Most of us have heard the saying that knowledge is power. This certainly holds true as it relates to mortgages and real estate.
A little extra knowledge may save you tens of thousands of dollars. In this tumultuous real estate market, we need every advantage we can get to save us money.
As an example, it might be useful to look at some of the knowledge that is made available to the mortgage industry by Loan Toolbox, one of the most respected educators in the business. They provide the following copywrited booklets to members for handing out to their clients:
-- “Is your lease up? Why not buy?”  
A free guide to financing your first home.
-- “Home Buyers Handbook” 
This booklet is a guide for home buyers and covers topics ranging from credit scoring and points to pre-approval and home inspections. It also contains a glossary of industry terms.
-- “Consumers Credit Scoring Booklet” 
Consumers know that poor credit can have an enormous impact on their ability to buy a house but are often unaware of how to improve their situation.
This credit scoring booklet provides an overview of the five factors of credit scoring, tips about addressing errors on one’s credit report and a great deal more.
-- “33 Ways to Sell Your Home Fast”
This booklet contains tips for For Sale By Owner sellers.
-- “Reverse Mortgages Booklet”
This booklet provides a helpful overview of a loan alternative available to homeowners who are age 62 and over. Many homeowners may not be aware that they can tap into the equity of their homes without having to move or make monthly payments.
-- “Equity Management Booklet”
This booklet introduces the idea of using equity management as a wealth-building strategy.
The booklet is only for consumers who have the discipline necessary to properly follow through on the financial advice.
You can obtain any of the above booklets free by e-mailing me at windsor@quiknet.com or calling my office at (916) 797-1180.
Also, if you have a trusted lender or loan officer that you currently work with, they can obtain these booklets for you.
Maybe this extra knowledge will give you extra power and save you money.
Mike Ferguson is with Windsor Financial Services in Granite Bay.