Stay home except for essential needs

Information by SanDiegoCounty.gov

About Coronavirus

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that affect humans and animals. They include those that cause the common cold. A new, or novel, coronavirus was identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019. The disease it causes has been named COVID-19.

How it spreads

Early infections in Wuhan, China were linked to an animal market. Now the virus is spreading from person to person. Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others.

Scientists think the main way COVID-19 spreadis is through close person-to-person contact, within 6 feet, with someone infected with the virus. The virus seems to be spreading easily in the community of affected areas. Investigations are ongoing to learn more about how it spreads. The latest updates are on the CDC’s webpage.

Symptoms

Patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection have reported mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:

fever
cough
shortness of breath/difficulty breathing

At this time, the CDC believes that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure.

How to protect yourself

Practice everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. It should be at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces often.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
If you are sick, stay home and keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.

Pandemic Preparedness

Take action to protect yourself and your family during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Below are steps you should follow at home.

Households

Get your household ready. Some steps will be the same as preparing for other emergencies.

Store a two-week supply of food, beverages, and water, including food for family pets. Ensure an adequate supply of prescribed and routine medications are on hand.
Plan ways to care for those who are at greater risk for serious complications and who will take care of sick family members.
If you have family members with increased risk of getting seriously sick, check with your medical providers about symptoms and treatment.
Create an emergency contact list of family, friends and neighbors.
Have a plan in case your childcare facility or workplace closes temporarily.
Choose a room in your home where a sick household member can be kept separate from the rest of the family. If possible, find a separate bathroom as well.

Disinfecting Your Home

Disinfect your home regularly to protect your family from the virus.

Clean surfaces that are frequently touched like tables, doorknobs, light switches and faucets with soap and water.
Use diluted household bleach solutions if appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer instructions and make sure you have proper ventilation. Never use household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser.
You can also disinfect using EPA-approved products proven for use against the COVID-19 virus (e.g., Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, Lysol Clean & Fresh MultiSurface Cleaner, Purell Professional Surface Disinfectant Wipes).
If using an alcohol solution, make sure it’s at least 70% alcohol.
Clean your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially:
- After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
- After using the bathroom
- Before preparing and eating food
- After petting animals
Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands

Additional measures should be taken if a household member is suspected/confirmed coronavirus disease.

During a COVID-19 Outbreak

Stay at home to stop the spread of the disease unless you are an essential worker. You can go out to buy groceries, walk the dog and enjoy the outdoors but follow social distancing guidelines by staying six feet away from others. Be sure your park or trail is open before you go.
Stay informed but limit your amount of news if it becomes stressful.
Stay in touch with family, neighbors and friends.
Take care of your mental health.
Stay home if you are sick and isolate yourself from the rest of the family. If symptoms become worse, contact your doctor.

Hope this helps!! Stay safe everyone!!

Uncategorized

Seller Buydown (For Buyers)

February 1, 2020February 1, 2020 loansbyjoanna

More Tips and Tricks on the LoansByJoanna Guide

Coming soon: Seller Buydown (For Sellers)

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When you qualify for a home loan, you’re actually qualifying for the monthly payments

We know that for a home buyer, nothing takes priority quite like having an affordable mortgage payment. The price you’ll be approved for depends entirely on both your down payment and the maximum payment for which you qualify. And the most significant factor in determining what that payment will be is your interest rate.

For those buyers who opt to use an interest rate reduction mortgage, your real estate agent will negotiate with the seller to accept a fair price if they will give you credit to permanently reduce, or buydown, your interest rate.

Just a reduction of 0.25% in your interest rate could mean tens of thousands of dollars of interest that you will save over the term of your home loan. And this, of course, can mean the difference between affording your dream home and going with option B.

At the end of the day, this is a win-win situation for both the buyer and the seller of a home.

Using this credit (also known as a seller’s concession) to permanently lower your interest rate will lead to a reduction in your mortgage payment, allowing you to afford a higher sales price while keeping your payments right where you needed them to be all along.

The seller benefits as much as the buyer in that the seller gets the offer they wanted, and your below-market interest rate means a lower total payment— even though you offered a fair purchase price at market value.

You may be thinking, “Why don’t I just ask the seller to reduce the price of the home?”

That’s a great question, and most buyers are going to default to assuming this is the way to go. But using an interest rate reduction mortgage means your offer will stand out from the competition. A higher offer gives you a higher chance of sealing the deal.

Because it’s been established you aren’t trying to take any precious money out of the seller’s pocket (by having to make a lower offer), your far more desirable offer will inevitably stand out from all of the other buyers trying to get the lowest price possible.

While a desperate seller may take a low offer, most sellers are going to take the offer that will allow them to make the most money from the sale. Period.

If your offer keeps your payment where you want it to be while the seller also gets what they want, then everybody wins.

A successful negotiation is when all parties feel like they got the best deal. You get your payment. The seller receives their money. Everybody wins when everybody wins.

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More Tips and Tricks on the LoansByJoanna Guide

Coming soon: Seller Buydown (For Sellers)

DIY, Uncategorized

10 Ways to Autumn-ize your Home

October 8, 2019 loansbyjoanna

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The crispness in the air, the small gusts of wind, the faint aroma of pumpkin spice. Even in a county like San Diego, you can feel change in the air when Autumn rolls around. I personally love Autumn, and although I’m sometimes late on getting the decorations up, I enjoy decorating for all major holidays and seasons. Today I want to share with you 10 ways I like to make my home a little more comfy for the fall and winter season. Leave a comment at the end if this helped you, or if you want to share some ways you make your home a little more Holiday.

#1 – Aromatic Candles

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If you know me, you know I’m a sap for an aromatic candle, and it’s fact scented candles are the best in the fall. I tend to burn different candle fragrances depending on the weather. For example, food fragrances and warm and cozy fragrances work best when it’s cold and gray outside. Floral fragrances tend to work best when it’s bright and warm outside.

#2 – Pumpkins

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Add a pumpkin (or three) to your tables and centerpieces. Just a few scattered pumpkins can make your home go from drab to fab in a matter of seconds. Some people swear by real pumpkins, but let me tell you, don’t discount the plastic ones. With faux pumpkins, you can use them again and again. You can even paint them white and use them as decorations for the winter season as well.

#3 – Golden and Pine Centerpieces

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Pine cones, squash, colorful maize, and autumn leaves are another perfect and easy way to Autumnize your home. Just leave a few bowls or cornucopias around the house to give it that crisp, Autumn feel. Browns and beiges are perfect, but adding pops of orange, red, gold, and even rose gold will give your pieces a rustic-glam look.

#4 – Throw Rugs and Wall Art

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Add color, texture, and warmth to your home by way of a smartly placed runner or throw rug. Not many people change their furniture with the seasons, so, changing the rug or your on-the-wall art to something more Fall-like can make it seem like you did. Keep your furniture simple throughout the year, and make your rugs or paintings the focal point. Doing this will make it easy to switch out a few details every season and have it look like you’ve redecorated your entire home.

#5 – Coffee Beans, Cloves and Oranges

There’s a little trick to making your home smell delicious all season: cloves and oranges. Make it a family event and have the kids stick the cloves in the oranges. They can even make their own designs or their names out of the cloves. Then either place them in a bowl or hang them with ribbon around the house. Another great trick is filling glass containers with coffee beans. It will look très chic, but also make the house smell great.

#6 – Succulents (Always)

If you’ve met me, even for just a few minutes, you probably know that I am obsessed with succulents. Not only are they great to have throughout the year, in the fall you can use them as centerpieces, by placing them inside pumpkins, or you can give them as gifts for friends during the holiday. Unlike many plants, succulents are not relatively easy to take care of, so you can be sure that they won’t be destroyed.

#7 – Don’t Forget the Front Porch

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I have to say, I love pulling into a driveway and seeing fall decor! You just know that the rest of the home will be comfy and inviting. Again, pumpkins are great this season, as they are able to go with Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas decor. If you have the time, and are able, paint the front door: Red, Green, something inviting. It’s a small detail that can change the whole look of the home. Don’t forget to take pictures. Fall is the best time for front porch pictures of the Family.

#8 – Cider, Cinnamon and Baked Goods

Like the coffee beans and oranges with cloves, cinnamon is a great way to keep your home smelling like the Holidays during, well, the Holidays. Keeping baked goods like cupcakes and pies around, or hot chocolate and apple cider, will make the whole family stay in the spirit while feeding their souls and their bellies. However, try to find vegan, gluten free, and healthier delicious recipes, so that their bellies aren’t growing as big as your love for them.

#9 – String Lights

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There is something about string lights that make an evening more romantic, and family nights that much more special. They aren’t just for outside the home anymore. You can string them up on the porch, in the house, or even drop them in a glass vase or dish to give a room just a little more oomph. I love string lights not only for the Fall and Winter season, but also in the Spring and Summer for weddings and special events, so having some on hand at all times is always a good idea.

#10 – Family & Friends

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This is a big one. To me, family is everything, but not everyone is lucky enough to have a loving one. So, if you do, count your blessings. If you don’t, create a new family with friends you meet every day. If you have a loving family, and the room to do so, invite a friend or someone who may be lonely for the Holiday season. It’s a small gesture that that make someone’s entire year. The more the merrier! Have a happy Fall and Winter Season, and I hope I gave you some great ideas on how to Autumn-ize your home!

Uncategorized

A Simple Guide to Home Possible Mortgage Loans

February 26, 2019February 26, 2019 loansbyjoanna

What is a Home Possible Mortgage?

Home Possible is a Freddie Mac mortgage program which allows first-time homebuyers with moderate incomes low down payment mortgage options. These programs only require 3-5% as the minimum down payment and features private mortgage insurance (PMI) that can be canceled once your home equity reaches 20%.

How can Home Possible help me?

The Home Possible and the Home Possible advantage programs are geared toward first-time homebuyers with limited funds available for down payments, but meet the rest of the lending criteria. The purpose of both programs is to finance or refinance the purchases of primary residences, 2-4 unit owner-occupied homes, and eligible manufactured properties. Home Possible programs, with backing from Freddie Mac, are able to offer reduced mortgage insurance rates and premiums, more flexible credit terms, and refinancing options for existing homeowners.

What are its Main Advantages of Each HP Program?

Home Possible

Home Possible Advantage

Income Limits: The borrower’s annual income cannot exceed 100% of the area median income limits (or higher percentage in designated high-cost areas). No income limits apply if the property is in an underserved area.
Eligible Property: A one- to four-unit primary residence or a manufactured home that meets the guidelines.
Eligible Mortgages: First-lien, fully amortizing mortgages; fixed rate and adjustable rate loans are allowed. The maturity must not exceed 30 years.
LTV and DTI Ratios: Max 95% LTV, DTI Determined by Loan Product Advisor or 45% if manually underwritten.

Income Limits: Loan Product Advisor is used to determine whether the borrower’s income exceeds the product advisor limits.
Eligible Property: A 1-unit primary residence. Manufactured Homes not permitted
Eligible Mortgages: First-lien, fully amortizing mortgages; fixed rate loans only. Loan term cannot exceed 30 years.
LTV and DTI Ratios: Max 97% LTV, DTI determined by Loan Product Advisor or 43% if manually underwritten

Table source: http://www.valuepenguin.com

Commonalities:

Borrowers must occupy the property as their primary residence.
Borrowers can not have an ownership interest in other properties.
Mortgage insurance rates and premiums match in both programs.
Mortgage insurance can be canceled after loan balance drops below 80% of the home’s appraised value.
Homeownership education is required for at least one qualifying borrower if all borrowers are first-time homebuyers.

Home Possible Loans Compared to Other loans?

Home Possible vs. FHA Loans

Although each program offers reduced mortgage insurance rates and premiums, which reduces your overall housing expense — with HP loan programs, the mortgage insurance can be canceled once you reach a 78% to 80% loan-to-value ratio. This avoids the expense of refinancing just to eliminate mortgage insurance in the future. In addition, Freddie Mac mortgages aren’t subject to Federal Housing Administation (FHA) county loan limits, which could restrict your purchase options.

Home Possible vs. VA Loans

Unlike loans from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), there’s no funding fee on Home Possible loans. Having fewer upfront costs keeps initial loan balances lower, requires lower monthly payments and less interest over the loan term.

Freddie Mac Home Possible vs. Conventional Loans

Home Possible offers more flexible credit terms than most conventional loans and accepts scenarios on a case-by-case basis which increases the chances that your mortgage application will be approved. HP even allows borrowers without credit scores to qualify based on acceptable automated underwriting results and payment references.

**How Do I Qualify for a Freddie Mac Home Possible Mortgage?**

You must meet the debt-to-income ratio requirements for the program. Typically, this means that a maximum of 45% of your gross income goes toward your debts.
Your income must fall within the stated guidelines, based on the location of the home. If you aren’t sure, use the eligibility tool on the Freddie Mac website.
You must also be considered a first-time homebuyer. This doesn’t mean that you’re excluded if you’ve owned a home in the past. There are exceptions for situations like inheriting a stake in a property or acting as a co-signer on a mortgage loan, or if you haven’t been on the title for another property within three years of applying to Home Possible.
You must complete an approved homebuyer education course. Courses are available online and in-person, and provides valuable information.

**How Do I Apply for a Freddie Mac Home Possible Mortgage?**

Select a lender who offers Home Possible mortgage products.
Have the lender calculate your income based on Freddie Mac guidelines by providing the lender with some supporting documentation (like pay stubs, W-2 forms, and bank statements). Going through the preapproval process before home shopping will give you peace of mind.
Once you know how your income will be considered, work with a real estate agent to identify geographic areas you’d be interested in and confirm that you meet the maximum income requirements by using the eligibility tool.
Like conventional mortgages, when you have an offer accepted, your income, assets and credit will be reviewed and confirmed, and the property will be appraised to determine its value.

Uncategorized

7 Steps to a Stress Free Home: Living Mindfully in Your Own Space

January 24, 2019January 24, 2019 loansbyjoanna

Your home should be a place of relaxation and restoration, not a stress-inducing reminder of your troubles or tasks left undone. While it’s true that people are soothed by different things, and what relaxes one person, might not relax another, there are certain universal ways to quickly boost your home’s good vibes, and put you in a more relaxing mood.

#1 – Make Your Bed

To some, this might seem like the most tedious chore. Maybe you’re replaying your mother’s voice in your head as we speak, “make your bed before you leave.” Well, sorry you have to hear this from me, but maybe she had a point. Experts say that coming home to a made bed has the ability to make you feel calmer almost immediately, and can actually help you get a better night’s rest. Next time you jump out of bed, take a couple of minutes to straighten up the place where you spend at least 7-8 hours a night.

#2 Let Natural Light Be Your ALarm

Speaking of 7-8 hours, this is how much sleep you should be getting a night. People who can get by on four hours of sleep, sometimes like to brag about their endurance, but recent scientific studies show that a lack of sleep causes you to be a risk of many health concerns. Sleeping 7-8 hours a night can decrease risk for health conditions, manage your hunger levels, maintain your immune system, retain memory, and so much more. Turn off your alarm and get into bed nine hours before you need to get up. If you need help with this, iPhones have a “bedtime timer” that will tell you when to go to bed at night, and will calculate how much sleep you actually get in a week.

#3 – Consider Colors

You might not even notice it, but your mind and body react in different ways when you see certain colors. Blue, violet, and pastels have been proven to reduce stress and calm you down. Brighter colors stimulate your brain, energize you, and can sometimes even make you feel a little anxious. When painting your rooms, or applying wallpaper, think about how you’d like to feel when you’re in each room. If relaxation is your goal, especially in your bedroom while you’re trying to get those 7-8 hours, you’ll want to go with a muted pallet.

#4 – Keep What Sparks Joy; Let Go of What is Left

Marie Kondo is all the rage right now. If you haven’t heard of her, she is the Japanese organizer, author and star of the Netflix series “Tidying up with Marie Kondo” who encourages people to “keep only what sparks joy” when getting rid of clutter. Some people like clutter, and that’s fine. Your intention shouldn’t be to throw away everything you’ve got, but to hold each item in your home in both hands and ask “does this spark joy.” If it does spark joy, keep it, and put it out where you can see it every day (not in storage). If it does not spark joy (or is not conducive to your future), thank the item for serving you in the past and let it go.

#5 – Keep Houseplants or Flowers

Most of us have heard that if you talk to, or pray for, a plant, you will help their growth and well-being. Well, did you know that the reverse is also true? Studies have shown that indoor plants improve concentration and productivity by up to 15%, reduce stress levels, and boost your mood. This, along with their visual beauty, makes them perfect for your home and work space too!

#6 – Start each day with morning meditation

Morning meditation doesn’t have to mean two hours of pretzel-y yoga poses, or even morning-long prayers and fifty hail-marty, though if you’d like to do those things, more power to you! All you need is to carve out 10-30 minutes in the morning as time for yourself. Meditation makes you feel good, emotionally and physically, and enhances activity in the area of your brain that is associated with positive emotions and experience. Some studies even suggest that it helps combat depression, anxiety, and improves pain tolerance when done regularly. Take some time to breathe intentionally and let go of everything in your life that is causing you stress.

#7 – End each day with a completion ritual

Ending each day with a ritual is just as important as beginning your days with one, and maybe more. When you end each day doing the same thing, like writing in your journal or planner, reading, listening to relaxing music, or even something as simple as brushing your teeth or washing the last few dishes in the sink, your brain starts to pick up on the pattern and your body will start to automatically wind down. This means less time tossing and turning before you fall asleep.

Most of all, look after yourself. Your home is your sanctuary, and you’ve earned it, so treat your home (and yourself) accordingly.