Mortgage Guys Can Have Fun Too?

Hello! Well, my wife Melissa and I are off to Peru and L.A. for the Holidays! We are excited for a much needed break and are excited to share with you when we get back. To the left is a picture of Machu Picchu, which we will be seeing while we are there.

Melissa is actually there already. Check out her blog for updates on her trip, some great photos of the amazing work she is doing with the FACES organization (they do surgeries for kids with cleft lip and palate). You can also check her blog while we are gone for updates:

http://soulmatesphoto.blogspot.com/

Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!


Joshua Tomeoni of Mortgage Freedom and Financial Services, Inc.

Jon's Story (Story Comes Best From Happy Customers: Mortgage Planning)

We can say what we do all day long, but it really does not matter if people's lives are not being impacted in a meaningful way.

Welcome back, Jon. Jon was on our radio show just over a year ago talking about Main Street. He has a very interesting story and we think it really speaks to how people have been feeling these last couple of years.

Listen to Jon's Story (Click Here)

Let us know what you think by commenting below or e-mailing us.


Thanks! Joshua Tomeoni of Mortgage Freedom and Financial Services, Inc.

Mortgage Industry= good or bad?

So, I generally do not put that many opinionated posts on here as to try to stay out of the debate. And, I truly believe that there is value to many varieties of opinions.

However, I have no problem putting other people's opinions on here. I ran across this quote this morning. If you have not heard of Rob Chrisman, I would greatly recommend his Mortgage News Daily, it's great! Here you go...

"I usually try to keep my opinions out the daily commentary. But I am really becoming irked by the press. One day they complain about our industry having foreclosure problems and the credit crisis here in the US and in the world. And then the next day they complain about the declining rate of mortgage approvals and fewer people qualifying for home loans in the US. And then on the third day they will have some story about how it makes sense for a borrower to walk away from their home loan obligation. Geez! (I’d read on the web that one guy, who was forcefully complaining about his parking ticket in front of his dad, got this response from the father: 'Just pay the parking ticket. Don't be so outraged. You're not a freedom fighter in the civil rights movement. You double parked.')" Rob Chrisman

We would love to hear your thoughts on this one, please leave them below.


Thanks! Joshua Tomeoni of Mortgage Freedom and Financial Services, Inc.

Fun Fact Friday! Portland Edition

Each Friday, we gather a collection of fun facts. On the last Friday of every month, the facts are all about Portland. This week we have some random Portland facts:

• #8 best city for beer lovers

• The Portland area is the 24th-biggest economy with a gross metropolitan product (GMP) of $112.4 billion.

• The 2010 State Business Tax Climate Index ranks Oregon No. 14 for its climate. In 2007, Oregon ranked No. 8.

Thanks! Joshua Tomeoni of Mortgage Freedom and Financial Services, Inc.

Fun Fact Friday!

Each Friday, we gather a collection of fun facts. With everything going on in our economy today, we decided that positivity may be helpful. Therefore, we are, once again, focusing on leadership. We hope it encourages you today and keeps you from getting dragged down by negative people:


"Never forget that only dead fish swim with the stream"
Malcolm Muggeridge

"A leaders is a dealer in hope"
Napoleon Bonaparte

"A great leader's courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position"
John Maxwell

"A leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not"
Anonymous

Can you think of any others? If so, post them here! Thanks! Joshua Tomeoni of Mortgage Freedom and Financial Services, Inc.

Fun Fact Friday (the 13th)!

Each Friday, we gather a collection of fun facts. This week some fun facts about Friday the 13th (FT13). Is this just a silly superstition or is there more to it?

• Historically, the Dow Jones Industrial Average on this day has been just shy of 60% positive stock market performance

• Some biblical scholars believe Abel killed Cain on FT13

• Estimates say $900 million is lost in business on FT13 as people will not fly or conduct standard business

• Paraskavedekatriaphobia (fear of FT13) afflicts 20 million people in the U.S.

• Births on FT13: Butch Cassidy, Fidel Castro, Alfred Hitchcock, Steve Buscemi, and Christopher Plummer
  

• This is our third FT13 this year, the next year to have three will be 2015. Any month beginning with a Sunday will contain a FT13, and there is at least one FT13 in every calendar year

Let us know if you think of any more! Joshua Tomeoni of Mortgage Freedom and Financial Services, Inc.

Home Buyer Tax Credit (Details)

Good news! As mentioned before, the home buyer tax credit has been extended. (Click here for the previous synopsis).

We have also found a sight that was just put out by the National Association of Home Builders, which is extremely detailed about the new credit: Click Here (www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com).


Thanks! Joshua Tomeoni of Mortgage Freedom and Financial Services, Inc.

Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended (Not Just for First Timers)!

The Home Buyer Tax Credit has officially been extended today by President Obama! Here are a few details:

Not just for First-Timers: It creates a new $6,500 credit for property owners who have lived in their home for at least five consecutive years and "buy-up".

First-Timers: The $8,000 credit will apply to all contracts, for homes up to $800,000, entered into before April 30, 2010, and closed by June 30.

Details: Income limits for eligible home buyers are expanded to $125,000 for single buyers and $225,000 for couples, from $75,000 and $150,000, respectively. Tax returns will be verified. We will know more details when they come to pass, but I wanted to be the first to let you know.

Make sure you let everyone know who is looking to buy a home that rates are at their lowest levels ever, and this will expire one day, get in while you can! (Income limits and other restrictions apply, see the IRS details here).


Call me to review your mortgage plan today!

Joshua Tomeoni (503-692-9643) of Mortgage Freedom and Financial Services, Inc.

Fun Fact Friday!

Each Friday, we gather a collection of fun facts. Today it should probably be called "Inspirational Quote Friday" or "Leadership Friday", but they just don't have the same ring to them. Either way, I hope this encourages you today:

"Lead, follow, or get out of the way"
Thomas Paine

"Being a leader is like being a lady; if you have to go around telling people you are one, you aren't"
Margaret Thatcher

"Leadership is not about achieving personal success (or wealth); it's about making their vision a reality"
Sandler Systems, Inc.

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader"
John Quincy Adams

Let us know if you think of any more! Joshua Tomeoni of Mortgage Freedom and Financial Services, Inc.

Fun Fact Friday! Portland Edition

Each Friday, we gather a collection of fun facts. On the last Friday of every month, the facts are all about Portland. This week we are talking all about how well Portland is planned. Travel and Leisure has ranked Portland #1 for all of the following, enjoy!

• #1 best city for safety
• #1 best city for cleanliness
• #1 best city for public parks
• #1 best city for environmental awareness
  

Can you find/think of any others? Post them here!

Joshua Tomeoni of Mortgage Freedom and Financial Services, Inc.