"These are extraordinary times." (Bon Jovi) December marked the 87th month in a row for job growth, the longest stretch on record. However, there was some mixed news within the report. The Labor Department... »
LinkedIn makes it easy to connect with people and companies that can use your services or help influence your business. With 500 million users in more than 200 countries, using LinkedIn is a... »
They say you spend one-third of your life in bed, but with the right set of sheets you might want to make it even longer. Thread count. This refers to the number of threads... »
"I wish I was homeward bound." (Simon and Garfunkel) Home sales and construction data rose in November, helping more buyers head toward new homes. November housing starts rose 3.3 percent from October to an... »
From my team to yours, I wish you a very happy and prosperous New Year! I look forward to bringing you economic news through our weekly Economic Update, and keeping you informed of the... »
The proposed SAFE Transitional License Act will allow Bank Loan Originators the ability to immediately originate loans while awaiting licensing. This bill amends the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 and provides Loan... »
"I've got nothing but money...and I wanna spend it all on you." (will.i.am) Solid consumer spending kicked-off the holiday shopping season on a bright note. The Commerce Department reported that retail sales jumped in... »
A recent survey of top HomeBridge Loan Originators revealed the many reasons they choose HomeBridge. What do you think about HomeBridge’s Selling Solutions platform for Originators? “This is state of the art, contemporary and EXACTLY... »
The Veterans Administration gives veterans, active-duty military members and eligible spouses many benefits, including valuable VA home loan benefits. But, what does this mean and how does it work? Your VA loan benefit... »
"I got a job baby. I got work to do." (The Isley Brothers) New job creation exceeded expectations in November, but earnings disappointed. Job growth remained solid in November after the brief hiccup in... »
"You gotta break all the records set." (Rod Stewart). New home sales increased across the country in October, breaking through to their best level in a decade. The Commerce Department reported that sales of... »
If you are a U.S. Military veteran, surviving spouse or active military member, having served in the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard or National Guard, you could apply for a VA... »
"Who will buy my sweet red roses?" (Oliver) Retailers looked to October sales for signs of a blossoming or thorny holiday shopping season ahead. Meanwhile, housing starts dug out from storm damage. Retail sales... »
Thanksgiving is that special time when people are busy preparing meals and planning to see family and friends. Whether you’re hosting, traveling or dining out for the holiday, it’s never too early or... »
"A little dancing and some sentiment to put your mind at ease." (Lou Reed) Home prices continued to surge, and consumers have happy feet over employment and wage prospects. Data analytics firm CoreLogic reported... »
Shopping at a warehouse club, such as Costco, Sam’s Club or BJ’s Wholesale, is a great way to save money. These bulk-goods stores offer low per-unit prices on many things they sell. Don’t... »
Today’s technology, combined with innovative approaches to using space, is opening the door to an endless array of home design options. Pet owners are creating in-home dog-washing stations and millennials favor upper kitchen... »
"After the storm comes the sunshine." (Marty Robbins) Following September's storm-damaged job data, October job growth was a ray of sunshine. Total non-farm payroll rose by 261,000 new jobs in October, the Labor Department... »
A recent survey of top HomeBridge Loan Originators shed insight into the many reasons they choose HomeBridge. “I love the transparency and the feeling of family. I don't ever feel like I am in... »
"We're soaring, flying." High School Musical. While home construction data suffered storm damage in September, New Home Sales broke free and soared. Gross Domestic Product also flexed its muscle. The Commerce Department reported that... »
“I'm hiding from the storm till the damage is done.” (Lauren Alaina) Storms damaged data on housing starts and building permits from August to September, while existing home sales edged higher. Hurricanes Harvey and... »
Every HomeBridge Loan Originator gets access to a business-building suite of tools, strategies and support called HomeBridge Selling Solutions. The goals of Selling Solutions are simple: More Leads – We help you identify more... »
A 203(k) consultant is like a football team’s offensive coordinator – a point guard that runs plays on basketball court and a star infielder – all in one. Seem like an exaggeration? When... »
The Fannie Mae HomeStyle® Renovation Mortgage program helps qualified borrowers buy a home and make renovations, repairs or improvements – all in one loan. Here are a few the basic features of this... »
In a traditional home purchase transaction, a lender requests an appraisal to determine a fair market value of the home. The appraiser provides a professional estimate of the value of the property and... »
The short answer to this question is “Yes, in some cases.” The realistic answer is, “This is probably not a good idea.” Talk to anyone with a number of years of experience in renovation lending,... »
Like a lot of questions regarding mortgages, the answer to that question is: it depends on a lot of other things. As of the date of this post, the FHA has set the minimum... »
“Oh what a price I had to pay.” (Fats Domino) Consumers weren’t afraid to spend in September after holding back in August. Folks were spending in September, according to the Commerce Department’s most recent... »
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently released its year-end 203(k) endorsement summary report and HomeBridge Financial Services ranks No. 1 in 203(k) loans for 2017! With its year ending September... »
Nearly 40,000 customers have completed HomeBridge’s Customer Commitment Survey and our historical Net Promoter Score now stands at an impressive 78.7. The Net Promoter evaluation system, enthusiastically embraced by HomeBridge, scores the entire customer experience based... »
"If your paycheck depends on the weather and the clock." (Garth Brooks) Job growth plunged in September due to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The Labor Department reported that payroll growth declined by 33,000 jobs... »
HomeBridge Mortgage Loan Originators continue to shine in their marketplaces with unique Selling Solutions that set them apart. Branch Manager / Mortgage Loan Originator Dean Bendall (NMLS #222267) and Regional Builder Manager Matt... »
To land the best price when you're shopping online, be sure to use all of the tools at your disposal. Here are several online shopping tools and price comparison sites we like: Sites such... »
“If you want to be healthy and strong.” (Sesame Street) Economic activity finally hit a healthy level, but other data was weakened by the recent hurricanes. The final reading on second-quarter Gross Domestic Product... »
Pinterest is a virtual pinboard (or bulletin board) that lets users collect and display (or “pin”) theme-based collections, such as photos, videos, hobby information, products, recipes, etc. for other members to see and... »
"I can pick up some time to unwind and ease my mind." (Eddy Arnold) Existing Home Sales and Housing Starts declined while the Fed announced plans to unwind. High prices and low inventories curtailed... »
The terrible effects of this year’s hurricane season should cause us all who‘ve been spared to count our blessings and pull out our homeowners’ insurance policies for an in depth review. Each mortgage payment... »
The best sales professionals ask open-ended questions — those questions that require more thought and more than a simple one-word answer — to elicit prolonged and revealing discussion. These questions — broken into... »
"Never worry about the price of gas." (Luke Bryan) Retail sales dropped in August while higher fuel prices revved up consumer inflation. Families may have pulled back on back-to-school shopping, but Hurricane Harvey played... »
