Supreme Court Upholds Voter Identification Law in Indiana - New York Times

Hey Folks!

Tony Grego here from Sagamore Home Mortgage in Lebanon, Indiana. Your Indiana Mortgage Company for all your home lending needs.

What a week us Hoosiers are going to have! Now only are we going to be a major player in this years presidential primary  the candidates  now have something of relevance to talk/debate about.

In a 6 - 3 ruling the Supreme Court rejected arguments with our law requiring voters to present a driver's license or another acceptable form of ID. Our Indiana law is the strictest in the country. The intent and design is to help prevent voter fraud.

Well now I guess we can all sit back grab the remote and watch the reactions. It is going to be a fun week. You can read all about the details here.

Supreme Court Upholds Voter Identification Law in Indiana - New York Times

 

Tony Grego - Indiana Mortgage Company
"Your' re Indiana Mortgage Partner for all your Home Lending Needs"

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got gas?

Hey Folks!

Tony Grego here from Sagamore Home Mortgage in Lebanon, Indiana. Your Indiana Mortgage Partner for all your home lending needs.

Today I discovered a big money saving tip and wanted to share the savings with my AR family (along with anyone one else looking).

Looking at the recent profit announcements of the gas companies I figure they must make all that money because of the amount of labor they save. It seems that no one really does research on pricing, they just put out a price and it seems that everyone else just follows the leader. Now this is nothing new, I am been buying gas for 30-years and it has always been the same thing until this morning.

After I dropped off the munchkin's the display came on my dash to "get gas now, dummy!" (or something like that). I do live near a Sam's Club and a Costco and the tiny voice went off in my head "get gas at Sam's, its cheaper" (it was my wife's voice). Now we have had this membership for years but today is the first day I think it was worth the money.

Here is what I learned:

• - Along with Discover cards, They take all 
    the  majors and debit cards.
• - They have clean, well spaced pumps.
• - You do not have to be a member to
     purchase fuel.
• - Different price for "debit" vs. "credit" card.
• - Priced way under the corner stations.

YES, priced way under. Today most stations were priced at $364.9 (btw, whoever came up with the .9 thing?) Sam's member price $345.9, non-member price $350.9. Add two cents a gallon for credit card.

Quite impressive. I put 20-gallons in and saved almost $4.00. Remember the way to be profitable this year is not by raising prices but by controlling expenses. According to that voice (my wife), Sam's has always had a big price difference. Reading up on some articles today I also found that most gas is the same.We have high standards that must be maintained.

Now go save some money!

Tony Grego - Indiana Mortgage Company
"your Indiana Mortgage Partner for all your Home Lending Needs"

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I Expired Saturday!

Hey Folks!

Tony Grego here from Sagamore Home Mortgage in Lebanon, Indiana. Your Indiana Mortgage Partner for all your home lending needs.

I share this story so you will not endure the same fate. Saturday morning around 7:00 am I am doing chores around the house and notice that I have a voice mail. (I have At&T service (formerly Cingular) and a Treo 750). I press the magic button on my "Handy Dandy Notebook," this is what my little guys call my phone. (Hint, if you have never watch Blue's Clues you have no idea what I am talking about). Just to find out that my service has been temporally disconnected.

To say the least, this is the part were I flipped out. I work for a Indiana Mortgage Company and pride myself to be available for my clients on nights and weekends. Since I pay my cell bill (along with other utilities) with one credit card for points and convince. You see instead of getting 8 different bills due at 8 different times of the month I handle them all with one account all while getting points for some really cool stuff.

So I calm down, call 800-331-0500 (At&T customer service number if you need it). Just to go to Voice Mail Hell. Every prompt leads to another only to be  disconnected with the words that "our business office is now closed. Please call back after 9:00 am) OK, only two hours. I can handle that.

Well the clock strikes 9:00, I dial, go through the prompts just to get the words "our business office is now closed. Please call back on the next business day."

Now I am going nuts. BTW, I did not mention that I used my phone at 11:00 the night before making arraignments to meet a client flying in from the West Coast to look at Investor Properties. (I have obtained mortgages for 8 duplexes and he wanted to see the area. Since I am the Indiana Mortgage Professional the client has more trust in me than the owner of the properties). So now I have to meet my client and he can not even call.

I then get ready to hit the door and get to a AT&T retail location and see what I can get done. (I was in touch with my clients assistant, told him the story and let him know that I would by a disposable if needed). I try the number again. Guess what? Y E S a real person answered. I was as happy as a child on Christmas morning.

Learn to find out that my credit card had expired and the computers are programmed to disconnect regardless of time or date (great customer service, yea right). Ashley (the rep from AT&T) gets the service up within minutes, updates my information then tells me that due to the disconnect I was going to be charged $36 reconnect fee. Now I have been a client since 1998 with an excellent payment history. I object and Ashley immediately takes care of the charges.

Lesson of the story. While it is a great idea to have all bills on one, easy to see, statement be sure to check your expiration dates.

My client is happy. I will get him some great mortgages for his investment properties and plenty of Hoosier Households will have good places to live    

 Tony Grego - Indiana Mortgage Company
"your Indiana Mortgage Partner for all your Home Lending Needs"

 

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My 100th Post

Hey Folks!

Tony Grego here from Sagamore Home Mortgage in Lebanon, Indiana. Your Indiana Mortgage Partner for all your home lending needs.

WOW! January 23, 2008 at 11:34 am Post #1 until today, April 18, 2008, number 100. I have tried many different forms and styles, Some good and most bad (kidding I hope). Anyway I do want to thank all of my friends and associates I have met. I am involved in this great community and just hope to give back one day as much information and knowledge that I have learned. I guess now it is time to list 100 things. I chose to list 100 things that I am thankful for since January 23rd.

1. First and foremost, my wife Yovonne,  my son's Anthony Jr. and William Alexander, and my dogs win.ini and beta.
2. My Father's successful quad by-pass about six weeks ago.
3. My Mother-in-Law's successful knee operation.
4. I am thankful that my recent injuries were not more serious (enough medical crap. Don't know about you but it is getting depressing for me).
5. My friend Daniel "forcing" me to join Active Rain and start blogging.
6. My retail referrals from Active Rain.
7. My associates that seem to grow everyday.
8. The dozens of questions I get from the community about changes in the mortgage industry.
9. Aaron Byers, President and owner of Sagamore Home Mortgage for putting up with me.
10. My co-workers for the same reason.
11. My friend Mike for saving my hard drive after I did not back up in a year and had a system crash.
12. The New York Giants for beating the Patriots in the Superbowl.
13. Watching the Superbowl with my neighbor who is a Patriots fan.
14. My friend Mike (again) for putting back together my laptop when I dropped it going into the office after he recovered my hard drive.
15. The Indiana Pacers for not having a MAJOR arrest in the last month.
16. Mitch Daniels stepping up the Indiana Property tax issue.
17. The Spring market and a pick up of Indiana Home Sales.
18. Being able to do FHA loans to help Hoosier Households.
19. Understanding how to structure a conforming deal rather than throwing them up on the subprime wall and seeing what sticks.
20. Pay Option Arms finally addressed for the mortgage they are (I love them for the right person in the right situation)
21. Being able to share the lowest fixed rates in 45-years.
22. Setting up my website.
23. Setting up my blog.
24. Setting up a website and blog for my wife.
25. The ground hog giving us six more weeks of winter which seems like it may continue until about June.
26. The boys making Mommy a real special Valentine for February 14th.
27. Still having mortgage programs for folks with credit problems.
28. Learning about Frank and the gang at TBWS.
29. Slingbox for my Treo
30. Ania's (our AA) successful birth of her daughter, Lidia.
31. Aaron dumping purchase leads and hiring on site telemarketers.
32. Did I say the New York Giants beating the Patriots in the Superbowl?
33. Television writers ending the strike and bringing back fresh Letterman shows.
34. Family Guy (yea it is sick but I love it).
35. Reading to my sons bedtime stories in bed.
36. My referral market growing and growing.
37. In a weird kind of way the 250+ lenders that have gone out of business and have made us mortgage brokers more accountable.
38. Giving up beer for Lent (yep, that was a tuff one).
39. Mobile DVD players with headphones. One more Barney or Doddleboops and I am going to lose it.
40. Disney releasing all 200 models from the CARS movie (yea right, at $2.97 a pop it is getting expensive).
41. CART is no more and IRL is the king of US open wheel racing.
42. Indy Blue Crew. The official fan club of the Colts and were you will find us at home games. www.indybluecrew.com.
43. Bret Fare finally retires. Or does he?
44. Great new seats with the same old friends at the new Lucas Stadium.
45. The New York Yankees.
46. With my arm injury and such I now have a great excuse for a lousy golf game.
47. Bluetooth and wireless technology.
48. The boys finally behaving for Easter pictures.
49. The boys not making to much of a mess with Easter Chocolate.
50. Hendrick Racing not winning any races yet this year.
51. My Friend Aaron Gregory purchasing his first home (O yea, his girlfriend used a different broker. No, I'm not bitter).
52. Sam's Club, Costco, Walmart, Aldi, Krogger for having some great sales and deals.
53. Congratulations to my wife Yovonne and her major effort to better her health and get in shape. She has lost 40 pounds in the last 6 months and is looking great!
54. Google rankings. activerain.com/tgrego is ranked 8th. First page when searching Indiana Mortgage Company (most searched Indiana mortgage term).
55. Video blogging (still working on it but it is going to be great. What do you think of this domain - www.ratequote.tv?
56. Windows Live Writer
57. Gas at $3.50 a gallon is really helping families stick together.
58. Anthony Jr. and William dressed up as leprechauns for St. Patrick's Day. Still did not find me lucky charms.
59. Craigslist.org to buy stuff.
60. The American Legion Post #500 across from IMS.
61. Tom-Tom GPS for my Treo.
62. The new Marion County Library. Should be great for a billion dollars.
63. Hilbert House finally sold. Offered at $20M. Still have not seen sales price.
64. Did I mention about the New York Giants beating the Patriots in the Superbowl?
65. Last game in the RCA Dome. Bring on the wider seats.
66. XM Radio
67. Raise in FHA Limits.
68. Cellular Connection Cards for laptops to provide instant quotes and approvals.
69. Consumers learning more and more that zero fees equals higher rates.
70. I am smarter than a 5th grader.
71. Never play air hockey at my friend Eric's house until you learn the rules (if not you will need to call a cab to get home).
72. Attending Anthony Jr.'s first Soccer practice this week.
73. Still have stated options for NOO mortgages.
74. William is left handed, like to throw a baseball, looks great in Yankee pinstripes.
75. Torn between Explorer and Firefox. Which one should I use and why?
76. With Rural Housing you can finance up to 102% of the purchase price.
77. My gift to you. If you get a refer/eligible on a 30-yr FHA, if the deal looks good, try running on a 15-yr.
78. Blue Ray DVD players.
79. Skype VOIP service.
80. Yuengling Lager tastes much better after Lent
81. Youtube.com is a great site.
82. Sending a text message gets easier with time.
83. With a good camera you don't have to be a good photographer.
84. I have stopped blogging and driving at the same time.
85. I am really thankful for Widgets.
86. Second mortgages are still alive and well along with some HELOC's
87. While our lender list has shrank, the folks we have done business with has not.
88. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
89. Down Payment Assistance Programs.
90. IU may finally found a good replacement for the General.
91. Joe Pa really needs to pass the touch before his kid retires.
92. Notre Dame may get to a 500 season this year.
93. Have I mentioned how thankful I am that the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots?
94. Craftsman tools.
95. Wide Screen Television with HD and AT&T U-verse including DVR. I can finally watch grass grow.
96. Having a Mac and a PC in my same home office.
97. Cordless telephones.
98. Helping Hoosier Households save money and in many cases save homes.
99. 99 bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of ........ never mind, how shared cellular minutes.
100. #100 and the most important to me. This one is easy. Family and friends.

Thanks everyone for stopping by and reading my 100th post. I am very proud to be a member of this great community. Happy Selling to all!

 

 Tony Grego - Indiana Mortgage Company
"your Indiana Mortgage Partner for all your Home Lending Needs"

 

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Video of The Day - How To Pick a Lock

Hey Folks!

Tony Grego here from Sagamore Home Mortgage in Lebanon, Indiana. Your partner with all your home lending needs.

Well I'm starting to feel much better and need to get back to my regular routine. One thing I have missed is the posting a video of the day.

Now I am not saying that I support or have tried what you are about to watch but this might be the trick when you can't get the lock box open or the keys are missing. Who knows? Could be the difference to make a sale or going to jail.

The one thing that is great about living in America is that we all have a choice. Now sometimes that choice may have consequences. Only you can decide.

Hope you enjoyed and maybe picked up a point or two. Seems to work just like the movies or maybe your favorite video game.

Until next time have a great day and let me know how I can help with any of your lending needs.

Tony Grego - Indiana Mortgage Company
"your partner for all your Indiana Home Lending Needs"

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Unlimited Outgoing Calls, Nationwide for Three Bucks a Month

Hey Folks!

Tony Grego here from Sagamore Home Mortgage in Lebanon, Indiana. Your partner with all your home lending needs.

Back in the 1990, I was a proud team member for Saturn of Indianapolis. Now I am not going to get into Saturn vehicles and dealers being good or bad just that much of my Customer First philosophy can be tracked to Saturn. I learned plenty back in those days but I must take my hat off to Skip La Fauve, Saturn's former president, for this valuable lesson:

"Profit can only be achieved by controlling expenses, NOT raising prices. The market determines the price of our product."

So if you believe this then you must find ways to control and minimize your cost. In fact, you will find many great current and past post that is about saving money. I have found a "big name" service that does just this. It is SKYPE PRO. Now I am not talking about the full blown service. With Skype Pro at $3 bucks a month (5-month minimum). Here is what you get:

• Unlimited local and long distance calling anywhere in the USA
• No running up cell telephone minutes
• Great sound quality (need high-speed access)
• Works with wired and wireless systems
• Compatible with cellular connection cards
• No hidden taxes or fees
• Identifies caller ID as blocked or unknown (not overseas number)
• Skype Soft Phone

I have been testing this product for the last three days and I am blown away with the ease of use and the clarity of calls. The only downside I have found that while driving and using a cellular connection card you will lose calls when bouncing cell towers.

For reference I use a Sony Vaio VGN-T350P mini laptop with a built in AT&T cellular connection card and the Microsoft LifeChat ZX-6000 headset.

Please note that this service is for OUTGOING CALLS ONLY! So if your looking for a great low-cost, high quality system Skype Pro may be the solution for you.

Thanks for reading my post and if you need some help with your Indiana clients email me your telephone number. The call is on me!

 

Tony Grego - Indiana Mortgage Company

 

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Helped a Lafayette Senior Citizen to Avoid Foreclosure Scam

Hey Folks!

Been a crazy week around Sagamore Home Mortgage right here in Indiana with some great things and some big challenges. I want to tell everyone about a situation I was involved in yesterday now I am going to spoil the ending and let you know that it does not have a happy ending. This is also not a story about self praise and it is not about casting blame for the mortgage mess we are in. It is a sad story about an elderly Hoosier and her mortgage.

We have some great in-house telemarketers that call folks all over Indiana and trying to find Indiana homeowners that need our help. So overhearing a call I insist that the tm transfer the call to me immediately. This is when I talk to Jane (not her real name). Jane is in big trouble with her home. In fact it is set for sheriff sale later this month. Now how did Jane get in such a mess?

Two years ago she signs an adjustable rate mortgage (again I am not casting blame, just getting the facts out). Money is always tight but was able to enjoy the home during her golden years. Then it happens. Between going into the hospital, her rate adjusting higher, and missing some payments Jane has a real mess happening. Now I do not have all of the details (not sure that Jane knows herself) this is what I piece together:

MISTAKE #1 – Getting behind in payments and not working with the lender
Jane fell behind and had a telephone conversation with the lender. The call did not go well and whatever happened during the call scared her so much that she has not talked to them since. Now this is a very important note to all of us that work with customer service we need to remember that part of our job is to have two ears and one mouth. Now Jane’s call has had a ripple effect that has a lousy ending.

MISTAKE #2 – Jane ignored all letters from the mortgage company. I read last week that more than half of the homes currently in foreclosure have never contacted the lender. They just left the house.

MISTAKE #3 – Desperate times call for desperate measures. When I talked with Jane she was in the middle of calling friends and family to borrow money to pay a “foreclosure specialist” over $900 to save her home. Jane is so desperate and afraid of the future that she would spend money she does not have vs. calling a lender that might be able to help.

So what happens to Jane now? She is facing a sheriff sale in a few weeks. She has no money and she is still recovering from a long hospital stay. She needed a dose of reality. I, in no certain terms, told her not to pay the money. I immediately did a conference call with 888-GET-HOPE with the intent of slowing things down. Since she has not make a payment in almost a year and she purchased the home using 100% financing two years ago she has no equity (in fact she is upside down).

When I talked to her today she did not give the money to the foreclosure specialist, had a conversation with the Get Hope folks and was going to call the mortgage folks today. She is coming to grips that she has little hope of saving her home and is coming up with a exit plan.

The moral of the story is this; while a foreclosure specialist can and will help in certain situation, these firms are popping up everywhere. I am sure that every professional in this business has been approached with a job offer during the last few weeks (I seem to get them every day). Most folks are approached when it is too late. While it is not good to get behind it is better to have communications with your mortgage company to work something out. If you don’t like whom you’re talking to hang up and get someone else. Don’t take no for an answer and feel free to contact folks like myself that can offer you choices. Now I’ll tell you right now that I have making options to refinance your Indiana mortgage I can help to show you how to get back on track.

Don’t end up like Jane. She is losing her home. I can say that I did my little part to keep her from throwing away $900. She will need it to help her move.

Indiana Real Estate Agents, Indiana Mortgage Brokers, Indiana Bankers, along with anyone else from Indiana we owe it to our clients, our community, and our state to help. While we did not put these folks in this situation, we can help them get out of it.

Best regards,
Tony Grego – Indiana Mortgage Company

Video of the Day - If it is Spring it Must Be Star Wars?

OK, if you have been following my videos you know I got a big spring thing going on. Well here is another one.

As we start into Spring we also start the baseball season. Go Yankees! So what does Star Wars have to do with this?

Just watch and see

 

Hope you enjoyed it and now go hit one out of the park!

 

Have a great Friday

Tony Grego - Indiana Mortgage Company

 

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Video of the Day - Yes, Spring is Here.....

Hey Folks!

As I was putting on my long sleeves and a heavier than normal jacket for the day I realized that it must be spring here in Indiana. The time of year when folks are buying homes and getting mortgages. Maybe you were at the home show and need a second mortgage or a HELOC (btw, we use a really good company with great rates and terms for HELOC's).

So what better way to welcome spring but by watching a little video about the birds and the bees, and a computer.

A computer? Guess you will have to see

 

 

Don't know about you but I am clueless to what they are selling?

Thanks and have a great spring. And for you folks shopping around for a mortgage in Indiana, give me a call. Have some new little niches coming out.

 

Best regards,
Tony Grego - Indiana Mortgage Company

 

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Video of the Day - Laugh to Your Hearts Content!

Hey Folks!

Well I sure hoped you all survived all of the April 1st pranks. Even Ryan Seacrest from American Idol tried to punk the Nation. O well, now that all of the fun is over it's time to kick off the month and have a great April. Plenty of homes are still available for sale at great prices and at Sagamore Home Mortgage we have plenty of Investors to with deep pockets ready to help with low rates and great terms.

So contact me, Tony Grego - Indiana Mortgage Company with all your mortgage questions. The rules are changing daily for purchase and refinance mortgages so now make sure you partner with a mortgage professional for help. You can count on me for all of your Indiana mortgage needs.

Now enjoy the show:

 

WOW!!!!! Now, just like me there goes a  minute and forty seconds of our life we will never get back. Have a great day and lets get some business done. Best regards, Tony Grego - Indiana Mortgage Company

 

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Video of the Day - I Really Like HBO More Than Ever

Hey Folks!

Hope all is well in your world? Here in Central Indiana we have a breezy and chilly day. Guess they all can't be slotted for the Chamber of Commerce Day.

Anyway you need to be careful today. Remember it is April Fools Day and while it is still early I already have been had a few times. I guess I am just that way.

Now lets step back in time to enjoy this short but funny HBO promo:

Hope you enjoyed it as much as I have. Have a great day and when you need help with a mortgage to purchase or refinance in Indiana please let me know how I can help.

Best regards,
Tony Grego - Indiana Mortgage Company

 

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