Chance Gates' Blog

Being a Dallas Cowboys fan you can imagine that I’m pretty happy with last week’s  results.  I’m really kind of torn this week as Brett Favre is going against the Cowboys.  Who doesn’t want to see Brett get a Superbowl Ring so late in his career.  Kurt Warner fans that’s who.  I like the Arizona Cardinal plus the points this week going against the New Orleans Saints.   This one could be fun to watch with a lot of points being scored.

When applying for a home mortgage it is a requirement that a borrower has at least  3 different forms of  “non-traditional” credit over a minimum of 12 months.

According to the Federal Housing Administration “non-traditional” credit is the credit extended  by a landlord, utility company or a cell phone company.

A mortgage lender will either ask for a “Verification of Rent” from a landlord or need 12 months of canceled checks to prove that rent has been paid on time.  Some lender will request proof beyond the 12 months,  so be prepared.  By the way cash receipts will not work.

The utility companies have a “12-month letter of credit”.  Which is basically a list of payment history including the date and payment amount.  If a homebuyer is obtaining these via the internet it is vital that the name, address and company name are on the statement.

There are other forms on non-traditional credit that are harder to prove.  Please remember that all mortgage lenders sets and terms vary.

Consumers will no longer be left in the dark about the closing costs involved to complete the sale or purchase of a home- costs that account for an average of 5% of the purchase price.

Changes in the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) that took effect on January 1, 2010 require lenders to fully disclose all closing costs including the costs of obtaining a loan and estimated costs for title insurance, settlement and other services within three days after a buyer applies for a mortgage.

Forms used in the closing process, including the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) and the HUD-1 Settlement Statement, have been overhauled to make it easier for consumers to understand estimated costs and compare them with final costs at closing. The new GFE encourages consumers to shop and compare fees from various lenders before choosing a mortgage. The new HUD-1 makes it easy to compare the GFE estimates with the final HUD-1 closing statement and flag discrepancies prior to closing.

However, estimates provided by the Good Faith Estimate are usually binding for only ten days, unless there are certain changed circumstances. Buyers have only a few weeks to complete required tasks like reviewing their title report and retaining settlement services before the closing. They may have to act quickly to meet deadlines in sales contracts.

“The message to buyers is don’t delay. Take control by working with your real estate agent to shop for and compare closing costs in your area. Compare the fees in your Good Faith Estimate with actual costs and the services provided by competing vendors,” said Tony Farwell, CEO of Closing.com, a website that provides a one-stop-shop for real estate closing and related services. The Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that consumers will save an average of $668 on every loan as a result of the new regulations.

Farwell said that home buyers, working with their real estate professionals, should formulate a strategy to find the best vendors for their closing service needs in the short time available.

As you know by now I like to take a break form Reno/Sparks real estate and talk a little NFL.  Really proud of the Dallas Cowboys as they made the playoffs.  Just hoping they can get past round 1 this time.

Now my playoff pick this week in the Green Bay Packer over the Arizona Cardinals.  The Pack has a better defense and can compete with the Cards on offense.

I have some clients in the Reno real estate market that are having problems disputing their credit on the internet.  The reason their dispute on the internet have been entirely unsuccessful is that they are not providing proof that the disputed item is not theirs.  The only thing that happens in an on-line dispute is that the credit reporting company contacts the creditor, asks if the account is theirs and re-ports the item on their report with a notation that the item is in dispute.  This absolutely does nothing for Them.  They need to provide the proof that the disputed item is in theirs.    It is all about providing proof.

With the start of  2010 , what will you be looking forward to in the New Year? Buying your first home in the Reno/ Sparks area? Sending your last kid off to college? Or obsessing over your own personal mountain of debt, even more worrisome in this uncertain economy? It may feel like “Resolution Impossible,” but if you follow Eric Tyson’s advice, you’ll remember ‘10 as the year you finally took control of your financial future.

“While the situation is improving, Americans carry too much consumer debt,” says Tyson, author of Personal Finance for Dummies, 6th Edition.. “If you have credit card debt or auto loans, take some solace in the fact that you’re far from alone and that many others have overcome these hurdles. Consumer debt is not okay, particularly in a slow economy such as this one. It can damage your personal relationships and mental well-being, not to mention the stability of your financial future.”

Here are a few tips from Tyson that will help you improve your financial health in 2010:

Partake in a little self-reflection. A misaligned mindset toward spending and shopping—compulsive or otherwise—can severely affect your financial and personal well-being. If you think you might have a problem with shopping or spending, there are several questions you should ask yourself:

-Do I feel guilty about shopping?
-Is my shopping causing financial trouble?
-Is my shopping, spending, and accumulated debt leading to feelings of helplessness, anger, confusion, fear, or depression?

Make a plan and stick to it. The reason so many New Year’s resolutions fail is that we simply state the thing we want to improve and then never create a plan for helping us get from point A to point B. Most people don’t like to plan unless we’re talking about something fun, like a vacation. But actually, planning for your financial future is a little like planning a vacation. You’re organizing your money and time so that you get to do all the great things you want when you get there. Look at it that way, and you might actually enjoy the process.

Get rid of your four-wheeled debt. Too many people define necessities by what those around them have. A brand new car is not a necessity, although some people try to make it one by saying, “I need a way to get to work.” Guess what? There are plenty of far less expensive used cars out there that will also make it to your office. If you take out an auto loan to buy a car that you really can’t afford and you take a similar approach with other consumer items you don’t truly need, you’re going to have great difficulty saving money and accomplishing your goals. Moreover, you’ll probably feel stressed all the time—which is a poor trade-off for the (short-lived) “new car smell.”

Start making your purchases based on need, not emotion. It can be easy to give in to all of those advertisements telling us how much we “need” that new car, expensive gym membership, or trendy outfit. Marketers play on insecurities, fears, and guilt and suggest that you can feel better about yourself by buying their products. You won’t be able to overcome spending and consumer debt until you recognize these pressures and how they corrupt your buying decisions.

Research before you enter the store. Prior to going shopping for necessities that aren’t everyday purchases—say, a new refrigerator—do some research first. Your research will help you identify brands, models, and so on that are good values. You don’t want to make an expensive mistake.

Watch your food budget. Dine out less and keep stock of the groceries you already have. Learn to cook if you don’t know how. Try to keep a healthy inventory of groceries at home. This will minimize trips to the store and the need to impulsively dine out because your cupboard is bare. Try to do most of your shopping through discount warehouse-type stores, which offer low prices for buying in bulk, or grocery stores that offer bulk purchases. Saving on the amount you spend on food will help you put more money toward paying off your debt and eventually setting money aside for investments.

Become more energy efficient. Check out opportunities to make your home more energy efficient. Adding insulation and weather-stripping, installing water-saving devices, and reducing use of electrical appliances can pay for themselves in short order. Many utility companies will even do a free energy review or audit of your home and suggest money-saving ideas.

Watch what you are paying for insurance. Many people overspend on insurance by carrying coverage that’s unnecessary or that covers small potential losses. Coverage of small losses, such as $100 or $200, is not useful for most people since such a loss wouldn’t be a financial catastrophe.

“It won’t be easy getting out of debt, and it’s certainly not something you will be able to achieve overnight,” says Tyson. “Like losing weight, it’s something that takes constant dedication but has a great payoff in the end. Whenever you lose focus or feel like giving in, think about the wonderful benefits of financial well-being. Once you’re out of debt, the money you are able to invest will mushroom into substantial savings that will allow you to get more for your money,” concludes Tyson.

About the Author
Eric Tyson is one of the nation’s best-selling personal finance book authors and has penned five national bestsellers. His work has been featured and quoted in hundreds of local and national publications and media outlets. He was also a featured speaker at a White House conference on retirement planning. A dynamic and provocative speaker, he has spoken at many corporations and nonprofits.

For more information, visit www.erictyson.com.

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