BigDon's Wuz'up and Blogalot

Day 5 October 4

2011-10-05T01:01:00.002-06:00

This morning I left Mobile Alabama and headed South to travel along the Gulf Coast and into Mississippi. Slow going for quite awhile due to congestion and stop lights but well worth it. 45 MPH will give you GREAT fuel mileage. I was at 1/2 tank at 400 miles and check the price of fuel. A cheap day for the BUG so I gave her a bath at a brand new car wash grand opening near Biloxi, MS. They are getting ready for the Cruise the Coast "rally" around Biloxi, Mississippi. Old cars and hot rods for miles getting all set up for the weekend I presume. Lots of cool cars, driving and on trailers, all along my route this morning. Kind of reminded me of the convergence on Sturgus, SD for the big motorcycle rally except this was all cars and cruisers. Miles of white-ish sandy beaches but no one in the water but a few kite flyers and dog walkers....Hmmm? Notice there is not one cloud in any of my pictures or videos since I left Denver. The PERFECT time of year to travel this area. Temps have been 65 -80 and I have not had A/C on yet. We'll see if that changes in the Lone Star State of Texas.

By the way, I did have a great lunch at Tommy's Seafood and Deli. A whole shit load of fried shrimp and fried clams. And God said...It was Yum!
Anyway I drove clear across the state of Mississippi along the coast highway 90, and then into Louisiana to and over the great Causeway "bridge over Lake Poncthartrain". That bridge is an engineering marvel and one of my favorite must see sights next to the Grand Canyon. How the hell did they build that bridge?

listed by Guinness World Records as the longest bridge over water in the world; in 2011
Stats on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Pontchartrain_Causeway

Once I got to the other side, which kind of drops down into New Orleans, I kept going South in order to get back to the coast and then swung West and went through most of the Parish towns and see the plantations along the coast. It is also where ALL the oil comes to shore as all the big oil companies are there with their big refineries and taking the oil right off the ships. Pretty cool!

At some point I pretty much ran out of dry land and good road so decided to and head back North to I-10. I rode I-10 West through Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Lake Charles, Louisiana and on to Beaumont, TX. So, I pretty much drove clear across the states of Louisiana and Mississippi today. I am finally stopped in Winnie, TX....about 50 miles East of Houston, TX. I really have no desire to visit Houston so I will probably head back down to the coast in the morning. Looks like maybe there is at least a dirt road to Galveston and Texas City......so we'll just have to see where I end up.

Have a GREAT day!
www.bankamortgage.com

Road Trip Day 4 - Chattanooga , TN to Mobile, AL

2011-10-04T08:14:00.001-06:00

Monday 10/3 - Left Chattanooga, TN this morning and made my way down through the back country to Mobile, AL. Going to be looking for a change from Sonic Hot Dogs to fresh Shrimp (I hope) as I travel along the Gulf coast tomorrow through New Orleans and beyond. Having a GREAT ride, all is going well except I think I may have cooked my GPS/Cell phone battery with all the activity I been putting it through. What an indispensible device. It is my email, GPS, MP3 player, and mapping device constantly on and charging. Had to use the car radio and an Atlas today for awhile. Guess I still Got-It!

REAL Slow internet connection so video and picture uploads will have to wait for the most part. What do you expect for free access. It is now Tuesday morning waking up in Mobile AL on the bay. Guess I better shave and look at a map for my destinations for the day. Intend to cross Lake Poncatrain and into New Orleans. All I can think about is shrimp.

Have a GREAT day!

www.bankamortgage.com

Day 3 - Road Trip October 2011

2011-10-02T23:43:00.001-06:00

Tonight I am in Chattanooga, Tennessee after a gorgeous day driving through the great Smoky Mountains. into North Carolina and back through/over the Smoky Mountains again, into Tennessee again. I always brag how beautiful Colorado is but I think these guys have one on us. Oh, what a beautiful country we live in!! Starting to become much more populated as I head East so I'm going to make a turn South and head down along the Gulf coast area. It may be the Sunday traffic but all the cars take some of the fun away. These folks should slow down and enjoy the beauty of their countryside.
The countryside is solid trees of all kinds and colors and if you were to stray off into the forest 10 feet you would be lost and on your own. Drove all day long today in beauty like this.

I treated my BUG to a ride through the "Tail of the Dragon". What a thrill for both me and the BUG! I rode the Dragon on a Sunday evening so the traffic was at a minimum. Basically had the dragon by the tail all by myself.

Great Tires...thanks Adam!

Tomorrow I think I will head South West via I-59 through Alabama and down towards New Orleans. GPS says 504 miles. Another easy day ahead. May have to pickup some beads along the way ((-;

Be safe and enjoy YOUR ride! Until next time..... you know the tune? I'm on the road again....

Have a GREAT day!
BigDon

www.bankamortgage.com
www.dcbcomputers.com

Road Trip October 2011

2011-10-01T21:26:00.004-06:00

On a little road trip to the East of Colorado. Been through Colorado, Kansas, Missouri.

Spent the first night about 100 miles East of Kansas City. Today through Southern Illinois, Western Kentucky. Stopped tonight in Nashville Tennessee to check out some country tunes and night life. I will head East in the morning to parts yet unknown. I'm just picking a town and GPS'n to find my way. Weather is perfect 65F-70F, clear skies, great roads, perfect time of year with all the fall colors abound.

I had some great BBQ turkey ribs and pig snoot in St Louis right by the Arch where the picture was taken.....saw some big southern bell with a smoker churning out in a parking lot. I stopped, took a few pics and chowed down, YUM!

Kentucky hospitalty showed up at this first rest area I encountered in Kentucky. Classy eh?

Downtown Nashville (1st & Broadway) reminds me a lot of New Orleans with the all the southern folks having a wild GREAT time, music of all kinds blasing from all the Pubs and lots of police just standing around watching all the southern bells in high heels and cowboy boots. Not that I was paying any attention but my guess is 4 to 1 women to men, most all fairly intoxicated. A pretty sight!

I will blog on down the road and post when I find aother free WiFi connection. Sleep tight!

Have a GREAT day! www.bankamortgage.com

HUD/FHA will not accept meth properties

2011-08-23T13:54:00.002-06:00

"We have learned any home including HUD Repo’s which have any evidence of the use of meth or creation of meth or even if a police report has been issued stating meth was in use in a home is ineligible for FHA insurance. Even if remediation has been done, they will not accept the property.

The appraiser is to reject the property if they have knowledge of meth use or creation in the home or if they have been informed of remediation. It is important to know that HUD Washington has not issued anything in writing but has left this particular issue up to the individual Homeownership Centers. The Denver HOC has decided they will NOT accept properties impacted by meth until further notice, although this is not in writing either but is an internal order. Please keep in mind the Denver HOC has authority over 17 western states and this order applies to all the states reporting to the Denver HOC. Please make sure your Real Estate agents are aware of this as well. We have not received any notification from any of our investors regarding this issue, but if the loans cannot be insured, they will not purchase."
via: Gayle Campbell /VP
Universal Lending Corporation

Have a GREAT day!
http://www.ulcdonbanka.com/

Hot Shot to Telluride, CO - Winter 2008

2011-04-22T17:04:00.001-06:00

I am trying to find the most painless way to upload my videos into my Blog at www.donbankablogalot.com. You can scroll down to see more videos uploaded from Photoshow. Please bear with me and enjoy my rides. Please leave a comment so I know you stopped by.

Have a GREAT day!

BigDon
http://www.bankamortgage.com/

Some Clever Thoughts to Ponder

2011-04-22T10:33:00.001-06:00

Copied from the http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/ 04/22/2011

"How come we choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?"
"Now that food has replaced sex in my life, I can't even get into my own pants."
"Sign in a Chinese Pet Store: 'Buy one dog, get one flea.'"
"If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?"
"I don't approve of political jokes. I've seen too many of them get elected."
"I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life."
"I am a nobody, and nobody is perfect; therefore I am perfect."
"Every day I beat my own previous record for number of consecutive days I've stayed alive."
"What part of a fish is Napoleon? The boney part."

Have a GREAT day! www.bankamortgage.com

New FHA Mortgage Insurance Changes - Effective April 18, 2011

2011-04-21T22:19:00.001-06:00

Plain and simple. FHA loans now require an UFMIP = 1.00% of loan amount . The Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium may be paid at Closing but is usually added to the base loan amount and financed. In addition, there is an Annual Mortgage Insurance Premium MIP = 1.15% of loan amount, then divided into 12 monthly escrow payments. FHA loans require a minimum 3.5% down payment.

This will increase a typical 30-year FHA Insured loan on a $200,000 purchase by about ^$30.00/month.

If Buyers are able to put a minimum equal to, or greater than, 5% down payment, it might be better to go with a Conforming Conventional loan. Conforming Conventional loans do not have an UFMIP and the annual MIP is as competitive and will be based on a lower loan amount due to the fact more down payment is required..

Have a GREAT day!
http://www.bankamortgage.com/

Protecting Home Loan Consumers Starts with Simplifying Disclosures

2011-03-17T18:32:00.000-06:00

I really like this new consumer protection Czar Elizabeth Warren. Special Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). At least her intentions are sound and make sense, in my opinion. "The present mandated disclosures in obscure language and produced in small type that have often imposed a burden on lenders while providing no benefit to consumers."

Protecting Home Loan Consumers Starts with Simplifying Disclosures
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/03162011_elizabeth_warren_cfpb.asp

Have a GREAT day!
BigDon
http://www.bankamortgage.com/

Corned Beef, Cabbage, and of course...........

2011-03-15T21:09:00.002-06:00

Beer, Beer, Beer.....

So, you didn't think I could dance?
crank up your sound and click here

Happy St Patricks Day from all of Me.....

Have a GREAT day! http://www.bankamortgage.com/

Hot Shot to Snowmass Village

2011-03-02T17:48:00.001-07:00

Today I got to drive to Snowmass Village, close to Aspen. Delivered materials for an Eyeball Replacement group holding a meeting at a luxury lodge atop the mountain at Snowmass ski area. What a beautiful day. I left at 4:30 am and avoided all the traffic. I just love driving at night when there is little traffic and mostly professional truck drivers are on the road. Daylight by the time I arrived and then the scenic ride home. The ride up to Glenwood Springs is about my favorite run in Colorado....through the tunnels, over Vail pass, then through Glenwood Canyon. Highway 82 from Glenwood Springs to Aspen sucks....about 45 miles of variable speed zones, stop lights in the middle of nowhere, a lot of traffic, and restricted HOV lanes. In the Winter time it's the only road access to the area. When Summer arrives, and melts a bunch of snow, Independence Pass is a great alternative and actually a litlle shorter distance.. The most beautiful, scary pass in Colorado....IMHO

Rates Trump Price on Home Buying

2011-03-01T12:34:00.000-07:00

Tripod of housing health
Interesting article compares buying now, opposed to buying later.

http://insiderealestatenews.com/2011/02/hornung-rates-trump-price-on-home-buying/

I hope you are having a GREAT day!

www.bankamortgage.com

FHA Changes to Mortgage Insurance

2011-02-27T15:56:00.000-07:00

Effective April 18th, 2011 - FHA is changing up^ the monthly mortgage insurance premium required on all FHA insured mortgage. Increasing from .90% of loan amount to 1.15% of loan amount. Monthly mortgage insurance is figured this way - Loan Amount (times) 1.15% (divided by) 12 months = monthly mortgage insurance premium. You must continue to pay monthly mortgage insurance until your Loan-to-Value reaches 78%.

The Up-Front MIP will remain the same at 1.00% of loan amount. This premium can be paid at Closing with cash or financed back into the loan.

Using a FHA insured mortgage, your total monthly PITI payment will include: Principal + Interest + Taxes + Insurance + monthly mortgage insurance. Minimum 640 FICO score is presently required by most all Secondary Market investors.

I hope you are having a GREAT weekend!

Sunday February 27 - Hot Shot to Gillette, WY

2011-02-27T14:49:00.000-07:00

Had an all nighter Hot Shot run to Gillette, WY. UAL, DIA freight was late, as usual, so I didn't get on the roadt until about 11:30pm. POD was 5:30AM near Gillette, to the Alpha Coal Mine....a 43# electrical part...15 hours, 750 miles. The perfect evening! Now to get my most recent Loan client's finalized so we can get Closed and they can finally move into their new home. Congratulations to Scott & Lyndsay!