Podcasts & Education
HouseSide Chats – Practical advice on purchasing and financing a home
We know buying a home is a big process. Our goal at ASAP Mortgage is not only to make this process easier – we also want to give you the information you need to make the right decisions.
HouseSide Chats is a free online broadcast of practical advice from industry experts and special guests. We tackle the tough questions on purchasing and financing a home. Listen in every other week - even ask questions via text message or phone.
Get the advice you need to make the best decision for your (future) home.
Chat 1: The Mortgage Industry
Tuesday, April 1 - 8:00 p.m.
- Mortgage broker vs. bank loan officer
- Debt to income ratio
- Should I get an adjustable rate mortgage
- FHA loan basics
- VA home loan facts
- Bi-weekly mortgage plans
- Should you really buy discount points
- Private mortgage insurance
- Mortgage or deed of trust… why does it matter
- Loan fraud and how to avoid it
Chat 2: The First Steps First!
Tuesday, April 15 - 8:00 p.m.
- Pre-approval? What does it really mean
- Lawyers
- Get finances in order
- Credit Report
- Approved more than once?
- Determine wants and needs
- Online calculators
- Find typical selling prices in the area you want
Chat 3: The Real Deal on Real Estate Agents
Tuesday, April 29 - 8:00 p.m.
- Does your agent work for you
- How to work with a seller's agent
- What you should expect from a buyer’s agent
- How to hire a buyer’s agent
- How a buyer’s agent becomes a dual agent
- Myths of working with real estate agents
- Your duties to your agent
- Dealing with incompetent and unethical people
Chat 4: Where and How to Find a Home
Tuesday, May 13 - 8:00 p.m.
- Consider houses that others overlook
- Foreclosed homes
- Print magazines
- Sale by owner properties
- Real estate agent web sites and search engines
- Public versions of multiple listing service web sites
Chat 5: Home Inspection
Tuesday, May 27 - 8:00 p.m.
- Ordering a full home inspection
- Testing for radon gas
- Looking for molds and mildews
- Testing heating and ac
- Electricity conditions in older homes
- Lead paint disclosures and inspections for pre-1978 homes
- Private well on property
- Understanding and checking septic system
- Tenting and wood destroying insects
- Buying a home warranty
Chat 6: Contracts – Careful What You Sign
Tuesday, June 10 - 8:00 p.m.
- Agents
- Banks
- Lawyers
- Inspectors
- Contracts
- Private Sellers
- Etc…
Chat 7: The Lowdown on the Down Payment
Tuesday, June 24 - 8:00 p.m.
- Figure out how much you can afford
- How much should I put down?
- How down payments help in the long run
- Who really owns your home?
Chat 8: Costs? What Costs?
Tuesday, July 15 - 8:00 p.m.
- Good faith estimates
- Where do costs come from?
- How much do they range in price?
- Types of costs (normal costs – other costs)
- Costs not associated with the lender
- Ask the seller to pay the costs?
Chat 9: Cutting Through the Home Buying Jargon
Tuesday, August 5 - 8:00 p.m.
- ARM, Affordable Housing Loan, APR, Application Fees, Appraisal, Assumable Loan, Balloon Mortgage, Bi-Weekly Mortgage, Blanket Mortgage, Blended Rate (Wraparound), Bridge (Swing), Budget Mortgage, Installment Sale, Carry-Back Financing, Chattel Mortgage, Construction Loan, Conventional Mortgage, Credit Report, Credit Score, Down Payment, Earnest Money Deposit, Escrow Account, FHA, Gift Letter, Good Faith Estimate, Home Equity Loan, HUD/RESPA, Hybrid Adjustable Rate Mortgage, Interest Rate Float/Lock, Loan, Loan Application, Loan Closing Costs, Loan Commitment, Loan Package/Processor/Underwriter, Mortgage Banker/Broker/Loan Service Company, Open-end Mortgage, Package Mortgage, Payoff Letter, Portable Mortgage, Pre-Approval, Pre-Paid Interest, Pre-Payment Penalty, Pre-Qualification, Principle, PITI, Purchase Money Mortgage, Reverse Mortgage, Secondary Market, Sub-Prime Loan, VA, W-2, W-9, 1031, 1099
Chat 10: The Scoop on Corporate Relocation
Tuesday, August 19 - 8:00 p.m.
- Where to start
- The step by step
- Who should I talk to?
- About finding a home
- Financing – who pays for what?
Chat 11: Making the Move
Tuesday, September 2 - 8:00 p.m.
- Buyer's remorse?
- Write off the move?
- Moving companies
- Getting Settled
- Financial Burdens
- Costs in moving
- First year costs with a new home