January 2021 – Happy, Happy New Year! I know, we were all chomping at the bit, weren’t we? So, we are here now, let’s make it a good year! Remember, from now on, hindsight is 2020! (I take no credit for this; it’s making the rounds on the internet)  Never have I been so grateful … Read more

Uh oh. Only 3 weeks to Christmas! That means only 1 week to find something and another 2 weeks to try to get it delivered on time! Early Christmas! Well, Christmas came early for some people as the Fannie and Freddie twins have increased conforming loan limits to $548,250 and $822,375 for high end areas. … Read more

November 4, 2020, Day 1 after the 2020 Elections Well, we are coming down to the last stretch now.. Elections – Yes! Finally done, but now it’s nail biting time as we wait and wait and wait for results (as of typing time) Pandemic – Noooooo Year end holidays? Yesssss! But most importantly, the AMRF … Read more

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month!“Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart.”https://stopwirefraud.org/protect-your-money/ Between last month and this one we got caught in a tsunami of major proportions. If you are reading this and you are a real estate or loan agent, have pity on your escrow officers, the loan processors and the funders. Show them your appreciation as … Read more

If It Ain’t One Thing, It’s Another What? A problem bigger than COVID-19? You wouldn’t think there could be at this time, but there is always something new making the rounds. Around the middle of August, the mortgage industry was thrown into a frenzy by news that the government was looking to make up losses … Read more

First Wave? Second Wave? Continuous Wave? Micro Wave? As I write this upcoming month’s news blog, the big news (in California) is that we have now surpassed New York and we have the distinction of being the state with the highest number of COVID cases. A distinction that we can do without, particularly when we … Read more

It’s official. Half the year is gone! In escrow, we prorate using 180 / 360 days; we are coming to the end of California’s property tax fiscal year, so June 30th is an important date. We are very much aware that we are on the slow slide to the end of the year. STATE OF … Read more

THE END…  …is really the beginning. In California retail shops are now allowed to open, in Vegas casinos are opening up on June 1, and filming and TV productions may be starting soon. I am eagerly waiting for Season 2 of the Mandalorian. Now, if only hair and nail salons would open up, life will … Read more

“My 90 day trial period for 2020 is up and I want to return it.  It didn’t do what it was supposed to do.” (from an escrow peep, actual author lost in the flurry of re-postings) May 15th! May 15th! May 15th! I am in Southern California and May 15, 2020 is supposedly (at this … Read more

Is it the End Of The World (as we know it)? No, not at all, we have just gone into the TWILIGHT ZONE!!!!! (cue TZ music, please) From one of my escrow peeps, and probably this made the rounds on social media: “I was in a long line at 7:45 am today at the grocery … Read more