Money laundering is a huge problem for financial institutions and monitoring compliance and reporting is a challenge. As I read through FinCEN’s recent announcement, it became clear…the law is not really clear! Because real estate transactions are large in dollars, they are one of the easiest places to “clean up the money.” If you think Anti-Money Laundering regulations are vague or too complicated, now is your chance to help clarify how current regulations may be …
Don’t Try to Outsmart the Markets Getting ready to refinance your mortgage but waiting for rates to fall just one more time? Is that extra 1/8th percent ready to drop? Some consumers begin to follow economic news and perform no shortage of due diligence trying to pick the perfect time to lock in an interest rate. Loan officers are asked on a daily basis, “What are rates going to do?” The fact is nobody knows …
Don’t Try to Outsmart the Markets Getting ready to refinance your mortgage but waiting for rates to fall just one more time? Is that extra 1/8th percent ready to drop? Some consumers begin to follow economic news and perform no shortage of due diligence trying to pick the perfect time to lock in an interest rate. Loan officers are asked on a daily basis, “What are rates going to do?” The fact is nobody knows …
My analogy to guidelines these days is they are like trying to hold jello in the palm of your hand. Squishy, slippery, moving; slipping through your fingers! Patience is a virtue! We need to understand that underwriters spend MUCH more time determining the amount of income that can be used for qualifying, how consistent it is or will be, the job status of employees, viability of employer’s business and documenting the file to meet secondary …


