Brian P.'s Blog

I have lambasted the real estate industry on more than one occasion for issues I have with inconsistencies and the things that I categorize as unfair practices due to the adverse impact they have on consumers. A recent one of my Tampa mortgages blog posts criticized the new FAR/BAR residential re...

There are many things that separate me from the pack of mortgage bankers in Tampa Bay. (I am fortunate to have the testimonials to prove it!) But seriously folks, as most of you know, I am a crazy technophile. Not in the "one with the most toys wins" kind of way, but in the "it's the only way to ...

As a Tampa mortgage lender, I seem to be shaking my head in disbelief a great deal; not at the clients...at the Fannie's and Freddie's of the world! Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water, those telltale fins emerge from the depths ready to take down the unsuspecting home buy...

Don't want to be the mortgage banker yelling the "Sky is Falling! The Sky is Falling!" ...but I do want to be the one that reminds everyone that the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) is set to expire...again. That September 30th date is looming large and you can't afford to miss it. Now jus...

I don't like to throw statistics around too often. They can be misconstrued and twisted. But some of them just shout out and leave absolutely no room for interpretation. Here's one: According to Bankrate.com, buyers' closing costs jumped almost 37% over last year. This info is both startling and ...

Staying ahead of the curve is your best defense in this real estate market. When buying a home with an FHA Loan, it is much easier for buyers to know what they need to look for going in, rather than trying to remember which ones will hit FHA's hot buttons after they've seen 15 homes. If you're li...

Obviously there are processes and instruments that come into play on every real estate transaction and my readers get my call on every ball and strike. Today I am picking on one of the key instruments: the brand new iteration of the FAR/BAR contract. To cut to the chase, the revisions to the cont...

Mortgage brokers in Tampa Bay spend a great deal of time putting financial puzzles together. And even though every puzzle seems to be the 40,000-piece variety, the appraisal and underwriter piece is the biggest. And although every professional has his or her role in the home buying process, we do...

In previous posts, I have chastised others for taking a rumor and stating it as fact. As it is, every day I see other Tampa Bay mortgage lenders and Realtors running amok over the industry changes that are true...it is therefore just cruel to frazzle anyone without cause. (I have a large picture ...

Yes, I vent about the mortgage industry and yes, I am the first to let it be known if I think certain mandates don't make sense. And sometimes I just say, "Duh!" As home buyers and Realtors and mortgage professionals know all too well, besides the assessment conducted by the underwriter, the appr...