VA Loan Information Center

How To Get Free Tax Preparation and Filing For Military Members?

It's tax season again. Did you know there's free help for military members in the preparation and filing of their tax returns?

The military's tax assistance program processes more than 200,000 returns each year, Army Maj. John Johnson, director of the Defense Department's Armed Forces Tax Council, said during an interview with Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service reporters.

"It is just one of the benefits military people have," Johnson said of the program. Participants can visit their installation tax center for free assistance in filling out tax returns, he said, or access the Military OneSource Web site, www.militaryonesource.com.

"You can log on there, online, and also file for free," Johnson said of the Web site. The online tax-filing system on Military OneSource is closed to military retirees, however.

The is part of the H & R Block At Home® program. To get the free tax return preparation you must to start your return from the Military OneSource H&R Block At Home® link. Once you click the link you will be required to log in to Military OneSource. From the login page you will be directed to a site containing additional information on tax preparation, including the link to the Military OneSource free H&R Block At Home® service.

Through the Military OneSource program, you can complete, save and file your 2011 Federal and up to three State returns online for free with the H&R Block At Home® tool.

If you have questions about this tax service or about preparing your own tax returns, please call 1-800-342-9647 and ask to speak with a Military OneSource tax consultant. Trained tax consultants are available 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., EST.

Do not go directly to the H & R Block website. You will not get the free service there. Go to: Military OneSource H&R Block At Home® link

You can also get free tax service at most major military bases through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Participating VITA sites provide free tax advice, tax preparation, and assistance to military members and their families. Most importantly, they are trained and equipped to address military specific tax issues such as non-taxable military income, tax-free zones, tax deadline extensions for military members, out of state residency issues, and more. To top it off, the work is usually signed off on by a CPA before it is filed.




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 In The President's Plan To Help Responsible Homeowners and Heal The Housing Market?

I make my living in the housing industry. The whole country has suffered the past few years because of the problems created by the mortgage mess. The housing industry is still struggling to get back on it's feet.

In his State of the Union address and in subsequent speeches President Obama has been talking about his "Blueprint for an America Built to Last."

I got a copy of the plan to see what it is all about. To see a copy click on:

President Obama's Plan to Help Responsible Homeowners and Heal the Housing Market

While I want as much as anyone for the housing market to come back reading the plan I have to wonder if it's a plan for recovery or a political document to help with getting elected.

A big talking point has been the Homeowner Bill of Rights.

The first two points are:

Access to a simple mortgage disclosure form, so borrowers understand the loans they are taking out.

In 2009 the government designed and mandated that the lending industry use the current Good Faith Estimate now given to borrowers. I took hours of classes learning to complete it correctly and real estate agents took hours of classes learning the new HUD1 form. I'd welcome a simple form but blaming the industry for the current confusion is just wrong.

Full disclosure of fees and penalties.

It seems they don't know they also passed legislation holding lenders responsible for the fees that are disclosed to a borrower at application. A lender is financially responsible for under disclosingfees (even fees they don't control) including those charged by title companies and state and count recording fees. Anyone who has been to a settlement is familiar with "Charges That Cannot Increase, Charges That in Total Cannot Increase More Than 10% and Charges That Can Change."

The plan also calls for Moving the Market to Provide a Full Year of Forbearance for Borrowers Looking for Work.

Now don't get me wrong. This crisis has created a lot of pain for a lot of people and they need help. But is letting them not pay their mortgage for a year a solution to the problem or are we "kicking the can down the road" for someone else to worry about.

Who hasn't heard Congress and the President rail against the abusive loans that caused the crisis. (A side note: all the loan types weren't bad. They just got to liberal in underwriting and approving them)

The plan calls for Providing Non-GSE Borrowers Access to Simple, Low-Cost Refinancing. It has been proposed that "The refinancing program will be open to all non-GSE borrowers with standard (non-jumbo) loans who have been keeping up with their mortgage payments. The program will be operated through the FHA."

Simple and straightforward eligibility criteria. Any borrower with a loan that is not currently guaranteed by the GSEs can qualify if they meet the following criteria:

* They are current on their mortgage: Borrowers will need to have been current on their loan for the past 6 months and have missed no more that one payment in the 6 months prior. (Sounds reasonable to me.)

* They meet a minimum credit score. Borrowers must have a current FICO score of 580 to be eligible. Approximately 9 in 10 borrowers will have a credit score adequate to meet that requirement. (If you want to get a new loan most loan programs want a minimum 640 FICO score. By meeting certain criteria you can lower the FICO score to 620.)

Streamlined application process: "To determine a borrower's eligibility a lender need only confirm that the borrower is employed." (Sound's like the no-doc or no-income loan they have said were bad and don't allow any more.) "Those who are not employed may be eligible if they meet other requirements and present limited credit risk." (I'd love to know what those requirements will be.)

The program will be funded by "Creating a separate fund for new streamlined refinancing program. This will help FHA better track and manage the risk involved and ensure that it has no effect on the operation of the existing Mutual Mortgage Insurance (MMI) fund." (So were taking loans that were made in the private sector and giving them a government guarantee and if they lose money well take it out of the left pocket instead of the right pocket? To me a loss is a loss)

Now to pay for the program the Refinancing Plan Will Be Fully Paid For By a Portion of Fee on Largest Financial Institutions: The Administration estimates the cost of its refinancing plan will be in the range of $5 to $10 billion, depending on exact parameters and take-up. The cost will be fully offset by using a portion of the President's proposed Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee, which imposes a fee on the largest financial institutions based on their size and the riskiness of their activities - ensuring that the program does not add a dome to the deficit. (And do you thing "the largest financial institutions" are going to absorb that fee or is it more likely to be passed on to all consumers through higher fees and other cost. Are you aware the "Two month tax holiday passed in December is being paid with higher fees being charged by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA. The new fees will be in effect for 10 years to pay for a 2 month thx holiday.)

I've been getting a lot of questions about HARP2 refinancing program which was announced in November. It's my understanding that the automated engines used to underwrite these loans will be ready in mid-March. I still an waiting to get details of what the requirements will be.

I'd love to hear your feedback on the proposed Plan To Help Responsible Homeowners and Heal The Housing Market.

 

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

Home Prices and Affordability – Is Now The Time To Consider Buying A New Home?

There's been a lot of news over the past several years concerning problems in the housing market, the mortgage industry and the economy. There still a lot of concern about when the market will turn around and start to recover.

I've been saying for the past 6 months or so that we have been in the "Perfect Storm" to buy a home with the combination of low home prices and low interest rates. It seems that the storm is starting to subside. Home prices in many markets are starting to show appreciation.

A recent report on CNBC it was reported that the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Pending Home Index jumped 7.3% in November after jumping after jumping 10.4% in October. (See the news clip below)

A recent issue of "Housing Predictor" has an article titled "Home Affordability Reaches 1971 Level". The article stated "Homes are more affordable to purchase than they have been since 1971 as a result of falling home prices, according to the U.S. 1970s House Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Despite record low mortgage rates, the downward trend in home values is sustained in the majority of the U.S." It went on to say "With interest rates at historically low levels and markets across the country beginning to improve, homeownership is within reach of more households,” said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders."

HSH.com has identified 5 Cities Poised For a Housing Pop. The Washington, DC metropolitan area is included in the list. For the Washington area the site says "A favorite large metro of Fox’s, the Washington, D.C. metro area encompasses two states (Maryland and Virginia) as well as the District of Columbia. With a median home price of $294,800, some experts believe home prices may drop by a percentage point or two in 2011. Expect small price gains--a percentage point or two--in 2012. Key to this metro is that the economy is driven by the federal government, which seems poised for continued growth. Unemployment in the metro is a very low 5.4 percent. The one negative: a cost of living that is well above the national average."

Moneyland.Time.com also looks at the Washington, DC metropolitan area in favorable terms. There recent post "The Real Estate Market that Defies the Trends" said "But in Washington, D.C., housing prices are up a smidgen (0.3%) from the previous month. More importantly, year-over-year prices have risen by 1.3%, a continuation of a happy trend in which prices increased by 2.6% from the year before that. When comparing housing markets in America’s big cities, D.C. appears to be having the strongest and steadiest recovery."

In an earlier article Moneyland.Time.com says that "Home Affordability Near Highest Level in 20 Years" The article states "As a result, families earning the median income of $64,200 could afford 72.9% of the homes sold in the third quarter. (Another reason I like this statistic is that it’s calculated using actual sales prices of new and existing homes, not list prices). That 72.9% is in real contrast with the way things looked five years ago during the boom, when the number dipped to 40.4%. Housing market bulls read the current high affordability number as a sign that there is buying power to bring the real estate market out of its slump, at least at current prices."

Last June Kiplinger.com wrote an article titled "Who Benefits From Affordable Homes?" The article stated "For many young adults, I believe this will turn out to have been a good time to buy a house or condo." It went on to say "But for many young adults who intend to stay put for several years, have good prospects of employment security and can qualify for a plain-vanilla fixed- rate mortgage, I believe this will turn out to have been a good time to buy a house or condo. And if the young home buyers are handy with tools and can find a fixer-upper at a great price, so much the better."

You might find the video Purchasing Power vs. Home Prices interesting:



And rents aren't getting any cheaper. According to USA Today "Apartment Rents Heading Higher for 3rd Year in a Row." According to the article "Apartment rents are expected to jump again this year as the U.S. economy creates more jobs and demand for rental housing grows. A 2012 increase would make the third straight year of rising rents. More annual increases are expected as apartment builders hustle to catch up with demand.

Here's a look at what CNBC.com has to say in a post titled "Renter Nation Rages On As New Reality". "Higher quality properties in the most desirable locations posted rent gains in excess of 5-10 percent, while class B/C properties, catering to lower income tenants, found it relatively more difficult to raise rents,” notes Victor Calanog, head of research at Reis.

Nowhere is that more evident than in the Washington, DC metro area where rents are way up across the city, and developers are rushing to erect new multi-family buildings and rehab old ones."

It went on to say "“Everybody wants to be in DC,” beams Richard Key, district manager for Camden Property Trust, one of the largest publicly traded multifamily REITs in the nation. “Whereas in other markets there are deals, when you get to DC area, all the REITs want to be here, and so we're all competing for the same piece of land, and that's driving the price up. That is really is a challenge for us.”

Key is convinced that there has been a fundamental shift in attitudes toward home ownership that will last for several more years. He is not concerned that the pendulum will swing back to buying, just as all that new rental stock hits the market around 2014. Camden has seen rents on its DC properties rise over 5 percent in just the past year.

So, are you thinking about buying your first home or moving up to a new home and have been waiting to see the bottom? Now may be a good time to jump off the fence and get into the game!





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

Why Are Mortgage Interest Rates Going Up? It's Not What You Think!

Remember last month when President Obama and Congress were arguing over extending the Payroll Tax Cut?

Did you hear anything in the news about how the Payroll Tax Cut was going to be paid for? Probably not.

Guess where the money to pay for the tax cut is coming from? If you guessed the housing and mortgage industry and specifically people borrowing money through Fannie Mae (Fannie), Freddie Mac (Freddie) and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) you would be right.

As everyone knows the housing market has been struggling. This new legislation has imposed what is in essence a tax on every borrower who gets a loan that is guaranteed through Fannie, Freddie or FHA.

In an article titled Washington Wades Deeper into Housing Bloomberg Businessweek said that "An 11th-hour extension of the payroll tax cut, signed into law on Dec. 23, will for the first time divert funds from Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FMCC), the two mortgage finance companies under U.S. conservatorship, to pay for general government expenses."

The increased costs are also being passed along to borrowers who get FHA loans. OurBroker.com recently published an article "FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium To Rise In 2012"

Here's a recent recent commentary by Brian Stevens and Frank Garay of THINKBIGWORKSMALL:

Effectively, that means that all Conforming loans will increase almost 0.125% in interest rate. With FHA you will see and increase in the Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP). It could be in the monthly MIP, Upfront MIP or both.

It's been estimated that it will require 10 years of the increase in rates to pay for the two months of benefits provided by this "Payroll Holiday."

So, the temporary decrease in the payroll tax was supposed to help the middle income American taxpayer. Looks to me like the government just dipped there hands in their pockets without telling them. And whens the last time you saw a temporary increase in fees get rescinded. It seems once they get on the books they never go away!

I'd like to know what you think. Please comment 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

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!

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 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

Where Do I Find Information About VA Mortgage Loans?


With all the conflicts that have happened since 9/11 there are now more people eligible for VA mortgage loans. Where do you go to get your questions answered about VA mortgage loans?


A logical place to start is VA.gov. This is the web site maintained by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The site has lot of information but it can be challenging to find answers to specific questions. Another option is to use a sites specifically targeted to VA mortgage loans such as DCMilitaryVALoans.com.


The most basic question that needs to be answered is "Am I eligible for a VA mortgage loan?" Here are a couple of places to look:

Basic Eligibility Requirements
or
http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/lp.asp#eligible



Another important question is "How much can I borrow?" VA loan limits vary if different parts of the country. To find out how much you can borrow in your are go to:

http://www.benefits.va.gov/HOMELOANS/docs/Loan_Limits_2012_Dec_2011.pdf
or
VA Loan Limits



So, "What does a VA Loan cost?" You can borrow up to 100% of the purchase price with a VA mortgage loan. VA loans don't have mortgage insurance but do have a VA Funding Fee. The fee is determined by a number of factors including the down payment, how you qualified for a VA loan and the number of times you have used your VA mortgage loan benefit. In certain cases you may be exempt from paying the VA Funding Fee. You can find information about the VA Funding Fee at:

VA Funding Fee Tables
or
http://www.benefits.va.gov/HOMELOANS/circulars/26_11_19.pdf



Before qualifying for a VA loan, veterans and active duty military personnel must first obtain a Certificate of Eligibility. A Certificate of Eligibility is one of the first important steps in the VA loan process. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs put in place certain protocols for acquiring a COE that can make obtaining the document simple and straightforward. To find information or get your Certificate of Eligibility go to:

VA Loans - Certificate of Eligibility
or
https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/ebenefits.portal



Here are some advantages of the VA program:

• You can buy a home without a down payment - as long as the sales price doesn’t exceed the appraised value. (Of course, you have to qualify in terms of income and credit.)
• You won’t need to buy private mortgage insurance.
• VA rules limit the amount you can be charged for closing costs.
• Closing costs may be paid by the seller. (You should keep this in mind when negotiating the sales price.)
• The lender can’t charge you a penalty fee if you pay the loan off early.
• VA may be able to provide you some assistance if you run into difficulty making payments.
• You don’t have to be a first-time homebuyer.
• You can reuse the benefit.
• VA-backed loans are assumable, as long as the person assuming the loan qualifies.







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

Create A Custom Video From Santa Claus?

Christmas is just around the corner. So what can you do that is fun and unusual for both kids and adults?

How about a custom video from Santa Claus.

In just a few easy steps, you can create a personalized video from Santa Claus for your children, friends, family members or colleagues by providing a few little details about the person.

New Portable North Pole 2011: the elves' machine will help Santa decide whether or not you were good!

Just go to: www.portablenorthpole.tv.

It's easy to do and only takes a few minutes. Be sure to have some pictures you want in the video ready to upload.

You can also schedule to have a birthday greeting sent.

Here's a preview done by my good friend Scott in Michigan.





Have a Great Holiday Season


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