http://videotap.wistia.com/medias/017f8vgtfg?embedType=async&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640 Professional “staging” may include the exterior, but if you’re doing it all yourself, try the five things outlined in this video. 1 - Landscape & lawn. That’s the first impression; make it a good one. Mow, prune, edge and get rid of junk! 2 - Paint And Clean! You...

http://videotap.wistia.com/medias/kmtgtb0bei?embedType=async&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640 What Are VA Loans? As the video says, the name is misleading - they’re not loans FROM the VA. The VA - short for “US Department of Veterans Affairs” - is the Federal military veteran benefit system. The VA administers benefits and...

http://videotap.wistia.com/medias/wu9wj4rivw?embedType=async&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640 What Are The Major Types Of VA Loans? Major Veterans Affairs loan programs described in this video include: 1) Purchase Loans. These help eligible parties buy a home at competitive interest rates with little to no down payment and little or no private...

http://videotap.wistia.com/medias/an6kj6kjpj?embedType=async&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640 What Is A Certificate of Eligibility, or COE? The COE is the key document that verifies to lenders that someone is eligible for a VA-backed loan. Servicemembers, Veterans and National Guard and Reserve members may apply online or through their lender; most lenders have access to the system and...

http://videotap.wistia.com/medias/fkqogirqgw?embedType=async&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640 Mortgage rates change constantly through an unpredictable combination of government policies and economic conditions. This video explains the common term 'rate lock.' A “Rate Lock” is a guarantee that a lender will honor a specific combination of interest rates and points for a given...

http://videotap.wistia.com/medias/zkri31mdkb?embedType=async&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640 As this video explains,  Federal laws put into effect in 2014 and  supervised by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau define lending practices and loan terms for a new category called “Qualified Mortgages.” They provide stable loan features for...

http://videotap.wistia.com/medias/i681ll8d6t?embedType=async&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640 What are the “Ability to repay” rules about? In a nutshell, as this video shows, new laws require lenders to make a good-faith assessment of a borrower’s capacity to pay back their loan over time. It’s a longer-term view that goes beyond immediate income, debt...

http://videotap.wistia.com/medias/xmns011pcm?embedType=async&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640 Measuring your existing debts against your existing income is one part of a lender’s required assessment of your ability to repay a loan. Like the video says:  debts are existing financial commitments; a car payment is a debt a grocery bill is...

http://videotap.wistia.com/medias/nar2hxawa4?embedType=async&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640 For many homes and markets, professional help from someone in “staging” makes good financial sense.  Like this video say, check your staging options first. If you are doing it yourself, here are 5 key tips. One - Depersonalize. You want the buyer to envision this house being...

http://videotap.wistia.com/medias/m6chqpkxeq?embedType=async&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640 If an eligible loan proceeds from Estimate to closing, creditors must provide a Closing Disclosure form documenting the actual transaction terms and costs THREE business days before consummation. It must be in writing, whether paper or digital, and disclose ONLY the information specified by the CFPB. If...