2022 Webinar and Live Event Calendar
Each year we try and bring relevant education topics to real estate professions. Below you will find a list of the topics we plan to cover and dates for each. For each topic we are offering a Live event at the Greater Kalamazoo Association of Realtors and a Zoom Webinar on the same topic the... Read More
We Are Number One !!!!
In celebration of National Homeownership Month the USDA's Acting State Director for Michigan announced the top 10 rural development lenders in Michigan. We are proud to say that again for 2016 Amerifirst Home Mortgage is number one! In fact Amerifirst had a 16% market share for the program in 2016. The second lender on the... Read More
August Changes – TRID
Big scary changes coming in August 2015 to the real estate industry - NOT! - What is TRID? Did you hear? TILA RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule or TRID will be here August 2015. There are some different in's and outs to the rule but the jist of it is that disclosure of figures has to... Read More
Agent Admin Fees – Rural Development
Update!!!!! If you have seen some of the other information I put out on this in recent month then you know that RD no longer allows Real Estate Agent Admin fees (just like the VA). In the guidelines that had been published RD simply said it’s not an allowable fee. Good news for agents we... Read More
FHA vs 3% down Conventional
Great News! I love saying that because it seems over the last five or six years everything's been, heads up this bad thing is happening. Not this time, there are two changes that are great news for the housing market. Conventional 3% down is back & FHA has reduced there monthly mortgage insurance! Let me... Read More
Rural Development Guideline Changes
So maybe you heard rumblings of something happening at RD. Well there certainly are changes being made. Some positive some not so great. First off lets talk about timing. RD is not out of money, for the last week of November they are not accepting application, but that's not so bad, they anticipate being caught... Read More
GKAR Tax Appeal Meeting
On January 22nd at the Greater Kalamazoo Association of REALTORS® will be hosting a presentation by Alan C. Jeffries from Advanced Property Tax Services. Mr. Jeffries will talk about why you would and/or should appeal your property tax, how to appeal and the process involved. This is sure to be a great event. I've personally used... Read More
Mortgage Insurance Comparison
I was going over loan options with a home buyer the other day and realized that we spend a lot of time talking about mortgage insurance and when comparing loan programs for people the cost of the PMI really comes into play. When I sat down to make this video I was simply going to... Read More
City of Kalamazoo Housing Code Changes
To All The Landlords & Want to be Landlords Out There! Owning rental property in the City of Kalamazoo can be tough. Trust me I know first hand everything you have to go thru. Not only do you have all the rigors of being a landlord like tenant screening, repairs, & yes the occasional eviction. ... Read More
Homepath Financing Elimination
Fannie Mae has announced the discountinuance of special financing options for properties listed for sale at www.homepath.com. More specifically the homepath financing and homepath renovation financing products for both home buyers and investors. In order to take advantage of these programs with the current enhancements there must be a fully executed purchase contract dated on or... Read More
Latest Blog Post
Unlock Your Dream Home: The Power of VA Renovation Loans
For veterans and active-duty military personnel, the dream of homeownership often comes with unique considerations. Finding the perfect home that meets all your needs and preferences can sometimes feel like a challenge, especially when inventory is tight. But what if you could purchase a home with untapped potential and tailor it to your exact specifications, all with the backing of your VA benefits? Enter the VA Renovation Loan – a powerful tool that can turn fixer-uppers into your forever home.
What is a VA Renovation Loan?
A VA Renovation Loan, allows eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and surviving spouses to finance both the purchase of a home and the cost of necessary or desired renovations in a single mortgage. This eliminates the need for multiple loans and streamlines the process of creating the perfect living space. It also opens up endless possibilities with home choices. All those houses they said won’t pass a VA appraisal, the VA renovation loan is the hack for that!