Naji Rashid's Blog » Books http://www.najirashid.com Helping Individuals And Families Achieve Homeownership One House At A Time! Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:12:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) $5,000 for Closing Costs and Down Payment Assistance http://www.najirashid.com/community-development-block-grant-program-cdbg-5000-for-closing-costs-and-down-payment-assistance/ http://www.najirashid.com/community-development-block-grant-program-cdbg-5000-for-closing-costs-and-down-payment-assistance/#comments Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:29:34 +0000 Naji Rashid http://www.najirashid.com/?p=153 Baltimore City’s Community Development Block Grant Program started this month. The program provides funding that can be used as closing cost and downpayment assistance. Only first-time home buyers with family incomes of 80 percent or below the area median income qualify for the program.

Community Development Block Grant Program 2009 Income Limits are:

1 person $44,800

2 person $51,200

3 person $ 57,600

4 person $64,000

5 person $69,100

6 person $74,250

7 person $79,350

8 person $84,500

What are the benefits?

$5,000 down payment and closing assistance structured as a 5-year loan forgivable 20 percent per year. Buyer must contribute at least $1,000 towards purchase and must use the property as the principal residence. The home must be inspected by a member of the National Association of Home Inspectors or the American Society of Home Inspectors. The home must be free of any flaking, peeling or chipping paint insider and outside, and the home inspector must document no unstable paint surfaces. Closing on the property must occur within 90 days of the contract date. Loan is forgivable over 5 years.

This program is similar to the Baltimore City ADDI Program that started is October 2008 but ran out of funds by January 2009. The ADDI Program was assisting with $10,000 towards closing costs and down payment. Hopefully this program will last longer. Contact  me for updates and availability of the funds.

]]> http://www.najirashid.com/community-development-block-grant-program-cdbg-5000-for-closing-costs-and-down-payment-assistance/feed/ 1 My Clients are Still Getting Mortgage Loans in Spite of the Economy! http://www.najirashid.com/my-clients-are-still-getting-mortgage-loans-inspite-of-the-economy/ http://www.najirashid.com/my-clients-are-still-getting-mortgage-loans-inspite-of-the-economy/#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:02:18 +0000 Naji Rashid http://www.najirashid.com/?p=40 Last week I received several calls from buyers wanting to know if my clients were still getting mortgage loans and my answer to them was “yes.” FHA financing is the best way to go for most first-time home buyers. FHA requires that a buyer put 3% of their own funds into the transaction and the seller can contribute up to 6% towards buyers closing costs. The majority of my first-time home buyers have only needed their 3%. I have been successful in getting the rest of the buyers closing costs from sellers or grant programs. The banks my clients have received mortgage loans from are 1st Mariner Bank, Bank of America. K-Bank, and SunTrust Bank. These banks also have programs for first-time home buyers. This is a very good market for buyers- low interest rates, plenty of housing inventory, sellers helping with closing costs, and many grant programs for buyers. Don’t miss your opportunity.

]]> http://www.najirashid.com/my-clients-are-still-getting-mortgage-loans-inspite-of-the-economy/feed/ 0 Book: A Complaint Free World http://www.najirashid.com/book-a-complaint-free-world/ http://www.najirashid.com/book-a-complaint-free-world/#comments Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:58:26 +0000 Naji Rashid http://www.najirashid.com/?p=22 My wife and I are members of a mastermind group that meet once a week to assist each other with our goals. At one of our meetings Yamisi Daniel owner of InTouch Virtual Assistance told us about a book she read, “A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life You Always Wanted” by Will Bowen. The book sounded interesting. I buy at least a book a week on different topics, business, real estate, self help, golf, etc., so I went straight to the book store and purchased 2 copies for my wife and myself. Complaining is addicting. The more you complain the more you will have to complain about. Most of the time the things we complain about are things that we can not change or will not change.

Bowen says- quit complaining. If you do, you’ll be happier and healthier. His complaint free world challenge- is to stop complaining for 21 consecutive days. Why 21 days, some experts say that’s how long it take to break a habit. Bowen is giving away free purple bracelets that you can wear to help you realize exactly where you are on the continuum of positive and negative expression. Here is how to use the bracelet.

Begin to wear the bracelet, on either wrist.

When you catch yourself complaining, gossiping or criticizing (it’s ok, everyone does) move the bracelet to the other arm and begin again.

If you hear someone else who is wearing a bracelet complain, you may point out their need to switch the bracelet to the other arm; BUT if you’re going to do this, you must move your bracelet first!

Stay with it. It may take many months but when you reach 21 days you will find that your entire life is happier, more loving and more enjoyable.

I thought the book was excellent and our group has started the 21 days challenge. This book will help you to stay focus on the things you want in your life and instead of complaining about what you don’t like in your life you will look for ways to make changes. “A Complaint Free World” is a must read!

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