Dave Woodson

but not too much. Rates are still quite low and still a perfect time to buy in Northwest Indiana! Did I say, "a perfect time to buy!" Yes, yes I did.

let me count the ways...

1. get $up to $7500 back from the gov't
2. low rates
3. home prices are lower then they were this time last year
4. It is a buyers market (do not abuse this privilege or you'll be wasting your time and your Realtors)
5. You get to use me in 14 states
6. What a way to start off the new year
7. Selling before the Capital Gains goes up! (thanks to Tara visit her link below)

For companion commentary go the Mad Mortgage Machine Blog and see whatelse I have to say.

Dave Woodon

Got this in my inbox this morning, thought I would share...

Tomato juice was first served at a French Lick, Indiana, hotel in 1925.

The first tomato juice factory was also in French Lick, IN.

The world's largest orchid species collection is found at Ball State University in Muncie , Indiana .

The first regulated speed limit (20 - 25 mph!) was initiated on Indiana roads in 1921.

The steepest railroad grade in the world is in Madison , Indiana .

An average of 400 funnel clouds are sighted each year in Indiana .

The city of Gary , Indiana , was built on fill brought from the bottom of Lake Michigan through suction pipes. (this explains a lot)

G. Gordan Liddy was stationed in Gary with the FBI

There are only two Adams fireplaces in the United States . One is in the White House and the other in the Diner Home in Indiana .

Josie Orr, wife of former Indiana Governor Robert Orr, flew bombers and cargo planes during World War II.

The Indianapolis Methodist Hospital is the largest Hospital in the Midwest .

One of the first complete bathrooms in Indianapolis was in the home of Hoosier poet, James Whitcomb Riley.

The career of Dorothy Lamour (famous for the Bing Crosby-Bob Hope Road Movies) was launched in Indianapolis .

Aviatrix Amelia Earhart was once a Professor at Purdue University .

Crown Hill Cemetery ( Indianapolis ) is the largest cemetery in the U.S.

The library in Fort Wayne , Allen County , Indiana , houses one of the largest genealogy libraries in America .

Wabash, Indiana, was the first electrified city in the U.S.

Pendleton, Indiana, was the site of the first hanging of a white man for killing Indians.

The Courthouse roof in Greensburg , Indiana , has a tree growing from it.

The world's first transistor radio was made in Indianapolis .

Clark Gable and wife Carole Lombard (born in Fort Wayne , IN ) honeymooned at Lake Barbee near Warsaw , Indiana .

The American Beauty Rose was developed at Richmond , Indiana .

Elkhart, Indiana, is the band instrument capitol of the World.

Frank Sinatra first sang with the Tommy Dorsey band at the Lyric Theater in Indianapolis .

Purdue Alumnus, Earl Butz, served as the Secretary of Agriculture.

U.S. 231 is the longest highway in Indiana (231miles).

Johnny Appleseed is buried at Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The singing McGuire Sisters spent their childhood summers at the Church of God Campground in Anderson , Indiana .

The main station of the Underground Railroad was in Fountain County , Indiana .

There are 154 acres of sculpture gardens and trails at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

La Porte County (the birthplace of one Dave Woodson) is the only county in America having 2 functioning courthouses.

Nancy Hanks Lincoln is buried in Posey County, Indiana.

Crawfordsville , Indiana ( Montgomery County ) is the only site in the world where crinoids are found. (What is a crinoid, you ask? A form of deep-water marine life that looks something like a starfish.)

Pendleton, Indiana, was the site of the 'Fall Creek Massacre'. A museum housing 3500 artifacts of pioneer
heritage now exists on that site.

St. Meinrad Archabbey is located in Spencer County and is one of only 2 archabbeys in the U.S. and seven in the world. (Abbey Press is an operation of the archabbey.)

A Buzz Bomb (German - WWII), believed to be the only one on public display in the nation, can be found on the Putnam County Courthouse lawn in Greencastle.

Roberta Turpin Willett was born in Indiana .

James Dean was born and is buried in Indiana .

The world's tallest woman lived in Indiana .

Red Skelton was born in Vincennes , Indiana .

Mae West and Claude Akins were from Bedford , Indiana.

The inventor of the television, Philo T. Farnsworth, lived in Fort Wayne , Indiana .

Forrest Tucker was from Pendleton , Indiana .

You can't ship wine to Indiana . (So how does it get here?)

Bob Greise is from Evansville, Indiana and was quarterback at Purdue University(the cradle of quarterbacks) in West Lafayette, IN.

Toni Tenille (of The Captain and Tenille) is from Indiana .

Oprah Winfrey built her residence in N/W Indiana. (she has since moved, thank God)

Florence Henderson is from Indiana .

The much sought-after Hoosier Cabinets are an Indiana product.

90% of the world's popcorn is grown in Indiana, and Orville was a Purdue Grad, where I wwent to school.

The Jackson Five are from Gary , Indiana.

The birthplace of the automobile, the pneumatic rubber tire, the aluminum casting process, stainless steel and the first push-button car radio was in Kokomo , Indiana, also, known as the City of Firsts with the first Ponderosa Steak House

Frank Borman, NASA astronaut, born in Gary, Indiana

Purdue is 2nd only to the Naval Academy with the most graduates that became Astronauts

US 520 is the shortest highway in the world

Dave Woodson

The Indiana FHA Expert

Short cuts Equal short checks

I used to work with a guy whose motto that was to all of us. Whenever, we had the urge to maybe try to get around something. He would magically appear at our door and announce, “short cuts equal short checks”. That has stayed with me for many years now and you would not believe how true that statement really is.

I know of a transaction in LaPorte County some years ago where either the Seller or the Sellers Agent did not order a survey on the property that was being sold. Then at the closing they came to find out that they had sold both sides of the road as it was the legal property. The buyer got a heck of a deal because he was now getting both sides of the street with tons of frontage. Short cuts equal short checks. Try explaining that little screw up to your partners when they no longer have the frontage they thought they had.

The same can be said for many FSBO in this day and age. Some are facing a short sale and are trying to go it alone by negotiating with the bank, having buyers come though the house and so on. When a phone call to a Mortgage Broker or a Real Estate Agent with experience in the area of a short sale, the home could be sold sooner or even a short refi could be done for the homeowner allowing them to stay in the home that they bought and fell in love with a few years ago. Short cuts equal short checks.

And, many times you will save money with the use of a professional, like a plumber, electrician or a tree man. Let the professionals, who have the experience in negotiating and finding the right buyer sell your home. There will be no short checks

Dave Woodson

The Indiana FHA Expert

"The more things you do, the more you can do."

Lucille Ball (1911–1989)
Actress and comedienne

I was riding the bike in the gym this morning and as I always do, I was listening to a podcast. That got me to thinking that it is time for a iPod University 3, but before I do that I have something else in mind.

I am a reader and a listener. I love to learn and hear new ideas that may help me grow my business. If they are implemented correctly or at all. I have always thought of myself as the guy that goes the extra mile. Really, beyond just showing up at closings or getting a good closing gift. As someone, that makes sure they understand and that is not even the extra mile that is a part of the job.

What can a mortgage broker do to go the extra mile?

• I had one LO that went out and helped his client scrape and paint a house to make sure it passed an FHA inspection!

• I fax a weekly status sheet to each Realtor involved in the transaction, not really the extra, but since not many do it. I call it
• Help with marketing ideas, you know the good ones that I know work

I think what a lot of us in the business think of as the extra mile is just a little more than doing your job. However, those little things add up when you look at the big picture. My brother and I were talking the other day about our maddening episodes at the License Branch. I will admit that I am a bit of a hot head and can get very irritated when I think someone just has a complete lack of customer service, but it seems that some just don't even do the job that they are being paid to do.

They seem to be so opposed to lift a finger to help that you just want to drag them over the counter and beat a little service in them. I pray that when someone leaves my office they know they were treated with the utmost respect. They feel that the experience could not have been better whether or not I could get them a home loan or not.

Do your clients feel that way? Havae you polled any of them lately and ask them what you could have done for them that they feel you have not?

Dave Woodson

Indigo Financial Group

The Indiana FHA Expert

oh, a quick side note for you Trekkie, did you know that Lucy's production company produced the original Star Trek series.

I was messing around last night and I decided to see if I could do a night time Carcast.  Well, I could and I think it tuned out pretty decent. 

I focus on Spending and Saving.  We are having a lot of trouble in this nation as we are not saving.  I think a lot of people are expecting a helping hand from the gov't way too much.  They use places like Payday Loans to cash their checks and spend their entire paycheck. 

Blue Chip casino had a record month last month and their gambling revenues have gone up this year.  I thought we were in an economic downturn.  I hear people complain about  gas and food prices and then gambling revenues are up.  in the Carcast, I tell a story of a little boy, who just wants to eat all of his candy and a man who is robbed of his pay check when he walks out of payday loan place. 

 
Saving & Spending from Dave Woodson on Vimeo.

I cannot preach this enough, if you are not saving and accumalating reserves.  Lenders are looking for a way not to loan you money.  You need to have reserves to make sure you can pay on time if you lose your job or have a bump in the road of life.

Dave Woodson

Your Indiana Home Loan Expert