Cape May, NJ

To start off my 2010 real estate adventure, I went to Rain Camp on January 12th in New York City. It was a convention that was located at the Marriott in Times Square. At Rain Camp, I learned about the power of Google and the importance of internet marketing in today's social media platforms. Rain Camp stressed the importance of Facebook, Twitter and Zillow. I never gave social media, in regards to my business, much thought. Ben Kinney changed all that. I am thankful that he shared his words of wisdom.

During Rain Camp, I was able to meet fellow Rainmakers and listen to ideas where today's marketing is heading. ActiveRain has been a driving, positive force of technological insight in the ever changing real estate world. If you have a question, click the Search button. Referral? Post it. You get the picture.

Active Rain's Rain Camp has also brought together Realtors with the people that help make our business happen.

Rain Camp was the essence of ActiveRain brought down to a one day, information filled seminar. If you have been to other real estate seminars and have felt that in order to get all the information you had to spend more money, but didn't want to, then this place is for you. Pay for your ticket, bring a notebook and pen, then go home and apply your knowledge. (Or go to the after party) No one is trying to make you "buy this or that." Just come and take notes.

I left Rain Camp with the knowledge to market better and make more informed decisions on web building, lead tracking, etc.

I am now back in my town with the power to make my business grow. Cape May is just a dot on the map to some. For me, it is the place where I live and grow. With what I learned at Rain Camp, I can help more people move to this wonderful community.

Thanks Rain Camp.

For the past 35 years, Cape May has been promoting their rich history through self guided home tours. Tonight the times for the home tours are 5:30 to 8:30 pm. This lovely walk will take you down Columbia Avenue, where many of the Bed and Brekfast's are located. Then you can walk up tree lined Washington Street, Guerney, Franklin and Lafayette Street, just to name a few.

The Albert Stevens Inn, Cape Island Baptist Church, Congress Hall, The Primse Inn, and The Wilbraham Mansion are just a few that will be on tonight's tour.

The Cape May Luthern Choir will be at the Cape May Stage on Lafayette Street from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.

Tickets can be purchased at the Washington Street Mall Information booth. Prices are $25 for adults and $20 for children.

Be sure to take a carriage ride through town after the tour.

Enjoy.

Cape May County Mortgage Loan Programs abound, as there are a variety of available loan options for first-time buyers, those "upsizing" or "downsizing", or those who simply wish to refinance their existing mortgage. Cape May County Mortgage Loan Programs include and are not limited to: FHA Mortgages, VA Loans, Fannie Mae Loans, Adjustable Rate Mortgages, USDA RD Loans, Jumbo Mortgage Loans, Second Home Financing, and Stated Income Loans. We will review briefly each type of loan listed above to go over the programs we offer as a New Jersey Mortgage Banker. We offer additional mortgage programs as a broker as well, giving us the ability to offer the best of both worlds. For a direct quote on any particular program, please contact me or feel free to call me directly at 908 531 6170. Here is a synopsis of several of our different loan programs:

FHA Mortgages are very popular among our Cape May County Mortgage Loan Programs, as a large portion of our loans is through FHA and we have FHA Approved underwriters on staff. We offer the traditional 203B, 3.5% down FHA Purchase Money loan as well as refinancing options. Here is a recent blog I wrote about the FHA Adjustable Rate Mortgage Program. The fixed rate program is super as well.

VA Mortgages: 100% financing for qualified veterans is a great loan program for veteran first-time homebuyers and seasoned homebuyers alike. With VA approved underwriters on staff, we offer in-house underwriting for VA Loans. Here is a recent blog I wrote with some basic information regarding the VA Mortgage Program.

USDA RD Loans: in Cape May County, New Jersey, there are some areas qualified for the moderate income rural development 100% financing program. As a New Jersey Mortgage Banker, we underwrite and fund these loans ourselves. Here is some info on the USDA program and eligible areas in NJ. The most important part to remember about the USDA program is you must qualify income-wise and the property location must fall within an approved area.

Jumbo Mortgage Loans: We have Cape May County Mortgage Loan Programs with true Jumbo Mortgage programs on a brokered basis. Although many parts of NJ have benefitted from the "super-conforming" loan limits, some areas still have relatively low loan limits. The Cape May area comes to mind, for one with just a $487,500 loan limit for conventional financing. Here is a recent blog about our true jumbo programs in NJ. We offer jumbo homes on second homes as well.

Stated Income Mortgage Loans: We do not offer the traditional "liar's loan", but rather have on a brokered basis access to Stated Income Mortgage Loans for the self-employed borrowers for which this program was originally intended. This blog has more information about our stated income brokered product.

For more information on the Cape May County Mortgage Loan Programs we offer, use my contact form or call me at 908 531 6170.

Cape May is haunted. So, it is no surprise that there are many terror-ific events happening in the next two weeks. There is the Historic Haunts Combo Tour which is a trolley ride and tour of the Emblem Physick Estate. Next, we have the Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tour that travels past haunted houses in the center of town. I think they are all haunted. If you want to see the haunted houses outside of Cape May proper, just drive through West Cape May, roll down your window, and follow the sounds of the coyotes hollowing at the moon. There is also a Tales of Terror trolley ride where you can listen to Cape May ghost stories. A must do is the Phantoms of Cape May self guided Halloween tour through Cape May ghostly landmarks. Of course, you can always stop in for a Murder Mystery at the Inn of Cape May. How about sitting on the beach? I heard there is a phantom dog that people see coming out of the water at the Point. Whatever your pleasure, Cape May is sure to deliver and frighten this Halloween season.

This weekend is officially the start of our season in Cape May. There are yard sales a plenty, people walking to the beach, owners cleaning out their homes and getting ready for renters, and of course everyone heading to the beach.....Oh, I said that already. Today is one of the prettiest days of the spring season. The sun is out and there is not a cloud in the sky. The sun is going to be very hot today so I would definately choose the beach over sitting in your backyard. The restaurants are all officially open during the week instead of just on weekends. The real estate market is starting to pick up a bit. All in all, it is a great day to be at the Jersey shore. I wish everyone a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend.