Posted on Fri, Apr 05, 2013 @ 12:27 PM
So, I'm not a huge movie fan and I don't see all the movies that come out. In fact, often times even if I see a movie it is not memorable enough for me to even recall what happens a year later. One of my all-time favorite movies, after all these years, continues to be Top Gun with Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer. See how much detail I remember about the movie....it's so weird cause I don't know or recognize most big names in Hollywood but for some reason Top Gun made an impression.
One of my favorite lines from the movie (here I go again remembering more details about Top Gun than I do about hundreds of other movies that I've seen much more recently) is when Viper is speaking to the new recruits and says:
"In case some of you are wondering who the best is, they are up here on this plaque."
I often think about that quote and the context in which it is spoken and liken it to real situations and experiences. Most recently, I like to think about it when people ask who the best is when it comes to VA Home Loans. For any of you that are not familiar with the lending industry and even many that are in some part of the industry, you should know that there are no official statistics kept on VA Loan origination like there are with the other types of mortgage products.
For example, if you wanted to know who the top FHA Lender was, you could simply look up the latest published statistics. For some unknown reason the stats are not kept on VA Loans which has given a few VA Lenders the opportunity to claim they are the best with no way to measure or verify from any official source or independent third party whether it's true.
However, in the past 4 years there has been an industry publication (an independent third party) that has put together their own competition and actually verify the submissions to validate the claims. This publication is known as the Scotsman Guide. They have started their own recognition and ranking system called the "Top Originators". The beauty of this publication ranking loan origination nationwide is that they are completely unbiased and independent and rank both large banks and brokers. Additionally, they are the first and most recognized/respected rankings for VA Loans specifically. Now, of course, they do all of the other types of loans just like any other competition or official source but they are the only ones to validate and verify VA Loan origination and provide a true ranking of VA Lenders.
So, like when Viper asks who the best are there is a "plaque" and there are names to see and targets to reach. Interestingly enough there has always been one consistency, all four years that "Top Originators" has been published and verified. There have only been two different individuals to earn the top honor and both of them continue to work for Flagship Financial Group.
Flagship Financial Group has focused on the VA Home Loan niche since it's inception in 1999. Along the way they have achieved great results and growth through their success. About 5 years ago they created a division within the company called VA Mortgage Leader. With VA Loans as the focus, the success has produced branches and locations nationwide. Before VA Mortgage Leader, not all the branches focused or had the specialty of VA Home Loans. Since Flagship Financial Group is closing and originating all types of loans the specific division to assist military members and veterans was a logical step.
VA Mortgage Leader is dedicated to veterans and only VA Home Loans. This is a very distinguishing factor that VA Mortgage Leader is proud of. Yes, there are other companies out there that may claim to be number one or may claim to be dedicated and specific to VA Loans but, unfortunately, that is simply not the case and is actually flat out wrong. VA Mortgage Leader has had tremendous success and has the "plaque" to prove it. In the most recent rankings that came out just a few days ago for 2012 Top Originators, Flagship Financial Group was dominant, holding 20 out of the top 25 positions in the rankings nationwide.
For the 4th straight year Flagship Financial Group was also on top and ranked #1. There is not another company in the world that can claim to be ranked #1 in VA Loan Origination which can be verified and actually competed with the best. Top Gun was very cool because they take the best fighter pilots in the country and match them up against each other in some intense competition. VA Mortgage Leader is proud to also compete with the best from all over the country in the Top Originators. Being ranked #1 for four straight years is a huge accomplishment and the competition continues to get better.
VA Mortgage Leader as division of Flagship Financial Group is honored to continue to serve our military members and veterans. Striving for success and to always exceed expectations. The current string of top rankings and domination of the VA Loan niche brings up one last favorite line from Top Gun and that is when Goose says: "Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire!"
Posted on Mon, Apr 01, 2013 @ 12:34 PM
For the 4th year in a row Flagship Financial Group has the #1 VA Loan Originator in the country. In addition to continuing their success and improving their dominance in the VA Loan niche they have continued to give back to the community through sponsorships and scholarships.
VA Mortgage Leader a division of Flagship Financial Group is proud to specialize and focus on VA Home Loans. The most recent rankings from the Scotsman Guide have 8 of the top 10 VA Loan Originators in the country. The list shows the top 25 inthe country and Flagship Financial Group/VA Mortgage Leader has 21 of the top 25.
Please Like our Facebook page and Follow us on Twitter and support the #1 VA Lender in the country.
Our trusted VA Home Loan experts will save you time, money and frustrations. You deserve to always work with the best. Call now toll free for a no obligation consult at (800) 485-2332.
Congratulations to the following VA Loan Specialist's on their accomplishment and making the top 25 list in the country:
#1 Jacob Deegan - 2012 Top VA Loan Originator
#3 Jake Peterson - 2012 Top VA Loan Originator
#4 Dave Johnson - 2012 Top VA Loan Originator
#5 Nathan Wathen - 2012 Top VA Loan Originator
#6 Ryan Johnson - 2012 Top VA Loan Originato
#7 Patrick Johns - 2012 Top VA Loan Originator
#8 Darin Hunter - 2012 Top VA Loan Originator
#9 Eric Jorgensen - 2012 Top VA Loan Originator
#11 Brian Bailey - 2012 Top VA Loan Originator
#12 Jed Hardman - 2012 Top VA Loan Originator
#13 Garrett Law - 2012 Top VA Loan Originator
#15 Nathan Burt - 2012 Top VA Loan Originator
#16 Dan Williams - 2012 Top VA Loan Originator
#17 Jason Skinrood - 2012 Top VA Loan Originator
#18 Russell Murphy - 2012 Top VA Loan Originator
#19 Neils Jorgensen - 2012 Top VA Loan Originator
#20 Cameron Harris - 2012 Top VA Loan Originator
#21 Robert Peck - 2012 Top VA Loan Originator
#22 Mark Powell - 2012 Top VA Loan Originator
#23 Scott Stallings - 2012 Top VA Loan Originator
Posted on Thu, Jan 24, 2013 @ 09:09 PM
Many of us know or know of a veteran that receives Disability from the Veterans Administration. Recent news has shown that an audit proves that the VA overpays vets for disability. Many might say that it's not such a bad thing that mistakes are made and disabled veterans are overpayed. But for those that are worried about the fiscal cliff and many economic issues this may be more concerning.
The recent audit showed that the most common mistake being made was when a veteran is temporarily receiving 100% disability rating while undergoing treatment or having debilitating treatments. What they found was that often there was little to no follow up in regards to the improving or current condition which may reduce the amount of diability and also the amount of money paid in compensation.
It was interesting to note specifically that the amount of money that has been overpaid to 12,800 veterans from 1993 to 2009 amounted to $943 million. If this error is not corrected then it is estimated that there could be an additional $1.1 billion overpaid by 2016. It was also interesting that every location that was audited had made this mistake.
Below you will find the five offices that had the lowest rates of accuracy:
- Los Angeles (3.3%)
- Houston (10%)
- Pittsburgh (10%)
- Honolulu (13.3%)
- Phoenix (13.3%)
Not all of the VA Offices were as terrible as the worst five listed above. Even though they all had errors and mistakes. The highest ranked VA Offices for accuracy reflected a 73.3% rate and was shared by Des Moines and Lincoln, Nebraska. The audit and information was provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.
One bit of good news for those veterans that have been overpaid in the past is that due to the 100% Disability rating the VA is legally barred from recouping the payments. Not that all disability benefits have to come from errors and mistakes.
One of the valuable benefits received by those disabled veterans comes in addition to their VA Home Loan Benefit. First off the VA Home Loan benefit is one of the most financially rewarding perks for the service and sacrifice of our military members. The ability to purchase a home with zero money down is a tremendous benefit.
Additionally veterans that are receiving disability will have their VA Funding Fee waived on all VA Home Loan transactions. This amount of money will vary depending on the amount of disability as well as the amount of each transaction. Keep in mind that it can come in handy to waive the VA Funding Fee multiple times with every home purchased using a VA Home Loan. Many veterans will find themselves refinancing to take advantage of lower rates and every refinance they will get the continued savings of waiving the VA Funding Fee.
Currently with the record breaking low interest rates many veterans are saving hundreds of dollars every single month by simply taking advantage of the Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL) often times called a VA Streamline Refinance. Saving veterans money by lowering their interest rate is quick and easy.
Not all lenders and banks will be able to offer you a VA Home Loan or a VA Streamline Refinance. Even the lenders that do offer the product many of them are not experts or familiar with the product or the process which could lead to a very frustrating experience. If you are a veteran and looking to take advantage of your VA Home Loan benefit then make sure you work with the best. You deserve to work with the best always!
By working with the number one VA Loan Originator in the country you will be assured that you have a knowledgeable staff working on your loan to maximize your savings. You will know that reducing all the fees and maximizing your savings is in their best interest. Scotsman Guide continues to rank the Top Originators every year and when it comes to VA Loan Origination one company has continued to stand out and succeed every year. Every year Scotsman Guide verifies the information and has showcased Flagship Financial Group as the number one VA Loan Originator every year. Last year the top 5 Loan Originators all came from Flagship Financial Group.
Flagship Financial Group has also gone out of their way to provide a more dedicated service to veterans by creating a division specific to only veterans. VA Mortgage Leader is the division of Flagship Financial Group that continues to benefit veterans every year regarding their VA Home Loans. If you have any questions or are considering a VA Home Loan then a simple call to VA Mortgage Leader is the first place to start.
For more information on VA Mortgage Leader simply go online to www.vamortgageleader.com or call toll free (800) 485-2332.
Posted on Thu, Dec 06, 2012 @ 03:06 PM
One of the many accomplished Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters that is sponsored by VA Mortgage Leader will be featured in the Bellator 83 main event. Rad Martinez of the Pit Elevated in Orem, UT will be competing in the tournament championship for the opportunity to win $100,000 and a title shot to become the champion.
VA Mortgage Leader is excited to support Rad as his success continues as a profesional MMA fighter. It's not very often that fighters have the chance to compete for such a large prize with so much on the line. Most professional MMA fighters have never had the chance to compete for so much money in one fight.
Even though MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world it is still in it's infancy in comparison to other professional sports and leagues. While many professional athletes are paid millions of dollars to compete it definitely is not the case in Mixed Martial Arts. The big main events and champions are often paid much more but the remainder of the fighters that make up these events are often paid much less.
VA Mortgage Leader is proud to support MMA and many professional fighters as we do our part to help grow the sport and the industry. Rad Martinez is an outstanding athlete and person and one of the easiest guys to get behind and support. Weigh ins for Bellator 83 will be coming up in a few minutes and we look forward to seeing Rad facing off and taking his final steps before he fights for the Tournament Championship.
Rad will be stepping into the spotlight again. He is surrounded on his team (Pit Elevated) by a few UFC fighters and often times isn't showcased as much as he could be. With Rad in the Main Event he will be stepping to the front and you can bet everyone on the team will anxiously be waiting and cheering him on.
Posted on Wed, Dec 05, 2012 @ 11:32 AM
Ramsey Nijem will be fighting in front of his hometown friends in Seattle, WA this weekend on Fox. This will be the first time that Ramsey will have the chance to fight in front of his friends and fans from his earlier high school days.
VA Mortgage Leader is continuing to sponsor Ramsey as he continues to succeed in the UFC. Ramsey has been a very visible fighter in the UFC since he debuted on The Ultimate Fighter and stood out as the most playful and fun fighter in the house. Ramsey was also able to perform well making it all the way to the Finale.
It will be exciting to support Ramsey in front of his fans from his home town. Ramsey also is great to associate with due to his playful and entertaining personality. The various activities that were showcased on The Ultimate Fighter when he lived in the house continue to play out to this day.
Earlier this Summer VA Mortgage Leader also had the opportunity to sponsor the 9/11 Celebrity Golf Tournament held at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, UT. Ramsey was one of the many celebrities that donated their time to participate in the event to benefit Operation Rebound. Although Ramsey definitely isn't a golfer it was enjoyable and entertaining to have the opportunity to play a round with him.
This image above was sent around to some of his friends and the question was asked "Is this real or is this posed?" The friends responding came back with a split decision in that many thought it was posed as well as real. Know that this is really how Ramsey golfs and that surprisingly he actually hit the ball pretty well. Following up on his group later in the day we were even able to witness first hand when his group used his approach shot on the flagship hole in front of the clubhouse.
If you're undecided on whom to cheer for this weekend when the UFC is in Seattle we can strongly encourage joining the crowd and supporting Ramsey Nijem. VA Mortgage Leader will be there live to support Ramsey as he looks for his 3rd win in a row!
Posted on Mon, Dec 03, 2012 @ 10:54 AM
Rad Martinez is a professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter. This is not a new or even uncommon profession since MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world. What is extremely unique about Rad is the story that was featured on ESPN's Outside The Lines show titled The Promise.
Watching The Promise featuring Rad Martinez is only a small part of his unbelievable story. Rad is a champion of a person first and working diligently to become a fighter inside the cage as well. VA Mortgage Leader has been behind Rad and supporting him as one of his earliest sponsors if not the first real sponsor. Even with all of the success he has had in his MMA fighting career Rad has continued to succeed as the person that we all got to know before he had success at a large level.
Rad Martinez will have the opportunity to win the Bellator Tournament this Friday and perhaps a chance at the Bellator title with a victory. VA Mortgage Leader is proud to sponsor him specifically for his upcoming fight and is excited to be affiliated with him as he continues to work hard and succeed.
This is definitely the biggest fight of Rad's fighting career. The more we get to know about Rad as we continue to sponsor him for each of his fights it makes it much easier to want to do everything we can to support him. The way that Rad is featured by ESPN is not an isolated incident. For those that get the chance to know Rad they find out much more that Rad is a tremendous individual and a successful person in his life outside of fighting.
VA Mortgage Leader got the chance to be sponsor at a fund raiser that was originally intended to benefit Rad. This was shortly after ESPN had featured their story and it sparked a massive movement to help Rad. When Rad was contacted he was very pleased and excited but instead of making the fund raiser about him and benefitting him he wanted to donate his time and participate to raise funds for someone other then himself. The event took place at the Pit Elevated in Orem, Utah and you had many of the biggest names in MMA come forward to participate including: Greg Jackson, Brian Stann, Court McGee, Ramsey Nijem and of course Rad Martinez.
If you have a chance to support or simply cheer for Rad Martinez this upcoming weekend we hope you will see him succeed inside the cage and know that he will definitely continue to succeed in his personal life.
Posted on Thu, Nov 29, 2012 @ 01:36 PM
Many veterans and active military members who currently have a VA Loan are taking advantage of the IRRRL program which is simply an acronym for the "streamline refinancing" of a VA Mortgage and it stands for Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan. It's very easy to understand why all their is a huge boom in streamline refinances with VA Loan interest rates as low as they are and the savings are huge!
The lowest advertised rate for a VA Loan is currently 2.75% on a 30 Year Fixed. This is an interest rate that has very rarely been available and previously when it was available it was for an adjustable rate loan. Many veterans are saving over $300 every month on their mortgage payment by simply streamline refinancing their VA Mortgage.
Using the IRRRL program has an impact on your principal. When you take advantage of the program almost all veterans will choose to have all their Closing Costs rolled into the new loan. Doing this is simple and easy and it is optional and often preferred for veterans to choose to roll the costs into the new loan as opposed to coming to the closing with money.
The impact on the principal of your mortgage can vary greatly. There are many variables involved and it won't always increase your principal. Depending on what interest rate you choose and what loan type (fixed or adjustable) it may not increase your principal balance at all. Speak with a VA Loan Specialist to find out more and all the details.
Once the closing is complete you will receive an Escrow Refund which is the money that was previously being collected for your taxes and insurance. Once you get that money after the closing many veterans also choose to apply that towards the loan in the form of a principal reduction which means the final results of an IRRRL could lower both your interest rate and your principal balance!
Bottom line is there are way too many variables to have a simple answer on how the IRRRL may impact your principal balance. You will find that speaking with the #1 VA Loan Originators in the country that it's a simple phone call that takes just a few minutes to have it all explained to you with your specific scenario. If you have more questions simply call toll free (800) 485-2332 or go online to www.vamortgageleader.com
Posted on Tue, Nov 20, 2012 @ 12:58 PM
Recently there has been some very frustrating and unsettling news regarding mortgage banks and specifically how they have handled or mishandled VA Home Loans and mistreated our veterans and military members. There is now 6 banks that will pay $161.7 million to satisfy the charges that they illegally charged veteran borrowers hidden and illegal fees when refinancing home loans that were backed by the Veterans Administration.
There are still two banks that are the biggest offenders that are still pending. The reason why we say "were" backed by the Veterans Administration is because the illegal and hidden fees were charged during the process of the refinancing of their VA Loans the guarantee became void due to unallowable fees being charged. This is a tremendous injustice to the veterans that sacrifice so much for our freedoms. This is very difficult to understand, there are three things that stick out as major points in this whole turmoil. First, the fact that there are banks out there taking advantage of veterans. If you are a veteran or support veterans and the military then simply refusing to do business with the following is a good start:
1) Mortgage Investor Corporation (MIC)
2) Wells Fargo
3) JP Morgan Chase ($45 million in settlement)
4) Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. ($45 million in settlement)
5) PNC Bank ($38 million in settlement)
6) First Tennessee Bank ($16 million in settlement)
7) SunTrust Mortgage ($10.2 million in settlement)
8) CitiMortgage ($7.5 million in settlement)
The misconduct of the banks listed above have cost all of us as Americans hundreds of millions of dollars. Why banks are cheating our veterans is unbelievable and the greed is ridiculous. Additionally after the banks misled and cheated the veterans out of the outrageous fees they sought to collect on government loan guarantees through the very fraud they produced when the VA Loans went into default.
The two remaining banks Mortgage Investors Corporation (MIC) and Wells Fargo are the largest offenders and responsible for an estimated 70% of the damages and violations. Both banks have unsuccessfully tried to have the case dismissed. If any of you have done a refinance with Mortgage Investors Corporation (MIC) or Wells Fargo you may notice that your fees were much higher as they included illegal fees. Mortgage Investors Corporation still continues today to practice the misleading and cheating of veterans by charging many fees and that are not allowed.
Secondly, the understanding of finances and mortgages is tough for everyone and not just veterans. Making sure that you are working with a reputable company makes all the difference in the world. Many of the above banks are big names but none of them are recognized or praised for their efforts specific to VA Loans. Scotsman Guide is the only independent rating of VA Loan Originators. There are no official statistics to go to for ratings so the rankings that are verified by Scotsman Guide are extremely valuable. The company showcasing the most success through the independent and verified rankings of Scotsman Guide is clearly Flagship Financial Group. Working with Flagship Financial Group you will likely work with their division specific to veterans called VA Mortgage Leader and know that you're not being taken advantage of and provided with premium service to earn your business and trust. One of the easiest ways to know if the lender you're dealing with is taking care of you is if they are asking for any money prior to the loan being refinanced/closed. If you are asked for any money upfront or out of pocket proceed with caution.
Lastly is the fact that the VA Loans being refinanced and streamlined in these cases are void and not guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This is very unfortunate and something that we'll hopefully see changed. If you have done a loan with any of the above offenders then perhaps it's time to streamline refinance with the leaders in the industry (www.VAmortgageLeader.com) and get you and your loan back on track to financial propsperity.
This lawsuit all started back in 2006 and has taken quite some time to come close to settlement. The government has decided not to intervene in the case as it appears that there is plenty of strong evidence to make it simple for a jury to understand. If you have a VA Loan or are considering a VA Loan in the future please share this your network and let's all do our part to make sure that this doesn't continue to happen in the future.
Posted on Fri, Oct 26, 2012 @ 11:17 AM
It's a huge accomplishment and strong signal of success as the VA has announced it has guaranteed the 20 millionth home. The VA has been making home ownership for our military members and veterans since 1944. Many great things have come in for both the veterans and the banking industry with the continued success of VA Home Loans.
VA Mortgage Leader is proud to be ranked consistently as the #1 VA Loan Originator in the country and able to support and participate in VA Home Loans. It's great to see the continuing success of VA Loans and the many benefits that the families receive. Being a major contributor to recent VA Loan success is a tremendous responsibility and honor. Serving the veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country is truly valuable and gratifying. Last year the Scotman Guide listed the top five VA Loan Originators in the country and all five of them work for Flagship Financial Group. VA Mortgage Leader is a division of Flagship Financial Group specific to VA Home Loans.
The tremendous success that VA Mortgage Leader is just the beginning although the company has prioritized veterans since 1999. VA Mortgage Leader works diligently to provide the best products and value for our veterans. VA Mortgage Leader congratulates the VA on the recent 20 millionth guaranteed loan and is excited to continue to participate and contribute to the success of the program. If you are interested in a VA Loan call toll free 1 (800) 485-2332 and see how it can benefit you today.
Posted on Thu, Oct 25, 2012 @ 09:54 AM
By now many of you know that Pablo "Kung Fu Panda" Sandoval had a tremendous World Series Game 1 last night against the heavily favored Detroit Tigers. What may be even more impressive than getting into the record books with 3 home runs in one game during the World Series is that it was against what many call the best pitcher in the history of the game.
Kung Fu Panda is one of the most popular players on a very popular team in baseball currently. Being able to hit 3 home runs in any game is great and to do it on the largest stage in baseball at the World Series is even more impressive. This feat of 3 home runs in a World Series is not the first time but comparing it to the few that have done it in the past it is more uncommon than a "perfect game".
Previously the only other players to accomplish the feat of 3 home runs in a World Series game includes Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and Albert Pujols. The awesome feat of THREE home runs in a game brings to mind other great accomplishments but one specific to VA Mortgage Leader is being ranked as the #1 VA Loan Originator THREE YEARS IN A ROW.
As "American" as baseball many of us fans know that they take time during every game to pay tribute to our country and the valuable individuals that sacrifice the most for our country. VA Mortgage Leader is pleased and happy to welcome the patriotism in any and all events and to honor those that have served our country.
VA Mortgage Leader is the only company to be ranked by an independent company and verified as the number one VA Loan Originator. So, if you're active military or a veteran and considering a mortgage now or anytime during your life you want to inquire about one of the best benefits you earned being the VA Home Loan. You will also want to work with proven winners that provide results. If you are interested at this time call toll free 1 (800) 485-2332.
Considering a VA Home Loan then you need to ask yourself does your VA Lender have Kung Fu Power?