Author: msundermier

Five-Star Professional Awards…Two Years In A Row!

For the second year in a row, I have been featured in Sacramento Magazine as both a Five Star Mortgage Professional AND Five-Star Real Estate Agent (you can see the feature here, or pick up a current copy on newsstands). The Five Star program is the largest real estate award program in North America (you can read more about the program here), and very few people have won awards in multiple categories in multiple years like this.

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It is an honor to be honored with these awards, and they serve as reminders for how fortunate we are to have our awesome family of clients.  We sincerely thank you for your business, your referrals, your raving reviews, and for your efforts to help spread the news of our Five Star awards.  We share these awards with you!

Tips for 2013 Refi-ers

Get Tuned in to HARP – The Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) allows underwater home owners to refinance.  This wildly popular and successful program is set to expire at the end of 2013.  Despite current efforts from a few senators to extend and expand the program, our strong real estate market (combined the dysfunctional nature of politics) will make it likely 2013 will be the end of HARP.  Find out ASAP if you qualify.  Either give me a call or fill out the short questionnaire at my web site www.UnderwaterRefiCA.com

Find Out Your Home’s Value – For those that don’t qualify for HARP, a refinance loan will require you have at least some equity in your home.  With home prices rising so dramatically last year, many homeowners will now find the opportunity to refinance.  As a combined mortgage broker and real estate agent, I have the added knowledge and insight to estimate your home’s appraised value prior to pursuing a refinance (and paying $450 for an appraisal!!).  Give me a call or select Home Value Request on our web site and I can research your home’s possible value.

A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned – As our population ages (Baby Boomers, I’m talking to you), more and more homeowners are looking to move their investments to safer alternatives than the stock market. If this sounds like you, consider refinancing and paying down your mortgage at the same time.  Doing so will dramatically lower your mortgage payment, thus providing you with lower housing expenses in retirement.  Furthermore, your lump sum investment towards paying down the mortgage essentially gives you a guaranteed rate of return equal to the interest rate on the mortgage.  Try earning a guaranteed 4% rate of return on a CD or other form of safe investment.  Remember, a penny saved is a penny earned!

Tips for 2013 Home Sellers

Now is the Time to Move-Up – If you’ve been hanging on to that smaller house a little longer than planned, now is the time to sell and move-up to the bigger house.  Entry-level homes are in tremendous demand from investors and 1st-timers, while mid-range homes are not moving quite as quickly.  Homes under 1600 square feet went up 23% in Sacramento County last year, compared to 15% for larger homes 1600-2600 square feet.  This allows you to command the highest price possible for your old home, and better chances of scoring a deal on your next house.

Make Demands – This isn’t about greed or bullying, but today’s market enables sellers to be very firm on what terms they accept.  Don’t be bashful about waiving appraisal contingencies, demanding higher deposit amounts, and listing at aggressive prices.

Know the Code (tax code, that is) – The tax rules on short-sales are constantly changing.  Due to the fiscal-cliff negotiations at the beginning of 2013, short-sales are still exempt from federal income tax.  However, state legislation made so such extension.  Before you look to short-sale your home, get in touch with a trusted CPA and real estate attorney to know your options and outcomes.

Tips for 2013 Home Buyers

Know What You’re Looking For – You have to shop for a home with laser-focus, and act decisively when you see what you want.  Don’t window shop for too long; homes are often selling within days to above-asking-price offers. Make a list of features and amenities you’re looking for, and when you see the right house get in there and make a strong offer.

Be Prepared to Pay Market Value (if not more!) – The days of simply looking for a good deal are over.  Sellers have the luxury of being picky in today’s market (more on this later), so “low-ball” offers are easily ignored.  In 2012, Sacramento area home prices rose an average of nearly 2% per month (WOW!), so even if you end up paying a few thousand dollars above-asking price its likely these rising values will aid you to recoup that in no-time.

Credit Wounds Heal Faster Than You Think – Most folks are eligible to re-purchase a home after just 3 years since a short-sale or foreclosure, or 4 years since a bankruptcy.  All you need is a 3.5% down payment and a good credit history since your last mishap.  If you’re considering getting back in the real estate game, obtain a copy of your credit report (we can help with this) to see how your credit past has been reported.

Be Patient & Have Faith – Most clients I work with don’t get the first house they write an offer on.  Some don’t get the 10th house!  But, in hindsight all of them ultimately bought the house they were meant for.  Keep your head up, and have faith that things happen for a reason.

The Blue Waters Group is Expanding & Expecting!

Since opening our doors in early April, The Blue Waters Group has met some major milestones!  Thank you for all of your support, business and referrals that have quickly propelled us from a new start-up to thriving firm.
Our group is expanding, with the newest addition to our group, Donna Adams.  We are elated to have her on board.  Check out our latest video to meet her, as well as get info on my “expecting” news (what could I mean by that?), as well as details about an extra charity drive that we’re kicking off on Halloween (costumes included).
Thanks as always for your support!

That’s My Daughter In The Water

Most parents sent their kids back to school in recent weeks (in fact, today is National Back to School Day!), and with it came the common bittersweet feelings of watching your baby take one step closer to becoming all grown up.  Oddly enough, those feelings didn’t come for Mary and me last week when we dropped Maddison off for her first day of 1st grade.  Our daughter had already squeezed our hearts and made us wistful while out on the water earlier this month.  Let me share…with video too, of course!

In early August, Maddison came to us and said she wanted to try water skiing.  Mary and I kept our giddiness thinly veiled and then quickly darted off to Water Ski World to pick up a pair of training skis.  A few days later, we were off to the houseboat to work on this new challenge together.  When a kid learns to ski an adult sits in the water with them to help handle their skis, give instruction and keep them calm.  That was going to be my role so you see, I was going to be an invaluable piece to Maddison’s skiing success…or so I thought.

The experience hardly required my “expertise.”  She popped up on her second try and took off like a pro.  This left me alone in the middle of the lake, watching her image shrink into the horizon.  I could hear her excited shrieks and the cheers of her Mama, Cousins and Godparents in the boat. Suddenly it occurred to me that I was the farthest person from her skiing success.

As I was bobbing in the water alone with the caution flag and my thoughts, I realized that this was a classic parenting moment.  Being a parent is rarely about participating in your child’s exciting life moments alongside them.  When they are babies, they let you only by necessary proxy.  As they get older and take steps away from us, we see that our job is to the lay the foundation and hand them the tools to build their own successes.  We don’t get to rush out onto the football field with them at their first big football game or be a fly on the wall at their first real job.   As badly as we want to do those things, we instead get to do the gritty un-glamorous job of preparing them to take those defining moments head on with passion and confidence.

Maddison may not have needed Mary or I to learn to ski that day, but it turns out we’ve been creating the right environment for her to want to try for a while now.  Watching Maddison ski away from me suddenly became a very gratifying parenting moment.  Daddy had done his job of getting his baby ready and it was just time to watch her grasp the glory all on her own.

Announcing THE BLUE WATERS WORKSHOP

The Blue Waters Group is hosting a special & unique event on Wednesday July 25th, 2012.  Check out the video for full details, but in short we’re going to give you great insight on real estate investing in today’s market and afterwards we’re heading out for an afternoon on the water!  Should be a fantastic time.

VIDEO POST! The Blue Waters Group, Office, & Grand Opening Event

Come see The Blue Waters Group, check out our office, and be our guest at our Grand Opening Event on June 7th, 2012. Check out full details and RSVP at www.TheBlueWatersGroup.com.

Also, visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blue-Waters-Mortgage-and-Real-Estate-Group/…

BIG NEWS!! I’ve Started My Own Company


It is with tremendous excitement I share with you the launch of my own mortgage and real estate firm, Blue Waters Mortgage and Real Estate Group. After 10 wonderful years at Bentley, it is now time to serve you from my own company. I will miss my colleagues at Bentley, and am grateful for their support, dedication, and friendship over the last decade.

Our new firm, as the name implies, will take a “Group” approach in helping you through your home buying, selling, and refinancing transactions. Lisa Parks Ferro, my business partner and fellow mortgage consultant, will support me during absences and also help set the vision for The Blue Waters Group.  Sara Davis, our talented systems manager and loan processor, will be an invaluable asset to our team’s efficient work flow.  Together we have nearly 40 years of industry experience, so you are in good hands.  I’ll do a video blog post soon so you can get to know them a bit, see our new office (we’re in Folsom), and get a better sense of us as a team.

The Blue Waters Group

The opening of our new business comes at an opportune time as the mortgage and real estate markets are healthier than they’ve been in years. Low home prices and low interest rates are fueling a frenzy of investment property and home purchases. New refinance programs (such as the Home Affordable Refinance Program) are opening the door for millions of underwater homeowners to refinance and slash their monthly mortgage payments (see if you qualify by clicking here). And many folks who lost their homes to foreclosure or short-sale in recent years are becoming eligible to purchase homes again (call or email me to learn about the credit requirements of buying another home after losing one). The future looks bright for those looking to buy or refi…better wear your shades!


Throughout my entire career, my clients have fueled my business growth through their referrals and repeat business, for which I am eternally grateful. I am confident your advocacy and loyalty will be even greater towards my new business. I thank you for your support that has enabled me to reach this point in my career, and look forward to see how far you can propel The Blue Waters Group in the very near future.

You Helped Me Win a Prestigous Award

I wanted to celebrate with you an honor I recently received. In the February 2012 issue of Sacramento Magazine, I am recognized as a “Five-Star Professional” as both a mortgage consultant and real estate agent. Furthermore,I am the only professional in the entire Sacramento area to win the award in BOTH categories. Pretty cool!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
I have my clients and peers to thank for these distinguished awards. Without you I would never be in a position to be recognized as one of the industry’s best on such a large platform like Sacramento Magazine. First and foremost, your trust and support has enabled me to grow my business during a challenging real estate market. Secondly, your referrals and testimonials allow others to know about my services, thus bringing more and more people to my business. And lastly, some of you surely received the Five-Star surveys and must have raved about me. Thank you!

How I Was Selected
A recent, wide-spread survey was conducted by a research firm called Five Star Professional. They asked homeowners about their recent real estate transaction to identify real estate professionals at the top of their game. From the findings, the research recognizes less than 7% of the area professionals as “Five-Star” quality based on customer service, integrity, market knowledge, communication and negotiation skills, closing preparation, helping you find the right home, marketing the home being sold, and overall satisfaction (click here for more research details). 481 real estate professionals and 87 mortgage professionals were awarded throughout the region, but only 1 was recognized in both categories. I am overwhelmingly honored and humbled by your support through this exclusive accolade.

Spread The Word!
I am so fortunate to have a loyal family of clients who drive my business growth with their referrals. I hope the recognition as Sacramento’s only combined “Five-Star” mortgage and real estate professional gives you even more confidence to refer me to your friends, family, and colleagues for home buying, selling, and refinancing services. The good word is clearly getting out; please help to make sure it spreads like wildfire!

Thank you again for your emphatic support.