New Jersey Mortgage and Home Loan Information

Still Closing Mortgage Loans in New Jersey below 620 Credit Scores

New Jersey first time home buyers still have an advantage these days. If you are buying your first home and are buying in New Jersey, practically every "typical" loan has a minimum FICO score requirement of 620. But there are options for financing a home with credit scores below 620, namely first time home buyer options.

These financing programs not only allow for credit scores below 620 but also allow a down-payment assistance option of up to 4% of the loan amount. As an example, a $100,000 loan amount would allow a $4,000 assistance option, which can be used for closing costs AND/OR down payment requirements. Up until the end of June 2010, there are also additional mortgage options, such as the tax prefund program.

If you are a first time buyer in New Jersey, you owe it to yourself to check out all of your financing, down payment assistance, and grant-type options.

For additional information or to be pre-approved, contact Steve.

Buyers can also check out: Understanding Seller Concessions | Seller Paid Closing Costs | Seller Contributions | Seller Assist

Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in New Jersey. For more info or questions feel free to contact Steve.

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• Purchase, refinance, rehab loans
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, First Time Home Buyer, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Call direct @ 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail

It only lasted for a few hours, but in actuality, that was much better as it mostly cleared up before I had to leave for the day.

Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in New Jersey. For more info or questions feel free to contact Steve.

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• NJ Reverse Mortgages
• Purchase, refinance, rehab loans
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, First Time Home Buyer, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Call direct @ 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail

East Greenwich, South Jersey

Above is a fun shot I got a few months ago while driving down Democrat Road in East Greenwich. With plenty of parks, trees, and green fields around you can find a fair amount of places to take some great photos of the natural habitat. It is not hard to get a good picture of deer or turkeys just hanging around. And if you drive down the right road, some cows, horses, or even sheep.

If you hang around South Jersey, you would have a hard time believing that this is the most densely populated state in the country. There is a fair amount of difference between North and South Jersey.

South Jersey is located in one of the most convienient locations on the east coast; literally a few minutes to Philadelphia, a little more than an hour to New York, and about 3 hours to Washington, DC.

If you have any questions about this South Jersey area, just leave them below, call, or text.

Steve Kappre is a mortgage loan officer in NJ. For more info check out:

• NJ First Time Home Buyer
• NJ Reverse Mortgages
• Purchase, refinance, renovation mortgages
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, PHFA, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail

East Greenwich Soccer Association registration is now online for Spring of 2010!

All players, coaches and volunteers need to register using this web site. Registration will close on 2/14/2010 and a $25.00 late fee will be charged after this date.

Returning Travel Players: $85.00 New Travel Players: $135.00*

Micro Players: $60.00*EGSA will hold one walk in registration at the municipal building on January 29, 2010 from 6-9PM. All forms can be printed from the website.

New to Spring ... Micros-Friday Night Lights!

ALL Micro Games will be held on Friday nights in place of Sunday mornings during the Spring 2010 season.

Website: www.egsoccer.org

Thompson Park, where the soccer fields for East Greenwich are located, is a great park to spend time with the whole family. Enjoy time on the tennis courts, the playgrounds, or walking or riding the long paths around the trees and fields.

* Includes uniform

NJ First Time Home Buyers: NOW May Be the Best Time to Move (Series)

In case you missed some of my other articles, you may want to know that ...

• The first time home buyer tax credit has been extended. You can still qualify for a tax credit of (up to) $8,000 if you are a first time home buyer in New Jersey. First time home buyers are considered those who have not owned real estate within the last three years. The current guidelines require a home buyer to be under contract by April 30th and to close by June 30th.
• As a first time home buyer in NJ, you can STILL finance a home with credit scores below 620. You read it right: No 620, 640, 700+ FICO score requirements. More recently we have closed purchases for qualifying borrowers with 593, 589, and 597 (middle) FICO scores. If you have been turned down by other lenders, give me a call. I'll let you know if buying is at all possible, and if not, give you great credit advice on how to effectively raise your credit scores.
• Down payment assistance programs, home buying grants, and other options are STILL available. These are available for the majority of New Jersey homes and locations. Here is more information for understanding all of your first time home buyer mortgage options.
• Zero down loans are also available for homes in most New Jersey areas. Some programs require the home to be in a specific geographic location, so check with your preferred NJ Mortgage Lender to see if you may qualify.
• Mortgage interest rates are still low. No matter what program you ultimately select, chances are the rates right now are going to be better then the rates available in the near future.

BE CERTAIN to use a local New Jersey Mortgage lender that specializes in working with New Jersey first time home buyers, or you can be almost certain that you will not be introduced to all of the programs available to you.

Not all lenders have access to all programs, especially first time home buyer programs and options.

Stay posted for the continuing articles in this NJ First Time Home Buyer Series.

New Jersey Mortgages

First Time Buyers, No Money Down, Reverse Mortgages and FHA Loans

Click for more information 

Steve Kappre is a Mortgage Advisor with Treasury Mortgage, a subsidiary of Aurora Financial Group. For more info check out:

• NJ First Time Home Buyer Mortgages, grants, down payment assistance, and more
• NJ Reverse Mortgages
• All aspects of purchase and refinance mortgages up to and over 100% of the home's value
• Home renovation loans for refinance or purchase
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, PHFA, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Contact Steve Kappre directly: 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail

Affordable Homes in Gloucester County, NJ | Real Estate For Sale

What many of today's buyers are finding, is that even in a buyer's market when homes are priced lower then they have been for years, the majority of homes are still out of the price range for a low-to-medium income family. And the foreclosure/short-sale option is rarely successful for the NJ first time home buyer.

Enter your local affordable housing; Homes in Gloucester County, NJ range from $40,000 - $100,000. You read that right: $40,000 is the entry price level for a one bedroom.  Currently there are homes available in Mantua and Williamstown, NJ.

The affordable housing units have income limitations. For example, the income for 2 people must be between $31,120 and $49,792 for these units, and the income for 3 people must be between $35,010 and $56,016.

Believe it or not, there isn't a waiting list for these homes. In fact, the affordable housing units fly under the radar and many home buyers never even know about these options. Some buyers are fortunate enough to become home owners and actually pay less per month then they did when they rented.

Catch the rest of this series to see some of the mortgage financing options.

Steve Kappre is a Mortgage Advisor with Treasury Mortgage, a subsidiary of Aurora Financial Group. For more info check out:

• NJ First Time Home Buyer Mortgages, grants, down payment assistance, and more
• NJ Reverse Mortgages
• All aspects of purchase and refinance mortgages up to and over 100% of the home's value
• Home renovation loans for refinance or purchase
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, PHFA, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Contact Steve Kappre directly: 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail

Are you a home buyer looking at homes in New Jersey? Have you found the right property, at the right price, and the right location, but it needs A LOT of work? Enter the 203k renovation loan. This loan can be used for both the purchase or refinance of a home. Check out the information below from my friend Ken, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to call. I'd be happy to help and explain.

Quick note: For repair of luxury items or for renovations above $35,000 we can do these too, just call.

Come On Out for the Saturday Night Concert Series at the Gloucester County, NJ Library

The Gloucester County Library is putting the word out for their 8^th season of Saturday Night Concerts.  The concerts are free and no reservations are required. All concerts are held at the Main Branch of the Gloucester County Library in Mullica Hill (389 Wolfert Station Road (Route 45 located close to Route 322 (See map/directions below)).

The concerts being at 7:00 PM (doors open at 6:30). Check out the concert series list below! 

December 5 - The Seacoast Brass Quintet performing classical and seasonal music

(No Concert in January due to the holiday weekend) 

February 6 - Jazz vocalist Katie Eagleson

March 6 - The Homegrown String Band - American folk and traditional music

April 3 - The Copeland String Quartet - classical music

May 1 - The Midiri Brothers Jazz Sextet

Steve Kappre is a Mortgage Advisor with Treasury Mortgage, a subsidiary of Aurora Financial Group. For more information check out:

• NJ First Time Home Buyer Mortgages, grants, down payment assistance, and more
• NJ Reverse Mortgages
• All aspects of purchase and refinance mortgages up to and over 100% of the home's value
• Home renovation loans for refinance or purchase
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, PHFA, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Contact Steve Kappre directly: 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail

I am not sure how long these guys have been here, but one thing is for sure; They seem to be doing VERY well.

When we first moved to Mickelton, NJ (East Greenwich Twp), we soon took notice of the large lobster-like creatures swimming below the bridge. I'd have to say we were all rather amazed at their size.

From my fishing days when I was younger, I remember crayfish/crawfish being much smaller. These ones must have been feasting on the "Best in the world Jersey Tomatoes"!

This isn't the first time we have seen these guys, but the pictures here are from outside the front of our house, in a development, in the street. This guy either crawled up from the sewer or he walked a really long way from the nearest water!

I'll be putting him back in a safe spot. Maybe he will return in the spring.

Steve Kappre is a Mortgage Advisor with Treasury Mortgage, a subsidiary of Aurora Financial Group. For more information check out:

• NJ First Time Home Buyer Mortgages, grants, down payment assistance, and more
• NJ Reverse Mortgages
• All aspects of purchase and refinance mortgages up to and over 100% of the home's value
• Home renovation loans for refinance or purchase
• Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA, HMFA, PHFA, Police and Fire, Live Where You Work, and more

Contact Steve Kappre directly: 856-419-3561 | Subscribe to Steve's blog via e-mail