are many ways to structure, let's talk about them BEFORE you make an offer or need to refinance today.

California law opens up a new landscape of legal questions, some of which are being tested by Medical Marijuana businesses. The Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MMRSA) began to pave the way for these related businesses but has not answered all the ins and outs of the future for this growing sector. The barrier to using financing tools of federally regulated banks, secondary markets and government loans is that states may have approved; but the Federal government has not. Bankers are not known to be risk takers. FDIC insured big banks are standing away from touching this business sector. New laws will unfold in the court systems. A big ocean of opportunity is ahead. For now there are a few work rounds.

I can assist with your mortgage application. Call and talk about your particular plans. No stodgy bankers, just: kind good advice and direction. In my eyes a farm is a farm and a retail store is just that. 

Caroline Gerardo

NMLS 324982 

29 years mortgage banking

949-- 784-- 9699

Mortgage Application Ethnicity HMDA Laws

 Frank Lloyd Wright house images by Caroline Gerardo

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA) prohibit a lender from discriminating against an applicant on the basis of national origin, race, color, sex and other prohibited bases. The Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) requires a lender to publicly disclose data on mortgage loans.

These non-discrimination laws require a lender to collect and report a variety of data related to the applicant and the property to be secured.

Key Point

In particular, a lender is required to collect and report information on an applicant’s ethnicity, race and sex. This is known as the “Government Monitoring Information”.

https://carolinegerardo.eaglehm.com/ 
A lender must collect and report on an applicant’s:
Ethnicity as either:

• Hispanic or Latino
• Not Hispanic or Latino

Race as:

• American Indian or Alaska Native
• Asian
• Black or African American
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
• White

• Key points to remember about the requirements:

  • “Hispanic” is not a category under Race. It is considered under Ethnicity as “Hispanic or Latino”
  • “Other is not an option under the Race category
  • More than one category under Race may be selected

  A lender must collect and report each applicant’s Sex as either:

  • Female
  • Male
  • Thus, on any application taken for a purchase-money, refinancing or home-improvement loan secured by a dwelling a lender must collect and report the Government Monitoring Information.
    The Government Monitoring Information must be collected separately in a form, or as part of a Loan Application form (such as Freddie Mac Form 65 or Fannie Mae Form 1003).

  • With regard to Government Monitoring Information requirements, which of the following are true? Please check all that apply, answers are highlighted in green

    Information on an applicant’s “Ethnicity” is a requirement “Hispanic” is a category under Race You are able to note applicant’s “Race” under more than one designation Noting applicant’s “Sex” is optional A lender must collect and report the Government Monitoring Information on any credit card application “Other” is not a designation under the “Race” category How the application was taken (i.e. face-to-face, telephone, etc.) must be noted On mail or Internet applications, a lender must provide the new Government Monitoring Information form or a similar form and attempt to collect the information from the applicant. If the applicant chooses not to provide information on ethnicity, race and sex: The applicant must check the box: "I do not wish to furnish this information" The lender has no further responsibility to collect the information and need not complete the information on the applicant’s ethnicity, race and sex With regard to Government Monitoring Information requirements, which of the following are true? Please check all that apply, answers in green On all applications, the lender is responsible for completing the information based on visual observation or surname On a telephone application, the lender must orally provide a disclosure and request information on ethnicity, race and sex On a telephone application if the applicant chooses not to provide the information, the lender must complete it based on surname On mail or Internet applications, the lender need not request the information On a face-to-face application, if the applicant chooses not to provide the information, the lender must complete it based on visual observation or surname On all applications, requesting and collecting information on “Ethnicity” is optional On all applications, the lender must request and attempt to collect information on both “Ethnicity” and “Race”

Gift funds

Dinner Bell Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

When will they be wiring the funds? This cannot happen the day of closing.

Does not permit gifts to be given the day of closing.  All gifts and the respective required documentation to be received prior to closing.

Below are gift guidelines for FHA and conventional.

FHA

(3) Required Documentation The Mortgagee must obtain a gift letter signed and dated by the donor and Borrower that includes the following:

·         the donor’s name, address, and telephone number;

·         the donor’s relationship to the Borrower;

·         the dollar amount of the gift; and

·         a statement that no repayment is required.

Documenting the Transfer of Gifts

The Mortgagee must verify and document the transfer of gift funds from the donor to the Borrower in accordance with the requirements below.

·         a. If the gift funds have been verified in the Borrower’s account, obtain the donor’s bank statement showing the withdrawal and evidence of the deposit into the Borrower’s account.

b. If the gift funds are not verified in the Borrower’s account, obtain the certified check or money order or cashier’s check or wire transfer or other official check, and a bank statement showing the withdrawal from the donor’s account.

If the gift funds are paid directly to the settlement agent, the Mortgagee must verify that the settlement agent received the funds from the donor for the amount of the gift, and that the funds were from an acceptable source.

If the gift funds are being borrowed by the donor and documentation from the bank or other savings account is not available, the Mortgagee must have the donor provide written evidence that the funds were borrowed from an acceptable source, not from a party to the transaction.

The Mortgagee and its Affiliates are prohibited from providing the loan of gift funds to the donor unless the terms of the loan are equivalent to those available to the general public.

Regardless of when gift funds are made available to a Borrower, the Mortgagee must be able to make a reasonable determination that the gift funds were not provided by an unacceptable source.

(4) Standards for Gifts of Equity

(a) Who May Provide Gifts of Equity Only Family Members may provide equity credit as a gift on Property being sold to other Family Members.

(b) Required Documentation The Mortgagee must obtain a gift letter signed and dated by the donor and Borrower that includes the following:

·         the donor’s name, address, and telephone number;

·         the donor’s relationship to the Borrower;

·         the dollar amount of the gift; and

·         a statement that no repayment is required.

​

don't get caught at the last days without trail on gift funds here small catch

sunset at Morro Rock

Uncle Theo gave be a big cash gift

The money came into my account from Heaven

Conventional:

Gift letters 
required for all conventional agency loan programs. In addition, "donor ability" must be verified: The lender must verify that sufficient funds to cover the gift are either in the donor’s account or have been transferred to the borrower’s account. Acceptable documentation includes the following:
- a copy of the donor’s check and the borrower’s deposit slip,
- a copy of the donor’s withdrawal slip and the borrower’s deposit slip,
- a copy of the donor’s check to the closing agent, or
- a settlement statement showing receipt of the donor’s check.
When the funds are not transferred prior to settlement, the lender must document that the donor gave the closing agent the gift funds in the form of a certified check, a cashier’s check, or other official check.  (Note: documentation is the same regardless whether the gift was already on deposit at time of application or not.)

What are the requirements for gift fund’s when the donor wires direct to escrow? Based on FHA and conforming conventional loans is the copy of the wire showing where it came from enough along with gift letter.

Cash is not okay, anything over $500 is a Patriot Act Violation

LOWEST Mortgage EVER 10 year CRASHES

MBS Recap | 3:59PM CALL C G now for a savings mortgage quote (949) 784-9699 [app.mbslive.net]Watch the Video[app.mbslive.net] 10yr yields traded well into the 1.3's, surpassing previous low of 1.381 No specific motivation at home or abroad, though there are several supporting actors It's the big-picture "global growth concerns" that get us in the vicinity of all-time lows More focused considerations push us around once we're there. If you think about all-time lows in rates as a far away city, "global growth concerns" (GGC, to save space) would be like the plane that gets you there and the day-to-day economic headlines would be like the rental car you drive around town.  I bring this up because in these cases, we find ourselves talking about "all-time lows" as if they're somehow driven by the shorter-term considerations. For instance, there was weak data in China overnight, a big drop in oil, more weakness in UK currency, slumping stocks, and ultimately weak data in the US this morning.  Did these things cause today's all-time lows?  Not even remotely!  They merely pushed markets around a town they wouldn't even be in if it wasn't for the jumbo jet (aka, GGC). MBS continue to underperform the massive bond market rally, which is pretty normal when Treasuries are pushing all-time lows or even if they're just making big moves lower.  One thing to keep in mind is that MBS prices aren't even close to being back to 2012 levels.  That's a factor of the Fed's decaying MBS portfolio among other things and it's been happening very slowly, steadily, and predictably since markets worked out the initial volatility surround the 2012 QE3 announcement.   All that to say, yes, 10yr yields hit new all-time lows, but we're not even close to expecting mortgage rates to follow suit without MBS gaining about another point in Fannie 3.0s.

Today's Alerts and Updates

Low Rates

 If you locked your rate in the last two weeks

JUMP SHIP and come over to lower rates

Ask me how

(949) 784-9699

http://wpo.st/VYgj1

The stock market’s plunge following the Brexit vote was bad for most people’s retirement accounts but good for those looking to refinance their mortgage. Even as the market has started to recover its losses and the flight to bonds’ safety has eased, home loan rates remain down.

Despite the low rates, growing pessimism over the direction of the economy is spilling over into home-purchase sentiment. Pending home sales – those deals that are under contract but have not closed – declined in May, marking their first annual drop in nearly two years. Rates may be low, but not many people are rushing out to make a big purchase such as a home with so much economic uncertainty. The group most likely to benefit from low rates are homeowners seeking to refinance.

According to the latest data released Thursday by Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate average plunged to 3.48 percent with an average 0.5 point. (Points are fees paid to a lender equal to 1 percent of the loan amount.) It was 3.56 percent a week ago and 4.08 percent a year ago. Since the beginning of the year, the 30-year fixed rate has plummeted nearly 50 basis points. (A basis point is 0.01 percentage point.) It has fallen 18 basis points in the past month alone.

The 15-year fixed-rate average sank to 2.78 percent with an average 0.4 point. It was 2.83 percent a week ago and 3.24 percent a year ago.

The five-year adjustable rate average dropped to 2.70 percent with an average 0.5 point. It was 2.74 percent a week ago and 2.99 percent a year ago.

[Mortgage applicants may benefit from changes in credit-scoring system]

Website:

http://carolinegerardo.eaglehm.com/

blog:

http://cgbarbeau.blogspot.com/

Cell : (949) 784- 9699  7 AM – 7 PM 7 days a week

After hours email  carolinegerardo@yahoo.com

Nationwide Multiple Listing Service FREE

Home Scouting
Phone App
get on the MLS
nationwide

Access
all the big dog
houses
and the
little puppies too.


From your Apple Phone go to the app store and look for the FREE
application
Download with my free secret code (my phone in case you
forget) 9497849699

Start snooping about all the sales in your neighborhood.
Look for a dream home.
Find out where there is an active open house.

Most people can only give you one local access.
This is coast to coast multiple listing service.

Live information

Not the old and wrong Zillow or Trulia errors.

Find a new DOG House?
OR
Follow the link below


http://hbsr.homescouting.com/myapp/7c135d08-ac7b-4da2-b50b-764ae8fde712

Grateful At Home

I hope you are enjoying the holiday weekend!

My son is home from college and I am
blessed this year.

Grateful for being able to help you
with closing your mortgage loan.

I'm available over the weekend for
questions, just whistle.

Let's get you into your happy home.

C G
(949) 784-9600

1 Year After Bankruptcy Jumbo Loan

Seeing Our Customers Home Again

The Light is what guides you Home.
The warmth is what keeps you there.

Our new Home Again program is a great option
 to help borrowers who may have a
few bumps and bruises on their credit.

 


Highlights
•Fixed and ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgage) options
•No prepayment penalty
•Gifts allowed from family members or
relative only toward down payment or closing
 (Borrowers must have 5% of purchase price.
Program available for purchase only.)
•Gift of equity from seller
•85% LTV (first time home buyers eligible)
•12 month seasoning period required
 after major derogatory event
(e.g., bankruptcy, foreclosure, deed in lieu of foreclosure or short sale)
•Primary residence only
Call for Jumbo terms
Call today for additional information about this great new program.
We offer complimentary mortgage reviews and preapprovals!

C G Barbeau  Caroline Gerardo NMLS: 324982, CA #CA-DBO324982

Senior Loan Officer Eagle Home Mortgage
Office: 949-784-9699 Fax: 855-833-4303
Contact Me My Website http://eaglehomemortgage.com/carolinegerardo/

Universal American Mortgage Company of California, dba Eagle Home Mortgage of California. Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act. RMLA #4130383, NMLS #252392, Branch NMLS #849059, CA #813I609, NV #3244. Certain restrictions apply.
This is not a commitment to lend.
 Applicants must qualify.
Equal Housing Lender
This message was sent from Caroline Gerardo to as a result of an existing business relationship.
  It was sent from:
Eagle Home Mortgage, a Lennar Homes Company
100 Spectrum Center Drive Suite 500 Irvine CA 92618