Discovery's Annual Charity Dinner and Silent Auction

It's that time of year again! Century 21 Discovery is hosting their 16th Annual Silent Auction and Charity Dinner. This event is our office's way of giving back to the community where we work and to which we belong! Over the years, we have raised over $183,000 and donated those funds to various charities in North Orange County, such as Fullerton Interfaith Emergency Services, St. Jude Memorial Foundation, and Crittenton Services for Families.

The event is Wednesday, November 17 from 6-10pm at the Coyote Hills Golf Course in Fullerton.

We invite you to join us in this wonderful event! For more information, contact Linda at 714.626.2000.

November YPN Event!

Attention all Young Professionals! Our next meetup is Thursday, November 11, 2010 from 5-7pm. We have a NEW LOCATION at the Cantina Lounge in Fullerton: 2736 E. Nutwood Ave.

We are pleased to present our guest speaker, Tammy Newland from Keller Williams who will teach us how to read people! Come and learn how to generate more referrals by attracting investors and learn useful tips for your buyers!

Come and network with some of our local YPN'ers :) For more information, contact me at 714.928.1757 or c21stephlins@gmail.com! Hope to see you there!

Your Vote Counts!!

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE TOMORROW

NOVEMBER 2, 2010!!

92835 October Market Update

Active Listings: 101 Total, 69 of these are standard sales
87 Single Family Homes, with the average list price of $797,350
14 Condos, with the average list price of $247,805

Pending/Backup Position: 38 Total, 17 are standard sales
26 Single Family Homes
12 Condos

Sold Since 10/1/2010: 9 Total, 7 of these are standard sales
7 Single Family Homes
2 Condos
Price Ranging from $170,000-$1,210,000

ta-ta for now :)

It's that spooky time of year again...HALLOWEEN is already one week away! Such a fun holiday where you get to dress up, have fun, and eat lots of candy! (I've already had more candy these past 2 weeks than I've had all year!) For all you with kiddies out there, here's a couple of safety tips to remember!

1. If you aren't going out with your child, make sure they are travelling in a good group of kids. Safety in numbers!

2. Remind them not to go into a stranger's house!

3. Always check before crossing streets...it's dark out and there are people on the road!

4. No shortcuts through alley-ways or backyards, etc. Remind your kids to stay in well-light areas.

5. Give them a flashlight of some sort to carry with them while out trick-or-treating.

6. Plan some sort of a safe route and know where they will be!!

7. When they come home, go through their candy before they eat any...you never know what could be in there.

8. Lastly, HAVE FUN!! It's a great holiday to go out and be a kid again :)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium Changes

Hey guys! This is a looong post, but a useful one. There's been some changes with FHA loans and this explains it all!

On August 12, 2010 President Obama signed Public Law 111-229, which provides the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with flexibility with regards to the amount of mortgage insurance premiums charged on Federal Housing Administration (FHA) homes loans. FHA has an "upfront" and an "annual" Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) that is charged on all single family homes (1-4 units).

The new MIPs are effective on all FHA loan applications dated after October 4, 2010. For 30 year and 15 year mortgages, the upfront MIP will go down to 1.00% from 2.25%. The upfront MIP is a one time charge that gets added on to the base loan amount. The base loan amount would be the difference between the sales price and down payment on a purchase. The annual MIP will have an increase. For 30 year loans with less than 5% down payment, the annual MIP will increase from .55% to .90%. It will be .85% for 30 year loans with more than a 5% down payment. For 15 year mortgages, the annual MIP will be .25% with a 10% down payment or less. There is no annual MIP for 15 year mortgages with more than 10% down payment.

For 30 year loans originated after January 1, 2001, the annual MIP is automatically canceled after the loan balance reaches 78% of the original sales price, or the appraisal on a refinance, provided that at least five years of payments have been made. For 15 year loans the annual mortgage insurance is canceled after the balance reaches 78%, regardless of the length of time that payments were made. The upfront MIP has a partial refund schedule if the loan is paid off within the first few years.

Comparing the new vs. old MIP: borrowers will owe less on their home at closing but pay a higher monthly payment. Based on a $300,000 sales price the monthly payment for principal, interest, and mortgage insurance is an estimated $69 higher with the new premiums in effect. The good news is that FHA had the authority to raise the annual MIP to 1.55% but chose not to do so.

Prospective home buyers would want to compare all of their home financing options before making an offer on a home. Conventional loans with mortgage insurance may be an option for borrowers who have at least a 5% down payment, the required credit score, reserves, good job history, and do not need a co-borrower to qualify. An FHA loan will allow for a down payment of 3.5%, using gift funds for the purchase, co-borrowers are allowed with restrictions, and the credit scores requirement are not as stringent as Conventional loans.

Bill FitzMaurice
Home Loan Consultant
Professional Home Mortgage
Cell: 949.291.1770

Best Chicken Recipe

Alright, so food is a pretty big deal in my life. I love to cook and LOVE to try new things! I'm constantly looking for new recipes to try or new restaurants to visit (Yelp is a HUGE help in that search). I came across this chicken recipe last week on allrecipes.com and it was SO good, I just have to share it!

Original Recipe
Servings: 4

Ingredients:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
4 ounces Dijon mustard
1/4 cup Teriyaki sauce
1/4 cup bacon bits
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Place chicken in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Slather mustard evenly over chicken, then pour teriyaki sauce over all. Sprinkle with bacon bits, then cover with cheese.
3. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

We made a few changes: we used spicy Dijon mustard, didn't use bacon bits, and instead of Parmesan cheese, we used Mexican blend, which we put on halfway through cooking. We also added some minced garlic...We served it with some cous-cous with sauteed tomatoes, zucchini, and spinach. DELICIOUS!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Aimees-Quick-Chicken/Detail.aspx