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$250 VISA Gift Card When Your Loan Closes with Norcom Mortgage by 12/31/2017.

Apply for a loan with Norcom Mortgage by October 31, 2017 and receive a FREE $250 VISA Gift Card when your mortgage closes by end of the year

Here’s the link to claim your reward: www.Norcom-usa.com/l/GiftCard
Be sure to enter Avon branch.

Then reach out to Rick Cignoli to discuss the right mortgage option for your family and begin the process of moving into your new home by New Year’s Eve.

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FHA Mortgage Process Uncategorized

The FHA 203(k) Loan–Turning “Fixer-Uppers”into Dream Homes

The purchase of a house that needs repair is often a catch-22 situation. The bank won’t lend the money to buy the house until the repairs are complete, and the repairs can’t be done until the house has been purchased.

203k 2The FHA 203(k) Rehab Loan Program can help you with this dilemma. It allows you to purchase a property plus include in the loan the cost of making the repairs and improvements with a single mortgage. It is available to persons wanting to purchase or who own a 1-4 family owner-occupied property.

The total amount of your mortgage will be based on the projected value of your home after the renovation is complete, taking into account the cost of the work to be done. A portion of the loan is used to buy the new home, or in the case of a refinance, to pay-off any existing debt. The remainder of the loan proceeds are placed in an account for your benefit and released in stages as the rehabilitation work is completed.

Here are the Steps to a Successful Closing of a FHA 203(k) Loan:

• A potential homebuyer locates a fixer-upper and executes a sales contract after doing a feasibility analysis of the property with their Realtor. The contract should state that the buyer is seeking a 203(k) loan and that the contract is contingent on loan approval based on additional required repairs by the FHA or the lender.
• Within 7 to 10 days of signing the purchase agreement. the buyer should obtain an inspection of the property by a professional Home Inspector, a termite company and a well/septic inspector (when applicable) to make sure there are no unseen problems with the property.
• The buyer is also required to work with an  FHA Approved Consultant who will inspect the property along with the borrower to determine what repairs are needed to meet minimum FHA requirements. The borrower will also indicate any additional work they wish to have done to the property.
The Consultant will provide the buyer with a Work Write-up/Specification of Repairs which includes the Consultant’s cost estimate for completion of the project.
• The buyer will then select a contractor to perform the work. All rehab work must be performed by an experienced, licensed contractor and satisfy all lender requirements. All subcontractors must be licensed as well. FHA does not allow borrowers to use relatives as their contractor. “Self-Help” is not allowed either.
• A Homeowner/Contractor Agreement is executed between the borrowers and the contractor to ensure that a contractor is in place who will be able to complete the work for the loan amount.
The Homeowner/Contractor Agreement will include a detailed proposal (Plans and Specs) from the contractor showing the scope of the work to be done and including a detailed cost estimate on each repair of improvement of the project. This estimate must ultimately match $ for $ with the Consultant’s Work Write-up/Specification of Repairs. All work must be completed within 6 months of closing the loan.
• The Buyer is then ready to submit a formal application to the lender. The loan amount will include the agreed on purchase price for the property plus the estimated cost to rehab the property. The amount of the loan could also include a contingency reserve of 10% to 20% of the total remodeling costs and would be used to cover any extra work not included in the original proposal. It can also include up to 6 months of mortgage payments if the borrower is not going to live in the property during construction.
♦ The total loan cannot exceed FHA’s maximum mortgage limit for the        area.
♦  The 203k loan requires a minimum 3.5% down payment based on    the total amount of the home’s purchase price plus the cost of repairs.
• An “After Improved” Appraisal is ordered to determine the value of the property after the project is completed as compared to similar properties in the neighborhood.
• When the borrower passes the lender’s credit-worthiness test and the project meets FHA Guidelines, the loan closes for an amount that will cover the purchase or refinance cost of the property, the remodeling costs and the allowable closing costs.
• At closing, the seller of the property is paid off and the remaining funds are put in an escrow account to pay for the repairs and improvements during the rehabilitation period.
• The mortgage payments and remodeling begin after the loan closes. The borrower can decide to have up to six mortgage payments (PITI) put into the cost of rehabilitation if the property is not going to be occupied during construction, but it cannot exceed the length of time it is estimated to complete the rehab.
• Escrowed funds are released to the contractor during construction through a series of draw requests for completed work. To ensure completion of the job, 10% of each draw is held back; this money is paid after the lender determines there will be no liens on the property.

ELIGIBLE 203K IMPROVEMENTS
FHA 203k loans are offered only on 1-4 family owner-occupied properties. A full FHA 203k allows for complete renovations and rehabs of properties where the improvement cost exceeds $35,000. A Streamline FHA 203k may be used when the cost of the project ranges from $5,000 to $35,000.
The types of Improvements that borrowers may make using full FHA 203k financing include:

• Structural alterations and reconstruction
• Repair or replacing well and/or septic system
• Roofing, siding and gutters
• Major Landscape work and site improvements
• Enhancing accessibility for a disabled person
• Additions
• Kitchen and Bathroom renovations home repair 2
• Replace/Upgrade existing HVAC systems
• Replacement windows and doors
• Finish Basements and Waterproofing
• Plumbing and Electrical upgrade
• Appliances, Floor and Wall covering
• Elimination of health and safety hazards
Luxury Items that do not become permanent Part of the property are not eligible for improvements include; swimming pools, tennis/basketball courts, and hot tubs.

If you want to buy a home that needs repairs, FHA’s 203(k) may be a good option for you.Get Pre-Approved
Reach out to me with any questions or concerns you may have about the program and to take advantage of my FREE Jump Start Mortgage Pre-Approval

 

 

 

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Connecticut Home Buyers Like the USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing Development Loan

Astute home buyers in select Connecticut communities  are very interested in the USDA  Guaranteed Rural Housing Development Loan.

They find this mortgage particularly attractive because they:
usda 3•  Have the ability to finance 100% of the home’s appraised value – No Down Payment is required
•  Don’t have to fear risking all their earned savings in a new home
•  Can take advantage of today’s low-interest rates
•  Afford a more expensive home and still enjoy low monthly payments

OVERVIEW
The USDA  Guaranteed Rural Housing Development Loan  offers many benefits to qualified buyers:
• Up to 100% Financing of the home’s Appraised Value – No Down Payment is required
• Ability to finance Closing Costs when the Appraised Value is higher than the sales price
• One  30 year fixed rate mortgage  at low-interest rates
• Buyers with <20% down payment can afford higher priced listings because Monthly MI is cheaper than premiums associated with conventional and FHA mortgages
• No Pre-Payment Penalty. No Re-Capture Tax.
• No limit on Seller Contributions. No limit on Gift Funds
» No Cash Contribution required from buyer
•  Credit Scores down to 620.

CAVEATS
The USDA  Guaranteed Rural Housing Development Loan does have a few restrictions:
•  The home must be in a USDA “designated rural area”
•  Adjusted household income can not exceed established income limits
•  Single-family Property only. Must  be buyer’s’ primary residence

My expertise with the USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing Loan expands my ability to provide you with the  “Right” home financing solution.

Call Me at 860.945.9284 to discuss your mortgage options and to take advantage of my FREE  Jump Start Mortgage Pre-Approval service.
You just might be able to move into your new home in select areas of CT with little or no out-of-pocket money and low affordable monthly payments.

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Tips on Hosting a Successful Cookout in Your New Home.

bbqSummer is here and you’ve finally moved into your First Home. It’s time to kick back and relax a bit. Cookouts are an awesome way  to begin making great memories with family and friends in your New Home. Here are some tips to a successful cookout that will keep guests wanting to come back for more. Which ones work best for you?

Lawn Games
kids-croquetLawn games are an essential addition to a successful cookout. They help to break the ice between guests who may not know each other, and can also create some great memories. Croquet, ring toss and badminton are fun games for all ages that can be played as teams or individually. They are also great to help pass the time while food is on the grill!

Beverages
Requesting that your guests bring their own beverages can ensure everyone has exactly what they want to drink. It can also lower the amount you’re spending and lower the chance of running out of drinks before the party is over. Remember to get plenty of ice to keep all of those beverages nice and cold in a cooler.

Music
Music always helps get the party started. Try making a playlist ahead of time, or finding the right playlist on Spotify or Pandora, to help set the tone for the evening! Pop music, or throwback songs are always a great go-to.

Don’t Light the Grill Too Lategrillin
Lighting the grill too late could mean hungry house guests. Have the grill started just as the guests are arriving, giving them time to settle in and relax. A charcoal grill takes much more time to heat up than a gas grill does, so allow at least a 45-minute window for when you wish to start cooking.

Menu
When most people think of cookouts, they think of hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill. Don’t be afraid to spice things up! Adding a few chicken legs with barbecue sauce to the menu is a great choice that people are sure to enjoy if they aren’t in the mood for the standard cookout foods. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Hosting a party is stressful enough without having to worry about preparing all of the food. Ask your guests to bring a few different desserts or sides for dinner. They’ll be flattered you asked for their favorite recipe.

Remember the whole idea is to have fun in your New home. Enjoy!

 

 

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479 Mount Fair Drive, Watertown, CT For Sale

Let me be the first to welcome you to 479 Mount Fair Drive in our desirable neighborhood in Watertown CT.

479 Mt Fair Farm DrFormal living room and dining room, large country kitchen leads  to large deck with mountain views. Family room with wood-burning fireplace and vaulted ceilings. 3 BRs including master Suite. Finished lower level for office or exercise/play area. Hardwood, carpet and tile floors. 2 car garage. Private back yard.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/479-Mount-Fair-Dr_Watertown_CT_06795_M34037-76065

I live down the street and around the corner from this Bright and airy colonial and welcome the opportunity to help make this house your home.

pre-approval 2Call Me at 860.945.9284 to discuss the right mortgage option for your family and to take advantage of my  FREE Jump Start Mortgage Pre-Approval service service.

Then call Sue Holway at  Keller Williams to schedule a showing and be ready to make an offer.

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Market Updates Mortgage Process Uncategorized

Preparing To Own Your First Home

Preparing To Own Your First Home
referralAs a First Time Homebuyer, you’re about to make one of the biggest financial decisions of your life. For Millennials, a new home represents the most expensive purchase they’ll ever make. One of the best things you can do is read, research and learn about the mortgage application process. The more you prepare, the more confident you’ll feel about purchasing the home you want.

Mortgage Pre-Approval
Being pre-approved by a lender gives you the confidence to shop for a new house, knowing exactly how much you can afford. You can avoid looking at properties that don’t fit your budget. The pre-approval helps you know exactly what is possible right from the start. In fact, most realtors expect you to be pre-approved.

How Much Can You Afford?
A good place to start is to look at your current expenses. You probably have FHA MIboth “fixed” expenses… i.e. car payments, taxes, or day care … and “discretionary” expenses… i.e. things like travel, clothing, entertainment, or other areas where you can decide how much to spend.
Then, make up a budget. You’ll see how much of your monthly income is already committed to “fixed” expenses, as well as how much you have to spend on a mortgage payment, taxes, and insurance for a home.
Of course, how much you can afford also depends on how much debt you have. Long-term debt – i.e. debt that will take more than 10 months to pay off – is what lenders are most concerned about. If you have long-term debt that is considered “excessive” for your income, it will probably limit how much you can borrow. If you have a lot of long-term debt, you may want to pay off some of it before you apply for a mortgage.

mortgage financeRemember: I’m always here to help make things easier.  Reach out to Me at rick.cignoli@norcom-usa.com to discuss your mortgage options and to take advantage of my FREE Jump Start Mortgage Pre-Approval service.

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DIY January Home Maintenance Tips

It’s January, it’s cold and you’ve got the winter blues. You’d like nothing DIYbetter than to curl up in a warm blanket perhaps with some hot cocoa; watch a football game or read the good book you received for Christmas.
Sorry my friends… Winter is the season for the greatest vigilance in your home-maintenance routine. Here are some DIY January Home Maintenance Tips you should consider:

The most important DIY January Home Maintenance Tip is to head off damage to your home from frozen and bursting water pipes:
1. Particularly vulnerable pipes are those exposed to the cold including hose bibs, pipes in outside walls and pipes in unheated attics, basements and garages
• If practical, insulate any pipes exposed to the cold.
• Check out these State Farm Insurance Videos on how to insulate your pipes and shut off your water in case of an emergency
2. Seal any leaks that are letting cold air in around dryer vents and pipes and where electrical wiring enters the house.
3. Search for uninsulated water supply lines in the attic, garage, basement and crawl spaces and in bathroom and kitchen cabinets adjacent to outside walls.
4. During a cold spell, open cupboard doors in the kitchen and bathroom so the home’s heat can reach them.
• Reminder: Put harmful household cleaners out of the reach of children
• Keep garage and outside closets/cupboards doors shut tight during
freezing weather.
5. Locate your home’s water shut-off valve; learn how to turn off thewater valve
water quickly in case a pipe bursts.
6. Keep temperatures inside the house at 55 degrees Fahrenheit or
above, night and day, even when you’re gone.
7. Don’t close vents to crawl spaces. If you live where pipes can
freeze and the floor becomes very cold, insulate pipes and under
the floor. Vents play an important role in controlling condensation
beneath a house.
8. Promise yourself that when the weather improves you will add to the installation in the basement or crawl space and attic.

It’s not over yet … You want to protect your investment don’t you? Here are some other DIY January Home Maintenance Tips to work on:
1. Cold weather drives mice and chipmunks into the walls of your home, even unheated parts of the house.
• Mice can get in through a dime-sized hole; so seal any cracks where these pests can enter.
• Empty compost and garbage frequently.
• Keep food covered and put away; keep counters clean.
• Check basement, attic, crawl spaces and the back of cupboards and cabinets for mice droppings or holes. If you find evidence, install traps immediately or call a pest-control service.

And if you are bored, here are a few more DIY January Home Maintenance Tips to tackle:
1. Organize your home improvement files. Review product warranties and manuals. Check on recommended maintenance for furnaces, equipment, appliances and tools. Mark your calendar to track scheduled upkeep and service.
2. Inspect furniture, cabinets and vanities for loose knobs, pulls and hinges.
• Tighten or repair as necessary.
• Lubricate squeaky door hinges with lightweight machine oil.
• Free sticky doors by trimming edges or shimming hinges with thin pieces of cardboard.
• Make a list repairs to tackle later.
3. Make a room-by-room inventory of everything in your house. In the home contentsevent of fire, flood or other disaster, it will be important in filing an insurance claim.
• Save receipts for valuable home purchases and for work you have done to upgrade the interior or exterior of your home.
• Back-up your inventory on a CD so you can get it even if your computer is destroyed. Photographs or video of your possessions can also be helpful.
4. Check the labels on the switches in your electrical circuit-Electric Panel
breaker panel and make new labels if necessary.
5. Check your furnace filter monthly in the winter to see if it
needs replacing.
6. Use a vacuum-cleaner tool or a long-handled brush to clean
under and behind the refrigerator, including the coils.
7. Clean lint from under laundry appliances, especially the dryer, carefully work the cleaning tool down into the lint filter; outdoors, clean the dryer vent outlet, reaching as far as possible into the pipe.
8. Gather product documents and warranties into a folder. Go through the contents and discard outdated materials.

OKAY … Now you’re done. Now you can relax knowing that you’ve done everything you can to protect your home with these DIY January Home Maintenance Tips.

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Vive La Liberation! Happy Bastille Day!

Storming of the Bastille, 1789

Bastille Day, the French National Holiday, commemorates the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789. It marked the beginning of the French Revolution.

The Bastille was a prison and a symbol of the absolute and arbitrary power of King Louis XVI. By capturing this symbol, the people signaled that that the king’s power was no longer absolute; power should be based on the Nation and be limited by a separation of powers.

My Mother was born in France and experienced the absolute and arbitrary power of the Nazis during WWll. During the French liberation, she met and married a handsome GI Lieutenant in Marseille and followed him to the USA. It was a great adventure and a great love story.
As kids, Mom made sure we celebrated her love of family and the blessings of her new country on July 4th.  And on July 14, we celebrated her love for her home country. This time the colors of the cake and ice cream were Blue, White and Red; the French tri-color.

Vive Les Etas Unis! Vive La France! Happy Bastille Day!

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Mortgage Process Uncategorized

Your Credit Score and Your Mortgage Application

Your Credit Score is the most obvious factor in your ability to getting your Mortgage good-credit-vs-bad-creditApplication approved. The higher your score, typically the less risk you pose to lenders and the lower your mortgage interest rate. So how is your credit score determined? And how can you improve it?

Your Credit Score is based on the following 5 factors:
1. Your Payment History. (35% of your score)
♦ Your payment history shows whether you make your monthly payments on time, how often you might miss making your payments, how many days past due the due date you eventually make your payments, and how recently your payments have been delinquent.
♦ How To Improve It: Make all your monthly payments on time. The more payments you pay     promptly, the higher your score. Each time you miss a payment, you risk losing valuable points on your score.

2. Amount Owed on Loans and Credit Cards.(30% of your score)money management
♦  Your score is also based on the entire amount you owe, the number and types of credit accounts you have, and the proportion of money owed compared to how much credit you have available.
♦  How To Improve It: Smaller balances on your credit cards can raise your score – if you pay on time. High balances and maxed out credit lines will lower your score. Keep your credit card balance to less than 30-50% of your credit line.
New loans with little payment history may drop your score temporarily because your report will show the recent inquiry into your report to obtain the new debt.
Loans that are closer to being paid off can increase your score because you have a longer track record of paying the installments on time.

3. Length of Credit History. (15% of your score)
♦  The longer you can show a history of meeting your obligations in a timely manner, the higher your score will be.
♦  How To Improve It: This simply takes time. No credit or no no recent credit is not necessarily a good thing. It may seem wise to avoid using credit, or to avoid applying for credit, but it can actually hurt your score if mortgage lenders have no credit history to review.

4. Types of Credit Accounts.(10% of your score)
♦  A mix of credit accounts is best.
♦  How To Improve It: If you only have one type of credit account, add another type when it makes financial sense to do so. A mix of car loans, personal loans, retail store accounts and major credit cards will improve your score – if you manage them wisely and make the payments on time.

5. Recent Credit Activity. (10% of your score)
♦  Steady credit activity is best.
♦  How To Improve It: If you’ve opened a lot of accounts recently, or applied to open new accounts, it suggests potential financial trouble and can lower your score. The lender will see the inquiry on your report and require a letter of explanation as to why you opened these accounts and whether there are balances  that haven’t shown up on your report yet.
However, if you’ve had the same accounts for some time and you repay them on time – even after some payment troubles – your score will eventually go up.

Review Your Credit Report Annually
It’s smart to stay on top of your credit report, and to kow what potential mortgage lenders will see. You can request a FREE Annual Credit Report from each of the 3 major credit reporting agencies – Equifax, TransUnion & Experian once a year at www.AnnualCreditReport.com

Review your reports carefully, as each one may contain inconsistent information or inaccuracies. You have the right to dispute any error by contacting the agency with in 30 days of receiving your report.

app approved