Home Loan Tips and Tools

Within Reach: Countrywide Home Loans Highlights Tips and Tools to Help Consumers Attain Their Dream Homes

Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., offers tips for securing a dream-home financing solution.

Calabasas, CA (PRWEB) November 28, 2007-- Nearly one in six new mortgages made last year was more than $417,000 (known as jumbo loans),1 indicating a strong, ongoing demand for financing options on higher-priced homes. Yet, many Americans in recent months feared their dream home was out of reach amid reports that jumbo loans were no longer readily available. To help these individuals and families restore their aspirations and achieve homeownership, Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., offers tips for securing a dream-home financing solution.

"We are committed to helping our customers attain the loan they need for the home they want. That is why we are working to help ensure that qualified customers aren't squeezed out of the housing market just because they are purchasing in areas with higher-priced homes," said Brian Hale, senior managing director, Countrywide Home Loans. "When empowered with expert guidance and responsible financing options, qualified borrowers can bring their dream homes back within reach."

Today, many potential home buyers have renewed hope for attaining jumbo loans. To take advantage of the improving jumbo loan market, consumers can leverage these tips from Countrywide, America's #1 home loan lender*:

Know "jumbo loan" lingo and options. A little knowledge can go a long way in securing a jumbo loan. Some key items to become educated about are:
•    What types of jumbo loans are offered? In addition to offering 30-year fixed loans, some lenders like Countrywide offer jumbo fixed-period adjustable rate mortgages that offer a fixed rate for as long as 10 years, followed by a rate that adjusts annually. If the plan is to remain in the home for a shorter amount of time, a three- or five-year fixed-period ARM may be a better choice.
•    How large can the loan be? If in the market for a high-end home, find out where your lender's jumbo loan limit is set.

Get pre-qualified or pre-approved. It is important to first determine a comfortable and affordable loan amount before setting sights on a particular home. A ballpark estimate can be obtained online through mortgage calculators. Even better, consumers can sit down with an experienced mortgage lender who can run through a variety of mortgage options to best suit their personal and financial circumstances.

For more information about jumbo loans and other mortgage options that can help in attaining a dream home, homeowners can visit their local Countrywide office or reach the closest office at 800-747-1871.

1 According to Inside Mortgage Finance, as reported in Realtor® Magazine online http://www.realtor.org/rmodaily.nsf/pages/News2007082904

*About Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.
Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., a member of the Countrywide® family - America's #1 home loan lender – (as ranked for 2006 by Inside Mortgage Finance, Feb. 2, 2007, Copyright 2007), originates, purchases, securitizes, sells and services home loans and is the primary subsidiary of Countrywide Financial Corporation (NYSE: CFC). Countrywide Financial Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides mortgage banking and diversified financial services in domestic and international markets. Founded in 1969 and a member of the S&P 500 and Fortune 500, Countrywide Financial Corporation is headquartered in Calabasas, California. http://www.countrywide.com


Press Contact: Janet Quan
Company Name: Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.
Phone: 800-796-8448
Website: www.countrywide.com

Real Estate Market Crisis or Opportunity?

Today's Real Estate Market - Career-Ending Crisis or Golden Opportunity for Agents?

Industry insider explains why the current state of the market might be the best thing that could happen to the real estate sales community.

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) November 12, 2007 -- It's no secret that real estate agents across the country are struggling for their professional survival. Due in part to the subprime mortgage meltdown of August 2007, many agents find themselves with unsellable listings or suddenly-uncredit-worthy buyers (who qualified easily just a few months ago).

The doom and gloom brigade has wasted no time predicting the downfall of the residential real estate industry, some even gleefully so. Even within the industry itself, the more cynical agents are warning of a mass forced exodus of all but the most aggressive and knowledgeable real estate licensees.

It all sounds pretty grim for the average real estate agent, doesn't it?

Not according to one industry insider. Jennifer Allan, real estate broker, author and consultant, claims that the current 'crisis' may in fact be an incredible opportunity for the real estate sales community.

For years, Allan says, "We real estate agents have bemoaned the fact that we are not respected as professionals; that the general public doesn't value our services much above those provided by used car salespeople."

However, Allan continues, "We have a golden opportunity to show the home-buying and-selling public what we're made of. And no, not with expensive ad campaigns, but rather by doing what we were licensed to do - that is - Sell Houses. If we, as an industry, commit to putting our prospecting efforts on the backburner and focus on performing for our seller clients, it's possible we could turn this mess around. And in the process, perhaps change the perception of the professional real estate agent forever."

Which of course, raises the question, how does a 'professional real estate agent' sell houses in a lousy market?

Allan explains, "In today's market, an MLS listing and a For Sale sign in a yard isn't enough to sell a home. It's not even enough to create color home brochures, hold open houses and demand price reductions at six-week intervals. We need to work a lot harder than that, and to have the guts to tell our sellers what's what."

According to Allan, here are the three main items that can mean the difference between a listing that sits, and a listing that sells:

1. Price is King. Properties must be priced more aggressively than their competition to even be shown, much result in an offer. It's not enough to simply be "fairly priced."

2. Condition is Queen. A home that evokes a negative or even a neutral first impression has little chance of selling. It's the agent's job to make this clear to the seller and do whatever he or she can to help the seller get the home in showing-ready condition.

3. Accessibility rounds out the top three. If a listing is hard to show, regardless of the reason, it will be passed over. The seller needs to understand that once he's on the market, his life is no longer his own. He must be willing to accept showings on short-notice and to vacate the home during showings. The key to the front door must work easily in the lock and there can't be barking dogs locked up in the laundry room.

As a gesture of her commitment to the real estate industry, Allan will distribute her most recent e-book '70 Ways to Sell Your Listings in Today's Sucky Market' to the first 7,500 visitors to her booth at this week's National Association of Realtor's Expo in Las Vegas for a nominal cost of $1. To learn more about Allan and her Sell with Soul Philosophy, visit www.sellwithsoul.com.

Press Contact: Jennifer Allan
Company Name: Jennifer Allan's Sell with Soul
Phone: 334-790-7291
Website: http://www.sellwithsoul.com

Free Credit Card Debt Consultation

Ace Debt Relief Offers Free Credit Card Debt Consultation

Debt resolution company Ace Debt Relief announces it is now offering a free consultation to any consumer with $10,000 of credit card or unsecured debt.

(PRWEB) November 19, 2007 -- Ace Debt Relief (http://www.acedebtrelief.com), the premier debt resolution company, is offering a free consultation to any consumer who has at least $10,000 of credit card or unsecured debt. Ace Debt Relief's partner law firm has more than 25 years of relevant experience and has devised a debt resolution program that enables consumers who have incurred unmanageable unsecured debt to legally walk away from all of it.

This is a highly effective program that is guaranteed to protect individuals from civil lawsuits and prevent creditors from being able to attach assets. The Ace Debt Relief program is an ideal alternative to the other common debt resolution programs such as bankruptcy, debt settlement or consolidation.

For people who are receiving collection notices, are being threatened with a lawsuit by a credit card bank or are concerned that they may be, Ace Debt Relief provides a powerful remedy to absolve consumers of their debt and insulate them from the potential of a civil liability lawsuit from their creditors.

"We have distraught consumers who are being pursued by creditors and receive threatening calls at their home or office, which is both disruptive as well as embarrassing," said the owner of Ace Debt Relief, who is appropriately enough is known simply as "Ace." "And through the Ace Debt Relief program, clients are able to legally walk away from all of their debt and also be completely insulated from their creditors."

Being heavily in debt affects confidence as well as morale. It can create health problems, and debt often destroys relationships. Consumers who have incurred a lot of debt frequently experience disrupted sleep too, as bills pile up with no apparent end in sight. Upon joining the Ace Debt Relief debt resolution program, a shield is placed on the profile of each client, effectively obstructing creditors from initiating civil liability lawsuits against clients.

Consumers who have at least $10,000 of debt may be qualified to take advantage of this program. To sign up for a free consultation, you may visit Ace Debt Relief at: http://www.acedebtrelief.com or call the Ace Debt Relief hotline at 800-679-7488.

Press Contact: Ace
Company Name: Ace Debt Relief
Phone: 310-394-3777
Website: http://www.acedebtrelief.com