Give Together – Gain Together is a Success!

Thank you for participating in the DocPros Give Together – Gain Together Program!  Every new DocPros client registration triggers a donation to a worthy cause or charity, so we thank you for partnering with us by sending us your referrals.  Thanks to your support in April, we were able to donate $250 to Rancho Damacitas and Wishes for Children!  To learn more about May’s beneficiary, please see below for my article on Slow Food Temecula Valley and their upcoming Field to the Fork event (originally published by Taste of Temecula).

One of my favorite things about hanging out with Slow Food Temecula Valley folks like chapter president, Leah Di Bernardo, and Leonesse Cellars owner, Mike Rennie, is that they talk about farmers, chefs, winemakers, brewmasters and other local artisans like they are rock stars.  They name drop like groupies because they know that the people who care where our food comes from and that labor to produce it in a socially conscious way are greater heros than your typical celebrity.  Slow Food Temecula Valley and host Leonesse Cellars will be showcasing local food, wine, beer and artisans at Field to the Fork on May 21st.  Here is a taste of what you can expect from this exceptional event:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XECO5_OlhY 

Temecula Valley Slow Food school garden program provides an opportunity for children to experience a seasonal, organic, edible garden as part of their education.  The children are able to connect with the source of their food and realize that they have wholesome alternatives to their typical school lunch fare.  With programs like Farm-to-School and Edible Schoolyard on the horizon, Slow Food Temecula Valley aims to inspire a transformation in food policy, production practices and market forces so that they insure equity, sustainability and pleasure in the food that we eat.  This is a cause worth digging in to!  For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: http://temeculavalleyslowfood.org/

Photo Courtesy of Slow Food Temecula Valley

Rancho Damacitas Puts Kids First

One of my new favorite things is getting to know more about the beneficiaries of DocPros’ “Give Together – Gain Together” program.  It is an amazing feeling to be able to help those that are so committed to making the world a better place.  Here is a reprise of a recent article that I wrote for the online publication, Taste of Temecula.

The numbers are tough to hear and even more difficult to fathom: each year in Riverside County, hundreds of cases of child abuse are reported, a number which escalates in difficult economic times and around the holidays.  The children that are removed from these unsafe and unbearable conditions are in need of significant emotional healing and a safe environment in which to relearn what it means to be a kid.

Rancho Damacitas and it’s parent organization, Thessalonika Family Services, provide a much needed environment for some of these precious children to recover from the abuse that they have suffered.  The Rancho Damacitas campus is a long-term care solution with several homes complete with a parent couple in each who take on the day to day responsibilities of raising the six girls or boys entrusted to their care.  This loving, safe structure gives the children an opportunity to bond with the family unit and heal from the deep physical and/or emotional pain that they have suffered.  Though the children often stay in the program for years, Rancho Damacitas does ultimately work towards transitioning ones that are ready into a more traditional foster care situation.  In the interim, they offer much-needed family unit, counseling, recreation programs, tutoring and so much more.

Along with the care that they provide for children ages 6 – 18, Thessalonika Family Services also offers a continuum of care with Project Independence.  As children age out of foster care at age 18, they are often left to their own devices, but not so with Project Independence.  Once they have received their high school diploma, qualified participants are eligible for financial assistance with living expenses and continued education.  Project Independence offers a mentoring program and other resources to help these young adults grow into responsible contributing members of our community.  In essence, they continue to parent the children just as any parent would help their child transition into adulthood.

As with many nonprofit organizations, Rancho Damacitas is full of love and, at times like these, short on funds.  Their short term goals involve simply maintaining the level of care that they currently provide to the children entrusted to them.  In addition, they are always looking for families who are interested in training through their foster care program.  By teaching families in our community how to love and care for abused children, they increase their positive influence exponentially.

Other needs include funds for basics such as clothing, school supplies and group outings for the children.  Improvements to the campus are planned as funds come in.  The wish list includes a walking path for the children to use for recreation and for therapy.  The counselors often find that much healing can come from walking side by side and talking through feelings.  Bigger goals include and outdoor basketball court as this is an activity that all the children seem to enjoy.  The current parking space/basketball hoop set up quickly becomes crowded as everyone wants to play.  For a complete list of needs or to make a donation online, please visit the Current Needs page on their website.

Events sponsored by Ponte Winery and other supporters give Rancho Damacitas the much-needed exposure to those who want to help.  For a list of upcoming events please visit the Events Page on their website.

Rancho Damacitas gives the children in our community a chance at a happy, healthy life and then returns those children to us as happy, healthy adults. I submit that this investment is best repaid by our generous support of their efforts.  Please join Taste of Temecula in our commitment to Thessalonika Family Services the wonderful work that they do.

DocPros Nationwide Notaries Gives Back

Wishes for Children Founder, Charlie Pate & Corie Maue - Photo by Carl Kravats

After close to a decade of providing exceptional notary and loan signing services nationwide, DocPros has a long history of quietly giving back to local, national and international aid programs and charities.  Over the years, we have proudly supported Wishes for Children, Slow Food International, Rancho Damacitas Children’s Homes, Project TOUCH, World Vision, Susan G. Komen for a Cure and countless others.  We are a pupose driven company that believes in the concept of Giver’s Gain: that when we help others, we are helping ourselves as well.

In the spirit of paying it forward, we have decided to partner with our clients and notaries to give more where it is truely needed.

Our new program, “Give Together, Gain Together,” allows our clients and notaries to participate in the act of giving.  For every new client registration that DocPros receives, we will make a $5 donation to a featured charity.  As I mentioned, we have several organizations that we support, but we are open to requests and recommendations from anyone who participates.   When you refer a friend or colleauge to us, you not only help resolve their need for a great signing service, you trigger a donation to a worthy cause. We will post the total donation at the end of each month so that everyone will see how their gift has made a difference.

As you may know, April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.  As such, we will be splitting our charitable contributions between to amazing organizations: Wishes for Children and Rancho Damacitas.  We hope that you will join us in our endeavors to give.  For more information about the program, please feel free to email me at: corie@docpros.net

Crossroads Corporate Center Welcomes DocPros Nationwide Notaries

Crossroads Corporate Center

After six successful years at the Kalmia Courtyard building, DocPros officially outgrew that space and began to actively seek a new home for their headquarters.  The City of Murrieta has always been good to DocPros, so they were delighted to find an amazing space in a prime location: 25220 Hancock Ave. Ste. 220, Murrieta, CA 92562

DocPros provides nationwide notary/loan signing services to title, escrow and lenders across the country as well as notary services on location.  With an in office staff of close to 30 and thousands of Independent Contractor notaries throughout the nation, DocPros can easily accommodate a high level of volume without sacrificing the exceptional service that they are known for.

DocPros Team - Photo by Carl Kravats

 

For more information on how DocPros could be of service to you, please visit www.docpros.net or call 951-304-7738

Final Fed Ruling on Mortgage Broker Compensation

The Federal Reserve Board on Monday announced final rules to protect mortgage borrowers from unfair, abusive, or deceptive lending practices that can arise from loan originator compensation practices. The new rules apply to mortgage brokers and the companies that employ them, as well as mortgage loan officers employed by depository institutions and other lenders.
Today, lenders commonly pay loan originators more compensation if the borrower accepts an interest rate higher than the rate required by the lender (commonly referred to as a “yield spread premium”). Under the final rule, however, a loan originator may not receive compensation that is based on the interest rate or other loan terms. This will prevent loan originators from increasing their own compensation by raising the consumers’ loan costs, such as by increasing the interest rate or points. Loan originators can continue to receive compensation that is based on a percentage of the loan amount, which is a common practice.
The final rule also prohibits a loan originator that receives compensation directly from the consumer from also receiving compensation from the lender or another party. In consumer testing, the Board found that consumers generally are not aware of the payments lenders make to loan originators and how those payments can affect the consumer’s total loan cost. The new rule seeks to ensure that consumers who agree to pay the originator directly do not also pay the originator indirectly through a higher interest rate, thereby paying more in total compensation than they realize.
Additionally, the final rule prohibits loan originators from directing or “steering” a consumer to accept a mortgage loan that is not in the consumer’s interest in order to increase the originator’s compensation. The rule will preserve consumer choice by ensuring that consumers can choose from loan options that include the loan with the lowest rate and the loan with the least amount of points and origination fees, rather than the loans that maximize the originator’s compensation.
The Federal Register notice containing the final rules is attached. The final rules are effective April 1, 2011.

Last Chance to Apply for State’s First-Time Buyer Tax Credit

Sacramento – The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) announced today that it will stop accepting applications for the First-Time Buyer Credit at midnight Sunday, August 15, 2010.

As of August 4, FTB has received 31,460 applications. Because some of the applications are invalid or duplicates, FTB will continue to accept them through August 15, to ensure that enough valid applications are received to properly allocate the full $100 million of tax credit. FTB estimates that it can award approximately 17,500-20,000 credit certificates to unique and valid applicants. However, once the funds are exhausted, any remaining applications will be denied.

The State is providing $100 million in tax credits to first-time home buyers. The credit will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis using the date and time stamp on the fax submission, until the money is exhausted. The tax credit is available to those who purchased a qualified principal residence and did not own one during the last three years. This credit is five percent of the purchase price or $10,000, whichever is less. Taxpayers must claim the credit on their tax return in equal amounts over the following three tax years.

To apply, the buyer must complete and fax an FTB Form 3549-A, Application for New Home / First-Time Buyer Credit, along with the final settlement statement. It must be faxed to FTB within two weeks (14 calendar days) after the close of escrow. The fax number is 916.855.5577.

Taxpayers must receive a certificate of allocation from FTB to claim the tax credit on their California personal income tax return. FTB expects to send the allocation certificates over the next few months starting in August.

California homebuyers still have time to qualify for the state’s other $100 million home tax credit for the purchase of a new home. The New Home Credit is available for taxpayers who purchase (close escrow) a new home on or after May 1, 2010, and before August 1, 2011, as long as they enter into an enforceable contract executed before January 1, 2011. The seller must certify that the home has never been previously occupied.

For more information, go to ftb.ca.gov and select or search for Tax Credits for New Home Purchase / First-Time Buyer.

DocPros Nationwide Notaries and Flagstar Bank partner on eClose

DocPros makes Flagstar eClose simple! 

DocPros has been accommodating eClose transactions for over a year now and we are thrilled that Flagstar has made our status official.  You can now find us on their site!  https://download.flagstar.com/retail/pdf/paperless/ec_approved_vendor_bb_fb.pdf

We are proud to be a leader in the eSign movement and are confident that many lenders will roll out a similar platform in the months to come.

Let us partner with you on your Flagstar eClosings and see how easy eClosings can be. DocPros will:

• Help the “closer” get set up on line to place the order. (Visit www.docpros.net to register now!)
• Assist the “closer” in preparing their closing for signature and Manage Users for loan doc signing.
• Pair the needs of the customer with an experienced notary to perform the eClosing.      
• Coordinate the eClosing with the notary and the borrower.
• Establish and maintain an open line of communication between all parties involved throughout the entire process.
• Provide full staff of eClosing experienced coordinators to facilitate the transaction.
• Support line to signing table – on-call representative available 24/7.
• Follow-up – tracking information for paper docs, etc. and anything that may be required post-closing.

 

We offer this exceptional service for the low flat rate of $175.  Please call or email (info@docpros.net) us with any questions. We are ready to accommodate you every closing need!

HUD Approves Flipping

On Feb. 1, 2010, the Federal Housing Administration placed a one-year moratorium on its anti-flipping rule, which allows buyers with FHA-backed loans to purchase homes immediately rather than wait the usual 90 days.

The move has opened a new pool of homes to first-time homebuyer owner occupants (1-4 units) who have been losing bids to cash buyers due to the long waiting period, 90 days before they can close.

According to HUD, lifting the waiting period “will allow homes to resell as quickly as possible, helping to stabilize real estate prices and to revitalize neighborhoods and communities”.

Analysts said cash buyers take up much of the “flip” market, comprised mostly of speculators and investors.  Lifting the rule will bring additional buyers into the market.

Giving the consumer as many options as possible is the key to economic recovery in the housing market.

The HUD buyer can utilize the 203K loan program to purchase a property in need of repairs by incorporating the cost of repair into the loan amount, which can be completed after the transaction closes.  The maximum mortgage amount cannot exceed 100 percent of the after-improved value.

These new rules limit seller profits to 20 percent above the purchase cost, unless an independent appraiser confirms that renovations and repairs justify the higher price.

The goal in this action was not to facilitate speculators but rather to give owner occupants additional opportunities to purchase property.

This move will grow the number of transactions in coming month as more buyers for investors will motivate investors to buy and renovate more houses.

This should be good for everybody and the economy too!  As those transactions go to docs, please keep DocPros Nationwide Notaries in mind for all of your loan signing needs.  www.docpros.net

CEA NewsFlash – March 29, 2010 – CAR Contract

The final versions of C.A.R.’s new Residential Purchase Agreement (RPA) and three related forms are now available in draft version. CAR has indicated the forms will be released April 28, 2010 in both zipForm® 6 and hard copy format. There are many changes, including those affecting the initial deposit, the notice to perform, FHA and VA loans, financing, the appraisal contingency, the wood pest inspection, home warranty coverage, contingencies and cancellations including pre-cancellation requirements. The following items are attached to this e-mail: New Residential Purchase Agreement and Joint Escrow Instructions Table of Contents Wood Destroying Pest and Allocation of Cost Addendum FHA or VA Notice and Addendum CAR Memo: Most Significant Changes CAR Memo: Changes by Paragraph Also, the following are some helpful links for you: CAR Link for Realtor Regional Contract Training Events: http://www.car.org/education/calendar/CourseScheduleQ2/ CAR Announcement: http://www.car.org/newsstand/news/newrpa/

Thank you, California Escrow Association www.ceaescrow.org

If you would like to receive a sample copy of these forms, please email corie@docpros.net

HUD is offering a free RESPA Webinar March 18th

HUD announced that it will be offering a free RESPA webinar today, March 18th.  Fortunately it will be taped for future viewing.  http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/ramh/res/respa_hm.cfm

I hope this is helpful as I know the transition has been challenging.  Many of the regions in CEA are offering seminars addressing the GFE, HUD, etc, so please email corie@docpros.net for a schedule of what is going on in your area.  For those outside of CA, the webinar is your best bet.  Please let us know how we can help!