Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Lemonade Stand Raises $80,000 To Aid In Cancer Research
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The month is is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer.
Most people are aware of the Susan B. Kolmen For The Cure Campaign.
But did you know about Max Igoe and his Lemonade Stand in California?
When Max was 5 years old Elizabeth Rorman, his mothers best friend and a friend to Max who he called "Auntie Beth", died form breast cancer. He missed her greatly and decided to use a Lemonade Stand to raise money for cancer research. Since the inception of the Lemonade Stand he has raised over $80,000. His goal is to raise $1,000,000.
To get more information and to donate go to: Max's Lemonade Stand
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
NMLS#217388
Is Your Computer Slow? | Are You Having Problems Updating Java?
Is Your Computer Slow? | Are You Having Problems Updating Java?
A few weeks ago I had a virus problem so I downloaded an updated version of Norton 360 to cure the virus. My desktop computer had also been running slow. It's almost 3 years old and I started looking into a new computer.
I do a lot of webinars on the GoToWebinar platform. Recently when I went to sign on it kept prompting me to update JAVA. I was not able to get the updated download completed.
I thought the problem may have been caused by the new Norton install so I decided to uninstall JAVA on the computer and start with a fresh install. I ran into a problem. The Windows uninstall program wouldn't let me uninstall JAVA.
So I went to that secret site known as Google and searched for uninstall software. After looking at several options I decided to try IObit Uninstaller 2. It got good reviews and best of all it was FREE.
The IObit Uninstaller 2 not only uninstalled JAVA but it also went deep into the bowels of my computer and uninstalled a lot of trash associated with JAVA that had build up over the years. To be on the safe side I shut down the computer and rebooted it.
After rebooting I deleted the previous version of JAVA in my download folder and installed a fresh copy of JAVA. The install went smoothly with no problems. Again, to be on the safe side I shut down the computer and rebooted it.
Now here's where the surprise came in. All of a sudden the computer was running fast again. It seems all the trash from the old versions of JAVA had been slowing it down. The thought of buying a new computer went out the window.
And, today I went to a webinar on GoToWebinar. I had no problems getting signed in.
I repeated the above steps with my laptop and had the same results.
So, if your computers been running slow and/or your having problems with JAVA see if this cure will work for you.
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
NMLS#217388
Have You Heard Of Gube?
Have You Heard Of Gube?
I was reading Facebook earlier today and noticed my friend Johnny Holliday had posted a "Like" to something called Gube. Made me curious so I did a little research.
So what is Gube? It's an iPhone and iPad application that provides parents with a catalog of pre-screened, moderated, and safe yet fun YouTube videos. Designed and developed by parents of toddlers for parents with young children.
There have been several blogs written about Gube. You can find one titled Gube Gives Kids a Safer YouTube on the Hawaii Blog
Here a review done by the Smart Apps For Kids - a Dad's quest to find the best educational apps for the iPad and iPhone.
Lifehaker recently did a review titled Gube Curates Kid-Safe YouTube Videos for iOS
Apple's iTune Preview can be found at Gube By Shacked Software.
What do you think about Gube? I'd appreciate your comments below.
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
NMLS#217388
Can A New Monitor Make A Difference? You Bet It Can!
Can A New Monitor Make A Difference? You Bet It Can!
I've upgraded computers over the years but have kept the same 18" NEC MultiSync LCD monitor. I thought about upgrading but never did it.
My daughter Angela who uses the computer from time to time thought it was time for an upgrade so for Christmas she bought me a 23" HP LED monitor. It was easy to install and the difference is unbelievable. It easier to read and looking at pictures and videos is a whole new experience. I can increase the size (Control +) and see and read much easier and not lose content on the edges of the screen. No more squinting at the screen.
A little bit about monitors:
LED and LCD monitors are based on the same basic technology for image display, but differ in the kind of backlighting used. While LCD monitors use cold cathode fluorescent lamps for backlighting, LED monitors use light emitting diodes. This is the prime difference between the two display technologies. So LED monitors are in actuality, a type of LCD monitors, or an improvement over them.
LCD displays have to rely on external lighting, as their display is created through manipulation of light, passing through polarized liquid crystals. The backlighting affects picture quality substantially and light shed by LEDs offers superior picture quality, compared to LCDs.
LED monitors are also a lot softer on the eyes than LCD monitors which make them popular choices for people who work for long hours (I certainly do) on their desktop computers. Their power consumption is as much as 40% less than conventional LCD monitors. They are also a lot more eco-friendly, because mercury is not used in their production. LEDs last longer than cold cathode fluorescent lamps, with little reduction in their power output over time, which makes these monitors long-lasting.
Here's a short video showing some differences between LCDs and LEDs.
So, don't be like me and squint at an old monitor, upgrade, you'll be glad you did!
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
NMLS#217388
It’s New Year’s. Have You Had Your Coffee Yet?
It's New Year's. Have You Had Your Coffee Yet?
It's New Year's so I thought I'd do a little research on coffee. Thanks to Wikipedia for the information.
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark, acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia, South Asia and Africa. Coffee can have a stimulating effect on humans due to its caffeine content. It is one of the most-consumed beverages in the world.
Coffee berries, which contain the coffee seeds or "beans", are produced by several species of small evergreen bush of the genus Coffea. The two most commonly grown are the highly regarded Coffea arabica, and the "robusta" form of the hardier Coffea canephora. The latter is resistant to the devastating coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix). Once ripe, coffee berries are picked, processed, and dried. The seeds are then roasted to varying degrees, depending on the desired flavor. They are then ground and brewed to create coffee. Coffee can be prepared and presented in a variety of ways.
And now for the video: "Coffee, The Greatest Addiction Ever".
Have a great and prosperous 2012.
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
NMLS#217388
An Everybody Loves Raymond Thanksgiving!
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!
~Author Unknown
May this be yours on Thanksgiving Day and always.
Daylight Saving Time! Do You Understand Why?
Daylight Saving Time comes on Saturday, November 6th this year. This is the time of the year when you set you clocks backward (not forward) and "gain" an hours sleep.
If you like me your still a little confused because the fall change for Daylight Savings Time used to occur in October. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended the Daylight Saving Time (DST) period by starting DST several weeks earlier (second Sunday in March) and ending it one week later (first Sunday in November).
Not all U.S. states and territories observe the confusing daylight saving time ritual. The federal government does not require those in Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands to change their clocks.
Anyway, here is a fun video explaining this phenomenon that confounds us all every year:
So there you have it. Is it clear now? Don't forget to "fall back" Saturday at 2:00 am.
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
NMLS#217388
What’s The Best No Money Down Loan? Check Out VA Loans!
What's The Best No Money Down Loan? Check Out VA Loans!
With all that's gone on in the past few years with mortgage loans, little has changed for VA loans. In a recent article in the Washington Post Kenneth R. Harney wrote an article titled Veterans Affairs mortgage program avoids the pitfalls of other lenders
In the article Kenneth Harney points out the following facts:
- 91 percent of its borrowers make zero down payments.
- Loan amounts go well into the jumbo range — to $1 million and sometimes above, even with little or nothing down.
- Credit standards are flexible and generous. Underwriting rules encourage loan officers to look for ways to approve applications rather than to reject them.
- Mortgage originations are up — almost triple what they were just three years ago — and are on track this year to exceed 2010’s volume. The rest of the loan industry, by contrast, is down by anywhere from 25 percent to 30 percent.
So, who is qualified to get a VA Mortgage Loan. You can go to the Quick Reference Table for VA Eligibility
You may ask "What are the benefits of a VA Mortgage Loan?
- No down payment required in most instances
- Large loan amounts - Over $1 million in some areas of the country
- No minimum credit scores but your credit history will be evaluated
- Flexible credit and underwriting standards
- No monthly mortgage insurance. VA has a one time funding fee as low as 1.25% with a 10% down payment. The one time funding fee for no down payment loans starts at 2.15%. Disabled veterans don't pay the VA Funding Fee
- The VA allows sellers to pay a large portion and in some cases all the the veterans closing costs and prepaid items. In some cases the seller can also pay of the veterans current debt. This means a veteran can purchase a home with no cash required.
So, where do you go if you have questions. Visit www.DCMilitaryVALoans.com or simply give me a call.
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
NMLS#217388
Is Buying A Home Really Cheaper Than Renting? The Answer Will Surprise You!
Is Buying A Home Really Cheaper Than Renting? The Answer Will Surprise You!
With all the problems the economy has had in the past few years, one piece of good news has surfaced for those wanting to buy a home. In 74% of of the country's 50 largest cities buying was cheaper than renting in July. This was reported by the real estate web site Trulia.
On August 16th CNNMoney posted an article online titled "Buying is cheaper than renting in most U.S. cities." The article stated that "Home prices have taken such a beating and demand for rental units has increased so much that it's now cheaper to buy a two-bedroom home than to rent one in most major U.S. cities." It went onto say "In addition to a continuing decline in home prices, rock-bottom interest rates have added a lot of weight to the buy side of the scale. The overnight average rate for a 30-year fixed was just 4.19% on Monday, according to Bankrate.com. A 15-year fixed averaged just 3.43%."
Forbes online recently had an article titled "U.S. Cities Where Buyers Do Better Than Renters." According to Forbes "The dynamics of buying vs. renting are unlikely to tip back to favor renting in any hurry. Analysts who track the real estate investment trusts (REITs) that own and operate apartment buildings have noted the overbuilding of single-family homes last decade that led to insufficient inventory of multi-family dwellings. Turnover rates for apartment REITs are at record-low levels Raymond James analyst Buck Horne said in an interview last month and that means that in many high-demand areas rents will be on the rise."
In addition, home prices have started to stabilize and even increase in some parts of the country. PR Newswire posted an article titled "April Seasonal Boost in Home Prices According to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices"
The table below summarizes the results for April 2011. The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices are revised for the 24 prior months, based on the receipt of additional source data. More than 24 years of history for these data series is available, and can be accessed in full by going to www.homeprice.standardandpoors.com
Are you thinking about buying a home? Shouldn't you get started now?
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
NMLS#217388
What Is The VA Loan Funding Fee? Do I Have To Pay It? Can It Be Waived?
The wars going on in Iraq and Afghanistan have created a lot more Veterans. One of the Veterans greatest benefits is the VA Mortgage Loan. The VA Loan allows a Veteran to purchase a home with no down payment and the seller can contribute to the closing costs.
Unlike other types of loans such as Conventional and FHA the VA loan does not have private mortgage insurance or a monthly MIP fee. VA Loans do have a one time fee that in most cases can be financed into the loan known as the VA Funding Fee.
The fee varies from 0.50% to 3.30% depending on whether you are/were regular military or the reserves / national guard, the purpose of the loan, the size of the down payment or loan-to-value, and whether it's a first time or subsequent use. Despite what a lot of people have heard or think the VA Loan benefit can be used over and over again and under certain circumstances you can have two VA Loans at the same time.
Can the VA Funding Fee be waived. Yes, in certain circumstances. Reasons to waive the fee include Veterans receiving VA compensation for service-connected disabilities, Veterans who would be entitled to receive compensation for service-connected disabilities if they did not receive retirement pay, and Surviving spouses of veterans who died in service or from service-connected disabilities (whether or not such surviving spouses are veterans with their own entitlement and whether or not they are using their own entitlement on the loan).
The maximum VA Loan varies by location. In most areas the maximum VA Loan is $417,000 but can go as high as $1,094,625. In the Washington, DC area the maximium loan is $818,750. In the Baltimore, MD area the limit is $500,000. To see the limit in your area go to VA Loan Limits.
You can get answers to your VA Loan questions such as Interest Rate Reduction Refinances (IRRRLs), Refinancing VA Loans, Proof Of Service Requirements, Pre-Loan Questions, and Eligibility Questions by visiting DCMilitaryVALoans.com
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
NMLS#217388
