Inland Empire, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/20/2007 -- The housing slowdown has hit, bringing with it record numbers of home inventories along with puzzled, frustrated, even angry sellers.

So what is a potential seller supposed to do? Darren Orshoff of The Home Ownership Roundtable says, "Don't panic, the best advice I can give is simply ride it out. In 2000, when the stock market threw many investors into turmoil, the ones who rode out the storm benefited.

"Indications are that the housing slump is already correcting itself and that in another year it will be back to where it was a couple years ago," Orshoff said. "If you're prepared, falling prices of housing are not necessarily a bad thing for homeowners."

Trading up opens some doors for many homeowners, who traditionally follow a very predictable buying home pattern. Most start out with a modest starter home as young adults. When they begin to have a family, they want to move into a home with more space. As the family grows and the children become older, they may change homes another time or two. As they become empty nesters and think about retirement they will look at downsizing into a smaller home or condo.

"This is a pretty good picture of the typical American homeowner." Orshoff says. "For the average home owner, these rising and falling prices don't really affect them as much as one might think, especially those who are in it for the long haul."

If you fall in the empty nester profile, you may actually be in a good position to sell your larger home, even for less then you think it may be worth, and then invest in a more modest and lower priced home.

Orshoff says, "You have to have the right mindset. You have to forget that your neighbor sold his home, which he bought as a fixer upper 20 years ago for a huge profit. The money you save in the lower priced home may well make up for the lower selling price of your current home."

Interest rates are still traditionally low and with lower housing prices, a little planning could cause this tempered slump to be a great advantage for many homeowners.

Orshoff also pointed out that the economy in the United States has bounced back time and time again and it's normal to have occasional swings. He added, "And so this too shall pass."

For answers to your questions and concerns on the current mortgage options and refinancing, contact Darren Orshoff and his team of experts at (888) 971-8326 or visit http://www.971roundtable.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

An immediate threat to home owners and local communities

Riverside, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/10/2007 -- Mortgage fraud is rampant throughout the United States, creating an immediate threat to home owners and local communities, according to Darren Orshoff of Wholesale Mortgage Source.

Nationwide, mortgage fraud is estimated to have cost businesses nearly $50 billion and consumers some $5 billion in the past five years, according to a recent study conducted by the Federal Trade Commission.

"Some people consider it akin to cheating on their income tax. But when a borrower makes misrepresentations about their income, personal debt, property value or down payment conditions, it can lead to a fraudulent loan situation," Orshoff said.

"The situation becomes a problem when the borrower cannot continue to make the payments and the home goes into foreclosure and the lender has to sell the home for less than the loan amount," Orshoff explained.

While individual cases of mortgage fraud are increasing, the major increase is from organized groups who work together in a fraud scheme.

"This can include loan officers, appraisers, lenders, attorneys, title and escrow workers and real estate agents," Orshoff said. "The FBI reports that 80 percent of reported fraud cases involve collaboration or collusion by industry insiders."

The FBI investigated twice as many fraud cases in 2006 as in 2005.

While many states have or are considering laws to make mortgage fraud a crime with harsher penalties, Orshoff, who hosts the CBS Real Estate Talk Radio Show The Home Ownership Roundtable, offers some tips for consumers to make sure they are not caught up in a criminal activity.

"I'd advise anyone considering a mortgage loan to get referrals from mortgage and real estate professionals or family and friends who have had a satisfactory transaction," Orshoff said.

"They also should check their licenses and ask for background information. Always question any outrageous promises or deals and stay away from high pressure sales techniques," he added.

Orshoff and his partners at The Home Ownership Roundtable have been in business in California for 21 years and has never experienced a fraud situation.

For information on refinancing, contact Darren Orshoff at (888) 823-2261 or visit http://www.971roundtable.com or http://www.ieloanguy.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Secret Found Laying Around Parents Home

Riverside, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/09/2007 -- Between 1995 and 2005, tuition and fees at four-year colleges rose by 51 percent. Average state university tuition is now $5,200 per year, excluding room, board, and textbooks and you can easily tack on an additional $6,800 for incidentals.

"Based on rapidly rising college tuition with expected inflation rates of 8 percent, a child born today can figure on paying $36,000 annually by the time they enter their freshman year of college. If parents have set their eye on a private school education for their budding student they can easily be looking at tuition fees of $90,000 yearly," Darren Orshoff of Wholesale Mortgage Source in Temecula, California stated.

"On top of the rapidly raising tuition fees, it has been reported that the average time most students spend earning their degrees has gone from the traditional four years to five years," Orshoff added.

Many students and their parents, who may have even planned for a college education, are finding themselves scrambling to make up the gap of the ever increasing tuition rates, along with other costs incurred in the educational process.

Many parents are surprised to find that those needed funds may well be just lying around the house. Many parents are turning to refinancing higher interest mortgages while taking advantage of the lower interest rates that are now available, pulling the extra cash savings out and putting it towards the tuition.

Other parents and students are finding that extra money can be found in an equity loan being drawn against the increased value the home has accumulated since the home was originally purchased.

"Another advantage to the parents comes through tax savings on the interest paid during the life of the equity line of credit, possibly up to 35 percent," Orshoff claimed.

Orshoff says, "This may not be the answer for everyone of course, but it is for many parents and their children who are looking for a quality education, who have become frustrated with the increased educational cost."

There may even be additional resources available that your mortgage professional can advise you on to help pay those rising tuition costs.

For no obligation information on refinancing, equity lines of credit and other possible sources of college tuition money, contact Orshoff at 888-823-2261 or visit http://www.ieloanguy.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Borrowers are increasingly opting for less traditional loans like Option ARMs to increase long-term equity

Temecula, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 06/27/2007 -- Today's affluent homeowners are moving further away from traditional 30- and 15-year fixed rate mortgages and instead are choosing less traditional products, like Option ARMs (adjustable rate mortgages) and interest-only mortgages to enhance their financial situations. This trend has started catching on among educated homeowners, who are following suit in an effort to better position their financial assets.

"The percentage of financially savvy clients who choose 30-year fixed rate mortgages is very small," states Darren Orshoff, a Mortgage Planner with Wholesale Mortgage Source, a mortgage brokerage company based in Temecula, California. "Most of my affluent clients prefer to leverage their debts with loan products that provide higher tax savings and more cash flow than a traditional 30-year fixed rate loan. But what we're finding is that this trend isn't just limited to high net-worth individuals. I'm seeing more and more everyday homeowners interested in the long-term financial benefits of leveraging alternatives to the 30-year fixed rate loan, like interest-only loans and adjustable rate mortgages."

Fixed rate mortgages still comprise roughly 40 percent of the total loans closed in the U.S. Often considered the "grandfather" of mortgages, the 30-year fixed rate is frequently touted for its stability and reliability. The interest rate is fixed for 30 years, offering borrowers the consistency of the same monthly payment throughout the life of the loan. The only issue is that few borrowers keep their mortgages for the full 30 years. According to Steven Marshall, president of Strategic Equity, a Seattle, Washington-based company that provides high-level training for the mortgage industry, in a January 2007 article in Mortgage Planner Magazine, he said "According to Fannie Mae, the average American mortgage lasts 4.2 years... Given these statistics, it's difficult to understand why so many Americans continue to pay a high interest rate premium for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage, when they are likely to only use the first 4.2 years of the mortgage... Wealthy Americans, those with the ability to pay off their mortgage but refuse to do so, understand how to make their mortgage work for them."

"A big part of being a responsible mortgage professional is understanding the risks and benefits of each product, and empowering the client with the education to make a sound decision," adds Marshall. "Obviously, putting a borrower into a 30-year fixed rate, when they know that they're moving in less than five years, especially when that 30-year product is more costly, is not acting in the client's best interest."

Adjustable rate, hybrid and interest-only mortgage loans offer the higher flexibility and lower monthly payments that may make more sense for many borrowers, particularly those not planning to live in the same home for 30 years. They free up monthly cash flow and liquidity to invest in other vehicles the same way many affluent homeowners choose to do. "If a borrower is capable of investing in an interest-bearing, compounding interest side account at a favorable rate, the savings realized by a less traditional loan like an adjustable rate or interest-only mortgage can be an excellent option," states Orshoff, who also hosts a weekly educational Real Estate Finance and Investment show on CBS Radio's 97.1 FREE FM in Los Angeles. "Savvy homeowners know this and are increasingly using less traditional loan products to leverage their equity as part of their investment strategies. What's great is that we've helped even moderate income borrowers use these same principles to enhance their financial situations as well. Because of this, they're funding their kids' college funds and reaching their retirement goals sooner and more easily."

There is no universal optimal choice of mortgage product and potential borrowers are advised to contact a knowledgeable and reputable mortgage professional who can evaluate their current financial situation, consider their goals and capabilities, and take these factors into account when advising about potential mortgage options. While many borrowers are attracted to the benefits of adjustable rate, hybrid and interest-only mortgages, which include easier qualification guidelines, lower monthly payments and higher flexibility, others are drawn to the consistent predictability of a traditional 30-year fixed rate.

"I take numerous factors into account when evaluating a borrower's fit for a specific type of loan," says Orshoff. "There are far more factors than monthly payment and interest rates. I always consider the borrower's spending habits, capacity to save, risk tolerance and future goals. A good loan choice is the one that works best for the specific borrower. Suitability is absolutely critical for the deal to make sense."

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

There is no housing bubble!

Riverside, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/11/2006 -- Despite news reports of rising home mortgage interest rates, now is an excellent time to buy a home, according to Darren Orshoff, co-host of the CBS Radio show The Home Ownership Roundtable on 97.1 FREE FM in Los Angeles.

"Home sales have slowed," Orshoff acknowledged. "However, current interest rates are still historically low and industry experts predict that 2006 will be the third best in history for home sales."

Current 30-year fixed rate loans are averaging around 6.5 percent or lower. Just six years ago, the average 30-year fixed loan rate was at 8.5 percent. In 1990, the average was 10.5 percent.

"While rates aren't as low as they were three or four years ago, the market has changed dramatically in recent months," Orshoff said. "It is now a buyer's market with a solid supply of new and existing homes available on the market. Many builders and sellers are offering discounts or extra amenities to spur sales."

Many of the regulations for option-type loans with interest-only payments have been stiffened to better protect home buyers, Orshoff added.

Another factor favoring home ownership is the dramatic increase in rental rates across the country.

Home equity and tax advantages are two major factors that favor home owners versus renters, Orshoff said.

"We have several programs to help first time home buyers, move-up buyers and refinancing plans. Many of these programs offer low down payments and little out of pocket expenses by the buyer," Orshoff said. "It's important to work with a professional real estate agent and loan originator during the buying process. As a loan originators, we can assess a person's credit situation and get them pre-approved before even looking for a home. That serves two purposes. One, the buyer knows exactly what they can afford and two, it puts them in a better bargaining position when dealing with the seller."

For more information about home financing, contact Orshoff or anyone at the Home Ownership Roundtable toll free at (888) 971-TEAM, listen every Saturday at 1 p.m on 97.1 KLSX Free FM or streaming and podcating online at www.971roundtable.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Home Ownership Roundtable Teaches Solutions

Riverside, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/15/2006 -- With the economy moving strongly forward, inflation is on the rise – which also means that home loan rates are on the rise. And over $2 trillion dollars in Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) loans are set to start adjusting in the next two years, facing higher interest rates, and dramatic monthly payment increases.

Most consumers are unaware of the fact that their rate and their payments are getting ready to increase dramatically. And unfortunately, there are also cases where the consumer may be unaware that they even have an ARM, let alone that it is getting ready to adjust very soon. Many economists are concerned that when the payments start to increase, it will have a massive impact on consumer spending…which in turn, will impact the US economy as a whole.

With the sudden increase in mortgage payments, many homeowners are facing foreclosure.

Many lenders were pushing low-interest adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) several years ago. However, the higher interest rates are now being applied, increasing monthly payments. Most ARMs have a 2 percent annual cap increase, but some can be as much as five percent on the first adjustment. These loans have now surpassed 30-year, fixed-rate loans and will continue to escalate.

Homeowners need to be made aware of the facts surrounding these issues as soon as possible, so that they can evaluate their options and make good decisions for their future.

The Home Ownership Roundtable is a group of real estate, credit, and mortgage finance industry experts who educate and demystify real estate and real estate finance. They are prepared to discuss these issues, and provide immediate solutions for homeowners in Southern California.

They will have a FREE Seminar, "Up In ARMs –The Facts, Figures & Future of Adjustable Rate Mortgages" on August 22, 2006, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City. 12833 Ventura Blvd. Seating is limited. Refreshments and door prizes will be provided. They can be contacted for registration and information toll free at (888) 971-TEAM (8326)

The Home Ownership Roundtable also has a radio show on 97.1 KLSX Free FM every Saturday for an hour at 1 p.m. Visit www.971roundtable.com for more information.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm