VA Loan Information Center

Archive for April, 2011

Do you need more referrals but don’t know how or are hesitant to ask for them?

There’s now a refreshing way to get in front of your database and encourage referrals.

The new service goes by the fun name Happy Grasshopper.

Happy Grasshopper is a referral marketing service that helps you turn anyone you meet into a referral source. All that you have to do is upload the email addresses of past clients leads, networking contacts and people you have just met. Happy Grasshopper’s writers will draft and send a friendly, relationship building message for you about every 3 weeks.

No more struggling with what to say or forgetting to keep in touch.

Unlike traditional e-newsletters, the messages sent by Happy Grasshopper are designed as conversation starters and help you build relationships. You simply edit and/or approve the messages before they are sent. They are delivered from your email address and all replies go directly into your inbox.

You've got to try this to believe it and it's free for up to 50 contacts!

To learn more and to sign up go to Happy Grasshopper.

I'd love to hear what you think.







Your source for VA loan information.


My direct line is 240.813.0614. So let me hear from you! Remember...it doesn't cost a penny to talk...so call right now and I will answer all your questions.


Alan Gross

Senior Mortgage Consultant

PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company
704 Quince Orchard Rd., Suite 230
Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Home Office: 240.813.0614
Email: agross@primelending.com
Web: www.mtg-info.net
Web: www.DCMilitaryVALoans.com

The producers of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" are seeking people involved in the military whose home deserves an extreme makeover.

The show, which rehabs the homes of families dealing with hard times at no cost to the families, typically features between one and three military families per season, said senior producer Diane Korman.

“I’ve been on this show since the very beginning and whenever we do families where Mom or Dad has served in the armed forces, you just have hundreds if not thousands of people who just come out to watch the build and cheer on the teams, and that is exactly what this show is all about,” Korman said.

The producers are looking for people with “amazing strength of character and who put their own needs aside to help others,” a press release said. “Whether it’s a Soldier, a mom, a teacher or a fireman, we think deserving families are families who inspire those around them.”

Additionally, the show's producers are seeking families whose houses need major alterations or repair - "homes that present serious problems for the family and affect the family's quality of life."

To be eligible, families must own their single family home and be able to demonstrate how a makeover will make a difference in their lives.

The deadline for nominations is May 30, but people should send submissions early, the release said. Only up to 25 families are selected each season.

To visit the shows web page go to Extreme Makeover : Home Addition.

To apply to be on the show go to Extreme Makeover : Home Addition - Application.




Your source for VA loan information.


My direct line is 240.813.0614. So let me hear from you! Remember...it doesn't cost a penny to talk...so call right now and I will answer all your questions.


Alan Gross

Senior Mortgage Consultant

PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company
704 Quince Orchard Rd., Suite 230
Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Home Office: 240.813.0614
Email: agross@primelending.com
Web: www.mtg-info.net
Web: www.DCMilitaryVALoans.com

Undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships are forms of aid that help students pay for their education. Scholarships are the ideal form of student aid, as they're basically gifts that never have to be repaid. On the other hand, student loans must be repaid, but they're made at very low interest rates, and you're usually you're not required to begin repayment until six months after you graduate. Some student loans require you to prove financial need, but some of them don't. Many students turn to student loans as a method to pay for college. Basically, if you cannot get access to the free money you have to borrow it in the form of a student loan.

Don't waste your money on fee-based scholarship matching services. You won't get any better information than you can get from the free services available on the Web.

Cost for education is horrendous and tuition fees are still climbing. Regardless of who you are, education is important and the desire to pay as little as possible if or maybe NOTHING for your degree is on the top of your list. Certainly, you can pick a less expensive college, but your education will most likely still cost you thousand of dollars unless you start looking for money.

The Military Duty Stations-Blog has put together a list of sites that have scholarships available as well as links to great articles to start planning and applying for scholarships.

To go to the blog click College Scholarships.




Your source for VA loan information.


My direct line is 240.813.0614. So let me hear from you! Remember...it doesn't cost a penny to talk...so call right now and I will answer all your questions.


Alan Gross

Senior Mortgage Consultant

PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company
704 Quince Orchard Rd., Suite 230
Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Home Office: 240.813.0614
Email: agross@primelending.com
Web: www.mtg-info.net
Web: www.DCMilitaryVALoans.com

Are you an Army spouse looking for work? In 2003 the Army started the Army Spouse Employment Partnership (ASEP) Program

What is it?
The ASEP is a self-sustaining and expanding partnership that is mutually beneficial to the Army and to corporate America. The partnership provides Army spouses with an opportunity to attain financial security, and to achieve employment goals through career mobility and enhanced employment options. Corporate partners can now tap into a pool of readily available, diverse, and talented candidates.

What has Army done?
In October 2003, the Army unveiled ASEP by formally signing Statements of Support with 13 Fortune 500 companies and 2 military agencies who pledged their best efforts to increase employment and career opportunities for Army spouses. Currently, there are 32 ASEP partners from the private sector and the federal government. In FY08, ASEP partners hired more than 8,200 military spouses, bringing the grand total of spouses employed to 42,100.

Many businesses have added ASEP-dedicated landing pages and specialized tracking mechanisms focused on military spouses to their web pages. The ASEP partners are tailoring human resource strategies to the unique needs of Army spouses by implementing adaptive recruiting and hiring processes within their organizations and creating employment continuity programs and career portability with no loss in tenure or benefits.

The Army launched the Military Spouse Job Search (www.msjs.org) website on July 7, 2005. This service provides free access to a résumé and job-listing database for spouses and military-friendly employers and also provides the capability to track spouse hires and to sort jobs by state.

What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?
The ASEP partners continue to create new jobs that address some of the employment challenges spouses face, such as affordability and availability of child care and transportation.

The Departments of Defense and Labor have also announced a joint program using the ASEP model. Eligible spouses are reimbursed for expenses directly related to post-secondary education and training under the new program. These include costs for tuition, fees, books, equipment, and credentialing and licensing fees for a number of professions. The program also covers the cost of renewing existing credentials and licenses due to a military move.

Spouses of active-duty service members grades E1 through E5 (private to sergeant) and O1 to O3 (second lieutenant to captain) will be eligible to participate. They must have a high school diploma or General Educational Development Diploma.

Why is this important to the Army?
The Army recognizes the importance of spouse satisfaction in Family decisions. Many Soldiers make retention decisions based on their Families’ financial stability. Approximately 61 percent of Army spouses are in the labor force and contribute between 20 to 47 percent of their families’ income. The perception of a spouse’s quality of life—including financial well-being and the ability to realize personal and professional goals—is a major factor in the retention of our All Volunteer Force. Frequent Soldier reassignments/relocation's make it difficult for spouses to sustain steady employment and develop long-term careers. ASEP helps spouses overcome these obstacles.

To get more information and find participating companies see Army Spouse Employment Partnership (ASEP) Program -Military Spouse Corporate Employment Opportunities.




Your source for VA loan information.


My direct line is 240.813.0614. So let me hear from you! Remember...it doesn't cost a penny to talk...so call right now and I will answer all your questions.


Alan Gross

Senior Mortgage Consultant

PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company
704 Quince Orchard Rd., Suite 230
Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Home Office: 240.813.0614
Email: agross@primelending.com
Web: www.mtg-info.net
Web: www.DCMilitaryVALoans.com

Navy/Marine Corps Housing OneStop is the official government website for sailors and marines who need information about Military Family Housing (MFH), Unaccompanied Personnel Housing (UPH) and/or Community (Off-Base) Housing. It includes both comprehensive and quick-reference information for 80+ Navy and 17+ Marine Corps installations worldwide. Floor plans, photo tours, policies and procedures, programs and services, waiting list information, BAH/OHA, forms, contact information, utilities, schools, maps and much more!

OneStop encompasses many aspects of Navy Housing. It allows users to look-up installation information, view topics such as the wait list, see photos and floor plans, plus a whole lot more.

To visit the site go to Navy/Marine Corps Housing OneStop.



Your source for VA loan information.


My direct line is 240.813.0614. So let me hear from you! Remember...it doesn't cost a penny to talk...so call right now and I will answer all your questions.


Alan Gross

Senior Mortgage Consultant

PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company
704 Quince Orchard Rd., Suite 230
Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Home Office: 240.813.0614
Email: agross@primelending.com
Web: www.mtg-info.net
Web: www.DCMilitaryVALoans.com

Your home or apartment lease agreement or rental agreement is a legal document which will define every aspect of your relationship with your rental property manager, so read it thoroughly before signing anything. Understand everything that is expected of you in your rental lease agreement, plus what your legal rights are.

By all means SAVE A COPY of the final HOME or apartment lease agreement signed by you and the leassor. This is the most important document when it comes to settling a disagreement. If there are rental rules, you should also keep a copy for the same purpose.

In an age where we're all conditioned to blindly click "I agree" to software terms and conditions, don't lose sight of the fact that you can request changes to your lease. Keep in mind, too, that a lease sets out obligations for both you and your landlord. So, make sure the landlord is stepping up to the right level of responsibility.

USAA recently posted some key lease provisions and what to look for to protect your interests:

• Rent. Beyond knowing the dollar figure, it's also important to know when the rent is due, whether there's a financial penalty for late payments and if there's a grace period before that penalty is invoked.
• "Included" vs "available." Leases should clearly indicate what's automatically included with your rent. "Available" means something different; it usually describes something that you can request but will pay extra for.
• Safety deposit. To protect landlords from tenants who move out and leave damage in their wake, most leases require a deposit that's held until after you've moved out. Pay careful attention to how the lease describes the conditions under which you'd have to forfeit your deposit. You shouldn't have to give up your money for normal wear and tear.
• Lessee. If you'll be living with someone else, pay special attention to who is named as the lessee — the person legally bound by the lease agreement. If yours is the only name on the lease, you may want to create a side agreement with your housemates, detailing how expenses will be split, damages paid and what happens if they decide to move out.>/li>
  

• Occupants. Some leases restrict the number of people who can live in the unit. Make sure that numerical ceiling is consistent with your plans.
• Notice before moving out. Leases generally require tenants to give notice before they move out; a 30-day period is typical. Some include clauses allowing you to terminate the lease early in the event that you buy a home, get a new job, receive military orders, have a child or change your marital status. If you're likely to experience any of those life events, ask to include such a clause in your agreement.
• Pet policies. If you have pets, don't sign a lease that prohibits them, even if the landlord or rental agent says, "We never enforce that." If you're planning to get a pet in the future, find out if the lease requires prior approval before you bring the animal home.
• Alterations to property. It's common for leases to require the landlord's approval before you make changes to the property — for example, installing or removing fixtures or changing the landscape. Follow the rules carefully: What you consider an "improvement," your landlord may consider "damage." Note, too, whether your alterations become the owner's property when you move out.
• Insurance requirements. Leases often require that you buy renters insurance, which covers your personal property — from fire, theft and other risks — and provides liability insurance in case you're responsible for injury to other people or damage to their property. Even if it isn't required by the lease, this is coverage you shouldn't go without. After all, your landlord's insurance only covers his or her property.
• Business use. If you're planning to run even a modest business out of your home, make sure your lease allows it — and find out if it's consistent with local zoning ordinances.

Your source for VA loan information.


My direct line is 240.813.0614. So let me hear from you! Remember...it doesn't cost a penny to talk...so call right now and I will answer all your questions.


Alan Gross

Senior Mortgage Consultant

PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company
704 Quince Orchard Rd., Suite 230
Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Home Office: 240.813.0614
Email: agross@primelending.com
Web: www.mtg-info.net
Web: www.DCMilitaryVALoans.com

Fannie Mae (FNMA) has a large number of home for sale through their HomePath program. In order help the homes sell quicker they announced a special incentive people purchasing a Fannie Mae-owned HomePath property.

Buyers will be offered up to 3.5% in closing cost assistance through June 30, 2011.

The HomePath property buyer must meet the following qualifications to be eligible:

• Buyers and/or selling agents (the agent representing the buyer) must request the incentive upon submission of initial offer in order to be eligible.
• The initial offer must be submitted on or after April 11, 2011 and close by June 30, 2011. If an initial offer was made prior to the effective date, the offer is not eligible for the incentive.
• The sale must close on or before June 30, 2011. No exceptions will be made to this deadline.
• Only buyers purchasing a HomePath property as their primary residence may receive up to 3.5% in closing cost assistance. Second homes and investment properties are excluded from the incentive.
• Buyer must sign the Owner Occupant Certification Rider to the Real Estate Purchase Addendum.
• If a buyer's total closing costs are under 3.5%, the difference will not be available as a credit to the buyer.

"Attracting qualified buyers to the market and reducing the inventory of vacant homes remains essential to stabilizing neighborhoods and helping the market recover," said Terry Edwards, Executive Vice President of Credit Portfolio Management. "Since interest rates remain low, the incentive will go a long way toward helping even more families buy a new home so this is a great time for Fannie Mae to offer some assistance."

All Fannie Mae-owned HomePath properties are listed on HomePath.com and most listings include detailed property descriptions, photographs, community and school information, and more. In addition, many Fannie Mae-owned properties are eligible for special HomePath Mortgage and HomePath Renovation Mortgage financing, which offers homebuyers an opportunity to purchase with as little as 3 percent down.

FNMA Homepath loans can also be purchase using standard Conventional, FHA or VA financing.

Primelending, A PlainsCapital Company, offers both the HomePath Mortgage and HomePath Renovation Mortgage mortgages. PrimeLending is one of only four mortgage companies offering the HomePath Renovation Mortgage in Maryland and one of only three mortgage companies offering the HomePath Renovation Mortgage in the District of Columbia and Virginia.




Your source for VA loan information.


My direct line is 240.813.0614. So let me hear from you! Remember...it doesn't cost a penny to talk...so call right now and I will answer all your questions.


Alan Gross

Senior Mortgage Consultant

PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company
704 Quince Orchard Rd., Suite 230
Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Home Office: 240.813.0614
Email: agross@primelending.com
Web: www.mtg-info.net
Web: www.DCMilitaryVALoans.com

April is the Month of the Military Child. As part of the celebration U.S. Army MWR has announced The Coolest Toys, Hottest Gadgets Sweepstakes.

The sweepstakes is open to anyone from an active service component, to include Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and their respective Guard and Reserve units, as well as Retirees and Family Members who possess a valid military ID and are 13 years of age or older. If you are younger than eighteen (18) years of age, you must have your parent or legal guardian’s permission to enter the Sweepstakes.

For more information and to enter go to The Coolest Toys, Hottest Gadgets Sweepstakes.

For the complete rules go to The Coolest Toys, Hottest Gadgets Sweepstakes Official Rules.




Your source for VA loan information.


My direct line is 240.813.0614. So let me hear from you! Remember...it doesn't cost a penny to talk...so call right now and I will answer all your questions.


Alan Gross

Senior Mortgage Consultant

PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company
704 Quince Orchard Rd., Suite 230
Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Home Office: 240.813.0614
Email: agross@primelending.com
Web: www.mtg-info.net

I was reading a blog post the other day from someone who had signed up for a one year service. At the end the year they were billed again for another year when they thought the subscription had ended. Somewhere in the fine print there was a automatic renewal clause. They called to cancel and before they could they had to do an "Exit" interview with a "sales retention person" who tried to encourage them to keep the service.

It got me to thinking. I've had an account with BlueMountain.com for several years. I used it to send mostly birthday cards. I have another service I now use that allows me to better personalize my birthday cards. I have an annual subscription which renews in early December. Out of curiosity I checked the site to see how to cancel the subscription. This is what is on the site. "To request a cancellation of a subscription, please contact our membership support center by calling 1-888-254-1450, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. EST." You can sign up online but you can't cancel. Now this is not a knock on their service, I was happy with it for many years but they sure don't make it easy to cancel.

If your thinking about signing up for a "Free Offer" there are a few things you should do first to avoid hidden costs or automatic renewals:

• Research the company online. See what other people are saying about the company's free trials — and its service. Complaints from other customers can tip you off to "catches" that might come with the trial.
• Find the terms and conditions for the offer. That includes offers online, on TV, in the newspaper, or on the radio. If you can't find them or can't understand exactly what you're agreeing to, don't sign up.
• Look for who's behind the offer. Just because you're buying something online from one company doesn't mean the offer or pop-up isn't from someone else.
• Watch out for pre-checked boxes. If you sign up for a free trial online, look for already-checked boxes. That check mark may give the company the green light to continue the offer past the free trial or sign you up for more products — only this time you have to pay.
• Mark your calendar. Your free trial probably has a time limit. Once it passes without you telling the company to cancel your "order," you may be on the hook for more products.
• Look for info on how you can cancel future shipments or services. If you don't want them, do you have to pay? Do you have a limited time to respond?
• Read your credit and debit card statements. That way you'll know right away if you're being charged for something you didn't order.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a web page devoted to "Free Trials." If you have problems or need help it has links and phone numbers to help you. Go to Federal Trade Commission - Free Trials.




Your source for VA loan information.


My direct line is 240.813.0614. So let me hear from you! Remember...it doesn't cost a penny to talk...so call right now and I will answer all your questions.


Alan Gross

Senior Mortgage Consultant

PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company
704 Quince Orchard Rd., Suite 230
Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Home Office: 240.813.0614
Email: agross@primelending.com
Web: www.mtg-info.net
Web: www.DCMilitaryVALoans.com

Each year the military moves 600,000 members with one-third of those moves occurring between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Automated Housing Referral Network (AHRN) has developed into one of the strongest free Real Estate Networks for military service members. Advertising your property on AHRN.com should be a part of your marketing plan to sell your house or to advertise it for rent. If you real estate agent /property manager has not advertised your home on AHRN.com then you should do it.

They've made some changes to help sell your homes. They include:

• Since pictures speak louder than words AHRN.com has increased the number of photos that can be uploaded from 5 to 10. If you already have a listing, upload some more of your photos
• The listing detail printer friendly option has been revised and condensed to one page. Now it’s easy to print out a list of rentals/ homes for sale and go for a drive. Makes it so much more efficient. The only thing better than that would probably be an app.

For more information or to get started go to Automated Housing Referral Network website.




Your source for VA loan information.


My direct line is 240.813.0614. So let me hear from you! Remember...it doesn't cost a penny to talk...so call right now and I will answer all your questions.


Alan Gross

Senior Mortgage Consultant

PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company
704 Quince Orchard Rd., Suite 230
Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Home Office: 240.813.0614
Email: agross@primelending.com
Web: www.mtg-info.net
Web: www.DCMilitaryVALoans.com