Marimark Mortgage Will Help Find The Loan That Fits Your Needs Best By Camille Gillies Since buying a house ranks high on most people’s list of major purchases — probably the largest purchase most of us will make in our lifetime — it pays to be selective when it comes to choosing a mortgage broker. After all, it wasn’t long ago that a conglomeration of disreputable mortgage brokers were caught up in the fray of the housing crisis, assisting homebuyers in obtaining loans that were beyond the homebuyers’ financial reality. As the waves of home foreclosures continue, we all know how that sad scenario is playing out. It is mortgage professionals such as Tampa Palms mortgage broker Mary Catchur who can help prevent homebuyers from putting themselves in such risky financial circumstances. Catchur, who owns Marimark Mortgage in the Tampa Palms Professional Center, is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who spent 13 years as an auditor for KPMG (Klynveld, Peat, Marwick & Goerdeler), an international public accounting firm. She applies her well-honed financial analysis skills to assist loan applicants, reviewing each client’s financial status and advising them about loans that make sense for their individual situations. Catchur says that when she started in the mortgage business, her coworkers
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were surprised at the effectiveness of her straightforward, financially focused approach. “When I first started, one of the brokers I worked with advised me to handle my calls a different way — until he saw how the pile (of new business) on my desk was growing larger than his,” Catchur recalls. “He said, ‘Mary, it must be working for you. Just keep doing what you’re doing.’ I think people appreciate the fact that I’m not trying to push products at them.” Accountants are held to high ethical standards and trained to look at numbers objectively, which is why Catchur speaks plainly to her clients and cautions them if a particular loan doesn’t seem right or if refinancing an existing loan is not the best strategy. She will tell you if you are on the right track with your home loan with a free consultation.
Get What You Pay For
“If you’re tempted by a loan with ‘no closing costs,’ you may be overlooking the fact that you’ll be paying a higher interest rate because there aren’t any (closing costs),” Mary says. “I also always ask how long a person refinancing plans to stay in their home, because if you plan to be there only a short time, refinancing may not make sense.” She says that the refinancing end of her business has been busy of late, with
homeowners taking advantage of the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), which the federal government recently extended to December 31, 2013. Although Catchur gladly handles refinances, she says that when she entered the mortgage business, she was struck by the number of brokerage companies that preferred to focus on refinances rather than purchases. “That’s because the purchase business requires you to be accountable to deadlines and other parties that have an Mary Catchur outside of her office, conveniently lointerest in the transaction, cated in the Tampa Palms Professional Plaza. such as the real estate agent,’’ sensitive to deadlines and recognize the she explains. “I realized that this was an needs of buyers and sellers to close on area that — with my operational experitime. Most of our loans close in 30 days ence in the real estate industry and my or less.” communication skills — I could easily Catchur also stresses that she is easy demonstrate my expertise.” to reach, accessible on weekends and Catchur adds that her company is evenings to do prequalifications. A prewell respected in the real estate commuqualification letter, which indicates a nity. “Realtors know they can depend on buyer’s financial capabilities, is immedimy company to quickly determine ately provided to the agent to submit with whether their clients are qualified,” she purchase offers. says. “They don’t want to waste a day “Mary is very efficient,” says Judy showing property to unqualified buyers, Curry, a Realtor with RE/MAX Premier and we can do a credit check on their Group in Wesley Chapel. Curry says that clients within a few minutes. We also are
For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 9 • April 27, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com