Minette's Mortgage Memos

MARKET COMMENTARY Mortgage Rates have moved only slightly this week over last week.  The relevant news this week focused on changes suggested by the Mortgage Bankers Association  to FNMA and Freddie Mac and to the possibility that the Treasury will significantly reduce buying securities that effe...

WHY MOVE TO TUCSON, ORO VALLEY OR MARANA?  In my earlier post on August 8th, TOP REASONS TO MOVE TO TUCSON, I highlighted the WEATHER, ACTIVE LIFE STYLE, AND THE OLD WEST ATTITUDE as great reasons to move to Tucson.  This time let me go into more detail on TUCSON HOME PRICES, LOW TAXES AND COST O...

Ronstadt Insurance, a local Tucson Health and Life Insurance Company, is owned by the decendants of one of the founding members of the Tucson community. Fred Ronstadt came to Tucson from Mexico as a teen to be a blacksmith apprentice back in 1882.  His family has played an important part in the h...

If your client has a Taylor Bean Whitaker Mortgage, please ask them to check if their August mortgage payment went through. Taylor Bean & Whitaker recently ceased accepting new loan applications but indicated they hoped to continue servicing.  My client, who had automatic withdrawals for his mort...

Why move to Tucson, Oro Valley or Marana? You already know the weather is terrific!  I heard from two  people just today that people back east didn't have a summer this year.  We sure did! And while it is sunny and too hot here for about 4 weeks a year, the rest of the time is beautiful.  Even wh...

Tucson Is A Great Place To Buy a Home. Last night was another reason to buy and own a house in Tucson.  I am from New York and I can tell you I never would have had the opportunity to do what I did last night in the big city.  We went out at 8:30, looked up at the stars, airplanes and military je...

EARLIER THIS MONTH BUSINESSWEEK INCLUDED TUCSON AS A BEST PLACE TO LIVE AND NOW AARP PUT TUCSON IN THE TOP TEN PLACES TOO. NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY A HOME IN TUCSON.  YOU'LL GET A GREAT DEAL ON A HOME AND YOU HAVE A WIDE ARRAY OF HOMES AVAILABLE FOR SALE.   THERE ARE LOTS OF RETIREMENT COMMUNIT...

While the government tries to improve consumer protection for buyers and people refinancing their mortgages, they also raise the cost and aggravation for everyone involved in the transaction. Realtors should anticipate higher costs on everyone's good faith estimate to offset the misguided way the...

JUST A QUICK NOTE TO MENTION TUCSON WAS RATED AS NUMBER 1 FOR BEST AFFORDABLE RETIREMENT BY BUSINESSWEEK JULY 2ND.  COME ON DOWN TO VISIT AND BRING YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.  WE NEED SOME PEOPLE TO BUY SOME HOMES DOWN HERE ASAP!  MINETTE   

I JUST FINISHED AN ANALYSIS FOR A PRESENTATION TOMORROW ON WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF A CREDIT SCORE ON A 30 YEAR FIXED RATE LOAN. THE RESULTS SHOW IT REALLY PAYS TO HAVE THE BEST CREDIT YOU CAN WHEN APPLYING FOR A MORTGAGE- WHETHER IT IS A PURCHASE MONEY MORTGAGE OR A REFINANCE.   THESE ARE INDICATIV...