Thomas Ooten 386 301-7965, (CMPS®) - CLICK HERE to learn more
Credit Reports & Scores |
| Five Things that Impact Your Credit Scores - One-page article that illustrates how credit scores are calculated |
| How Payment History Impacts Your Credit - Illustrates the importance of paying bills on time |
| How to Improve Your Balance-to-Limit Ratio - Outlines the importance of improving balance-to-credit limit ratios |
| How to Improve Your Credit Score - How the credit scoring system works and how borrowers can improve their credit score |
| Three Things You Should Know About “Trended Credit Data” - This article illustrates how trended credit data works |
| Two Ways to Be More Strategic with Your Credit - Illustrates the impact of credit mix and length of credit history |
| Two Ways to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft - Illustrates how to put a credit freeze or fraud alert on your credit file - last updated 01-2019 |
| Why it's Important to Avoid New Credit and New Inquiries When You're Getting a Home Loan - Illustrates how new credit and new inquiries can negatively impact someone's mortgage application - last updated 04-2020 |
First-time Homebuyer |
| Five Pitfalls to Avoid When Buying a Home - Five risks to consider when buying or shopping for a home. |
| Four Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Mortgage or Buying a Home - How to set up the mortgage planning conversation. |
| How to Understand Your Home Appraisal ($200k) - How to understand comps, adjustments and the appraiser's estimate of value. |
| Three Reasons Why Homebuyers Should Consider Seller-Paid Points - Use this, along with the CMPS Seller-Paid Points Calculator, to illustrate why homebuyers should consider this strategy |
| Three Ways to Avoid Getting Outbid on Your New Home - Three ways that home buyers can avoid getting outbid when they go house shopping. - last update 07-2020 |
| Three Ways to Get Prepared for Home Ownership - Three Ways to Get Prepared for Home Ownership |
| Two Reasons to Buy vs. Rent - Outlines two benefits of buying a home vs. renting |
| Why Housing Inventory Matters to You - Indicates why housing inventory is an important metric for clients to consider - last updated 01-2019 |
| Why Your Down Payment Strategy Matters More Than You Think - Illustrates how down payment has eight times more impact on home affordability vs. interest rates |
Mortgage Process |
| A Short History of "Underwriting" - A Short History of "Underwriting" |
| FHA Makes it Easier for Condo Buyers to Qualify - Illustrates changes that went into effect in October 2019 re: FHA single-unit condo approvals - last updated 11-2019 |
| FHA Slashes Condo Approval Requirements by 15% - Outlines how only 35% of condo units in an existing project must be owner-occupied |
| Four Questions to Ask About Your Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) - Four questions that homeowners and buyers should ask about their home equity line of credit. |
| How to Avoid a $30,000 Mistake - Illustrates the cost of waiting one year to buy a house |
| How to Solve Your Negative Equity Problem - How to calculate whether it makes financial sense to use a cash-in mortgage strategy - last updated 01-2020 |
| How to Successfully Get a Mortgage in 2021 - Why so much paperwork and documentation is required in today's mortgage industry (and how to deal with it) - last updated 01-2021 |
| How to Swim With the Sharks (and not get eaten alive!) - How to help clients and referral partners understand the reason why so much documentation is required during the loan process. |
| How to Turn an Ugly Duckling Into a Gorgeous Swan - Illustrates how a renovation loan could open up more options for homebuyers |
| How to Understand the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on Your Mortgage Loan - How to explain APR and its shortcomings to borrowers and referral partners |
| Is a Debt Consolidation Loan Worth It? - Explains two debt consolidation scenarios: a purchase and refinance |
| Shopping Around for a Mortgage? - Outlines four questions that rate shoppers should ask their lender. |
| The Case For (or Against) ARMs - Illustrates the impact of choosing a 7-year ARM over a 7 or 8 year period |
| Three Great Reasons to Consider a Cash-out Refinance - Outlines three great reasons to consider a cash-out refinance |
| Three Reasons Why PMI Could Be Your Friend - Illustrates three major benefits to putting less than 20% down |
| Three Reasons Why Sellers Should Consider Seller-Paid Points - Use this, along with the CMPS Seller-Paid Points Calculator, to illustrate why sellers should consider this strategy |
| Three Things You Should Know About Loan Estimates - Outlines three important things borrowers should consider when evaluating the Loan Estimate |
| Two Ways to Benefit from the 2021 Loan Limit Increase - Discusses why clients may want to refinance or buy a home in light of the 2021 conforming loan limit increase - last updated 12-2020 |
| Two Ways to Measure the Break-Even on Refinancing - Outline two ways to measure the break-even on refinancing |
| What is a "Non-Contingent" Offer? - Explains and outlines three risks associated with a non-contingent offer |
| What is Mortgage Planning? - NOTE: Only CMPS-certified individuals are licensed to use this content |
| Why Do I Have to Pay for a Rate Lock Extension? - Outlines why rate lock extension fees are assessed, and how borrowers can avoid them |
| Why You Need a CMPS® - NOTE: only CMPS-certified individuals are licensed to use this article |
| Why You're in Danger of Closing Delays (and how to avoid them) - Illustrates the TRID timelines and how homebuyers and sellers can avoid closing delays |
Real Estate Investor |
| Five Pitfalls to Avoid When Investing in Real Estate - Outlines why real estate investors need you. |
| How to Benefit From a 1031 Exchange - Illustrates the timelines and explains the benefits of using a 1031 exchange |
| Investment Property Math: 30-yr vs. 15-yr Mortgage - Frames the discussion for investors regarding whether they should use 30-yr mortgage vs. a 15-yr mortgage |
| Investment Property Math: ARM vs Fixed Rate - Outlines three factors to consider when choosing between an ARM and a fixed rate on investment property |
| Rental Affordability: Nearly Half of Renter Households Are Cost-Burdened - Illustrates how renters struggle with affordability |
| Rental Demand: Growth in Renter Households at 50-Year High - Illustrates the growth in renter households |
| Rental Supply: How Individual Real Estate Investors Are Benefiting - Illustrates how current market conditions are great for individual real estate investors |
| Three Questions to Ask Before Investing in Real Estate - How to set up the mortgage planning conversation with real estate investors. |
| Three Steps to Get Started as a Real Estate Investor - Illustrates how new real estate investors can get started by taking a strategic approach |
| Three Trends that Could Impact Real Estate Investors - Illustrates three trends that make it desirable for real estate investors to jump into the market |
| Two Approaches to Consider When You Invest in Real Estate - Illustrates the difference between the "buy and flip" strategy and the "buy and hold" strategy |
Mortgage & Real Estate Taxation |
| How Changes to the Gift Tax Exclusion May Impact You - Illustrates the 2021 gift tax exclusion limits, and why it matters to a homebuyer - last updated 01-2021 |
| How Changes to the Mortgage Interest Deduction May Impact You - How the new tax law changes the mortgage interest deduction - last updated 01-2021 |
| How the Standard Deduction May Impact You - Illustrates how most homeowners and homebuyers are likely to take the standard deduction vs itemized deductions - last updated 01-2021 |
| How to Calculate the After-tax Cost of Your Mortgage - Illustrates the math formula for calculating the after-tax cost of a mortgage |
| How to Get the Primary Residence Capital Gains Tax Exclusion - How to help clients and strategic partners understand the principal residence capital gains tax exclusion. |
| Is Interest on Home Equity Loans Tax Deductible? - Illustrates the rules surrounding the interest deduction on home equity loans and lines of credit |
| Real Estate Investors Now Get a Special 20% Tax Deduction - Outlines the new 20% tax deduction for real estate investors - last updated 01-2019 |
| Tax Deductible Items for 2020 Mortgages - Outlines tax-deductible items for 2020 mortgage closings - last updated 01-2020 |
| Tax Deductible Items for 2021 Mortgages - Outlines tax-deductible items for 2021 mortgage closings (tax returns to be filed by April 2021) - last updated 01-2021 |
| The 90-Day Window for Cash Buyers: How it Works & Why it Matters - How to illustrate that cash buyers have 90 days to place a mortgage on the property in order to qualify for acquisition indebtedness - last updated 01-2019 |
| The Gift Tax Myth: How to Navigate Around It - How to make better use of the annual and lifetime exclusions to the gift tax when using gift money for a down payment - last updated 01-2021 |
| Thinking of Pulling Money Out of a Retirement Account? - Outlines the impact of pulling cash out of a retirement account - last updated 01-2019 |
| Three End-of-Year Planning Questions - Three End-of-Year Planning Questions - last updated 12-2019 |
| Three Things You Should Know About Pulling Cash-out For Home Improvement - Describes three tax rules homeowners should know about when pulling cash-out for home improvement purposes |
| What California Homeowners Need to Know About Forgiven Mortgage Debt - How the insolvency & non-recourse exceptions work for forgiven mortgage debt - last updated 01-2019 |
| What You Need to Know About Forgiven Mortgage Debt - How the insolvency exception works for forgiven mortgage debt - last updated 01-2019 |
| What You Need to Know About the Mortgage Insurance Tax Deduction - Outlines how the mortgage insurance deduction works - last update 02-2020 |
| When is Mortgage Interest Tax Deductible? - Illustrates the rules surrounding acquisition indebtedness - last updated 01-2021 |
Homeowner or Move-up Buyer |
| 30-Year vs. 15-Year Mortgage: Four Questions to Ask When Comparing Your Options - This article illustrates four questions borrowers should ask when comparing a 30-year fixed rate mortgage with a 15-year fixed rate mortgage. |
| Fixed vs. ARM: Four Questions to Ask When Comparing Your Options - Illustrates four questions borrowers should ask when comparing an ARM vs. a fixed rate mortgage. |
| How Low Housing Inventory Impacts You - Explain to buyers (and real estate agents) how low housing supply impacts the home shopping experience |
| How to Understand Your Home Appraisal ($500k) - How to understand comps, adjustments and the appraiser's estimate of value. |
| Should You Refinance a Low-Rate Mortgage to Pay for Home Improvements? - Illustrates why it may make sense to refinance a low-interest-rate mortgage |
| Summer Guide to Home Improvements - Illustrates the 2019 trends in financing home improvements projects - last updated 05-2019 |
| The Opportunity Cost of Paying Cash - Illustrates why paying cash for real estate may not be a smart strategy |
| Three Reasons to Finance Your Home Improvements - Outlines three reasons to finance home improvements vs. paying cash |
| Time to Refinance? - Illustrates why a rate-and-term or cash-out refinance could make sense given the recent drop in rates - last updated 12-2021 |
| Two Questions to Ask Before You Make Extra Mortgage Payments - Illustrates why it may not be a smart financial idea to make extra mortgage payments |
| Two Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Turn Your Primary Home Into a Rental - Two Questions to Ask Before You Turn Your Home Into a Rental |
| Two Reasons Why You Should Keep Your Home Improvement Receipts - Two Reasons Why You Should Keep Your Home Improvement Receipts |
| Which Home Improvement Projects Are Most Likely to Increase Your Home Value? - Outlines the top home improvement projects based on resale value |
| Which Landscaping Projects Are Most Likely to Increase Your Home Value? - Outlines the top landscaping projects by resale value |
Vacation Home Buyer |
| How to Plan Ahead for Vacation Home Rentals - Excerpt of IRS tax tip 2018-79 regarding vacation home rentals |
| Should You Cash-out Your Home Equity to Buy a Vacation Home? - Illustrates why it's better to put a mortgage on the vacation home vs. cashing out a primary |
| Three Reasons Why Buying a Vacation Home Could be a Great Financial Investment - Three Reasons Why Buying a Vacation Home Could be a Great Financial Investment |
| Two Things to Consider When Renting Out Your Vacation Home - IRS and Lending Guidelines to Consider When Renting Out Your Vacation Home |
| Vacation Home Math: Buy it or Rent it? - How to determine if it makes financial sense to buy a vacation home |
Retirement & Elder Care |
| Are You Part of the Panini Generation? - Illustrates the growing cost of elder care; offers a mortgage and cash-flow consultation as a potential solution - last updated 01-2020 |
| How to Finance the Roth IRA Conversion Strategy - Where mortgage planning fits in with Roth IRA Conversions - last updated 01-2020 |
| How to Trade-Up (or Down) Using a Reverse Mortgage - How to Trade-up (or down) Using a Reverse Mortgage |
| Low Bond Yields Are Causing Problems for Retirees - Illustrates how a reverse mortgage can help a retiree preserve assets for a longer period of time in light of low investment yields - last updated 01-2020 |
| The Case of the Missing $40,000 - Illustrates how a reverse mortgage can help to supplement retirement income |
| The Rules of 25 and 72 - Illustrates the rule of 72 and the rule of 25, and how these can be used when budgeting for retirement |
| Three Benefits to Working Past 70 - Outlines three benefits to working past age 70 for clients who are thinking of delaying their retirement |
| Three Important Facts About Social Security - Outlines three little-known facts about social security benefits |
| Three Questions to Ask Yourself for a Happier Retirement - Three step process of how you help clients obtain the Critical Capital needed for financial independence |
| Timing is Everything… Especially During Retirement - Illustrates how a reverse mortgage mortgage can be used to help support a "distribution sequencing" strategy |
| What is a Reverse Mortgage? - Illustrates the home equity conversion mortgage (HECM) |
College Funding |
| College Costs Got You Worried? Here Are Two Resources that May Help. - Provides insight and links to the "net cost" calculator and scholarship programs |
| How Much Does College Cost These Days? - Illustrates average college costs for private and public schools |
| How Much Student Debt is Too Much? - Illustrates why it's important to examine the earnings potential of the degree you want before you get into debt to acquire it |
| Is Student Debt Standing in the Way of Homeownership? - Examines the correlation between student debt and homeownership |
| Three Advanced Professions that Don't Require Advanced Degrees - Helps you recruit young talent into the insurance, mortgage and real estate industries |
| Three Things You Can Do to Better Prepare for College Expenses - Illustrates three ways to better prepare for college expenses |
| Two Things You Should Know About 529 College Savings Plans - Illustrates how 529 college savings plans work |
| What's a College Degree Worth? - Provides a link to a study conducted by Georgetown University that illustrates the economic value of various college majors |
