Date posted: April 22, 2012
This April 22nd marks the 42nd anniversary of the first Earth Day, and provides us with a great opportunity to mobilize our families, colleagues and communities to do their part to protect and preserve the environment. As Californians, we were one of the first (nationally and internationally) to implement recycling best practices and pass other legislation designed to lower our regional carbon footprint. So for many of us, we are accustomed to separating our trash, carpooling to work and turning off the lights when we walk out of a room.
At Stewart and Soss, we encourage our team to do the same. We think of Earth Day as a great opportunity to renew our commitment to the earth, and come together to think of new ways that we can make an even bigger difference in helping our planet.
At home, the possibilities are endless – literally. We took a few minutes to calculate our individual carbon footprints, and were shocked at the potential areas for improvement. While we were familiar with ideas like using more efficient light bulbs (incandescent) and turning off the electricity at night to save power, it is easy to take it a step or two further. Some of our favorite ideas include:
- Investing in solar chargers for your electronics. The newest in solar technology has brought prices down, making it easy to make the switch.
- Slow Down! Did you know that driving more slowly translates into using less gas? It’s great for the earth! And with rising gas costs, it’s great for your pocketbook too. Read More »
Date posted: April 9, 2012
Do your homework! In the same way that you research loan options, it is important to put energy into investigating the neighborhoods you are considering. While the Internet has made it easy to find out literal statistics and information about individual neighborhoods throughout the Bay Area, nothing replaces talking to the people who live there already to get real perspectives about the questions that are most important to you.
Regardless of whether you have children, safety is probably the most important factor for individuals and families alike. Look up stats, and then confirm the data by talking to your potential neighbors and others who are familiar with the neighborhood dynamics and reputation. Read More »
Date posted: March 22, 2012
First time homebuyers who are considering the popular FHA loan because of a smaller down payment and a lower credit score requirement will have to factor in the increased cost of higher fees due to a new premium structure for FHA-insured, single-family mortgage loans.
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Date posted: February 29, 2012
When asking our clients what is their most important consideration in buying a home, location, location, location still remains on top of the list. But the word “location” has evolved to mean a lot more than the view from the front porch or distance to the nearest beach. Now, when one of our clients mentions location we know exactly what type of information they are looking for—they want to know more about their community, their schools and their neighbors. And, most importantly, they want to make sure that the community they are considering is a worthy location for investing in a home for their family.
When we at Stewart & Soss Mortgage decided to build our business in the Bay Area, we did so because this is where we wanted to settle with our own families, and nothing less was suitable for our clients. Now, six years later, we maintain this belief. At a time when our communities continue to face numerous financial challenges and state budget cuts, we’ve been inspired to identify initiatives that allow us to express our commitment to the communities we serve throughout the Bay Area. Read More »
Date posted: December 12, 2011
The holiday season is one of the most anticipated times of the year. Unfortunately, criminals look forward to the season too as people are more likely to be out shopping and leaving their homes unattended while travelling during the holidays. Here are some home safety tips to protect your home, your family and your belongings this holiday season.
Trim shrubbery and trees close to your home. Overgrown landscaping provides the perfect cover for a burglar working to pry open a window.
Remove garage door openers from cars parked in the driveway. It’s a smart idea to leave a second car parked in the driveway, but be sure to remove the garage door opener. Burglars can easily bust out a window and open your garage with the click of a button.
Lock garage entry doors. If you live in a home with an attached garage, lock the door from the garage to the home when leaving. Garage doors have been known to be manually forced up, allowing access to your home. Read More »
Date posted: December 9, 2011
We here at Stewart & Soss Mortgage love a good interactive map, especially one that tracks the movement of homeowners. Check out this
neat migration map courtesy of Forbes.com. According to Forbes, each year 40 million Americans move from one home to another. Will you be one of them in the upcoming year? These fascinating migration patterns may offer clues on where to settle down next…
By the way, if you’re in the market for a new place, we’re always here to help with your home financing. Have fun with the map!
Date posted: October 21, 2011
Whether it’s a fixer-upper or brand new with all the amenities, chances are you’ll spend more time in your home than anywhere else. That’s why all homebuyers should get a professional home inspection. Read More »
Date posted: October 15, 2011
Economic news has been looking gloomy again in the past few days, weeks, months. But there has been a bright spot in all the malaise: mortgage rates. They’re still really low, so low that many homeowners have been seriously considering refinancing. We thought it might be worthwhile to look at the refinance decision.
Maybe your current payment is still in your comfort zone or maybe you’re not sure if you want the hassle of going through the refinance process. But wouldn’t it be great to have some extra money every month? If you have the right team on your side, the refinance process should be quick and easy. Read More »
Date posted: September 21, 2011
The heat of summer is ending and before the first chill of fall, it’s time to think about improving your home, both inside and out. We’ve compiled a short list of projects to fortify your home for the winter months while also looking ahead to next summer. Read More »
Date posted: August 1, 2011
thebusybrain@flickr
A direct lender (aka, mortgage banker) does everything in-house, from the appraisal to the underwriting to the preparation of the closing documents. You could say a direct lender operates as if they were the bank. In addition, some direct lenders like Stewart & Soss Mortgage connect with numerous banks, including Wells
Fargo, Met Life, ING and US Bank. This allows a direct lender to be able to operate as a mortgage broker, shop the loan and offer the best terms, all while still retaining control of the transaction—this is crucial as the transaction progresses and becomes more complicated. Read More »
