Yes, I fantasize...doesn't everyone?  Now, come on, I know what at least 50% of you are thinking! But fantasizing can include all aspects of life.   Just today I was fantasizing I was on the beach in Florida working from my cell phone and financing every client I met and closed them all in 5 days.  Ahhhhh: great fantasy!  Here is a quote from Dr. Seuss:  "I like nonsense; it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living; it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities." Dr. Seuss  If the Dr. says it's good to fantasize, it must be good!  What is your fantasy?     Ann Sabbagh Vice-President Seacoast Mortgage Corporation 508-243-1190 Residential & Commercial Financing MLO10920... 12/02/2009

Well, I am now going on my 5th!  I have yet to understand how to achieve a higher ranking in google.  Everyone tells me something different.  If I google my name, I am on over 7300 web pages.  My website has been tagged to all these web pages, but yet my website is no where near the top of the google search. I have been told "tags" work.  Then I see a video from google that shows Mr. Google stating "tags" are meaningless in the search engine.  "Description" means something, though.  Linking to others is supposed to help.  I have done this.  But I am MISSING something or everything !?   Can anyone tell me how to achieve a higher ranking?  All tips appreciated! Ann Sabbagh Vice-President Seacoast Mortgage Corporation 508-243-1190 Residential & Commercial Financing     "When you choose me ... 12/01/2009

A VA loan is 100% financing with NO monthly PMI.  It is available to all on active duty and their spouses and those veterans not currently active.  This loan is easier to obtain than conventional financing. A veteran CAN use their entitlement again under certain conditions.  It can be used for 1-4 unit owner occupied residences.   The veteran borrower is charged a nonrefundable upfront funding fee, which can be financed, instead of a mortgage insurance premium. This fee is 2.15% of the loan amount for a first-time service veteran making no down payment. It is higher for reservists & for second-time borrowers.  It is lower for those making at least a 5% down payment. Up to the Freddie Mac limit, there is no down payment required on VA loans.  In addition, the seller can pay up to 4% of t... 11/30/2009

So, here I am at the 50,000 mark!  What have I learned?  Have I accomplished anything? I say "YES."  I have learned so much from this community: how to network, learn from each other's trials and tribulations, find information so easily, the list goes on......  Also, I have generated leads from Active Rain and the consumers have been happy.  I believe they come here to see and find someone who spends time on their business.  Who is willing to dedicate hours and hours educating others and collaborating with others?  A consumer always wants a professional who is knowledgeable of their trade.  By us all blogging and learning from each other, we are becoming better every day. Thank you Active Rain colleagues!   Ann Sabbagh Vice-President Seacoast Mortgage Corporation 508-243-1190 Residentia... 11/29/2009

"Man is happy only as he finds work worth doing - and does it well." E. Merrill Root (1895-1973) American Writer   Doesn't this make sense?  If you enjoy what you do, you are happy!  Pure and simple!  If you leave work every day and say things like, "I hate my job" or "I wish I could be doing something different", then it is time you change your job!  Now this might not be the easiest task in this market, but isn't your happiness worth the time it will take to find a new job? If you are unhappy with this industry, do the real estate industry a favor and find a new industry!  This industry needs to be filled with happy people now more than ever!  There are enough of challenges.  We must all be happy and work together to get us out of the mess this industry is in. Have a GREAT, HAPPY week... 11/29/2009

"THE MIND THAT TRIES TO REST ONLY ON THE SURFACE OF THINGS WILL BE TOSSED ABOUT IN EVERY STORM.  Dive deeper to where the peace is."   Do you "get into" the job?  Do you try to resolve issues?  Do you "dig in" and get to the bottom of the problem at hand: actively work on obtaining a solution?  Or do you leave it to others to resolve and figure out?     Ann Sabbagh Vice-President Seacoast Mortgage Corporation Residential and Commercial Financing 508-243-1190   Please visit my website: www.annsabbagh.com   "When you choose me as your mortgage consultant, you also choose a financial planner who cares about your financial strength." 11/27/2009

"Man has no nobler function than to defend the truth."  Ruth McKenney   Not every transaction goes perfect.  We all try, but something will inevitably happen if you have many transactions.  Being busy, one needs help to focus on all the details.  So, for those of you who are busy in this industry, when something goes wrong AND it is your fault, do you take the blame or do you come up with a scapegoat?  DO you tell the truth to your seller or buyer?  Or do you start blaming the lender, the title attorney, the appraiser, or whomever?   There is a saying: "the truth will set us free".  Better to tell the truth than to have to continue to not tell the truth and complicate the situation even more.   What do you do?     Ann Sabbagh Vice-President Seacoast Mortgage Corporation Residential and ... 11/27/2009

"YOU ARE HERE FOR A PURPOSE.  There is not a duplicate of you in the whole wide world; there never has been, there never will be.  You were brought here now to fill a certain need.  Take time to think that over." Lou Austin   So, what is YOUR purpose? Why are you in the real estate industry?  I find myself here because I enjoy helping the consumer obtain their dream: their home for their family.  Sure, many consumers can go anywhere for a mortgage, but those that want a professional who counsels them from a total financial perspective is what brings me into this industry.  I do not qualify a client based on the qualifying ratios; I qualify based upon their unique financial situation.  Their lifestyle.  Their financial goals.   Being a financial planner has enabled my clients to take a s... 11/27/2009

"You are a wise soul who unlocks the mysteries of life by beginning with the self."   By knowing yourself, you can begin to understand life and how you can "fit in".  We all wonder "what is life all about"?  Perhaps we should ask ourselves "what am I all about"?  Perhaps I want to help others or I just want to help myself and my family.  Whatever it is you want out of life, figure that out first and then figure out how to attain it.  Get to know yourself TODAY!   Ann Sabbagh Vice-President Seacoast Mortgage 508-243-1190 Residential & Commercial Financing   'When you choose me as your mortgage consultant, you also choose a financial planner who cares about YOUR financial strength." 11/21/2009

"Conditions are NEVER 'just right'.  People who delay action until all factors are favorable do nothing." William Feather  (1888-1981) Author Do you find yourself saying, "I'm waiting until....?"  Time passes quickly.  Do not WAIT until the weather is perfect and the stars are aligned correctly.  Just DO IT!  Make life happen.  Do not put off until tomorrow what you can do TODAY.  The movers and shakers will just whizzzzzzzzzzz by you.  So, BEEP, BEEP, become the Road Runner, not the one who is left by the side of the road. BEEP, BEEP! Have a great day! Ann Sabbagh Vice-President Seacoast Mortgage 508-243-1190 Residential & Commercial Mortgages "When you choose me as your mortgage consultant, you also choose a financial planner who cares about YOUR financial success." 11/19/2009

"You are a soul who does not over-think, or over-act or over-speak, because you UNDERSTAND." Author unknown Do YOU understand people or do you over-speak them and over-react or think too much about a situation?  To understand someone means, to me, knowing THEIR goals and what THEY want.  Not what I want or what my goal is. I approach each consumer with this thought process.  What is it that they want?  By achieving their goal, I should see a happy client at the closing table!   Have a GREAT day!   Ann Sabbagh Vice-President Seacoast Mortgage Residential & Commercial Financing 508-243-1190 "When you choose me as your mortgage consultant, you also choose a financial planner who cares about YOUR financial future!"   11/17/2009

Texting and driving are DANGEROUS and DEADLY activities when coupled together!  One must wonder if we have gone too far with technology?  And if we need to have this technology. There should be HARSH penalties for those who use the technology with a potential of harm to others.   "The danger caused by texting while behind the wheel is no joke, and as an extremely graphic PSA from the UK shows in almost unbearable detail, the results can be truly deadly. The more than 4-minute video, which shows a group of teenage girls getting into a head-on collision while the driver of the car text messages, has caused some strong reactions due to its graphic nature, with some people asking if it goes too far. For example, the PSA, apparently produced by the Gwent Police Department in Wales, shows the... 11/08/2009

"The man who has time for gossip and slander has no time for success."   HOW TRUE!  There are those who gossip and those who do not.  Take notice!  The ones who do NOT gossip are the ones who SUCCEED.  Please take a moment and think of those you RESPECT and ADMIRE.  They are successful because they keep the gossip within themselves.  They listen to others, but they focus on the positive and throw away the negative. They focus on their goals and ultimately achieve their goals. How do you rate yourself: a Gossiper or NOT? Ann Sabbagh Vice-President Seacoast Mortgage RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL FINANCING 508-243-1190   "When you choose me as your mortgage consultant, you also choose a financial planner who cares about YOUR financial strength!"     11/08/2009

"Make yourself an honest man, and then you may be sure that there is one less scoundrel in the world." Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) Scottish Writer   HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY !   How often have you heard this?  If we all lived by this rule, the world would be such a better place to live!  There are those of us who play by the rules and those of use who look for a "work-around".  Who are YOU?    Have a GREAT day!   Ann M. Sabbagh Vice-President Seacoast Mortgage Corporation "Where financing is smooth sailing!" Residential & Commercial Financing (508) 243-1190 (401 475-1441 (fax) email: asabbagh@seacoastmortgage.com                 website:www.annsabbagh.com                                                                           "When you choose me as your mortgage consultant, you also ... 11/07/2009

I have a question: Can someone explain the use of Twitter for business purposes?   Aside from letting the world know I may not be available for the next hour or so, what purpose does it serve?  I signed up, but have yet to use it.  I just think if someone wants to reach me, they will call me and then leave a message if I do not answer the phone.  They do not care where I am.   What are your thoughts on Twitter?  Thank you for your responses!   Ann Sabbagh Vice-President Seacoast Mortgage Corporation Residential and Commercial Financing 508-243-1190   Please visit my website: www.annsabbagh.com   "When you choose me as your mortgage consultant, you also choose a financial planner who cares about your financial strength." 11/01/2009

Ok, with all the knowledge and experience of all of us at Active Rain, we should be able to come up with viable solutions to this housing crisis.   The $8000 first time home buyer credit has helped, but my fear is we will see foreclosures from this group of new buyers.  How many people are coming out to buy a home simply because they are receiving the $8000?  In fact, in some cases, they make money by buying a home ($100,000 purchase can only "cost" 3.5% down: $3500: finance all closing costs, is possible.  So, in this case, the buyer makes $4500!   I do believe am educational component should be attached to the $8000 tax credit.  All buyers should be required to take a home buying seminar and receive a certificate of completion, which must be delivered to the lender PRIOR to closing.  ... 11/01/2009

"Close your eyes and let the mind expand.  Let no fear of death or darkness arrest its course.  Allow the mind to merge with mind.  Let it flow out upon the great curve of consciousness.  Let it soar on the wings of the great bird of duration.  Up to the very Circle of Eternity." Hermes"   So, what does "Hermes" mean by this?  Well, my interpretation is to let your mind not be confined to your own ideas and thoughts.  Open your mind to the thoughts and ideas of others.  Do not be stubborn and close-minded.    In the real estate industry, we sometimes feel everyone else is wrong and we are right.  We do not wish to listen to others.  When we open our minds, we can become greater at what we do.  By working together, we become great.  A team effort is better than a solo effort.  In real es... 10/29/2009

OK...Is it TRUE???  Can it be real???   * Is the $8000 1st time home buyer credit being extended? * Is it going to be offered to everyone? * Are the income limits changing? * When is the new termination date?     There are so many real estate professionals talking about this, so let's get it straight as of this moment.  Click on the latest:   http://www.mcall.com/classified/realestate/sns-200910271751tmsrealestmctnig-a20091029oct29,0,5362048.story     Only the facts here, only the facts as of this moment....but you know this industry!  Many changes in lending on a daily basis!       Ann Sabbagh Vice-President Seacoast Mortgage Corporation Residential and Commercial Financing 508-243-1190   Please visit my website: www.annsabbagh.com   "When you choose me as your mortgage consultant, you... 10/29/2009

"Make it a rule of life never to regret and never to look back.  Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can not build on it, it's only good for wallowing in." Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923)   So, real estate agents, you may not have priced the last listing attempt correctly or you said something wrong during the appointment.  Loan officers, you may have quoted the rate too high or forgot to ask for the tax returns when you pre-approved a borrower and then the underwriter noticed "unreimbursed employee expenses", thus lowering your pre-approval amount.   We all have regrets over mistakes or blunders or whatever.  It is part of life to have regrets.  Songs have been written about: Frank Sinatra's "My Way"......."regrets, I had a few.....but I did it my way..."  You know the song!   ... 10/29/2009

"The little unremembered acts of kindness and love are the best parts of a person's life." William Wordsworth (1770-1850) Poet   When is the last time you did an act of kindness for someone not in your immediate circle of family and friends?  And when you do a kind act, do you talk about it and broadcast it?  Or do you act kind so often that they go unremembered by you?   Try spending one day doing random acts of kindness to those you meet along life's way.  See how you feel at the end of the day.  If you wish to share, I would love to hear how you felt at the end of the day.       Ann Sabbagh Vice-President Seacoast Mortgage Corporation Residential and Commercial Financing 508-243-1190   Please visit my website: www.annsabbagh.com   "When you choose me as your mortgage consultant, you ... 10/29/2009