How to Get Your Finances in Order

 If you'd like my free e-book of the Top 10 Credit Do's and Don'ts, you can contact me!

Today, we want to offer some quick tips on how to prepare for the home buying process.

If you were planning to sell your home, would you list it without any preparation? Probably not - you would clean, make repairs, and work to make your home more appealing. Preparing to get a home mortgage is very similar: you begin by cleaning your financial house.

If you're a first-time home buyer, you should consider the pre-qualification at least 6-12 months prior to looking for your home. You need to have your credit evaluated by a mortgage professional, as online credit score companies use a different model than lenders. If you go online and find that you have a score of 720, don't be shocked when a bank runs your credit and it actually turns out to be 660.

When applying for a mortgage loan, you will need to have some money in the bank, as you'll need money for a down payment and closing costs. Money is crucial in this process! We can't count cash toward your down payment, and any gift must be sourced in detail. If you're purchasing with a co-borrower, we need to qualify them. Additionally, if you're unsure of what you qualify for, we need to educate you and help you resolve collections.

If we start in advance, we can guide you so that by the time you find a home and fill out an application, all your problems have been resolved in advance and your financial house is already in order.

If you would like more information about the process, or if you're ready to get started, give us a call or shoot us an email. We would love to hear from you!

Restaurants in Libertyville Are Sizzling

 If you'd like my free e-book of the Top 10 Credit Do's and Don'ts, you can contact me!

Today we're going to be chatting about some restaurants in Libertyville. Considering that we save the average borrower anywhere from $70-$450, we think that you might want to spend that money at one of the eighty-seven restaurants located here in Libertyville.

Let's talk about some of our favorite spots. We love outdoor patios because we can take our office dog with us, and this is why we love Mickey Finn's. They make and serve their own microbrews, and have been doing so since 1994. Their blarney balls are an excellent appetizer, just don't eat too many! (http://mickeyfinnsbrewery.com/)

Another favorite of ours is Chili U. They serve a variety of gourmet chilis such as African Chicken Chili and Thai Shrimp Chili. They also have a great outdoor patio. (http://chili-u.com/)

  

Casa Bonita is just down the street and they have upscale Mexican cuisine with great margaritas to match. They have a wonderful patio that is heated, which allows year-round dining. (http://www.casabonitalibertyville.com/)

If you're looking for a place with great ambiance, then you must head to Firkin. They have a huge selection of craft beers and possibly the best burger in the entire state. (http://www.firkinrestaurantlibertyville.com/)

We can't talk about restaurants in Libertyville and not talk about the Picnic Basket. It started out as a small deli and has morphed into a gourmet sandwich shop with great salads, soups, and vegetarian offerings. (http://www.picnicbasketfood.com/)

Check out this list of all the restaurants in Libertyville: (http://il-libertyville.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/Home/View/1071)

If you have any questions about getting approved for mortgage loan in Libertyville, you know where to turn!

How Does Diamond Residential Mortgage Work?

 If you'd like my free e-book of the Top 10 Credit Do's and Don'ts, you can contact me!

Usually, I take technical aspects of the mortgage world and try to break them down into more understandable terms. Today, I want to do something a bit different. I want to introduce you to the team that helps ensure your loan goes through without a hitch! 

Lisa is a credit analyst and is usually the first point of contact when beginning the lending process. 

Jacque is our file opener, or as we like to call her, the mortgage detective. She'll be collecting all your financial documentation.

Amy is our senior processor and is responsible for packaging your loan as nicely as possible for underwriting and making sure all conditions are met so you can meet your required moving date!

I'm so glad you've had the opportunity to meet my team. We can't wait for you to come to the office and work with us personally!