durham: FHA Condominium Expiration Dates Extended - 12/10/10 05:57 AM
FHA must be hearing the outcry because this week FHA Condominium Expiration Dates Were Extended.  This is a much needed and positive move on the part of FHA in my opinion. 
The reality of what was going to happen once Condominium Complexes started to come off the FHA Approved Condo List did not begin to hit home until the dead line was upon us, and Condo's that had been FHA Approved no longer were.  Condominium Owners that were trying to sell their Condo's were not happy with their Condo Management Firms that they had not Re-Certified the Complex, and now the number … (32 comments)

durham: Assuming A Mortgage - 11/13/10 06:32 AM

 
This past week William Walton asked me if I would post a blog on Assuming A Mortgage.  William has been getting some questions on what is involved in  Assuming A Mortgage and wanted to see what is involved in doing that.
First of all an Assumption of a Mortgage is in the simplest terms:
An agreement between the buyer and seller where a buyer takes over a seller's mortgage and becomes responsible for making the monthly payments.
This can be a big advantage to both the Buyer and the Seller.  The Buyer purchases the house without incurring some of the … (27 comments)

durham: Decline In The Number Of Mortgage Loan Officers In Connecticut. - 11/01/10 10:29 AM
As of today ALL Mortgage Loan Officers who do not work for a depository institution (Banks, Credit Unions, etc.) need to be licensed in Connecticut.  This will have in my opinion a major impact and Decline In The Number of Mortgage Loan Officers In Connecticut.
As I wrote back on August 11th of this year "Make Sure Your Mortgage Loan Officer Is Licensed" as of yesterday Mortgage Loan Officers and Brokers who do not work for a depository institution, needed to have taken a National Test and Connecticut Licensing Test, and past them with a score of 75 or higher in order to obtain … (20 comments)

durham: Strategic Defaults Are A Contributor To Guideline Changes - 08/28/10 12:36 PM
I posted a blog yesterday "Strategic Defaults are a big part of the problem" giving my reasons why I feel that Strategic Defaults Are A Contributor To Guideline Changes, and that i would post another blog to point out some of the Guideline changes that have come about because of Foreclosures and Shortsales. I feel very strongly about this issue, because I see firsthand every day the impact that Foreclosures are have on the ability of others to purchase a home, that anything that voluntarily further contributes to that is inexcusable in my opinion.  Strategic Defaults are completely voluntary and a CHOICE … (72 comments)

durham: Strategic Defaults Big Part Of The Problem. - 08/27/10 06:16 AM
Lending guidelines have been tightening and will continue to tighten for the foreseeable future, and Strategic Defaults are a big part of the problem why this is happening.  Before I go any further I want to give my definition of what I understand a Strategic Default to be:
Strategic Default: A foreclosure that results NOT from the Homeowners inability to make his/her mortgage payment, but as a result of the Homeowners CHOICE to not make the mortgage payment, because the property has decreased in value and presently is no longer worth what they paid for it.
This blog is written based … (27 comments)

durham: Newest Pre-Approval Letter Myth - 07/20/10 01:26 PM
Lenn Harley wrote a blog on Sunday in which she rightfully questioned the accuracy of what was being stated on another blog about Pre-Approval Letter. The writer of the blog that Lenn was questioning, stated that her Loan Officer had informed her that he would no longer be able to provide her with a Pre-Approval Letter for her Buyers because of restrictions imposed by RESPA. This information was incorrect, Pre-Approval Letters are very much alive and well. But before I go any further let me give three very quick definitions of what I consider a Pre-Qualification Letter, Pre-Approval Letter, and a … (59 comments)

durham: Washington DC Cathedral - 06/07/10 10:54 AM
Yesterday I posted a blog with a picture that I took on my recent trip to Washington DC of the exterior Washington DC Cathedral.  Ann Hayden in one of her comments asked where the pictures were of the inside of the Cathedral.  So for my friend Ann, here are four of the pictures that my wife took.  Hope you all enjoy the pictures.

 
 
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Info about the author:
George Souto is a Loan Officer who can assist you with all your FHA, CHFA, and Conventional mortgage needs in Connecticut. George resides in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, … (23 comments)

durham: Almost Speechless Sunday - 06/06/10 02:56 PM
Last week I spent Memorial Day Weekend in Washington DC.  I have lots of pictures that I need to take the time to post and share, but this one I felt could not wait.  It is of the Washington DC Cathedral and it is an incredible structure.  Many of you might have seen it or have been to it when in Washington, but for those of you that have not it is truly a must see when in Washington DC.

 
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Info about the author:
George Souto is a Loan Officer who can assist you with all your … (35 comments)

durham: Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) 4.375% 30 Year Fixed - 12/17/09 04:32 AM

 
The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) is at 4.375% for a 30 Year Fixed for the forth consecutive week.  This is the lowest that I can remember the CHFA Interest Rate being at, and the fact that it is at that rate for a forth consecutive week is amazing.
The rate gets even better if the Borrower is a Teacher, Military Veteran, Buyer purchasing in a Targeted Area, or a Police Officer in a participating town.  If a Borrower is in one of these special categories they will receive and additional .125% to .250% off the rate.
The CHFA … (12 comments)

durham: We Lucked Out - 12/06/09 11:28 AM

 
Well we lucked out.  I wrote a post yesterday as our first snow fall for the 2009-1010 Winter Season was arriving.  We were expecting 1-3 inches here in Middletown, Connecticut, and we lucked out in being on the lower end of that range.
I love New England and one of the things that I love most is our unpredictable weather, and this past week was an excellent example of that.  During the beginning of the week the temperature was mild and in the 40's and 50's, on Friday it was about 70 degrees depending on where you were in … (26 comments)

durham: Almost Speechless Sunday - 11/08/09 01:05 PM

 
This is a picture that my brother just took in his back yard in Arizona.  It is almost as if the Hawk was posing for him :)
 
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Info about the author:
George Souto is a Loan Officer who can assist you with all your FHA, CHFA, and Conventional mortgage needs in Connecticut. George resides in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Higganum, Haddam, East Haddam, Chester, Deep River, and Essex. George can be contacted at (860) 573-1308 or gsouto@mccuemortgage.com
(29 comments)

durham: Foto Friday - 10/30/09 12:27 PM

 
Not often that I get to see an almost full moon while it is still day light.  Who knows maybe we will have a full moon for halloween.
 
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Info about the author:
George Souto is a Loan Officer who can assist you with all your FHA, CHFA, and Conventional mortgage needs in Connecticut. George resides in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Higganum, Haddam, East Haddam, Chester, Deep River, and Essex. George can be contacted at (860) 573-1308 or gsouto@mccuemortgage.com
(28 comments)

durham: FHA Appraisal Expiration ........... Change - 10/28/09 07:15 AM
The third and last change that we have been notified of this week is a change to FHA Appraisal Expiration.  FHA Appraisals use to be good for six month, this was both good and bad.  Good because if an appraisal was done on a property, and the deal fell apart, the appraisal would still be applicable for a six month period, and the new Buyers/Borrowers would continue to use the same appraisal, because it was attached to the FHA Case Number.  Therefore, they were able to save money on an appraisal.  The Bad part is that if the reason for the … (21 comments)

durham: FHA Streamline Refinance .......... Change - 10/27/09 12:51 PM
The second up coming change that Kim Neilson our Senior Vice President at McCue Mortgage recently made us aware of, are changes to FHA Streamline Refinancing.  Unlike the up coming change that I wrote about yesterday, this change will only affect existing FHA Borrowers, but given the number of FHA Loans that have been done over the last few years, this change will still an impact on a significant number of homeowners.
The up coming changes to the FHA Streamline refinance guidelines will become effective with FHA case numbers assigned on or after 11/18/09, and are as follows:
Borrower must be receiving a net tangible … (15 comments)

durham: Wordless Wednesday - 08/26/09 07:02 AM

 
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Info about the author:
George Souto is a Loan Officer who can assist you with all your FHA, CHFA, and Conventional mortgage needs in Connecticut. George resides in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Higganum, Haddam, East Haddam, Chester, Deep River, and Essex. George can be contacted at (860) 573-1308 or gsouto@mccuemortgage.com
(27 comments)

durham: Are We Taking Advantage Of Our Seasons??? - 08/22/09 12:41 PM

The last few days have been really hot sticky humid days here in Connecticut, so I have been having to water the grass and flower more so than usual.  As I was watering the flowers in front of the house I started to notice that they were beginning to show signs that summer is coming to an end and that fall is around the corner.
It is amazing how mother nature knows what time of the season it is, no matter what the weather is like it knows its time.  It knows when it is time to bloom and when … (16 comments)

durham: Are You Ready For This Weekend!!! - 08/20/09 06:53 AM
This is a huge weekend for Yankee and Red Sox Fans.  This weekend will determine if the Red Sox stand a chance to compete for the American League East Division Championship, or have to fight for their life for a Wild Card spot.
The Red Sox started out the first half of the season with a bang, by sweeping the Yankees 8 straight games.  But the second half of the season has not been kind to the Red Sox, and the last time the two teams faced each other the Yankees swept the Red Sox 4 straight games.
This weekend they … (20 comments)

durham: Mortgage/Loan Programs with Low or No Downpayment Still Available In Connecticut .... Introduction - 08/13/09 01:11 PM
Over the next two weeks I will be writing a series of blogs about Mortgage/Loan Programs with Low or No Downpayment Still Available In Connecticut. The series of Blogs will cover Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) Mortgages, USDA Mortgages, VA Mortgages, and FHA Mortgages. I will be concluding the series with two blogs that will cover what a Borrower should do to prepare themselves for the Home Buying Process, and help them determine which Loan is best for you for them.
I decided to write this series Mortgage/Loan Programs with Low or No Downpayment Still Available In Connecticut, because of the … (9 comments)

durham: Wordless Wednesday - 08/12/09 12:20 PM


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Info about the author:
George Souto is a Loan Officer who can assist you with all your FHA, CHFA, andConventional mortgage needs in Connecticut. George resides in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Higganum, Haddam, East Haddam, Chester, Deep River, and Essex. George can be contacted at (860) 573-1308 or gsouto@mccuemortgage.com
(23 comments)

durham: Wordless Wednesday ....... On The Look Out. - 07/22/09 05:17 AM

 
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Info about the author:
George Souto is a Loan Officer who can assist you with all your FHA, CHFA, andConventional mortgage needs in Connecticut. George resides in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Higganum, Haddam, East Haddam, Chester, Deep River, and Essex. George can be contacted at (860) 573-1308 or gsouto@mccuemortgage.com
(13 comments)

 
George Souto, Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert (George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages)

George Souto

Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Middletown, CT

More about me…

George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages

Address: One Liberty Sq., PO Box 1000, New Britain, Ct, 06050

Office: (860) 573-1308

Mobile: (860) 573-1308



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