by Blake Mashburn | Aug 26, 2019 | News
Obtaining a mortgage is a process and one that is often more involved than many home buyers are expecting. Do not be surprised when you get a mortgage by being prepared for everything that is to come. Here are the 5 essential steps to getting a mortgage.
- Pre-Approval
Getting pre-approval for a mortgage (meaning the lender is committed to giving you a loan up to a certain amount) can greatly increase your chances of the seller accepting your offer. It shows the seller that you are serious and can actually afford their home. In order to get pre-approved you will need to provide your lender with Pay Stubs, Federal Tax Returns, W-2 Forms, Statement of Assets, Residential History, and Proof of Funds.
- Home Appraisal
Your lender will complete an appraisal of the home to determine its value. This step is necessary in order for them to check the home’s value against the loan amount. As long as the home is appraised at or above what you offered, you are good to go. Unfortunately, this step in the process gets complicated if the home is appraised for less. A lender will not give you more money than what the home is valued at. If this happens, you can try to negotiate with the seller, appeal the appraisal, request a second appraisal, or (in many cases) walk away from this particular deal.
- Maintain Credit Score
It is very important that you do not have any changes to your credit score while you go through the mortgage process. Your score gets checked at the beginning and very end and most stay consistent. Avoid jeopardizing the final approval of your loan by not opening new credit accounts, not closing old ones, and making all of your payments on time.
- Closing Disclosure Review
When you first applied for your loan, you received a Loan Estimate (LE). Just before closing, you will receive the Closing Disclosure (CD). It is very important that you review the CD off of the LE to check for any errors. The CD outlines everything that you will pay in fees at settlement. Since errors can often occur in these documents be sure to carefully check your Name’s Spelling, Loan Term, Loan Type, Interest Rate, Cash to Close, Closing Costs, Loan Amount, Total Monthly Payment, and Estimated Taxes and Insurance.
- Underwriting
The final step is the underwriting process. This is when you lender verifies that all of the information you provided is true and accurate. The easiest (and only) way to get through this step smoothly is to be truthful in your application. Be sure to maintain your job status, credit score, and pay off your debts on time and this step will be a total breeze!
For more helpful Buying tips, check out our Website and follow us on Facebook!
by Blake Mashburn | Aug 22, 2019 | News
The beautiful climate and landscape in Ventura County provides us with incredible produce and locally grown goods. There are amazing farmers markets in our communities throughout the year. Find a wide variety of items from fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, meat and dairy, handmade crafts, and so much more. Put healthy, delicious food on your kitchen table and help promote economic development throughout Ventura County by shopping local at these great farmers markets!
Midtown Ventura
When: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Where: Pacific View Mall West Parking Lot (3301 North Main Street, Ventura)
Thursdays
Downtown Oxnard Farmers Market
When: 9:00 am – 1:30 pm
Where: 471 South B Street, Oxnard
Saturdays
Camarillo Certified Farmers Market
When: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Where: 2220 Ventura Boulevard, Old Town Camarillo
Downtown Ventura
When: 8:30 am – 12:00 pm
Where: Corner of Palm & Santa Clara Streets, Ventura
Sundays
Ojai Certified Farmers’ Market
When: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Where: 300 East Matilija Street, Ojai
Channel Islands Certified Farmers’ Market
When: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Where: 3350 South Harbor Boulevard, Oxnard
Incredible local farmers markets are one of the many reasons that Ventura County is a great place to live. If you are interested in Buying your dream home in one of these communities, search our Homes for Sale. Give Blake Mashburn a call today or visit our website at https://blakemashburn.com/.
by Blake Mashburn | Aug 19, 2019 | News
You found your dream home and the seller accepted your offer! You are now in the home stretch to getting handed the keys to your new home. There are a few more final and essential steps that need to be made. Here is an easy guide to closing so that you are prepared in the last days of your home buying process!
#1 Square Away Contingencies
Make sure that any contingencies (i.e. home inspection, appraisal, and financing) are met before the final transaction. This allows you to walk away if any issues arise.
#2 Clear the Title
Your mortgage lender will check for anyone that claims title to the home and see if there are any liens attached to the property. Make sure to buy title insurance so that you can protect yourself from any legal claims as the ownership transfers to you.
#3 Get Approval of Your Final Mortgage
Even if you got pre-approved for the loan, your mortgage lender must now verify that you accurately represented yourself by going through the underwriting process. As long as you with truthful about your finances and made no large purchases during closing that will affect your credit score, you should make it through this step like a breeze.
#4 Check Your Closing Disclosure
Review your closing disclosure against the loan estimate you received when you first got pre-approval. Check out the mortgage payments, interest rate, loan terms, and closing costs to make sure that everything matches.
#5 Do One Last Walk-through
Do a final walk-through in the last 24 hours before closing. This allows you to make sure that the previous owner has truly moved out and that the home is in the condition that you agreed upon.
Get your hands ready to sign a lot of paperwork, complete these 5 steps, and your dream Ventura home is yours!
For more helpful Buying tips, check out our Website and follow us on Facebook!
by Blake Mashburn | Aug 15, 2019 | News
Celebrate the natural beauty of Ventura at the WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL!! This 10th annual festival showcases inspirational and educational films related to our natural environment. Enjoy these incredible, award-winning short films with a stunning backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. Bring a blanket, find the perfect spot on the grassy lawn, and relax under the stars during this fantastic event!
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival will take place this Saturday, August 17th, at the Ventura County Credit Union (2575 Vista Del Mar Drive #100). The gates to the event will open at 5:00 pm with fun lawn games, family friendly activities, Live Music from The Guy Martin Band & Todd Hannigan & Sleeping Chief. Films will begin at 8:00 pm.
Film Line Up
Cascada
Blue
Brotherhood of Skiing
Moonline
Great Old Broads for Wolves
Fire Followers
A New View of the Moon
Lost in Light
The Majestic Plastic Bag
Carpe Diem
Fire and Water
Climbing Out of Disaster
For the Love of Mary
Imagination: Tom Wallisch
Dine on delicious food from your favorite local trucks, including Crazy Greek, Farm & Flame, It’s in the Sauce, Mr. Softee, SoCalComfort, Steamy Bun Truck, and We Bee Poppin. Sip on refreshing beer and wine from Leashless Brewing, Ojai Valley Brewery. Rincon Brewery, Topa Topa, Castoro Cellars, and San Antonio Winery.
General Admission is $35 per person and child admission is $5 per child (ages 12 and under). For the first year ever, VIP tickets are also available for $125 per person. Enjoy the ultimate VIP experience with FREE adult beverage, appetizers, and desserts from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the VIP Lounge and Courtyard, as well as access to indoor restrooms throughout the entire event! Purchase your Wild & Scenic Film Festival tickets HERE!
Follow Blake Mashburn on Facebook and visit his Website for information on more incredible community events throughout the year!
Image Credits: Ventura Land Trust
by Blake Mashburn | Aug 12, 2019 | News
Congratulations!! You made the big decision to sell your home! It’s now time to make sure that your home is looking its very best before it hits the market. Help your home stand apart from the competition through staging! Many home sellers wonder if there are really benefits to staging. The proof is in the numbers! Create the best first impression by staging your home!
- Home buyers can better visualize themselves in the home through staging. In fact, 83% of buyer’s agents say their clients have an easier time seeing themselves living in the home when it is staged! Be sure to declutter and remove personal items that can be distracting.
- 53% of real estate agents representing sellers said that staged homes moved off the market faster.
- Online viewers look at staged homes 38% more.
- The value of homes increased 1% to 5% more after being staged, in general. Some sellers enjoyed increased values of 6% to 10%!
- While you should clean your entire house and make sure that all of it looks its very best, the most commonly staged rooms are the living room (93%), kitchen (84%), and master bedroom (78%).
Consider hiring a professional stager for your home as they know the best ways to maximize your space and accentuate its best features. Contact Blake Mashburn to enjoy selling success today!
Reference: National Association of REALTORS®
by Blake Mashburn | Aug 8, 2019 | News
It’s time to pack up those school supplies, pick out the first day’s outfit, and get your child ready to head BACK TO SCHOOL! That’s right! The first school bells of the year are about to start ringing throughout Ventura County! Check out the dates for the first days of school for all our local districts!
Santa Paula Unified School District | 201 South Steckel, Santa Paula
First Day of School: Wednesday, August 14th
2019 – 2020 District Calendar
Fillmore Unified School District | 627 Sespe Avenue, Fillmore
First Day of School: Thursday, August 15th
2019 – 2020 District Calendar
Ojai Unified School District | 414 East Ojai Avenue, Ojai
First Day of School: Wednesday, August 21st
2019 – 2020 District Calendar
Oxnard School District | 1501 South A Street, Oxnard
First Day of School: Wednesday, August 21st
2019 – 2020 District Calendar
Ventura Unified School District | 255 West Stanley Avenue, Ventura
First Day of School: Wednesday, August 21st
2019 – 2020 District Calendar
Hueneme Elementary School District | 205 North Ventura Road, Port Hueneme
First Day of School: Tuesday, August 27th
2019 – 2020 District Calendar
Oxnard Union High School District | 309 South K Street, Oxnard
First Day of School: Tuesday, August 27th
2019 – 2020 District Calendar
Pleasant Valley School District | 600 Temple Avenue, Camarillo
First Day of School: Wednesday, August 28th
2019 – 2020 District Calendar
Blake Mashburn wishes all Ventura County students a fun and successful 2019 – 2020 school year to all students in Ventura County!!!
If you are interested in BUYING your dream home in one of these excellent school districts, give Blake a call at (805) 856-9350 or visit his Website today!
