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Steve Combs - NMLS: 381933

New Smart Phone Tool!

I love my smart phone, do you? After speaking with our referral partners and clients about what they’d like to see from us as an application, they shared a few ideas. They wanted to know how to contact us, they wanted to be able to easily refer us, they wanted to see current interest rates, and they wanted to be able to do simple refinance and purchase qualifying calculations. We have a few more ideas we’ll be adding in the near future that you’ll see automatically any time you visit our new Borrow Smart Mobile™ application. It’s FREE to install, and all you need to do is follow the instructions below from your web enabled smart phone.

For Android users:

1. Go to http://www.borrowsmartmobile.com/scombs
2. Click the 'Bookmark Icon' in the top right of your browser
3. Click 'Add Bookmark' from the settings options
4. Name the book mark 'Borrow Smart' and click OK
5. Go to a free spot on your home screen and long press on the screen until the 'Add to Home Screen' shows up
6. Choose 'Shortcuts'
7. Choose 'Bookmark'
8. Choose your recently created bookmark 'Borrow Smart'

For iPhone Users:

1. Go to http://www.borrowsmartmobile.com/scombs
2. Tap on the + icon on the bottom of the mobile Safari browser
3. Choose 'Add to Home Screen' from the options
4. Enter a name for the shortcut and tap on the 'Add' button

Please let me know what you think!

Important VA Funding Fee Changes! (Please Read)

VA Funding Fee Changes

Effective Date: Loans Funded October 1, 2011 and After

Loan Products Affected: VA Purchase and Refinance Transactions

Pipeline Loans Affected: VA Loans Funded October 1, 2011 and After

Geographic Restrictions: None

Now that you’ve read this far, breathe a sigh of relief. Contrary to the trend lately, the VA Funding Fees are set to decrease for VA transactions (except for VA IRRRLs) funded October 1, 2011 and after. See the graph below to see how this will affect your VA Buyers moving forward.

NOTE: If your clients have a VA loan closing with my team and I after the October 1 date, rest assured, we’ve already made the change and are communicating this positive change today. - Steve

vafundingfeegrid_stevecombs

*Should Congress pass legislation making additional changes to the funding fee structure, VA will issue a Circular to advise us of the change. As your mortgage lending partner, I will notify you immediately upon receipt of this information.

Is the 30 Year Fixed Mortgage Now Obsolete?

Ok... Perhaps the title is a little audacious. But, maybe not. Especially for financially savvy home buyers in Maryland looking to buy with a 25% or more down payment. While The Home Ownership Accelerator loan is not for everyone, everyone should learn about it. A popular loan in Australia and the UK, The Home Ownership Accelerator is gaining popularity fast, and for good reason. Find out how the Home Ownership Accelerator can help you achieve your financial goals faster.

Home Ownership Accelerator Logo

PAY OFF YOUR LOAN SOONER

In an era of reduced home values, people are more focused than ever on eliminating debt:

  • The Accelerator lets more of your money go towards reducing the principal, so you pay off sooner.
  • If you have good cash flow, you could use the Accelerator to pay off an average sized loan in roughly half the time with no change to spending habits
  • Owing less money saves you thousands in interest!

SAVE THOUSANDS IN INTEREST PAYMENTS

With the Home Ownership Accelerator, you deposit your entire paycheck into this innovative line of credit instead of your checking account, dramatically reducing the principal balance on which interest is computed. Paying less interest means you’ll have more money for paydown, which could enable you to pay off years earlier - - often in around half the time. Your money works for you, offsetting interest costs on your loan, versus earning next to nothing in a traditional checking account.

NO CHANGE TO SPENDING HABITS

While your money is idle, it keeps your loan balance lower, saving you interest. When you need funds for expenses, it works just like your old checking accounts – with regular checks, an ATM/Debit card, and online bill-pay.

You need to know about this amazing new financial tool.

Here are three ways to learn more:

* Watch this 5 Minute Movie

* Join one of our upcoming consumer seminars in Southern Maryland about how the Accelerator works and its benefits.

* Or, simply contact me to see how this incredible new loan can truly accelerate achieving your financial goals!

Want to get started? Click the icon below:

BorrowSmart

Programs and terms subject to change without notice. Payments, draws, and variable interest rate will affect total interest and loan payoff timing. Loan balance may increase if withdrawals exceed deposits. “Home Ownership Accelerator” and the yellow flying house logo are trademarks of CMG Mortgage, Inc. All rights reserved; intended for use by Accelerator-certified, licensed mortgage professionals. © 2005-2009 CMG Mortgage, Inc. HUD ID#78442-0000-0; MD #10825. Academy Mortgage Corporation Company NMLS ID: 3113 State Corporate License: 12423 Branch NMLS#: 194057. Steve Combs NMLS ID: 381933 State License:19582. For more info, visit us online: www.Steve-Combs.com www.academymortgage.com/stevecombs.

Loan Limits Likely to Change Lower

It is becoming quite likely that we will see changes to the maximum loan limits effective September 30th. Unless congress acts before then, the maximum amounts for high balance loans will be reduced per the schedule below. This is effective for both Conventional and FHA loans. There is also a possibility that the conforming limit of 417,000 could be reduced effective the same date.

County Name CBSA Number State One-Unit Limit Two-Unit Limit Three-Unit Limit Four-Unit Limit

ALLEGANY 19060 MD $417,000 $533,850 $645,300 $801,950
ANNE ARUNDEL 12580 MD $494,500 $633,050 $765,200 $950,950
BALTIMORE 12580 MD $494,500 $633,050 $765,200 $950,950
CALVERT 47900 MD $625,500 $800,775 $967,950 $1,202,925
CAROLINE 99999 MD $417,000 $533,850 $645,300 $801,950
CARROLL 12580 MD $494,500 $633,050 $765,200 $950,950
CECIL 37980 MD $417,000 $533,850 $645,300 $801,950
CHARLES 47900 MD $625,500 $800,775 $967,950 $1,202,925
DORCHESTER 15700 MD $417,000 $533,850 $645,300 $801,950
FREDERICK 47900 MD $625,500 $800,775 $967,950 $1,202,925
GARRETT 99999 MD $417,000 $533,850 $645,300 $801,950
HARFORD 12580 MD $494,500 $633,050 $765,200 $950,950
HOWARD 12580 MD $494,500 $633,050 $765,200 $950,950
KENT 99999 MD $417,000 $533,850 $645,300 $801,950
MONTGOMERY 47900 MD $625,500 $800,775 $967,950 $1,202,925
PRINCE GEORGE'S 47900 MD $625,500 $800,775 $967,950 $1,202,925
QUEEN ANNE'S 12580 MD $494,500 $633,050 $765,200 $950,950
ST. MARY'S 30500 MD $417,000 $533,850 $645,300 $801,950
SOMERSET 41540 MD $417,000 $533,850 $645,300 $801,950
TALBOT 20660 MD $417,000 $533,850 $645,300 $801,950
WASHINGTON 25180 MD $417,000 $533,850 $645,300 $801,950
WICOMICO 41540 MD $417,000 $533,850 $645,300 $801,950
WORCESTER 36180 MD $417,000 $533,850 $645,300 $801,950
BALTIMORE CITY 12580 MD $494,500 $633,050 $765,200 $950,950

As we approach this deadline, watch out for lock terms that extend beyond the 9/30 deadline. If a high balance loan is locked in, best advice is to close by 9/30/11 - unless Congress extends the increased loan limits soon.

Southern Maryland's "Buy Local" Challenge

BuyLocalChallenge_LogoWhat's the Challenge? It's simple click the "Take the Challenge" Link below and agree with the following: "I pledge to eat at least one thing from a local farm every day during Buy Local Week!" (July 23-31, 2011). I urge you to joint me and inspire this initiative at your work place. It's healthy and safe, better for our environment, supports the local farmers and helps strengthen our economy and simply put, fresh food just tastes better. Visit any one of the links below for more information - all of which can be found here: http://buy-local-challenge.com/index.asp

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