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Author Archives | Gregg Harris has written 15 posts on LenderCity

About the Author Gregg Harris is president of LenderCity. With over 14 years of experience in the mortgage industry and as a member of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, Gregg launched this blog in an effort to empower people with the information they need to secure the best mortgage deal. New topics will be covered on an ongoing basis, however, please e-mail Gregg at gharris@lendercity.com with specific questions or topics you would like covered.

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When Will Your Home’s Value Return to “Normal”?

Unfortunately, you won’t like my answer but don’t shoot the messenger.  According to well-known financial publishing house HSH Associates, “It’s going to be a long time coming.” 
Before we can make any assumptions, we have to look at how far we’ve really fallen.  According to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index, the popular measurement that tracks changes in the [...]

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The Fed Raised Rates, What Does This Mean For Mortgage Rates?

In a rare intra-meeting move, the Federal Reserve increased the Discount rate .25% to .75% late yesterday afternoon.  The Discount rate is the rate the Fed charges a bank for an emergency loan.  This move was done to wean the banking system off of government credit and encourages them to borrow from private sources.  The governing [...]

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Are Points Tax Deductible?

If you have ever taken out a mortgage, you probably already know of the tax advantage provided by deducting your mortgage interest payments. But many homeowners overlook another tax break available for points paid to get a home loan. In some cases, points also could shave tax bills for folks who refinanced or got [...]

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Understanding the Home Buyer Tax Credit

First-Time Home Buyers
The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 has extended the tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence. The tax credit now applies to sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a [...]

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The Basics Of Shopping For A Mortgage

If you have been shopping for a mortgage, chances are you have found the process to be overwhelming and confusing.  Besides the multitude of loan programs available, it can still be confusing even if you are only looking for a 30 year fixed due to the way each mortgage company quotes their rates and fees.  Unfortunately, there [...]

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Should I Escrow Taxes and Insurance Or Pay Them On My Own?

Although most folks choose to escrow their real estate taxes and homeowner’s insurance monthly, I am often asked whether or not this is wise.  As long as you have a minimum of 20% equity in your property, you actually have the choice of “waiving escrows” or paying the taxes and insurance on your own when [...]

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APR…Annual Percentage Rate or Another Phony Rate?

One of the worst ways to compare loans, in my opinion, is to shop the “APR” or Annual Percentage Rate.  The APR is an expression of the effective interest rate that will be paid on a loan, taking into account certain one-time fees and standardizing the way the rate is expressed.  While the formula can be complicated, [...]

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Higher Rate, Lower Fees or Lower Rate, Higher Fees?

Ever wonder why there is such a disparity from lender to lender when it comes to rates and fees?  It really comes down to two things, marketing and their compensation.  You see, most lenders are compensated by the companies they sell the loans to and therefore the higher the rate, the more compensation they receive.  [...]

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Why Mortgage Brokers Get A Better Deal Than A Lender Can Directly

Ever wonder why you can get a better deal going through a mortgage broker than you can if you go directly to a lender?  After all, the mortgage broker just turns around and sells it to a major national lender anyway?  So logic dictates that cutting out the “middle man” should yield you a better deal, [...]

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Bi-Weekly Mortgages, Are They Worth It?

I am frequently asked about bi-weekly mortgage programs and whether or not they are a good choice.  As my readers know, I always like to give the short and sweet answer first which is NO, they are not.  But for those looking for an explanation I offer an in depth look at why they aren’t [...]

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