Counsellors Title
April 23rd, 2020
Title Wise
The New Jersey Real Estate News You Can Use  
 
Change. That is what we are preparing for in the coming months. One big change is JPMorgan Chase's decision to suspend offering HELOC to new customers. Also, Fannie Mae is projecting a decrease in the number of homes sold in 2020, but they are expecting a rebound in 2021. Counsellors Title will continue to conduct business following the CDC guidelines such as social distancing, video meetings and other measures to preserve preventative measures.       
 
Please feel free to email me at ralph@counsellorstitle.com
if you have any questions or would like to follow up on any of this edition's articles.  
                                                          Ralph Aponte
732.914.1400
JPMorgan Chase Stops New HELOCS  
 
 
Initially, JPMorgan Chase announced that they were increasing their lending standards for home mortgage borrowers. The new threshold would require at least a 20% down payment and a FICO score of minimum 700. This might appear to be severe but the average FICO score in America is 695.
 
Now JPMorgan Chase is no longer accepting new HELOC applications. No exceptions. Customers who are current HELOC borrowers will continue to be able to access their accounts with the full line of credit, but the bank will no longer be accepting new HELOC applications.
 
The bank issued the statement that due to economic uncertainty, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they were temporarily pausing new HELOC applications. There appears to be more behind this decision than just economic uncertainty. A great deal has to do with the low margin of profit on a HELOC currently right now. Average HELOC rate is 4.91% but it does have a range of between 3.5% and 8.6%.
 
Chase has already shifted some of its HELOC staff to work with customers requesting regular mortgages.
  
 # # #
Fannie Mae Projecting Drop in Home Sales  
 
The recent Fannie Mae report projects that home sales may possibly fall by up to 15% in 2020. [That is the number of homes sold, not the price of homes.]  
 
The housing projection published by Fannie Mae indicates that total housing starts are expected to fall from 1.5 million to 900,000 from the first to the second quarter in 2020.

That figure is expected to rise minimally to approximately 2 million total housing starts for the third and fourth quarters of 2020.

The projected median new home price will remain basically unchanged at $326,000.

Due to social distancing and other measures imposed by state and federal governments, home sales are not expected to maintain their upward trajectory. Fannie Mae is projecting that the annual rate in 2020 will potentially drop from 5.34 million in 2019 to 4.54 million in 2020.

What will make home buying more challenging is that many sellers are pulling their homes off the market. This only exacerbates the historic low inventory that most buyers are facing in all markets.

Also, mortgage rates are expected to remain at historic lows, which for some buyers may afford to them the chance to purchase a home without a great deal of competition. 
 
 
# # #
    Rediscovering Email Marketing  
 
So, with the economic concerns and dropping revenue - one of the FIRST things that's been cut is Travel & Entertainment? Going out for lunch or coffee, or even sponsoring a special event, right now they are all on HOLD!  
 
But you are in business, and you can't lose the momentum that you built. Email can help maintain your business visibility - even when you aren't able to physically meet!
 
4 STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW
 
#1 - There Are About 5 Billion Email Addresses in the World.
People still depend upon email. When a person gives you their email address, it represents an opportunity to continue the conversation.
 
If you get their email address, and never had a conversation, that is a completely different story. But if they gave you their contact information, it is a chance to pony your value up to the plate through email.
 
Remember:
People do business with people they know. And secondly, People forget.
 
From my perspective, email is an electronic way you can maintain your visibility, credibility and future opportunities with those within your personal network.
 
So, even though there is so much buzz about things like "Facebook has 2 billion users," think about this...Email is what INVENTED the Internet, and it isn't going away!
 
#2 - 66% of People Say They Purchased a Product BECAUSE of an Email...
Email influences and confirms buying decisions. Especially when it comes to client retention, your quality emails reflect the level of quality of service that you provide.
 
Your emails need to be intentionally written from the client's point of view.
 
A good Newsletter is about the context of the business environment and the trends that are or will be impacting future business.
 
On the OTHER HAND, Social Media is basically about Me Me Me Me.
 
This statistic is PROOF that consumers lean on EMAIL to make BUYING decisions.
 
#3 - 72% PREFER Email Communication From Businesses
Customers are checking their email all the time. Even if they don't read what we send all the time, they see your name in the Subject Line in their inbox.
 
Customers are ALWAYS checking their emails. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
 
This is not true with social media. With email, you are not at the mercy of the Twitter or Facebook algorithms. Your customers don't always see what you post on Twitter or Facebook. Customers want both: they want us to email them, not ONLY do social media.
 
#4 - BIGGEST Data: For Every $1 Invested in Email, $38 Comes Back.
That's a 3,800% RETURN on Investment. Think about that for a minute. 3,800%+. Where else will you get that kind of return on investment? This is all the more reason you really need to be consistently building your email list.
 
 # # # 
A.S.A.P. Attorney Settlement Assistance Program 
 
Our real estate secretarial services are able to assist you in every aspect of the sale, purchase, refinance or loan closing process. We will directly communicate with all the parties involved in the transaction and coordinate and obtain all the items necessary to bring the matter to closing.
 
Our ASAP services can be individually customized to fit your needs. These services include:
  • Documentation Preparation
  • Disbursement of Funds
  • Attendance at Closing
  • HUD Preparation or
  • Post-Closing Matters
Our Commitment to Excellence
Counsellors Title Agency wants to thank you for the opportunity to work with you and your clients to grow your business. Please feel free to click the link above or here to leave us a review on Google. We appreciate your business.

 
Careers @ Counsellors

Sales: Leading NJ title insurance agency seeks experienced licensed salespersons to help expand its market share throughout the entire state. Benefits include health insurance, 401k with an employer match, flexible spending account, expense account, & marketing support. Send resumes by fax: 732-914-8898 or ralph@counsellorstitle.com

# # # 
Free Online Title Insurance Calculator  

Counsellors Title Agency announced its updated Title Calculator for New Jersey home purchases & refinances at: Title Calculator  
 
Loan officers, real estate agents and home buyers can find out how much title insurance will cost for purchases made in New Jersey. 
 
Easy-To-Use Functionality
This online tool includes many of the endorsements involved in calculating the cost of a title policy in New Jersey. CTA's Title Calculator is a great tool for real estate salespersons, loan officers, attorneys and those who are buying or refinancing their home.

It calculates the cost of title insurance based upon the purchase price of the home, the loan amount, and the various endorsements that can accompany the loan. The calculator provides the user the scalability of selecting the various endorsements involved in the transaction. 

Counsellors Title Closing Services for Attorneys

Counsellors Title provides its Attorney Settlement Assistance Program [ASAP] with the real estate attorney in mind.

The Counsellors ASAP program offers secretarial services to assist in the process of a sale, purchase, refinance or loan closing.

Counsellors will even communicate directly with all the parties involved in the transaction to coordinate and obtain all the items necessary to assist in the close.

ASAP includes:
  • Documentation Preparation
  • Disbursement of Funds
  • Attendance at Closing
  • HUD Preparation or 
  • Post-Closing Matters
For more information about the attorney services provided by Counsellors Title call our home office: 732.914.1400 or email us at info@counsellorstitle.com.

 

Handy Guide to Real Estate Sources
 
I look forward to being of service to you, providing you with outstanding real-time information and some humor to make doing business a pleasure.
 
Sincerely,
Ralph
Ralph Aponte
Counsellors Title
In This Issue
Follow & Like Us
View our profile on LinkedIn Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook


Like Us on Facebook
 
Counsellors Title Agency, Inc. specializes in providing title
insurance, title search services and loan closing services
serving attorneys, Realtors, banks and various mortgage
companies throughout the State of New Jersey. CTA offers full
search and insurance capabilities within all 21 counties of New
Jersey for commercial, residential and new construction
purchases in our Toms River, Freehold, Chatham, and Union locations. CTA is equipped with the latest digital technologies to ensure a
complete and timely transaction.

Counsellors Title Agency, Inc.
Mr. Ralph Aponte
President
Counsellors Title Agency, Inc.
504 Hooper Ave.
Toms River, NJ 08753
Phone: 732-914-1400
Fax: 732-914-8898