New American Funding News, Press Releases & Blogs Account Login It All Comes Out in the Laundry (Room)! Posted 02/23/2018      image: http://www.newamericanagent.com/uploads/images/comes-out-in-laundry-room-og.jpg Laundry Room Let’s face it…we all have dirty laundry, literally. Whether it’s something you do weekly—or, for some families, daily—having a dedicated and organized laundry room in your home makes it easier to get the job done. Growing Popularity According to a recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders, having a dedicated space for a laundry room tops the wish list for first time homebuyers. This must-have status could be fueled by several factors. After years of renting, and most likely sharing a laundry area with other tenants or relying on a laundromat, the convenience of being able to do laundry in the comfort of their own home, on their own timeline and without a bucket of quarters or a wait for a machine is highly desirable. Another reason may be lifestyle changes. With 34 percent of homebuyers being Millennials and nearly half of them having children under the age of 18, there is a lot of laundry to do. Location, Location, Location When looking at a home, the location of a laundry room is important, though it appears to be a matter of personal preference. For some, the traditional garage or basement locations are fine. However, for parents with small children who go through several changes of clothes over the course of a day, that option may only be desirable if you are trying to boost your step count. In this case, having the laundry room close to bedrooms may be much more convenient. Others, particularly those with pets, may want the laundry room to serve double duty as a mud room near the backdoor where dirty feet—or paws—can be wiped off and dirty clothing collected before it enters the main areas of the house. Remodeling for a Laundry Room With laundry rooms ranking so high on buyers' wish lists, they are also finding increased attention as a remodeling project. A study by the home design site Houzz found that the average spent on laundry room remodels grew 24 percent in recent years to $2,800, making it an affordable “luxury.” An advantage to remodeling a space into a dedicated laundry room is that you’re able to choose the layout and design to meet your criteria. For many, having the same type of built-in functionality as their kitchens is at the top of their laundry list of features. Here are some other common features: •Storage cabinets •Hidden garbage bins •Foldout ironing board •Dedicated folding area •Drying racks •Place to sit •Good lighting •A jetted sink •Area for art and other projects The Potential to Save More Than Just Pocket Change When remodeling for a laundry room, you may also want to consider upgrading your appliances. Environmentally friendly washers and dryers can have a big impact on your utility bills. According to ENERGY STAR®, the average American family washes around 300 loads of laundry every year. ENERGY STAR also estimates that a 10-year-old standard washer will cost you about $210 a year more to use than a newer model. Installing energy- and water-efficient appliances may not pay for the remodeling job, but it can help justify it. Doing laundry is a reality. Being able to do it in a room built to handle the task can make it more pleasant and convenient. It can also enhance your home’s attractiveness to its next owner when it's time to sell. Next Article All Articles (1 of 10 articles) How the New Tax Law Affects You and Your HELOC Read More » x image: http://www.newamericanagent.com/img/banner-smart-start-homebuyer.jpg Smart Start Homebuyer Recent Blog Posts It All Comes Out in the Laundry (Room)! How the New Tax Law Affects You and Your HELOC Black History Month: Infographic Cash Out Refinance: Like Taking a Vacation on The House New or Used: Tips for Furnishing Your New Home Market Update - February 8, 2018 New American Funding Appoints Christine Eskina as a New Sales Manager Valentine's Day By the Numbers - Infographic How to Save for a Down Payment Home Is Where the Heart Is © 2018 New American Funding. All Rights Reserved. Corporate Office: 14511 Myford Road, Suite 100, Tustin, CA 92780. We at New American Funding take great pride in our customer service and make it our number one priority. We encourage you to contact us for complaint resolution or any post-closing questions you may have regarding the servicing of your loan. We strive to have your experience with New American Funding a stellar one. In the rare case that our service did not meet your expectations, please call our customer care hotline at 1-800-450-2010, ext. 7100 or you may contact us by email at customerservice@nafinc.com. Please leave a detailed message and we will follow up with you no later than the end of the next business day. NMLS ID#6606 | State Licensing | Advertising Disclosures | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Electronic Consent Agreement | NMLS Consumer Access FacebookLinkedInTwitterGoogle+YouTubeInstagram Toggle image: http://rp.gwallet.com/r1/cm/p46 image: http://rp.gwallet.com/r1/cm/p61 image: http://rp.gwallet.com/r1/cm/p50 image: http://rp.gwallet.com/r1/cm/p16 Read more at https://www.newamericanfunding.com/blog/it-all-comes-out-in-the-laundry-room/#CP6UIvUkwwbcp1Ob.99

Cash Out Refinance: Like Taking a Vacation on The House Posted 02/16/2018  image: http://www.newamericanagent.com/uploads/images/cash-out-refinance-taking-vacation-house-og.jpg Family Vacation If you are like many U.S. homeowners, you are entering the New Year with higher property values and, depending what part of the country you live in, with dreams of higher temperatures as post-holiday winter weather hits. Then again, you may be more intent on making improvements to your home in anticipation of a "staycation" later this year. In either case, as well as those involving milestone events like family reunions and college tours, a cash out refinance may make your goal more affordable. Why This Makes Sense A cash out refinance involves accessing the equity that has built up as your home’s value increased over the last few years and you’ve repaid the principal portion of your mortgage. This amount builds within your home as equity while you continue to pay the same mortgage amount each month. That equity would be freed up if you were to sell your home, but there is also another way to access it. Replacing your current mortgage with one of a higher value gives you access to the money built up via your home’s equity. Depending on the current interest rate environment, a refinance can sometimes even be done at a lower rate. When that occurs, your monthly payment may remain close to the same as your current payment even though you have a larger mortgage. If you currently have a shorter-term loan or adjustable-rate loan, you may also find that a cash out refinance may also benefit you. In these situations, you can refinance into a fixed-rate mortgage ahead of an expected rise in interest rates and/or lengthen the term of your loan, which could potentially lock you into a lower monthly payment than you might otherwise have had. Regardless of the circumstances, when you refinance using a cash out loan option, you receive a cash payment that can be used for any purpose you would like, including achieving other financial or life goals. Cash Out to Achieve Other Goals •Retire student loans •Finance a wedding •Buy an investment property •Put a down payment on a vacation home •Pay off medical bills •Help offset elder-care expenses •Make home improvements •Pay down credit card debt •Take a once-in-a-lifetime trip •Start a new business •Pay for a child’s education Borrowing From Yourself The preferred use of a cash out refinance is one that improves your financial situation—such as paying for home improvements that might further boost your home’s value, starting a side business, or repaying higher interest debt like student loans or credit cards. However, the extra cash also enables you to invest in experiences that will improve your family’s quality of life and create lasting memories. That might mean a vacation property that your family can enjoy for years to come through a timeshare, fractional ownership program, or the outright purchase of a vacation home. Many such properties, especially second homes, may offer the added advantage of being an investment with the potential to create a small stream of rental income when your family isn't using them. While escaping to warmer weather is a goal many share, the versatility of a cash out refinance allows you to accomplish any number of goals by essentially borrowing from yourself to pay for improvements that can have lasting impact on the quality of your family's life. Read more at http://www.newamericanagent.com/%20https://www.newamericanfunding.com/blog/cash-out-refinance-like-taking-a-vacation-on-the-house/#V5qMsmMMhi3FHmkX.99

How to Respond to Negative Feedback In today's technology-driven world, it's important to have an online presence. Real Estate Agents should have websites and social media accounts to connect with current, past and potential clients. However, managing these accounts can be tricky sometimes. 1. Stay Calm When someone makes a negative comment on your Facebook page, it can be tempting to refute it right away or delete the comment. But this isn't always the best option. In fact, getting defensive and attacking the comment – or the commenter – are some of the worst things you can do.1 2. Say You're Sorry Instead, begin by saying you're sorry for whatever grievance the client has, even if you have a perfectly reasonable explanation. Even if you didn't call a client back because of a family emergency, it can still come across like you're making excuses. Also, thank them for bringing the problem to your attention. 3. Make it Personal Agents should also make each response personal.2 Don't use a standard go-to reply for each negative comment. This will make you seem insincere, or like you don't care about the feelings of your clients. Dealing with negative feedback can be stressful. It's not always clear what the right answer is. But the important thing to do is remember to be respectful to your clients' feelings and always be prompt in responding to criticism.

News, Press Releases & Blogs Account Login How to Save for a Down Payment Posted 02/6/2018      image: http://www.newamericanagent.com/uploads/images/how-to-save-down-payment-blog.jpg Money Ready to get serious about homeownership? Then it’s probably time to start saving for a down payment. While down payments can seem like a challenge, they are really like any other goal you set for yourself, doable. To succeed, think about the bigger goal in terms of smaller, more easily accomplished actions you can take to save money. Here are 12 things you can start doing today that can help you reach your goal, perhaps even within a year. Nickel and Dime Yourself Look at your expenses and what you’re spending money on, and then find opportunities to cut back. Try bringing lunch four days a week or carpooling to save gas money. Small cutbacks can really add up over time. Set It and Forget It Establish a high-yield savings account that is strictly for your down payment. You may even want to choose a bank separate from the one you normally use so you won’t be tempted to dip into your savings. Then, schedule an automatic transfer out of every paycheck into that account. Up Your App Game Find an app that will help you save and visualize your progress. Qapital links to your personal accounts and lets you establish “rules” based on your daily life. For example, you can set a weekly coffee budget and send the rest to savings when you come in under the amount. Create a Waterfall Concentrate on paying off high-interest debt, such as credit cards, one at a time. Once you pay one off, move to the next one. As you reduce your monthly debt payments, it should free up cash you can save for your down payment. Get a Side Hustle Whether it’s selling your knitted masterpieces on Etsy or driving for Lyft, divert the extra income toward your down payment. Semi-retire Your 401K Contribution Consider temporarily reducing your 401K contribution while you are saving for your down payment. Put aside the difference in your savings account until you’ve reached your goal. Once that happens, increase your contribution percentage to at least what it was previously. Think Smaller Decreasing your current housing expenses means you can put more away for a down payment. Moving to a smaller, less costly space for a short time can help you save money for a bigger, more permanent place to call home. Ask to See the Benjamins Include your relatives and friends in your savings goal. When a gift-receiving opportunity presents itself and you’re asked what you’d like for the occasion, answer, “Cash, please!” Plan a Staycation Instead of splurging on an expensive vacation this year, challenge yourself to find as many fun—inexpensive and free—things as you can to do and see in your hometown. With each ticket you don’t buy, or restaurant meal you don’t pay as much for, add to your savings account. Hold a Real, or Virtual, Yard Sale Letting go of those skis you haven’t used in five years will be easier if you know the profit will go toward a new home. Virtual sites like eBay and Facebook’s Marketplace make it easy to get your merchandise in front of potential buyers. It also means less to move! Stash Your Raise Congratulations! Your hard work over the past year was recognized. Now, pretend it never happened. Instead, continue to live off the amount of your old paycheck and put the remainder in your down payment savings account. Look at All Your Options Many organizations, such as the Federal Housing Authority, Veterans Administration, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, offer down payment assistance for qualifying borrowers. Taking advantage of one of these programs could greatly reduce the amount you’ll need to save and stretch the dollars you have accumulated. Whether you follow all or just a few of these savings tips, achieving your savings goal could be easier than you think. They also could lead to your becoming a homeowner that much sooner. Read more at https://www.newamericanfunding.com/blog/how-to-save-for-a-down-payment/#p83hkR5wF83wyuwf.99