Home inspections are a very important part of both the home buying and selling process. It is always a good idea to hire a Home Inspector to properly inspect a house. Home Inspectors are professionals who are trained to have a keen eye for catching things that a normal homeowner (or potential homebuyer) may not notice.
Here are some of the things that a professional inspector might check for:
Although a home inspection costs extra money and may not be the most exhilarating experience, it is necessary when buying a home. It is in your best interest (and for your own safety) to have a professional look over the home before you purchase it. Even if a house looks to be move-in ready, there could be hidden issues throughout the house.
If big issues are found by the Home Inspector, speak with your Real Estate Agent. In some cases, your Agent can work with the seller’s Agent to have some, if not all, of the necessary repairs paid for by the sellers. This could be done by either the sellers paying for the repairs prior to the home being sold, or by giving the buyer closing cost assistance at the time of closing. If the seller is not willing to assist, talk to your Mortgage Loan Originator to see if you will have enough money available to make the necessary repairs after closing, or if you need a home improvement loan to be able to afford the repairs. If the costs end up being overwhelming, it might be best to speak with your Agent and move on to another property.
For more information regarding home inspections and their benefits, click here.
If you are looking to purchase a home, contact one of our Licensed Mortgage Loan Originators today to pre-qualify and begin the home searching process with confidence.
Some interesting news broke last Thursday. President Barack Obama announced plans for the FHA (Federal Housing Administration) to take steps to reduce the annual insurance premium for new borrowers. This will potentially drastically change the way upcoming years of home buying looks like. The plan is estimated to be enacted on January 26th, 2015. This is one way in which the White House is attempting to establish a firm footing in the area of housing (in response to the housing crisis).
With the new reduction plan, one can expect the following:
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro stated the following in regard to the policy adjustment:
“This action will make homeownership more affordable for over 2 million Americans in the next three years. By bringing our premiums down, we’re helping folks lift themselves up so they can open new doors of opportunity and strengthen their financial futures.”
It shall be interesting to see where this decision takes the housing industry in the upcoming years. Most certainly, it will make a change in the dynamics of the process and hopefully make buying a home easier.
Read the official White House press release regarding this matter here.
If you are looking to purchase a home or are looking for more information on these FHA changes, click here to contact one of our Licensed Mortgage Loan Originators today.
Earlier in 2014, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a report on its plan, purpose, and proposed action on how to address issues within the subject of Fair Lending.
But one might first ask the question: “What is Fair Lending?” Fair Lending falls under the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. Under both Acts, it is unlawful for a lender to discriminate on a prohibited basis in a residential real estate-related transaction.
The CFPB’s report addresses how they would deal with certain issues regarding Fair Lending. The Director of the CFPB, Richard Cordray, makes this statement in the beginning of the report:
“At the Consumer Bureau, we are fierce advocates for a consumer financial marketplace that allows all Americans to pursue a path to greater opportunity. To that end, we are working to remove the unnecessary obstacles too many Americans face in the consumer financial marketplace.”
In the report, the CFPB touches on:
NFM Lending strongly supports the CFPB’s efforts and takes this matter very seriously. If you would like to learn more about Fair Lending or to read the CFPB report in its entirety, it can be located here.
If you are looking to purchase or refinance a home, click here to contact one of our Licensed Mortgage Loan Originators to learn what mortgage loan is right for you. NFM Lending is an Equal Housing Lender.
LINTHICUM, MD, January 5th, 2015— NFM Lending is proud to announce David Silverman, CEO of NFM Lending, has been named one of the 100 Most Influential Mortgage Executives in America by Mortgage Executive Magazine for 2014. This is the second year in a row that Silverman has received this honor.
“I am extremely humbled to be included within such an amazing group of high achieving Industry pioneers and innovators,” said Silverman. “My team has worked very diligently together to create optimal opportunities for our Company to achieve new heights and healthy growth opportunities for all of our employees.”
Mortgage Executive Magazine recognized and celebrated mortgage executives that built their companies and service their clients and employees through service, dedication and hard work. The winning executives were asked to provide their insights on the mortgage industry’s opportunities and challenges today. The following is the response by Silverman:
“The biggest opportunities in 2015 are still in the area of recruitment of top originator teams, training your existing staff from good to great and increasing servicing portfolios. The biggest challenges are managing shrinking margins as the cost of compliance continues to rise and differentiating your company or brand from the competition. We are all basically working with the same product line and pricing range so service and the “X” factor become the areas of more focused energy.”
NFM Lending, formerly NFM, Inc., was founded in March 3, 1998 by David Silverman and his wife Sandy. The company started as a small brokerage shop with 4 loan officers; and it’s now a multi-state lender with more than 250 employees, over 35 operating branches, and is licensed in 30 states.
NFM Lending has been listed as one of the “Top 100 Mortgage Companies in America” and one of “The 50 Best Companies to Work for in America 2013” by Mortgage Executive Magazine. It also ranked one of the “Top Mortgage Lenders” by The Scotsman Guide for 2012 and 2013; ranked as one of the “Fastest-Growing” and one of the “Largest Private Companies” by the Baltimore Business Journal for 2012; named a “Top Workplace in Baltimore” by The Baltimore Sun in 2012, 2013 and 2014; and numerous other awards.
About NFM Lending
NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 30 states throughout the United States. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to their customers and the community. NFM Lending has firmly planted itself in the home loan marketplace as “America’s Common Sense Residential Mortgage Lender.”
For information on NFM Lending, please email pr@nfmlending.com, visit their website at www.nfmlending.com, or follow them on twitter (@NFM_Lending).
Link to the original press release
Did you know, the Tampa Bay area is the third largest in the USA with over 400,000 Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals? The struggle to be in a hearing world is challenging. We take many things for granted when it comes to hearing, but the reality is that movie theaters, museums, amusement parks, grocery stores, public agencies, and other businesses rarely have accommodations such as closed captioning for those with hearing loss.
Please join NFM Lending’s Tampa Florida branch for the Florida Executive Realty Divots for the Deaf 2015 Charity Golf Tournament to benefit Hillsborough and Pinellas County’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community on May 18, 2015.
Lunch and activities start at 11:30am, Tee off is 1:00pm. The event will be held at the Westchase Golf Course, in Tampa, Florida.
100% of the proceeds will be donated to three Deaf non-profit 501c3 agencies:
• Blossom Montessori School for the Deaf (Children)
• Communication Access (Closed caption and American Sign Language)
• Association for Late Deafened Adults
• National Association of the Deaf
Help support these wonderful organizations. Click here to join the fun, sign up, and help those with hearing loss!
Another #NFMLending Support Our Troops Drive complete! Last week, we sent 100 supply boxes to troops stationed overseas. We sent two boxes per location: one box with food items, clothing, and items to help with morale (Nerf balls, Frisbee, books, magazines, small board games, playing cards, etc.); another contained toiletries, small over-the-counter medicine, and RuckPack energy drinks. We hope they enjoy the goodies and supplies and know there are people back home that care about them.
Check out our Support Our Troops Pinterest gallery to view more pictures.
LINTHICUM, MD, December 10th, 2014 — NFM Lending, a residential mortgage lending company, is pleased to announce The Baltimore Sun named NFM Lending one of 2014 Top Workplaces.
The Top Workplaces are determined based solely on employee feedback. An employee survey is conducted by WorkplaceDynamics, LLP, a leading research firm on organizational health and employee engagement. WorkplaceDynamics conducts regional Top Workplaces programs with 40 major publishing partners across the United States. Over the past year, more than 5,000 organizations and 1 in every 88 employees in the U.S. have turned to WorkplaceDynamics to better understand what is on the minds of their employees. Through its workplace improvement offerings, WorkplaceDynamics provides solutions, trainings, and tools to help clients improve their workplace.
“It’s simply not enough to be just a place of employment for people.” said Jan Ozga, President of NFM Lending. “It’s critical that any great company fosters an environment of respect and opportunity for each individual regardless of their position. NFM has always believed that the management of the company works for their employees. In most cases the employees hold the answers to operating the company at maximum efficiency. Open door policies and true one-on-one times with each employee will open the doors to success. One can argue that we spend more time at our workplace then with our own families, so getting to really know your employees is the divider between average companies and great companies. Productivity tanks when people feel that all the company cares for is the bottom line. It is my mission to have daily interaction with as many employees as I can because the fact is: they know what’s best for our operation.”
NFM Lending prides itself on working hard to create a fulfilling and enjoyable work experience for their employees. The company has an open door policy and keeps an open line of communication between management and employees. The company also holds several seminars a year with topics that range from time management, to nutrition and fitness. In addition, employees at their corporate headquarters enjoy a business casual dress code, have fresh fruit delivered weekly, and enjoy the company of two rescued office cats, Tabby and Refi. NFM Lending also engages with its employees by encouraging workplace volunteering for organizations such as Ronald McDonald House Charities of Baltimore and Habitat for Humanity.
The Baltimore Sun published the complete list of Top Workplaces on Sunday, December 7, 2014. For more information about the Top Workplaces lists and WorkplaceDynamics, please visit www.topworkplaces.com and www.workplacedynamics.com.
About NFM Lending
NFM Lending (formerly NFM, Inc.) is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in twenty-eight states throughout the United States. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to their customers and the community. NFM Lending has firmly planted itself in the home loan marketplace as “America’s Common Sense Residential Mortgage Lender.”
For information on NFM Lending, please email pr@nfmlending.com, visit their website at www.nfmlending.com, or follow them on twitter (@NFM_Lending).
Click to view original press release
LINTHICUM, MD., November 17th, 2014 — NFM Lending is pleased to announce the opening of a new branch in Jacksonville, Florida. The NFM Lending branch will focus its lending platform throughout Jacksonville, and the surrounding areas. NFM Lending offers Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, FNMA, Jumbo, and many other loan options. Visit the branch page: www.nfmlending.com/fl303.
Elysia Stobbe, Branch Manager, has been in the mortgage industry for over 10 years. She is a certified Military Relocation Professional, and was featured in The Wall Street Journal for her VA loan expertise. She was also featured as one of the “Top Women Executive in Northeast Florida” in 2014, and also ranked in the “Top Mortgage Lenders of Northeast Florida” 3 years in a row by the Jacksonville Business Journal. In addition, she ranked in the “2014 Top 50 Business Influencers” by the Advantage Business Magazine.
“I enjoy working with first time home buyers and Veterans,” said Stobbe. “The most rewarding experiences of real estate finance are helping Veterans relocate, help clients to buy their first home, investment property, or refinance so they can save money.”
The Jacksonville branch currently has openings for qualified Mortgage Loan Originators for full and part-time positions. The branch’s goal is to continue to provide the same commitment and dedication to borrowers raging from first time homebuyers, to seasoned buyers looking for second homes or investment properties.
For more information please contact:
NFM Lending
Toll Free: 1-888-233-0092
pr@nfmlending.com
www.nfmlending.com
About NFM Lending
NFM Lending (formerly NFM, Inc.) is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 30 states across the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. NFM Lending has firmly planted itself in the home loan marketplace as “America’s Common Sense Residential Mortgage Lender.”
View original press release on Digital Journal.
Selling your home is hard. Such an arduous process can take weeks, if not months, even in the preliminary stages of house preparation. Indeed this paints an ominous picture of the whole experience; but not to worry, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
You may be wondering, is there a way to make home selling any easier? Is there a course of action that would constitute a much less hair-graying experience? The following tips might help you to prepare your home to sell, and consequently sell it quicker.
Here are 6 tips on how to get your home ready to sell:
Natural lighting and lighting fixtures
One of the best things you can do to present your house is to rip down those curtains and setup interior lighting. Natural sunlight combined with good interior lighting feels welcoming and engaging to potential buyers. It will also open up the rooms, making them appear more spacious and attractive. Here is a link to some tips regarding interior lighting.
De-personalizing your “home” to make it their “house”
Even though it is hard to admit, your home is slowly but surely becoming less of your “home” and becoming more a “house” on the market for another buyer. You may have to consider removing such items as: family photos, heirlooms, personalized touches, knickknacks, etc. By removing these items, you will enable the potential buyers to picture themselves living in that space. Then they are able to visualize their own possible memories and experiences. This could play a huge factor in their desire to move forward in the deal.
Pave the way with stunning flooring
Beautiful floors can be crucial to displaying your house properly; but at the same time, you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg (or lose one) replacing all the flooring in your house. Nor do you have the time. Try to clean and salvage what you already have (polishing up hardwood floors, shampooing carpets and area rugs, replace cracked tiles, etc.) to save time and money. If necessary, be willing to replace the flooring in certain rooms that may be outdated or dilapidated. Check out this link on how to clean certain types of floors.
Don’t let remnants of food, smoke, or pet odor linger
We all have things in our house that emit malodorous scents. It could be a pet, fridge, sink, or even a person. Regardless of what it is, do what you need to do to clear out the smell and replace it with a fragrant substitute. There’s no need to be embarrassed, but the fact is that it will affect the buyer’s impression of the house. This is often something that can be easily addressed. Here’s how.
Don’t forget the exterior of your house
The outside of the house is the very first thing potential buyers will see. All the more reason why curb appeal is crucial to the selling process. You don’t have to go crazy and dig up your entire yard, planting exotic trees and garden gnomes, or add a pool or garage. There are some very simple things you can do to enhance the external portion of your house and yard to carry it from decent to stellar. Here are some great ideas of how to do this.
Leave the walls a neutral color
The goal here is to wipe the walls and provide a clean slate for the buyers to imagine their possibilities. When walls are already painted in very specific colors, they may look nice and presentable, but it could potentially lock the buyers into a particular look and feel that they may not desire. It proves difficult for the buyer to picture it any other way. It’s “better safe than sorry” in this case. Touch up the walls if there are marks, chips, or stains. Even consider repainting the walls with fresh coats of very neutral shades or off-whites. Now, if you think that there is only one shade of off-white to choose from, think again.
Though there are probably a hundred more tips that could be offered, hopefully you were able to gain some new insight on how to prepare your house to sell with these 6 tips. These tips can help speed up the home selling process and make the entire experience a little less stressful.
If you are looking to sell your home, be sure to click here to contact one of our Licensed Mortgage Loan Originators today to learn about what mortgage loan is right for you.
LINTHICUM, MD, November 3, 2014 — NFM Lending is proud to announce that it has been ranked 73 out of 100 Private Companies in the greater Baltimore area by the Baltimore Business Journal. The ranking is based on 2013 revenue.
David Silverman, founder and CEO of NFM Lending stated, “We are honored that NFM Lending has earned this ranking among so many accomplished companies in the Baltimore Area. Our unique culture, passionate employees, and loyal borrowers will always be the driving force behind our continued success.”
NFM Lending started as a small brokerage shop in Baltimore, Maryland, with 4 loan officers, and it is now a multi-state lender with more than 250 employees, and 36 operating branches. NFM Lending has been listed as one of the “Top 100 Mortgage Companies in America” and one of “The 50 Best Companies to Work for in America 2013” by Mortgage Executive Magazine. It also ranked one of the “Top Mortgage Lenders” by The Scotsman Guide for 2012 and 2013; ranked as one of the “Fastest-Growing” and one of the “Largest Private Companies” by the Baltimore Business Journal for 2012; named a “Top Workplace in Baltimore” by The Baltimore Sun in 2012 and 2013; and numerous other awards.
For more information please contact:
NFM Lending
Toll Free: 1-888-233-0092
pr@nfmlending.com
www.nfmlending.com
About NFM Lending
NFM Lending (formerly NFM, Inc.) is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 30 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. NFM Lending has firmly planted itself in the home loan marketplace as “America’s Common Sense Lender.”
Click here to view original press release