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Justin Vaught; NMLS # 260072; 480-299-8565

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What is a HAFA Short Sale

01-06-12
Justin Vaught; NMLS # 260072; 480-299-8565

What is a HAFA Short Sale? This Little clip will give you a lot of great info in an easy to understand interpretation. This clip about What is a HAFA Short Sale?, is made by www.CDPE.com. CDPE stands for Certified Distressed Property Expert, and this is a designation that some Realtors have that shows they have been through proper training to handle short sales. HAFA stands for Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative, because foreclosure should always be the last option! If you are thinking of listing short sales, I recommend getting this CDPE designation, as the training will be good and you will stand out from the crowd. If you are an unfortunate seller that is dealing with this issue, make sure your agent has the CDPE designation. Realtors who have the CDPE designation know What is a HAFA Short Sale? Either way, check out this clip on What is a HAFA Short Sale and you will get an idea if you qualify or if you would be interested in listing homes such as this.

How can I as a lender help with this someone looking to list a short sale that may be approved for HAFA? I can help in two ways: 1.) When the short sale transaction has been finalized and the seller no longer owns the home, I can help to get them a solid game plan to become purchase ready in the shortest time possible. 2.) I can help a listing agent with qualifying buyers correctly to ensure that the seller sells the home in the allotted time that the short sale lenders will give. Short sale transactions do have varied time-lines and some need to close very fast so having the best pre-approved buyer is key! I hope this little clip helps you if you have ever asked the question...What is a HAFA Short Sale?

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Changes to HARP Program

11-22-11
Justin Vaught; NMLS # 260072; 480-299-8565

Justin Vaught

AmeriFirst Financial, Inc.
Phone: 480-682-6640
Fax: 480-295-7998
License: NMLO# 260072
jvaught@amerifirst.us
http://www.AZFHAMortgage.com




Reminder: Changes to HARP Program Announced
See If You Can Benefit

Just a note to remind you that in October, President Obama announced plans to open up refinancing to more homeowners who are underwater. This proposal was a revision to the current Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP).

So what does this mean to you?

This means that if your mortgage is owned or guaranteed by either Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae, you may be eligible to refinance your mortgage under the enhanced and expanded provisions of HARP.

You can determine whether your mortgage is owned by either Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae by checking the following websites:

•http://www.freddiemac.com/mymortgage


•http://www.fanniemae.com/loanlookup/


Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have recently released details regarding how these changes will be run. If you have any questions at all about what these changes mean or how they could impact you, call or email me anytime. I'm always happy to help.

Sincerely,


Justin Vaught
AmeriFirst Financial, Inc.
jvaught@amerifirst.us

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Check out my Newsletter!

11-03-11
Justin Vaught; NMLS # 260072; 480-299-8565

Follow Me On:

YOU Magazine

Justin Vaught

Justin Vaught
AmeriFirst Financial, Inc.
Phone: 480-682-6640
Fax: 480-295-7998
License: NMLO# 260072
jvaught@amerifirst.us
http://www.AZFHAMortgage.com

AmeriFirst Financial, Inc.

November 2011

The Scoop on Inflation
And Its Impact on Home Loan Rates
CPI, PPI, PCE???sounds like a nice bowl of alphabet soup. But did you know that what lies behind these letters impacts not only YOU every single day...it also bears a very heavy influence on the direction of home loan rates? So pull up a chair, grab a spoon, and let???s dig in to learn more.

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The Scoop on InflationAnd Its Impact on Home Loan Rates

Talkin' Turkey
Non-traditional Options for a Traditional Holiday
By Kirk Leins
When it comes to holiday faire it doesn't get any more traditional than Thanksgiving dinner. But, there's a problem with this meal. It's built to feed an army. So, if you're looking to host a much smaller gathering this year you've come to the right place. In this issue of 360 Degrees, we're talking turkey...turkey options, that is.

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Talkin' TurkeyNon-traditional Options for a Traditional HolidayBy Kirk Leins

One Choice
A Message from Simple Truths
Between the economy, the job market, and the housing crisis, it's been a challenging few years for many people. But that doesn't mean making a fresh start is impossible. It just takes one choice at a time.

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One ChoiceA Message from Simple Truths

What If There Was a Cure?
The Benefits of Coconut Oil for Patients of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS (Lou Gehrig's), Autism and other Diseases
By Mary T. Newport, MD, Author of Alzheimer's Disease: What If There Was a Cure?
My husband Steve, now 61-years-old, has early onset Alzheimer's disease. In May 2008, while he was screening for clinical trials, I came across information about a potential treatment in development: AC-1202, now called Axona.

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What If There Was a Cure?The Benefits of Coconut Oil for Patients of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS (Lou Gehrig's), Autism and other DiseasesBy Mary T. Newport, MD, Author of Alzheimer's Disease: What If There Was a Cure?

Budget-Friendly Alternatives to Cable TV
It's getting cheaper and easier to stream your favorite shows to your television set.
By Lisa Gerstner, Kiplinger.com
Not long ago, TV reception depended on how well your rooftop antenna picked up the signal. But now cables and satellites have commandeered our screens. Today, about 87% of U.S. households subscribe to a "multi-channel video service," mainly cable or satellite TV, according to Leichtman Research Group.

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Budget-Friendly Alternatives to Cable TVIt's getting cheaper and easier to stream your favorite shows to your television set.By Lisa Gerstner, Kiplinger.com

''Will'' You or Won't You?
Be Prepared for Difficult Times
No one ever wants to experience a life threatening or life altering illness. But the truth is, people face these kinds of situations everyday. It's so important to take action before a catastrophe strikes, so you can make important decisions with a clear head. This will help you insure that you and your family, income, and assets are protected in the way you want them to be.

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''Will'' You or Won't You?Be Prepared for Difficult Times





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Justin Vaught
AmeriFirst Financial, Inc.
1910 S. Stapley Dr., Ste. 209
Mesa, AZ 85204
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Did you know you fund the FDIC indirectly if you pay taxes?

10-24-11
Justin Vaught; NMLS # 260072; 480-299-8565

Got to love the guys from "Think Big Work Small" as they have connected the dots on how the FDIC gets funded. The FDIC claims to be self supporting and a private entity but they get their funds indirectly through the U.S. taxpayers. I found this video interesting so I thought I would share. Let me know your thoughts.

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Practical Tips to Enhance Your Financial Freedom

10-21-11
Justin Vaught; NMLS # 260072; 480-299-8565
Justin Vaught

AmeriFirst Financial, Inc.
Phone: 480-682-6640
Fax: 480-295-7998
License: NMLO# 260072
jvaught@amerifirst.us
http://www.AZFHAMortgage.com
Make the Most of Your Flex Account in 2012
Here's how to take advantage of an FSA before the amount you can contribute to one is lowered in 2013.
 By Kimberly Lankford, Kiplinger.com

Will the maximum amount that I can contribute to my employer's medical flexible spending account shrink next year? I recall hearing that the contribution limits will change.

Actually, the rules won't change until 2013, when the maximum amount employees can stash in a medical FSA will be capped at $2,500 per year. Currently the maximum limit varies by plan, but many employers allow employees to set aside $4,000 or more in these pretax accounts for medical expenses. You can sign up for your 2012 contributions during open-enrollment season this fall.

In light of the impending change, however, you can make the most of your FSA in 2012. If you've been thinking of having an elective medical procedure done that's not fully covered by insurance – such as laser eye surgery for you or orthodontia for your kids – you might want to schedule it before the FSA limit changes, so you'll have access to more tax-free money.

And, if you plan carefully, you may have an even bigger stash of tax-free money to use for out-of-pocket medical expenses during the first 2½ months of 2012 or 2013. If your employer extends the deadline for using FSA funds to March 15 of the following year, rather than December 31, you can combine any funds remaining from the previous year with the entire amount you earmark for the current year – even though the full amount has not yet been deducted from your paycheck. If, for example, you have $1,000 left over from 2011 and you sign up to contribute $4,000 to your FSA for 2012, you may be able to use $5,000 in tax-free money to pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses from January 1 to March 15, 2012.

For more information about FSAs and their tax benefits, see The New Rules of Flexible-Spending Accounts and our How Much Should I Put in My Flexible-Spending Account? calculator.

Reprinted with permission. All Contents ©2011 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. www.kiplinger.com.
Eat and Drink Your Way to Savings

"Eat. Drink. Save Money." That's the motto of Restaurant.com, a Web site founded in 1999 that received an A+ rating by the BBB in 2005. Not only does Restaurant.com serve as a clever way for families to save an estimated 50% on restaurant meals–it's also a creative gift idea for any occasion!

To find one of the 18,000 participating restaurants, visit the website and then enter either your zip code in the search field or search by state. From there, browse a list of participating restaurants–complete with brief descriptions and menus–and then select the one that's to your liking. Each restaurant will have minimum purchase prices listed and will also list some stipulations for gift cards, so be sure to read the details carefully.

Once you've made your restaurant selection, choose the amount you'd like to spend, add it to your cart and then check out. If you're a first time user, you will need to create an account and agree to the terms and conditions first.

There are no fees and no expiration date, and Restaurant.com even has an unconditional guarantee. So if something isn't "right with your certificate, just contact customer service by phone or email" and they'll take care of it right away!

Billions of Dollars Are Missing
Is Some of It Yours?

Would you be surprised to learn that billions of dollars are missing...just waiting to be found by the rightful owners? That's because when individuals move and forget to change their address, companies or banking institutions cannot contact them. So any property left behind–for example, bank accounts, safe deposit box contents, and un-cashed checks–is turned over to the state as "unclaimed property." The state then acts as a custodian of the property until the rightful owner claims it.

To determine if you have any unclaimed property with a state, visit www.unclaimed.org. Click on the state that you live in, and you will be directed to the appropriate Web site. You will either be able to perform a quick immediate search online, or a few states give you the information on how to contact them directly to inquire. If you have lived in several states, do a quick search for each, since the funds will be held in the state they originated. What's more, the site also has links for inquiring about money in Canada, or Federal money such as IRS returns.

Be cautious of solicitations by mail or email that require you to pay a fee to obtain information about unclaimed property. Any unclaimed property information can be obtained free of charge by visiting www.unclaimed.org.
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