John Cannata - Mortgage Loan Consultant - Frisco Texas - Reliant Mortgage Ltd

Have you noticed that it costs a lot to take your family to any type of professional sporting event? Well, the Dallas Mavericks have teamed up once again with McD's and put together a great package for families of 4. The package does not appear to have any options available for families of less than 4 or greater than 4. However, if you have extra tickets, bring a friend.

So, what is included in the package? 4 Maverick Tickets and 4 Extra Value Meal Coupons.

The package starts at $59.00 and is only at participating McD's restaurants. This works out to be $14.75 per person and includes the meal. If I am not mistaken, I believe there is a McD's inside American Airlines Center. Even if the starting price is for the top row, the view is still good enough to see all of the action.

Not all games are available for this package. For a list of the games, dates, and times, please visit www.Mavs.com

Go Mavs!

Are you are looking to buy or sell a home in Frisco or another city in North Texas? If so, then I can help. I am a licensed Mortgage Consultant located in North Texas with over 15 years experience in the industry. I can help you get pre-approved for your new home loan in Texas and even suggest some very knowledgeable and professional Real Estate Agents in your area of choice. If you are available to talk, I am available to listen. Give me a call any time or visit my website for more details.

John Cannata p# 214.545.5604

www.TxMortgageConsultant.com

Have you ever had an In-N-Out Burger? They are only located in California, Nevada, Arizona, and now Utah.

Its a Burger Place. Plain and simple. In-N-Out was founded in 1948 and has had the same menu for all of those years. They serve burgers and fries. Everything is made fresh, including the french fries. The potato is actually cut up on fried to order.

Well, since we moved from California 4 years ago, we have not found a burger place that is just as good. We heard rumors about 'Whats a burger' being similar, but clearly those rumors were started from people who had never eaten at a real in-n-out burger.

Well, while playing on my iPhone this past week (new applications), I came across an application that shows you local diners, entertainment locations, gas stations, etc. When reviewing Frisco, Texas, I came across a place called GoGo Burger.

GoGo Burger is located @ 6129 W. Main Street - Frisco, TX 75034

This is truly the closest burger to In-N-Out that I have seen in quite some time. Everything made fresh, including the hand cut fries. Do not go there if you want anything other than a cheeseburger. There are 5 items to choose from:

• Double Patty
• Single Patty
• Atkins Burger (lettuce wrap instead of a bun)
• Grilled Cheese
• Triple Stack Patty

** Please note that these are not the real names. I was just giving you a quick idea of the menu options.

GoGo Burger opened in August. If you have not tried them and would like a good burger, I highly suggest giving them a try. My family and I ate there (4 of us) and spent about $21 total. That included 4 burgers, 2 sodas, 2 waters (kids), and 2 orders of fries. The fries are big enough to share.

Enjoy!

The last few years in the real estate market are an anomaly. The downward spiraling interest rates and rapid rise in home prices doesn't happen very often. Sure, the market rises and falls in cycles, but the changes are generally more gradual. The truth is that many people land themselves in hot water during an especially hot market. They start speculating by buying extra houses for quick sales or mortgage flipping. If their timing isn't perfect they are left holding mortgages they can't pay and homes they can neither afford to live in, or sell.

Real Estate is Always a Solid Investment

If you're willing to exercise some patience and not try to become a millionaire overnight, you can't do much better than putting your money in real estate. As many learn the hard way, the stock market is often volatile. If you look at trends over the years, you'll see that you can depend on property to appreciate just about one hundred percent of the time.

Not only that, but there are tax incentives not available with other investments. So what should you do if you're considering buying a house now that the wild, hot market is cooling off in many areas? Lots of people feel gun shy because of all the negative press.

If you're just looking to make a quick buck through a resale, this may not be the best time. If you're in a more sensible frame of mind and plan to buy a new home to live in, by all means do it. Don't deny yourself the joy of the house you want because it isn't going to double in value in the next two years.

Here are four excellent reasons to go ahead with your purchase:

• Real estate is an asset.
  
• Real estate always appreciates in value even if it takes more time than you hoped.
  
• There are tax incentives unlike those for any other purchase.
  
• In a cooling market the buyer benefits.
  

So don't be afraid to purchase a home, just be sensible about it. You don't need to be a math whiz or seer into the future to buy a good home that is also a great investment. Of course, seeing what's happening with sellers may scare you, since someday you're sure to be on the other side of the equation. When any type of market shows signs of change there is usually a lot of hype in the media. if you read that it's a terrible time to buy a house, often enough, you may start to believe it. Pretty soon there's mass hysteria and everyone's afraid to make a move. The best advice is to not over analyze the situation. Find the right Real Estate Professional and Mortgage Professional and proceed.

Look at the Long-Term

If you want to buy a home during a softening market, then you should definitely do it. You shouldn't deny yourself a residence because you are concerned about the future. It's even fine to continue investing in real estate as long as you can afford to hold onto your property for the long haul. In fact, that's a more reliable way to grow your money than counting on quick turnovers. Some so-called experts may disagree, but there are so many advantages to home ownership that is seems foolish not to purchase based on a fear of an unknown future.

Remember the advantages of listed earlier. In addition, consider this:

• If you ever face a financial emergency, using the equity in your home makes more sense than taking out a separate loan at a higher rate.
• Home equity puts you in a better position to borrow money for another asset such as a second home, car or boat and adds to your credit health.
• If there actually is a drop in your home's value, all the other homes in your area will be facing the same downturn, and so your actual purchasing power will not have changed.
• If you are happy with your home, what difference does it really make if you are in a hot or a slow real estate market?

That doesn't mean you should rush out and buy a home before you can afford the payments. Use common sense so that you don't get into a financial bind and risk losing a great asset.

Shop for Your Mortgage

www.TxMortgageConsultant.com

Some people still believe that they don't have options when it comes to home loans. if you haven't dealt in the real estate market in recent years, you will be surprised at the changes. The internet is an amazing tool for researching where you want to live, what style home you want, and types of mortgages. Eventually, you'll want to sit down and review which mortgage program best suits your needs. We can meet together for a strategic financial review and discuss your short and long term goals so I can help you select the right mortgage.

In Conclusion... keep a cool, level head no matter what the real estate market is doing. Evaluate where you want to live in terms of your needs and those of your family.

For example - If you have children, look into the school districts. If you work, evaluate the commute times by car and see what alternative travel options are available. Decide if you'd prefer community living or maybe something more rural. In other words, don't just concentrate on how hot or cold the market is. Follow the direction of your heart and your budget. If you want a home and you can afford to buy it, than by all means GO FOR IT!

Are you are looking to buy or sell a home in Frisco or another city in North Texas? If so, then I can help. I am a licensed Mortgage Consultant located in North Texas with over 15 years experience in the industry. I can help you get pre-approved for your new home loan in Texas and even suggest some very knowledgeable and professional Real Estate Agents in your area of choice. If you are available to talk, I am available to listen. Give me a call any time or visit my website for more details.

John Cannata p# 214.545.5604

www.TxMortgageConsultant.com

State's Texas 211 Information System Helpful Resource for Hurricane Ike

Evacuation and Shelter Information

(September 11, 2008) If you have friends or family trying to leave the
Texas Gulf Coast there is a helpful hotline operated by the Stae of Texas.
For information about Hurricane Ike preparations, please access the Texas
211 Information System. You can dial 211 to get answers about evacuation
and shelter information and to find help locating relief services after
the storm. Operators answer calls 24-hours a day.

Currently the state is directing people who are evacuating to the
Dallas-Fort Worth area, but do not have arrangements for a place to stay,
to a facility in Mesquite. According to the plan designated by the
Governor's Division of Emergency Management, people who need assistance
after evacuating from Hurricane Ike should go to the following shelter
location first:

Texas Engineering Extension Service Facility
15515 I-20 @ Lumley
Mesquite, TX

*** Information provided by the Frisco News and Information Service ***

Even though each home and each home buyer is unique, the same mistakes are made over and over again when making a purchase. I have put together a quick report which outlines 7 common mistakes made during home buying and how to avoid them.

Buying a home is one of the most exciting events in a person's life, whether it's the first home or the fifth one; however, it can also be one of the most stressful. Purchasing a home should be regret-free and anxiety-free.

Learning to avoid these 7 most common mistakes when buying a home can help lower your stress and help you focus more easily on possibly the single largest purchase of your lifetime.

1. Not Being Prepared : When you consider the scope of the purchase, it's surprising how many people haven't done sufficient research. Research your buying power - it's easy to get a cursory idea of what you can afford through some of the Realtor websites. Many have calculators that allow you to input your salary and debt. Although that can be helpful to get a quick calculation, there are many factors those calculators do not consider. The best option is to sit down with a professional before you go house-hunting. You can find out exactly what you can afford in less than an hour with a qualified mortgage consultant - like myself. When it comes to making an offer on a home, sellers are far more interested in offers that come from pre-qualified buyers. They know that the sale will in all likelihood go through and that there won't be any unforeseen problems at the last minute. I offer clients a loan qualification letter to present to sellers to verify their ability to close a loan.
2. Thinking Too Long Term : There is danger in buying a home that's not right for you because you are planning too far in advance. Your life can change pretty dramatically in the space of a few short years. You may experience a change in health, family, or financial status for example. While you can't plan for everything, you do need to consider that you may have to sell the home unexpectedly in the not-so distant future, and the house must have some resale value.
3. Waiting Too Long : It's a big decision and only a foolish person would enter into it lightly. But it's just as easy to let caution get the better of you. The real estate market isn't fixed, it can change dramatically. Some markets are very tight, with few homes available - a tight market probably won't get better in the next year. The National Association of Realtors estimates that the appreciation rate in most markets will be at least 4 to 6 percent. Looking at everything before making a decision, it's tempting to think that the grass is always greener somewhere else, but you have find that the first home is the best home for you. If you wait, that home may not be available later. Don't rush into a decision, but if a house feels right, contact a local Real Estate Agent to help you make an appropriate offer. Don't have an agent? I'd be happy to refer a few professional and knowledgeable Realtors in your area of choice.
4. Focusing on a Single Feature : If you develop microscopic vision when looking at a house, it's possible to overlook far greater potential problems. Interior Decorating - Don't get caught up in decorating features. These are all easy features to change. However, the layout and floor plan of the home isn't easy to change. Exterior - It's important to have a home with nice curb appeal, but again, you can change that later. it's far easier to change landscaping than it is to rip out walls or add-on to a home to try and make it livable. Price - Don't focus completely on the price. Most buyers go out with an idea that they will only spend a fixed amount. A budgeted amount is often the first criteria when it comes time to evaluating homes.
5. Overlooking New Construction : Many buyers focus on existing homes, and don't consider newly constructed homes. It's hard to see the final vision of a planned home community, especially when touring through a development that is merely empty lots and partially built homes. However, these homes have great appreciation value, especially when you get in during the initial phases of the development, before the model homes have been built and the developer has invested a lot of money in marketing the community.
6. Working Without an Agent : Many people start looking at homes by driving by a home for sale and getting the number off the sign, visiting an open house, or looking online. While that's a great way to get a feel for the market, it's also easy to make a commitment to buying a home that doesn't necessarily reflect your best interest. Working with a real estate agent can actually save you time and money.
7. Rushing the Process : Let's say you found your dream home and put in an offer. What happens next? If your sale follows most standard sales, the home is inspected and appraised, the information is shared with the buyer (via the agent) and the mortgage company. The mortgage company processes the loan agreement, the buyer and seller sign-off and the home is yours. However, in highly competitive markets, some buyers waive the home inspection so that the loan can go through more quickly. So what's the problem? If there are defects that the home buyers discover later, they have no recourse - the house is theirs, warts and all. In a nutshell, be patient. It's at this stage, when people try to rush the process, that some of the biggest and most costly mistakes can take place.

Plan Your Needs!

It's important to plan carefully for some future events and how they may affect your home buying. Plan to stay in each home for at least two years, because when you sell you want to make at least your purchase price, plus any closing costs. If the house hasn't appreciated by 6 to 8 percent (typical percentage costs associated with closing), you can lose money.

How Much Can You Afford?

Answering these questions can help you find out how much house you can afford. Meet with me and you'll also find out if you are eligible for any special mortgage packages or interest options.

• Do you receive any yearly bonus?
• What debts do you have outstanding?
• How much of your annual earnings is overtime?
• Can you pay-off any debts before buying a home?
• Do you have any expenses that will deplete your savings?
• Do you have cash for down-payment and closing costs?
• How much is your annual salary?
• How much do you spend?
• Do you have any "gift" money?

Are you are looking to buy or sell a home in Frisco or another city in North Texas? If so, then I can help. I am a licensed Mortgage Consultant located in North Texas with over 15 years experience in the industry. I can help you get pre-approved for your new home loan in Texas and even suggest some very knowledgeable and professional Real Estate Agents in your area of choice. If you are available to talk, then I am available to listen. Give me a call any time or visit my website for more details.

John Cannata p# 214.545.5604

www.JohnCannata.com or www.TxMortgageConsultant.com