RD Guaranteed Funding Update

Funding for the RD Rural Development Guaranteed loan program are now available as of  September 8th, 2010.

This is good news but you must keep in mind that it will take them at least a week to obligate the loans they currently have on conditional commitments.  Then they can underwrite new loans.  But. ... for how long??

The funds are only good until September 30th.  That is the end of fiscal Year 2010.  Funds for FY 2011 still require appropriation.  That could take until December or January.  Very best would be November 2010.

This is a smoke screen at best.  They could have redistributed these funds back in June.  Why didn't they??

Project Compassion

In this wonderful video.   Kaziah Hancock paints portrats of fallen Soldiers, free of charge, for the Soldier's family.  It is a short video.  I suggest you get a tissue before it starts.

God Bless this woman.




God Bless our Military Men and Women.


VA Loan Underwriting Guidelines 

Rural Housing Mortgage Can Help You Sell Your Home

     


USDA Rural Development has TWO “no money down” home loan programs that can help a For Sale By Owner accomplish selling their home in today’s market. It is not quite as simple as putting “no down payment” in your advertising, but if you understand the two programs you can successfully target people that will qualify.

First, your home must be in a rural eligible area. All USDA’s funding is focused toward improving the living standards of rural communities. This does not mean your home must be in the middle of the woods. Roughly, their definition of “rural” is an area with a population less than 10,000. You can check your homes location to determine if it is eligible from USDA’s main website. Find the property eligibility page and type in your address.


Next, decide which of the two programs best fit your home. The Guaranteed Home Loan is for people with very good credit, scores above 620, and people with moderate to above moderate income (125%) based on the median income for that county. The maximum loan amount is determined by their debt to income ratio.


The Guaranteed Home Loan is a great program that requires no money down. Sometimes Rural Development runs out of funds for this program so check funding availability before you recommend this to your perspective buyers. Rural Development gets new funding at the end of each fiscal year.


The Rural Housing Direct Home Loan is like no other mortgage on the market and can really be an asset to selling your home. This loan is funded directly by the government. It is a little complicated but even people on a fixed income can qualify for this mortgage. Few people even know it exists and I would say that it might be the only true sub-prime loan on the market today.


The income requirement is based on the adjusted median income for each county so to qualify; the buyer’s adjusted income must be Low to Very Low. Low is defined as 80% of the median income and Very Low is less than 50% of the median income! Yes, people on fixed income, social security, SSI, and food stamps may qualify. Many of these loans are even subsidized by the Government.


A subsidy is when the government makes part of the monthly payment on the mortgage so these people can qualify. Under certain conditions the subsidy does have to be paid back.


The Direct home loan does not use a credit score to qualify but does have reasonable expectations about collections, judgments, and liens. This loan’s focus is on credit history, not score. It even has provisions for people that do not use typical credit. If the buyer has Alternate Credit such as a cell phone, utilities, cable, or insurance in their name that they “pay on time” it can be used as credit history.


If the buyer’s income is at the Very Low level the PITI cannot be more than 29%. If they are in the Low Income level it can go as high as 33%. Total debt for either income level is 41%. Because of the government subsidy people with incomes as low as $800 a month could qualify. Get this; … food Stamps are counted as part of repayment ability. How cool is that?


What about closing costs? It doesn’t get any better than this. If the appraisal is sufficient, closing costs and repairs may be added into the loan if the seller is not willing to help the buyer pay them.


If I were a For Sale by Owner and my home qualified both in location and sales price I would use these qualification requirements in all my FSBO advertising and listings. (No Down Payment and Very Low income may qualify) I would also pick up some Pre-Qualification Preliminary Applications from the nearest USDA office and give them to prospective buyers that answer my Ad.


As the seller you should also know that this loan takes two to three months to close. In today’s market that is not a big deal. In any case do not get into a contract with someone applying for this loan until they are issued a Certificate of Eligibility stating they are eligible, and how much they are eligible for. You should also know that his program has more funding available than Rural Development will ever be able to use.

USDA Direct Home Loan News Release - Recovery Act Funds

This is a news release just put out by USDA Rural Development about Direct Loan Funding availability from the Recovery Act.  This release is from the State of Georgia but it is available in all states.

News ReleaseGeorgia receives additional $30 million for home loans through Recovery Act

Georgia will be receiving an additional $30 million in Recovery Act funds for direct home loans through USDA Rural Development on July 19, 2010, when pooled funds from all states are redistributed from Washington, D.C. These loans are for qualifying families considered to have low and very low incomes to purchase or build a home in a rural area.


“These amounts are greater than the funds we had remaining,” said Ed Peace, director of single family housing for USDA Rural Development in Georgia. “This is a wonderful opportunity for rural families who want to become homeowners. These funds will disappear after September 30, 2010, so we encourage those interested to call us immediately.”


So far, Georgia has helped 288 rural families through the direct home loan program, obligating over $31.7 million to help families achieve the dream of homeownership. The Recovery Act has funded 220 home loans for almost $25.8 million.


“The time has never been better for rural Georgia families to consider buying a home,” said Shirley Sherrod, state director. “These funds can be used to purchase an existing home or to build a new one.”


USDA Rural Development’s direct loan program has many positive features including 100% financing and low-interest rates. House payments are based on household income. The program also has built in provisions, for example, so that down the line, if someone loses their job, mortgage payments can be deferred and rolled into the end of the loan. This provision is only available to Rural Development borrowers after the loan has closed and isn’t available to families that have homes from other lenders.


To qualify, Georgians must have low or very low dependable income, have good credit and debt level to show repayment of the loan. The houses must be in eligible rural areas, generally with population less than 20,000.


The low and very low designation is based on Median Household Income for each county, as well as how many people are living in the house. To check income levels for a specific county or the house address, visit: http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do. Use the panel on the left to navigate.



For more information, visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ga. Rural Development has offices around the state to assist with the application process.

End of Release

This Direct home loan is a great oppertunity for low to very low income people through out the United States.  It even works for people on fixed income like social security, SSI, or a pension.  It is true.

If you wuld like to know more about the qualification requirements visit:

 USDA Rural Development Direct Mortgage Guidelines

Don't be afraid.  Request a Pre-Qualification Premiliary Application from your nearest USDA office.  It is free and they will counsel you if there are issues so that you can qualify in the future.  Who knows, you may qualify now.  Call them and get a Pre-qual application.

Good Luck.

Gene Simons Military Tribute Video

This is a great video of our troups.  It is short, ... you will enjoy it.





Thank you for doing what you do for our country.  You deserve more than we give back.

Home Buyer Tax Credit Deadline for Active Duty Military

Military home buyers may still qualify for the Home Buyer Tax credit even if they were not in a contract by April 30th, 2010.  The Business Assistance Act of 2009 has special provisions for active duty personel.

The Tax Credit is extended for one year if the military member was out of the country for at least 90 days from 12/31/08 to 05/01/2010.  Active duty personnel that meet this requirement have until April 30th, 2011.

The provision also eliminates the 3 year recapture requirement if the military person was forced to sell his home as a result of an official extention of service.

For more details you can visit http://www.irs.gov/

A Military Family! The pain and the joy!

I have been having trouble deciding how this blog should proceed and what kind of content it should contain.

I found this video and I think it was meant for me to find. 

Yes, we are about VA Mortgage guidelines.  And we can answer your questions.   But I think I have to dedicate this site to our military families.

Please enjoy this video.





God Bless All Our Troops!  Bless our sons and daughters!

Leave your comments.

Friends VS Navy Friends

This is a little colorful so you may not want to read it.  I found it on FB and having a Navy back ground I could really identify.  I little bit of fun is a good thing.  Enjoy!  Oh, I might add that this is fun but it is pretty much true too.  There is some strong Language so if that bothers you don't read it!

FRIENDS –VS- NAVY FRIENDS


FRIENDS: Tell you not to do something stupid when drunk

NAVY FRIENDS: Will post 360 degree security so you don't get caught


FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.

NAVY FRIENDS: Call your parents drunk as hell and tell them about the fat chick you tried to pick up


FRIENDS: Hope the night out drinking goes smoothly, and hope that no one is late for the ride home.

NAVY FRIENDS: Know some wild shit will happen, and set up rally points and an E & E route.


FRIENDS: Bail you out of jail and tell you what you did was wrong.

NAVY FRIENDS: Will be sitting next to you saying, Damn...we fucked up...

but hey, that shit was fun "


FRIENDS: Cry with you.

NAVY FRIENDS: laugh at you and tell you to put some vagasil on your vagina.


FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.

NAVY FRIENDS: Steal each other's stuff so often nobody remembers who bought it in the first place.


FRIENDS: Are happy that someone picked up a one night stand and leave them alone.

NAVY FRIENDS: Will Low Crawl naked into the room with a camera and hope for the tag team.


FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.

NAVY FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.


FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.

NAVY FRIENDS: Will kick the whole crowds ass that left you.


FRIENDS: Would knock on your door.

NAVY FRIENDS: Walk right in and say, "I'm home!"


FRIENDS: Will try and talk to the bouncer when you get tossed out of the bar.

NAVY FRIENDS: Will man up and go after the bouncer for touching you on the way out.


FRIENDS: Will wish you had enough money to go out that night, and are sorry you couldn't come.

Navy FRIENDS: Will share their last dollar with you, drag you along, and try to steal free drinks all night


FRIENDS: Will take your drink away when they think you've had enough.

NAVY FRIENDS: Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say, "Bitch, you better drink the rest of that shit, you know we don't waste. That's alcohol abuse!!!"


FRIENDS: Want the money they loaned you back next week.

NAVY FRIENDS: Can't begin to remember who owes who money after taking care of each other for so long.


FRIENDS: Will say "I can't handle Tequila anymore".

NAVY FRIENDS: Will say "okay, just one more..." and then 2 minutes later "okay, just one more!"


FRIENDS: Will talk shit to the person who talks shit about you.

NAVY FRIENDS: Will knock them the Fuck out!!


FRIENDS: Will tell you "They'd take a bullet for you."

NAVY FRIENDS: Will actually take a bullet for you.


FRIENDS: Will ignore this

NAVY FRIENDS: Will forward this to all their Navy friends.


GO NAVY!

H.R.3200 Government Health Care

Someone sent me this link to the Government Health Care Bill, H.R. 3200.  As I watched the video I was really taken back by it.  So, I searched Google for the actual Bill.  It is a lot of reading and some is in gobbly gook terminology.

I will say that what I have found so far is true to this video.  But let me say this.  Don't take my word for it.  watch the video and then do your research.  If you don't look it up yourself, you just won't really believe it.

As Americans, each of us has a responsibility to know and understand.  We must educated ourselves and stand up for the things we agree with and stand firmly against that we do not agree with.  Unless we do our own research, how will we know.  The media lies.  We know that.

Please watch the video.




Stand up for what you believe in!!

Good Luck.

USDA Guaranteed Mortgage is a Great Alternative

   
   
Qualifying for a VA mortgage is not always easy.  The credit guidelines are very strict and not all homes will qualify.  If you fall a little short on qualification consider the USDA Rural development mortgages as a great option.  They are 100% loans too.

USDA basically has two purchase mortgage programs:  Direct and Guaranteed.  Both programs require that the property be located in a rural eligible area.  That generally means an area with a population less than 10,000.  You can determine if a property is eligible from this website:  http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/

Each program also has limitations on income and the income is derived from the median income in each county.  The guaranteed program is focused on the median income buyer.  The direct mortgage is for low and very low income families.  Low is defined as 50 to 80% of the median income and very low is 50% or less.  Yes, people on a fixed income can qualify.

The credit guidelines are different for each program.  Guaranteed is similar to conventional guidelines but there are exceptions and they allow for scores as low as 620.

The Direct Mortgage really lowers the bar on credit requirements.  It even allows for alternative credit if you don't have traditional credit.  There is no minimum score.  Sometimes they allow medical collections but cell phone, cable company, or credit card collections must be paid off if you don't have extenuating circumstances.  This is not a comprehensive list.

The USDA Direct mortgage is called direct because the funds for this loan come directly from the government.  (tax payer money, ... that is where the gov gets it's money)  A good thing about this loan is that if your income is low to very low the government will subsidize your payment.  That means they will make part of the monthly P&I for you.

The Guaranteed loan is actually originated through outside lenders or banks and then submitted to USDA for final approval and Guarantee.  USDA only guarantees the loan, they do not fund it.  You can research the guidelines from this site.  USDA Mortgage Guidelines

If you have questions submit them in the comment section and we will respond.

For more information about VA guidelines go to this site:  VA Mortgage Guidelines

Good Luck

USDA and Department of the Navy Team Up

This is an article put out by USDA Rural Development.  I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

USDA, NAVY SIGN AGREEMENT TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY



WASHINGTON, January 21, 2010 – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Navy (DoN) today announced that leadership from the two departments have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to encourage the development of advanced biofuels and other renewable energy systems.

"This agreement is part of President Obama's vision of a coordinated federal effort to build a clean energy economy, create new jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "USDA looks forward to working with the Navy and other public and private partners to advance the production of renewable energy by sharing technical, program management and financial expertise."

Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus emphasized how partnering with USDA supports his vision for energy reform. Mabus' overarching goal is to increase warfighting capability. "In order to secure the strategic energy future of the United States, create a more nimble and effective fighting force, and protect our planet from destabilizing climate changes, I have committed the Navy and Marine Corps to meet aggressive energy targets that go far beyond previous measures."

From a strategic perspective the objective is to reduce reliance on fossil fuels from volatile areas of the world. Tactically, on the battlefield, the costs of transporting fuel is exponentially increased; in extreme cases a gallon of gasoline could cost up to $400. Mabus continued "Even more serious and sobering, we are putting our Sailors and Marines in harms way as fuel convoys often meet a lethal enemy." To address this reality Mabus recently announced five ambitious energy targets for the Navy and Marine Corps and biofuels are a major component of four of those goals. Those targets are summarized below:

• When awarding contracts, appropriately consider energy efficiency and the energy footprint as additional factors in acquisition decisions.
• By 2012, demonstrate a Green Strike Group composed of nuclear vessels and ships powered by biofuel. By 2016 sail the Strike Group as a Great Green Fleet composed of nuclear ships, surface combatants equipped with hybrid electric alternative power systems running on biofuel, and aircraft running on biofuel.
• By 2015 cut petroleum use in its 50,000 non-tactical commercial fleet in half, by phasing in hybrid, flex fuel and electric vehicles.
• By 2020 produce at least half of shore based installations' energy requirements from alternative sources. Also 50 percent of all shore installations will be net zero energy consumers.
• By 2020 half of DoN's total energy consumption for ships, aircraft, tanks, vehicles and shore installations will come from alternative sources.

The MOU complements USDA and The Navy and Marine Corps' existing renewable energy programs and efforts. USDA has a variety of programs and services that support renewable energy development, including:

• Rural Development loan and grant programs focused on developing renewable energy systems and helping agricultural producers and businesses adopt energy efficiency improvements;
• The Farm Service Agency's Biomass Crop Assistance Program, which supports the establishment and production of crops for conversion to bioenergy, biobased products and power, and
• The Research, Education and Economics division's comprehensive bioenergy research program focused on developing new varieties and hybrids of bioenergy feedstocks.

The Department of the Navy recently established a Naval Energy Office to develop and employ proven business models and investment strategies that leverage public and private investment to achieve naval, defense, and national energy goals.

The parties will work together to support President Obama's initiative to make the United States a global leader in developing a renewable energy economy, reducing energy consumption derived from fossil fuels, and increasing energy production from renewable energy sources. The United States has abundant natural resources – including wind, solar, hydrokinetic, ocean, geothermal, and land for biomass energy crops – that can be refined into biofuels to meet commercial, military transportation and other energy needs.

USDA Rural Development administers and manages more than 40 housing, business, and community infrastructure and facility programs through a network of 6,100 employees located in 500 national, state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of more than $125 billion in loans and loan guarantees.

USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) facilitates income support, disaster assistance and conservation programs for the nation's farmers. It provides operating loans for the procurement of farm equipment, seed and fertilizer, and offers ownership loans to help new and veteran producers purchase a farm. FSA also works to procure various commodities to benefit low-income families through domestic food assistance programs.

The Research, Education and Economics mission area is dedicated to the creation of a safe, sustainable, competitive U.S. food and fiber system and strong, healthy communities, families and youth through integrated research, analysis and education. This mission area includes the Agricultural Research Service, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Economic Research Service, and the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Military Homosexual Guidelines

I spent 6 years in the United States Navy.  I think this article is over the top.  It does not represent reality or the relationships in the military, ... or in civilian life either.  Hello, ... homosexuals do not prey on heterosexuals.   Below is the article I found and it was sent by contact @afa.net, ... who ever they are.  Sometimes they send good military stuff, sometimes not.  This article is total bullshit.

I am not homosexual but some of my friends are.  And they are friends that would back me up no matter what.  They are just people.  Hello.  Here is the article:

Gays showering with straights? Absolutely.



If President Obama, congressional Democrats, and homosexual activists get their wish, your son or daughter may be forced to share military showers and barracks with active and open homosexuals who may very well view them with sexual interest.

Talk about creating a hostile work environment for people who practice normative sexuality!


As former General Colin Powell observed in 1993 (before bowing to pressures of political correctness), "...it would be prejudicial to good order and discipline to try to integrate gays and lesbians in the current military structure."

He compellingly argued against the completely bogus comparison between race and sexual preference: "Skin color is a benign, nonbehavioral characteristic. Sexual orientation is perhaps the most profound of human behavioral characteristics. Comparison of the two is a convenient but invalid argument."

Here are some important facts:


Both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (which includes four million vets) have come out strongly against overturning the ban, with the VFW calling it a "new social-engineering project."

More than 1,160 retired admirals and generals strongly oppose the change, saying that overturning the ban would "undermine recruiting and retention, impact leadership at all levels, have adverse effects on the willingness of parents who lend their sons and daughter to military service, and eventually break the All-Volunteer Force."

Richard H. Black, the former chief of the U.S. Army's criminal law division, citing numerous "criminal reports document[ing] serious offenses being committed frequently by homosexual GIs," calls the ban "an essential element of military discipline" which "must be retained."

Overturning the ban will likely preclude advancement and promotions for officers and chaplains who do not publicly affirm homosexual behavior, essentially ending their military careers.

If we do not insist that the ban on homosexual military service be retained, our military will no longer be the place America's families want to send their best and brightest young men and women.

Military Tax Tips

It's tax time again and ain't it just wonderful.  Seriously though we all need to take advantage of any deductions we qualify for.  Here are a few tips for military men and women.  I hope it helps you get through it.  You should also look through the Armed Forces Tax Guide put out by the IRS.

First you must understand just what is your Gross Income and what can be excluded, or not counted.  Not all the money you receive is taxable. These exclusions generally include: living allowances, moving allowances, travel allowances, combat zone pay, and death allowances.

If you are serving in a designated combat zone, then you can exclude certain pay from your income. The month for which you receive this pay must be a month in which you either served in a combat zone or were hospitalized as a result of wounds, disease, or injury obtained while serving in the combat zone. You need only serve for one or more days in a month to qualify for exclusion for the entire month. A few examples of pay types eligible for exclusion include:

• Active duty pay earned in any month you served in a combat zone
• Imminent danger/hostile fire pay
• A reenlistment bonus if this extension occurs in a month you served in a combat zone
• Pay for accrued leave earned in any month you served in a combat zone
• Portion of any student loan repayment made for the year while serving in a combat zone

If you are on active duty and you move because of a permanent change of station, then you are entitled to a deduction for reasonable un-reimbursed moving expenses related to travel and the cost of moving household goods and personal effects.

You are able to deduct un-reimbursed work-related travel expenses when you are traveling away from your permanent duty station. You cannot deduct expenses related to travel overseas when you are stationed there, or when you are traveling for personal reasons. You are considered away from home when you are away from your permanent duty station for longer than an ordinary day’s work and you need sleep or food. Eligible expenses include business-related meals, lodging, laundry, and business phone calls.

If you are a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces that must travel more than 100 miles away from home in connection with your service, then you can deduct your travel expenses as an adjustment to income.

The costs of traveling from one workplace to another, attending a business meeting away from your regular workplace, or traveling away from home overnight can be deducted from your income. However, the expenses of commuting to your regular place of work are not deductible.

Uniform expenses are not deductible, except when regulations prohibit you from wearing uniforms off duty. In this case, you can then deduct the un-reimbursed cost and expense of upkeep of the uniforms.

You can deduct dues paid to any professional society that is directly related to your military position (ex. engineering society), but you cannot deduct dues paid to an officers’ club or a noncommissioned officers’ club.

You can deduct the cost of work-related education if it is required by your employer or the law to maintain your salary, status or job or if it maintains or improves skills needed in your present work.

Good luck

Federal Recovery Coordinators for Veteran Affairs

  
VA (veteran affairs) has hired five new Federal Recovery Coordinators. This should be a big help to our service members and veterans.  Understanding benefits or new programs available is a full time job and most people don't even know where to look.

The new coordinators will be available at the following locations:

• Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Ga.
• San Antonio Military Medical Center, Texas
• Naval Medical Center, San Diego, Calif
• Tampa VA Medical Center (VAMC), Fla
• Bethesda, National Naval Medical Center
• Walter Reed Army Medical Center, D.C.
• Houston VAMC, Texas,; and Providence VAMC, R.I.

These Federal Recovery Coordinators will be able to assist servicemembers, Veterans and their families with access to care, services and benefits provided by Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Defense (DoD), and other federal agencies, states and the private sector.

You should take advantage of these services.  Did you know that if you served in Viet Nam and later develope diabeties that you are entitled to full disability.  Agent Orange is know to cause this condition.  Most Vets don't know this.

Please uses these services.  You have earned them.

VA Loan Guidelines

This post will be short. We just wanted you to know that we finally completed our website of VA guidelines. This information is very hard to find on the web and, it is pretty detailed.

A 100% VA Loan may take longer to close than other mortgages but it is worth the effort. The appriasal guidelines are a little tighter but that is for your protection.

The interest rate is always low on a VA mortgage. However, before you apply for a mortgage anywhere brows through this site to make sure you qualify.

If you have questions you can send these people an email and they will help you understand your options. Have no fear, they don't originate loans and they won't try to sell you anything.

The site is dedicated to all Veterans.

VA Mortgage Guidelines

Good Luck