Martini Mortgage Podcast

The housing market in 2020 is not like the real estate market in 2008.  Many people have questions today about where the housing market is headed since courtesy of COVID-19 we are in the middle of an economic slowdown.  The current real estate market today is materially different then the real estate market in 2008.    The 103rd episode of the Martini Mortgage Podcast with Mortgage Strategist Kevin Martini is called: If you are thinking this like 2008, STOP IT!   2020 is not a rinse and repeat of 2008 looking at the top 5 key metrics: Home Price Appreciation, Mortgage Credit Availability, Number of Homes For Sale, Use of Home Equity & Home Equity Earned.   After tuning into this episode check out the article called: STOP…This Housing Market Is Not Like 2008 which starts on page 3 of the Summer 2020 Martini Buyer Guide called: Things to Consider When Buying a Home.  It is available for FREE but packed with information that you need to know about buying a home.       ENJOY and if you have questions about w

June is National Homeownership Month – even though the official celebration for National Homeownership Month is in June, every month and every day in any year is truly a time to celebrate homeownership.  Obviously there are economic benefits to homeownership but the reality is that homeownership also provides other benefits to you and your family and host Kevin Martini will highlight them in this episode, episode 102 of the Martini Mortgage Podcast. Raleigh Mortgage Strategists, Kevin Martini, with the Martini Mortgage Group at Benchmark Mortgage created his “Top 8 Reason to Own Your Home in Raleigh, North Carolina”.  To be frank, these reasons are applicable for any city in the Triangle of NC or any city in North Carolina or and city in the U.S.A. too!  On the Martini list, not in order or importance is:  Privacy, Family, Comfort, Personal Expression, Accomplishment, Community, Stability, Financial Investment Enjoy this episode and know that right now is a great time to explore your benefits and your options

The 100th episode of the Martini Mortgage Podcast with Kevin Martini is called: “What is going on that you need to know!” Kevin Martini is not just the host of the Martini Mortgager Podcast, he is also the Branch Manager and Senior Mortgage Strategist of the Martini Mortgage Group at Benchmark Mortgage which is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and helps families in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. So many are out of work right now!  At the end of February 2020, the jobless rate was 3.5% with 5.8 million people out-of-work..  At the end of April 2020, the jobless rate was 14.7%  with 23.1 million people out-or work. What is the impact of this high unemployment on housing values and mortgage rates? Is the unemployment picture getting better? “Here is my take based on data and it is critical that I share the numbers are not pretty but they do show me that the worse may be in the rearview mirror.” Kevin Martini According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistic thing are getting better.  Not minim

Credit score 101 is the name of the 101st episode of the Martini Mortgage Podcast which is hosted by Raleigh Mortgage Strategist Kevin Martini with the Martini Mortgage Group at Benchmark Mortgage.    FACT: You need a credit to secure a mortgage.    FACT: Many people overestimate what their credit score needs to be in order to secure a mortgage.  In addition, many people overestimate the amount of money that is needed for down payment to buy a home and secure a mortgage.   FACT: Your credit score does NOT define who you are.   FACT: Poor credit can become exceptional credit   Credit Score…what is considered poor, what is considered exceptional.   Credit score for the purpose of mortgage ranges from 300 to 850.  The higher the score the better!  There are several bracket of credit score: the highest bracket is ‘exceptional’ and the lowest bracket is ‘poor’.  If your credit is at 800 or north of 800 it is considered to be exceptional.  If your credit score is between 799 to 740 it is considered to be very good.

5 questions a homebuyer, a homeowner or a Realtor need to know right now by Mortgage Strategist Kevin Martini with the Martini Mortgage Group at Benchmark Mortgage. The 5 questions I will be answering are: When will the economy recover? How will unemployment impact housing? Are we going into a recession? It is spring-time…should you buy a home now? I love my home and it is going to be my home for a long time…should I refinance? A video edition is available by going to: www.MartiniMortgagePodcast.com If you have questions about what you hear, just give Kevin Martini  a jingle at (919) 238-4934.  Kevin Martini | NMLS ID 143962 | Senior Mortgage Strategist & Branch Manager | Martini Mortgage Group at Benchmark Mortgage | Ark-La-Tex Financial Services, LLC NMLS ID 2143 | 507 N Blount St Raleigh, NC 27604 | (919) 238-4934 | www.KevinMartini.com | Kevin@KevinMartini.com | Equal Housing Opportunity

Coronavirus Mortgage Relief and Opportunity Options is a special episode of the Martini Mortgage Podcast to help one understand their relief options and for one to understand their opportunities if they are a homeowner or want to be a homeowner.     Kevin Martini | NMLS ID 143962 | Senior Mortgage Strategist & Branch Manager | Martini Mortgage Group at Benchmark Mortgage | Ark-La-Tex Financial Services, LLC NMLS ID 2143 | 507 N Blount Street Raleigh, NC 27604 | (919) 238-4934 | www.KevinMartini.com | Kevin@KevinMartini.com | Equal Housing Opportunity

WHAT NO ONE IS TELLING YOU - important information if you are thinking of buying a home for the first or if you are a repeat homebuyer & are getting a mortgage…important information if you are thinking of refinancing your current home loan into a lower rate or to a different term…important information is you work in the real estate area as a Realtor.   No one I talking about the fact that the mortgage industry is anticipating a serving runoff and this could impact who qualifies and what rate they get.   This episode of the Martini Mortgage Podcast with Kevin Martini shares the story that no one is talking about.   Kevin Martini | NMLS ID 143962 | Senior Mortgage Strategist & Branch Manager | Martini Mortgage Group at Benchmark Mortgage | Ark-La-Tex Financial Services, LLC NMLS ID 2143 | 223 S West Street, Suite 900 Raleigh, NC 27603 | (919) 238-4934 | www.KevinMartini.com | Kevin@KevinMartini.com | Equal Housing Opportunity 

There is no question that the full impact of the Coronavirus is still not known and it is creating uncertainty however with uncertainty there is opportunity for families the have a mortgage today…there is an opportunity for families that are in a house the will not meet their long term needs…there is an opportunity for someone to stop renting and become a homeowner— enjoy this Special video edition of the Martini Mortgage Podcast — it is called: Coronavirus, Real Estate and Mortgages For the video edition of this special edition of the Martini Mortgage Podcast go to: https://youtu.be/q4h22o2NS6M

Private Mortgage Insurance (a.k.a. PMI) is a good thing!  Without PMI a 20% does payment would be required to secure a conforming home loan — PMI allows one to buy a home with less than 20% down.  The monthly cost fo PMI depends on the home’s value, the amount of your down payment and your credit score.  Once you have built equity of 20% in your home, you can cancel your PMI and remove that expense from your mortgage payment.  That is correct, one can purchase a home with less than 20% down and PMI  in cancellable.    Kevin Martini | NMLS ID 143962 | Senior Mortgage Strategist & Branch Manager | Martini Mortgage Group at Benchmark Mortgage | Ark-La-Tex Financial Services, LLC NMLS ID 2143 | 223 S West Street, Suite 900 Raleigh, NC 27603 | (919) 238-4934 | www.KevinMartini.com | Kevin@KevinMartini.com | Equal Housing Opportunity 

Is real estate the best investment one can make today? As a primer, there is never a wrong time to make the right investment.  In addition, buying a home is smarter than renting.  It is my opinion, that right now is one of the best times in history to buy real estate.  Episode 94 of the Martini Mortgage Podcast will highlight why real estate is the bet investment one can make.   Kevin Martini | NMLS ID 143962 | Senior Mortgage Strategist & Branch Manager | Martini Mortgage Group at Benchmark Mortgage | Ark-La-Tex Financial Services, LLC NMLS ID 2143 | 223 S West Street, Suite 900 Raleigh, NC 27603 | (919) 238-4934 | www.KevinMartini.com | Kevin@KevinMartini.com | Equal Housing Opportunity 

Homeownership is not right for everyone but if it is right for you and your family it is important that you know the financial benefits of owning a home.  Raleigh Mortgage Lender Kevin Martini shares his 6 financial benefits of owning a home in this special episode of Mortgage Podcast. Kevin Martini | NMLS ID 143962 | Senior Mortgage Strategist & Branch Manager | Martini Mortgage Group at Benchmark Mortgage | Ark-La-Tex Financial Services, LLC NMLS ID 2143 | 223 S West Street, Suite 900 Raleigh, NC 27603 | (919) 238-4934 | www.KevinMartini.com | Kevin@KevinMartini.com | Equal Housing Opportunity 

There is nothing wrong with renting and there is a time to rent however that time is not now.  Year after year after year rents have gone up and there is no sign of this uptick stopping however there is a way that you can lock in your housing costs and that is with a fixed rate mortgage. Episode 092 of the Martini Mortgage Podcast with Kevin Martini is called: If you Rent and Want to Buy a Home “I have found that many people overestimate the amount of downpayment that is needed to buy a home and secure a mortgage…I have also found that many people overestimate what their credit score needs to be.”  Kevin Martini, Branch Manager and Senior Mortgage Strategist at the Martini Mortgage Group with Benchmark Mortgage Kevin Martini | NMLS ID 143962 | Senior Mortgage Strategist & Branch Manager | Martini Mortgage Group at Benchmark Mortgage | Ark-La-Tex Financial Services, LLC NMLS ID 2143 | 223 S West Street, Suite 900 Raleigh, NC 27603 | (919) 238-4934 | www.KevinMartini.com | Kevin@KevinMartini.com | Equal Hou

Payment history, the amount owed, length of credit, type of credit used and new credit is just some of the information on your credit report and this is also some of the items that determine your what your credit score is.  Episode 091 is about credit reports and credit scores. Kevin Martini | NMLS ID 143962 | Senior Mortgage Strategist & Branch Manager | Martini Mortgage Group at Benchmark Mortgage | Ark-La-Tex Financial Services, LLC NMLS ID 2143 | 223 S West Street, Suite 900 Raleigh, NC 27603 | (919) 238-4934 | www.KevinMartini.com | Kevin@KevinMartini.com | Equal Housing Opportunity 

There are great advantages to owning a home, yet many people continue to rent. Now do not get me wrong…there is a time to rent HOWEVER in my opinion, that time is not now.  Renting right now may be a very shortsighted option.   In this episode of the Martini Mortgage Podcast, Kevin Martini with the Martini Mortgage Group shares the true cost of not buying a home. Kevin Martini | NMLS ID 143962 | Senior Mortgage Strategist & Branch Manager | Martini Mortgage Group at Benchmark Mortgage | Ark-La-Tex Financial Services, LLC NMLS ID 2143 | 223 S West Street, Suite 900 Raleigh, NC 27603 | (919) 238-4934 | www.KevinMartini.com | Kevin@KevinMartini.com | Equal Housing Opportunity 

Are home affordable today?  Some folks have the perception homes are less affordable today than they have been in the past.  It is easy to understand why one would have this sentiment since home values have been going up year, after year, after year however perception is not reality. Episode 089 of the Martini Mortgage Podcast with Kevin Martini is about home affordability and during the episode the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Housing Affordability Index will be discussed…towards that end, below is the Housing Affordability Index from 1990 to today. Kevin Martini | NMLS ID 143962 | Senior Mortgage Strategist & Branch Manager | Martini Mortgage Group at Benchmark Mortgage | Ark-La-Tex Financial Services, LLC NMLS ID 2143 | 223 S West Street, Suite 900 Raleigh, NC 27603 | (919) 238-4934 | www.KevinMartini.com | Kevin@KevinMartini.com | Equal Housing Opportunity 

2020 is here and how will mortgage rates react in this new decade?  Will home sales remain the same, slow down or accelerate in 2020?  Will home values continue to rise or will they slide in 2020?  It is not my narrative that one should consider but the narrative of the what the industries most trusted entities have to say (e.g. CoreLogic, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, National Association of Realtors {NAR}, Mortgage Bankers Association {MBA}). This episode of the Martini Mortgage Podcast was curated to share what the experts think is going to happen in 2020 as it relates to mortgage rates, home sales and Home values. Kevin Martini is not just the host of the Martini Mortgage Podcast…he is also the Branch Manager and Senior Mortgage Strategist of the Martini Mortgage Group at Benchmark Mortgage.  Kevin Martini provides the families he works with trusted advice with a frictionless loan process — if you have questions about what you hear on the Martini Mortgage Podcast or questions about the current home loan rat

A very special program offered to first-time home buyers or military veterans or one that is buying in a targets cents tract is a tax credit. A tax credit is materially different from a tax deduction…in short, the difference between a deduction and credit is a credit directly decreases the amount of tax you owe while a deduction lowers your overall amount of tax.  Raleigh mortgage lender Kevin Martini hosts the 87th episode of the Martini Mortgage Podcast and is is about the Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) (a.k.a. the Tax Credit for First-Time Home Buyers). Oh by the way, every season Kevin Martini and Logan Martini co-author a homebuyer guide called: Things to Consider When Buying a Home.  It simply and effectively communicates the current ground floor opportunity. www.MartiniBuyerGuide.com Kevin Martini | NMLS ID 143962 | Senior Mortgage Strategist & Branch Manager | Martini Mortgage Group at Benchmark Mortgage | Ark-La-Tex Financial Services, LLC NMLS ID 2143 | 223 S West Street, Suite 900 Raleigh,

So you have been thinking of buying a home however it is now winter…let me share a Kevin Martini fact with you…buying a home for the first time or as a repeat homebuyer in the winter is smart.  In fact there are several advantages to buying a home during the winter and in this episode of the Martini Mortgage Podcast, I am going to share the 4 reason to buy a home this winter. SPOLIER ALERT: Kevin Martini is not just the host of the Martini Mortgage Podcast...he is the Branch Manager and Senior Mortgage Strategist with the Martini Mortgage Group at Benchmark Mortgage which is located in Raleigh, North Carolina.  In this episode, Kevin will go into detail on price, home loan rates and more.   4 Reasons to Buy a Home in Winter 2020 is based on an article in the Winter Edition of the Martini Buyer Guide called: Things to Consider when Buying a Home -- this is a free publication that simply explains what is going on in the market and what you need to know before you buy and what to expect when you buy a home. K

Buying a home is a process not an event. Whenever you are buying a home, the home should always be second NOT first — the first step is always the loan and even before the loan is education.  There is never a substitute for education especially when you are buying such a big asset and creating such a large debt.  This episode of the Martini Mortgage Podcast is called: Things to Consider when Buying a home - the Winter 2020 edition of the Martini Buyer Guide that is co-authored by Kevin Martini and Logan Martini.    The host of the Martini Mortgage Podcast is Kevin Martini and he is also a Mortgage Strategist and Branch Manager of the Martini Mortgage Group at Benchmark Mortgage which has its headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina.  The Winter 2020 Edition of the Martini Buyer Guide is curated to simply and effectively communicate the current ground floor opportunity for first-time and repeat homebuyers.  This opportunity is not limited to Raleigh or the Triangle or North Carolina -- this is happening in ever

What is a Silver Tsunami?  It is a metaphor used describe the aging population. This episode of the Martini Mortgage Podcast with Kevin Martini is about the Silver Tsunami which will impact every housing market in the U.S.  As Baby Boomer's age they will be leaving their current owner occupied home and that home is likely to hit the market and cause a flood of inventory in certain markets. What markets are likely to be impacted by the Silver Tsunami…will Raleigh, North Carolina be impacted by the Silver Tsunami?   Kevin Martini | NMLS ID 143962 | Senior Mortgage Strategist & Branch Manager | Martini Mortgage Group at Benchmark Mortgage | Ark-La-Tex Financial Services, LLC NMLS ID 2143 | 223 S West Street, Suite 900 Raleigh, NC 27603 | (919) 238-4934 | www.KevinMartini.com | Kevin@KevinMartini.com | Equal Housing Opportunity