Peter has been writing the real estate column "Lending a Hand" in the Santa Cruz Sentinel every week since 1995. His most recent columns are available below. Simply click on the topic. If there is a topic you would like to see written about, call him or email him. He is always looking for new topics.
- Is refinancing right for you?
- Mortgage insurance and FHA loans
- Fraud and misrepresentation in lending
- Quality control and 2012 tax returns
- Do you want to be a ‘Right Now’ buyer?
- Down payment assistance for first time buyers
- Home Valuation Code of Conduct here to stay
- Homebuyers should jump at prices, rates
- A salute to the title and escrow folks
- No mortgage payments required for this loan
- Key to buying home: Saving
- Qualifying for an ARM is more difficult
- Condominiums have stricter lending guidelines
- New Year’s resolutions for homebuyers
- No change in conforming limits for 2013
- Getting final loan approval takes discipline, patience
- More cash will lower your rate
- FHA loans remain popular but changes coming
- Refinancing is not for everyone
- Waiting periods for foreclosure, short sale or BK
- Shopping for your home loan
- Tips for the self employed seeking a mortgage
- Home values are clearly on the rise
- The pros and cons of FHA loans
- Mortgage process requires more time, patience
- Pest reports not required by lenders
- A gift is OK for the down payment
- Final loan approval does not come until the end of escrow
- Consider the 15-year fixed rate option
- When does a refinance make sense?
- Appraisal does not serve as inspection report
- Buyers experience competition with their offers
- Owning a home is not for everyone
- One slip with your credit will cost you
- The secret of “No Cost” loans
- Housing Authority gets funds to help first-time buyers
- The myth about gifts and their tax consequences