New FICO 8 Mortgage Score Now Available on all Top Three U.S. Credit Reporting Agencies

FICO, the nations leading credit score provider announced some big news....

A brand new FICO® 8 Mortgage Score

This new credit scoring model is designed specifically for mortgage lenders and focuses on providing a more precise risk assessment for the real estate market.

FICO® claims that the new FICO 8 Mortgage Score will reduce borrower, lender, and investor risk, and help support market stability

The FICO® 8 Mortgage Score will analyze the full credit history for the borrower and aids mortgage professionals in better predicting a borrowers risk so they can mitigate the incidence and high cost of foreclosure.

Take a look at this Exerpt from the FICO.com website...

"MINNEAPOLIS—October 26, 2010—FICO (NYSE:FICO), the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, today announced that its latest credit scoring product, the FICO® 8 Mortgage Score, is now available from all three major U.S. credit reporting agencies. Mortgage lenders now have access to more precise risk assessment tailored for the real estate market, which can help support market stability and reduce borrower, lender and investor risk.

The FICO® 8 Mortgage Score was built specifically to help mortgage lenders better predict mortgage performance and improve credit decisions for both current and prospective homeowners. The score analyzes the full credit history on file to deliver significantly sharper assessment of mortgage repayment risk, and aids servicers in earlier identification of borrowers at risk so they can mitigate the incidence and high cost of foreclosure. Validation results have demonstrated an additional predictive value of up to 15 percent for mortgage servicing over the broad-based, all-industry FICO® Score used most widely today.

“The FICO 8 Mortgage Score’s broad availability means that all U.S. lenders and servicers can now easily access scores that are fine-tuned for mortgage performance,” said Jordan Graham, executive vice president of Scores and president of Consumer Services at FICO. “Moreover, by combining this superior predictive performance with the FICO Economic Impact Service, lenders are able to adjust policies and strategies quickly based upon forward-looking economic modeling. This is what we mean by the FICO analytic advantage: the ability to use the most advanced predictive analytics to compete and win in this highly challenging environment.”

“To do the best job of evaluating risk and increasing profits, lenders need updated credit scoring analytics that incorporate mortgage credit performance since the subprime mortgage meltdown,” said Craig Focardi, senior research director at TowerGroup. “The availability of mortgage credit scores across all three credit reporting agencies will enable lenders to upgrade their loan underwriting and account management practices.”

The FICO® 8 Mortgage Score retains the same 300-850® scoring range, minimum scoring criteria, authorized user and inquiry treatment as the general-risk FICO® 8 Score. To achieve its significant increase in predictive strength, FICO Mortgage Score assesses several additional data variables from consumer credit files to specifically predict mortgage repayment risk. Accordingly, FICO Mortgage Score includes additional score reason codes compliant with the Fair Credit Reporting Act that help lenders understand and explain the scores to applicants."

Full Post here: http://www.fico.com/en/Company/News/Pages/10-26-2010.aspx

How do you think this new scoring system will affect the Lending Industry?

To your success,

Oliver Graf

Real Estate Expert
Follow me on Twitter: Twitter.com/OliverGraf360



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The price of a “no-cost” loan

Some home buyers who may be concerned about paying high closing costs might be tempted by a “zero-cost” or “no-cost” loan option, which requires no cash outlay, but typically adds a half percentage point to the rate.

However, some financial consultants say these loans tend to be most beneficial to buyers planning to have the loan for less than five years.

KEEP THIS IN MIND

• One of the primary differences between a no-cost loan and similar loans is that no-cost loans do not tack on closing costs to the balance, but instead increase the rate.

• With no-cost loans, third-party fees including the appraisal, credit report, title insurance, recording, and the use of a mortgage broker are paid by the lender. The fees, including the amount the broker is being paid, are disclosed on the closing statement.

• Home buyers who bypass a broker and work directly with a lender may encounter less transparency, as loan officers are not required to disclose the amount the bank is making on the loan.

• Borrowers weighing their loan options are advised to use a mortgage amortization calculator to compare the costs for a conventional loan compared with a no-cost loan. The Federal Reserve provides an amortization calculator on its Web site at www.federalreserve.gov.

Read the full story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/realestate/24mort.html?ref=realestate


What are your thoughts on "No-cost" Loans?



To your success,

Oliver Graf

Real Estate Expert
Follow me on Twitter: Twitter.com/OliverGraf360



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The FHA’s 203(k) Rehab Program provides loans that cover Rehab & Renovation costs

Here is a great loan program if you are looking to do Rehabs or buy a property that needs work...

A little-known loan program for fixer-uppers

Home buyers thinking of purchasing a distressed property in need of repair, but who are concerned that the cost of the repairs could drain their savings account may qualify for the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) 203(k) rehabilitation program.

MAKING SENSE OF THE STORY FOR CONSUMERS

* The FHA’s 203(k) rehabilitation program provides loans for covering renovation costs as well as the purchase price of the primary residence. Investors are not eligible for this program. Additionally, similar to traditional FHA loan programs, the rehab program allows for a down payment of as little as 3.5 percent.

* A common misperception about the program is that the house needs to be unlivable. Realistically, the property just needs to be outdated, according to a lender familiar with the program. The property “just has to appraise below market value and then at market value with the repairs.”

* Improvements deemed “luxury” are ineligible; however, the program has a wide range of definitions for “repairs” and “modernization.” Covered repairs include items such as a new roof or heating system, as well as decorative changes, like replacing vinyl with ceramic tile on the kitchen floor or painting the interior.

* In addition to putting down at least 3.5 percent of the current value of the property, buyers also must use a HUD-approved lender, appraiser, and a contractor approved by the lender for the repairs. One list of approved businesses can be found at 203kcontractors.com.

* Borrowers considering the FHA rehab loan program should be aware that loan rates typically run around a percentage point higher than conventional loans, and come in 15- to 30-year terms, either fixed or adjustable. Additional paperwork for inspection, appraisal, title updating, and the like can increase closing costs by $1,000 or more higher than the average.

* For additional information about the FHA 203(k) rehabilitation program, please visit http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/203k/203kabou.cfm

From Oct. 21st, 2010. Market Matters Weekly Advisory
Reprinted with permission of the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

How do you think buyers can benefit from this program?

How to Get More Business Today With These Simple Easy-to-follow Lead Generation Tips - For Real Estate Investors, Agents, and Brokers

How to Get More Business Today With These Simple Easy-to-follow Lead Generation Tips

Many people make the mistake of thinking that prospecting is about making the sale or closing the deal. You will rarely “make the sale” on the first call… It's about getting the chance to make the sale. The ultimate purpose of a prospecting call is to set an appointment to make your “pitch”. You should be focused on simply setting an appointment before you hang up the call.

Find out as much as you possibly can about the individual you are prospecting in advance. This gives you the huge advantage of being able to talk about their needs when you call them.

Always use your script on your prospecting calls (If you don’t have a script, make one! If you need help, feel free to contact me). This should be non-negotiable. Without a script, it's too easy to leave something out or get off track. Remember, after you practice and internalize the scripts this will become second nature to you.

The 5 Critical Points of Prospecting:

1) Selling is asking questions. Questions will help you find out everything you need to go for the sell. This is called question-based selling. When you ask questions, you come off more sincere, and it gives you the ability to find out more about your prospect. Listen to what they are saying and then present all the ways your product or service will benefit them.

2) Prospecting is a numbers game. We have all heard that every no gets you closer to a yes. We have to understand that hearing NO is going to be a big part of our business. The more NO’s you hear in a day the better you did, just keep on going for the YES! If you want more sales… you need to talk to more people.

3) You should set a goal for yourself to keep you on track. An example of this would be: 10-12 contacts an hour for 2-4 hours every day. This alone will get you better results than you ever imagined.

4) You can never lose a deal from too much follow-up. Remember, most sales will happen after several contacts. Don’t leave money on the table with the lack of follow-up. Set a follow up schedule for yourself and try to automate as much of the process as possible.

5) An objection is simply a question in the mind of the prospect that needs to be answered. So script out the answers to your 5 most common objections. Then you will be equipped to handle them as soon as they come up. Since objections never change, simply figure out the answers.


The best place to start is on the PHONE. The sooner you develop and learn your script and objection handlers the sooner we will be able to jump on the phone and get business. If you are persistent every day in making your minimum # of calls you can’t help but to succeed. Do it consistently EVERY DAY and you will receive a flood of business!


What creative ideas are you using to land more prospects?




Sincerely,



Preston Mattix
Real Estate Expert


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Success Tips: How to Pre-qualify Prospects and Referring Partners so you get more Real Estate Business

How to Pre-qualify Prospects and Referring Partners so you get more Real Estate Business

For Real Estate Agents, Brokers, and Investors...

Generating new clients is a key to success in any business. So you want to make sure you are focusing on clients that are ready to move forward and not wasting time others. When you are talking a lead or potential prospect, ask yourself these questions as a way to qualify them. If they meet all five, you have yourself a solid prospect and you will be on your way to doing business with them. If someone doesn’t meet all FIVE requirements, they are probably not a good match and your time would be best spent speaking to other potential clients.

One thing to keep in mind, especially when speaking with prospects, is that some of them will be very well off and others have been through a very difficult time and are going to be defensive. Always be as pleasant as possible and don’t take things personally.

1) Cooperate: When speaking with them, are they amiable and willing to cooperate? Although they may be facing challenges because of today’s market or because of credit issues, that is fine, but if they get belligerent or angry with you, you do not have to work with them.

2) Plea for Help: Do they want to be helped? Find out their “hurt” and show them how your product or service is the “cure”

3) Realistic: Do they have realistic expectations? Does the prospect realize that the currentor may not be the same as it was few years ago? If financing is involved, do buyer prospects realize that loan programs are not the same today as they were 2 years ago. market may

4) Conversation: Are they willing to have a conversation with you? Do they even answer the phone or have they been avoiding you for weeks? Are they short with you and give clipped, one word answers or do they at least provide a little dialogue? Follow the rule of three, once you have left them 3 messages if they do not respond throw them away and move on.

5) Action: Do they want to move forward anytime within the next 0-14 days? Are they motivated and ready to move forward now?


Qualifying your prospective clients quickly and effectively is a skill that is sure to bring you massive success in any industry. Click Here to learn the secrets to prospecting, qualifying, and how powerful the use of scripts can be to make BIG money in sales






To your success,

Oliver Graf
Real Estate Expert
Follow me on Twitter: Twitter.com/OliverGraf360



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Top 7 FREE Real Estate iPhone Apps – Download them for Free!

You have to take a look at the following list of the top 7 free real estate-related iPhone apps to help take your real estate game to the next level.

Now more than ever homeowners, agents, and investors are doing more business remote, this list of apps will help you navigate the real estate market and take your super charge your real estate business. Try them out and let us know what you think?

1) Real Estate Resource Directory - This is a great app that provides real estate agents and investors resources like comparable sales data, easy to use calculators, property valuation functions, demographics for a particular area, and a nice list of contractors and real estate related professionals.

2) Realtor.com: With this app you can search homes that are for-sale in given areas, view property details, store searches and listings, find open house information, send listings to friends and family, and save ratings and notes.

3) Real Estate Hunter: Real Estate Hunter lets you store and maintain all of your search information of for-sale or for-rent listings by inputting the property information such as what type of property, prices, property address, square footage, property tax information and other fees. It also allows users to automatically calculate mortgage and monthly costs. You can compare asking and offer prices for various properties and add your own photos and contacts. Within the application, the user can rate each property; save additional information in custom fields; and e-mail a CSV file of your data to open in Excel and other programs. The free version lets you store information for up to three properties; you can add additional properties for a small fee.

4) Google Maps: This is one of my favorite apps because it is so easy to use and has a solid list of features. With Google Maps you can search Driving directions, Transit and walking directions, Biking directions, Latitude, Layers, Street View, Satellite view, Real Time Traffic Reporting, Location Business listings, and Business reviews.

5) Zillow Real Estate: With Zillow’s app you can find property valuations by address, filter properties by monthly payment, price, number of bed and baths, publish listings by email, Facebook or Twitter. You can receive updates when properties pop up that match your criteria.

6) Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Home Selection Assistant: This one is a lot of fun, you can track and organize photos by location; see comparable home values, local school information, area demographics and amenities; store photo albums of favorite properties and different rooms; easily share photos on Facebook or through e-mail; and access the vault of read real estate-related articles directly through bhgrealestate.com.

7) AgentFirst Real Estate: This is a top notch tool while out in the field. With this app you can Search First American Title's property information database, find parcel/tract information and property sale data. You can directly order tax information, recorded documents, sales comparables and property profiles. To use this app you have to first have an active AgentFirst account.

Bonus Tip: Another great tip for Real Estate Agents and Investors who have an iPhone or iPod is TubeTilla. With Tubetilla it is easy to store and watch videos of properties you are working on your iPhone or iPod. Being able to store and play videos with your phone can be an incredibly powerful sales tool because anywhere you meet prospects, agents, and clients you can show them videos of all your properties without even having an internet connection. As they say a picture is worth a thousand word and a video is priceless! You can store and watch YouTube videos right on on your iPhone, iPod or Zune!

To your success,

Preston Matix

Real Estate Investor

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How to Successfully Launch a profitable Real Estate Business

How to Successfully Launch a profitable Real Estate Business

The hardest part of getting your Real Estate Investing business started is overcoming the fear of the unknown that comes with attempting anything new. Many of my students get stuck before they even start suffering from analysis paralysis. Getting caught in the train of thought that if they just buy one more seminar, they will finally feel confident enough to get in the game and finally start doing deals.

What we all need to understand is that fear will never go away no matter how many courses you buy, or how many boot-camps and seminars you attend. The only way to get over this fear is by actually getting in the game, you need to face your fears and execute! We do not need to start with huge deals getting started, or even any of our own money. So many times, investors think that they need to put everything on the line to get into real estate investing. That is so far from the truth, I did my first almost 50 deals without ever using any of my own money or credit. This are what everyone has heard of called "baby steps", everyone that is successful today started with baby steps. These are just stepping stones to growing a big investing operation like myself and my partners have. It all started with finally pulling the trigger and doing are first deal. Looking back on it now with over 300 deals under my belt, the only regret I have is not getting started sooner!

Here is an easy action guide for you to start using today, this will help you finally start working towards your goals. Follow these easy steps and you will be well on your way to being a successful real estate investor!

Attend a REIA / Meetup / Investment club meetings : Networking with other investors is the best and first step to starting your investing career. The people you will meet at these events can be a big help to you while first getting started. I always say that "Relationships are the only shortcuts to success". For a lot of us this can seem a little nerve wrecking in the beginning, but be rest assured that this is the most important step in starting your business. Another major bonus is that these meeting are usually free! If this is a big challenge to overcome, you might want to consider attending one of my events to help you sharpen your networking skills. Remember... you are always on the air!

Meet with successful Investors: Sometimes we need to see before we can believe. Meeting with an active successful investor will give you the inspiration you need to get your butt into gear. When I was first getting started I made it a point to meet and surround myself with as many of these people as I could. We have all heard that saying..."You income is the exact average of the 5 people you hang out with most"...so why are you hanging out with your broke friends? If you need help finding successful investors to meet with, a REIA or Networking group as explained above is a great place to start.

Take Action: The only way to invest in your first deal is by finding your first deal!! Whatever your chosen model is, you need to find properties to invest in. So if you are going to be looking for motivated sellers, then you need to get on the phone with sellers. The only way we can get better at talking to our clients is by talking to more and more of them. Practice makes perfect, right? No! Perfect practice makes perfect! Practice your scripts, roll play your scripts and get on the PHONE!! Read this very carefully...TAKING ACTION WILL MAKE YOU RICH!!

Getting starting and making money investing in real estate is not easy and anyone that tells you it is has not done any deals. If you want to be successful you need to be ready to get outside of your comfort zone and act in spite of fear! Because of this we must make sure we are always surrounding ourselves with the right people on a regular basis as well as feeding our mind positive thoughts on a regular basis. Make sure to check back for my next post on "The Winning Mindset."

What are you going to do to get started?


Yours in Success,

Sam Khorramian

Success Expert



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