Peyton…say it aint SO!!

For the first time in almost 14 years, the Indianapolis Colts will play a meaningful game without Peyton Manning under center.

Though they probably would have liked the test, the revamped Houston Texans won’t mind the four-time league MVP staying on the sidelines considering they could be without last year’s leading rusher.

Hoping to begin a march towards an NFL-record 10th straight playoff appearances, the Colts open up their season at Reliant Stadium for the second straight year on Sunday, but will be without their biggest offensive weapon.

Manning has been under center for Indianapolis for every game since the franchise selected him with the first pick of the 1998 draft. His 208 straight starts in the regular season is the longest by any player to begin a career in NFL history.

The 10-time Pro Bowl selection and former Super Bowl MVP will be unable to go in the opener though as he continues to slowly recover from offseason neck surgery. Manning did not play at all in the preseason, but was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Aug. 29. The Colts said he experienced soreness in his back last weekend, and he was forced to miss practice after the soreness persisted.

A disappointed Manning said in a statement released by the team that “I am simply not healthy enough to play, and I am doing everything I can to get my health back.”

Manning has not played since Indianapolis’ 17-16 setback to the Jets on Jan. 9 in the opening round of the playoffs and will be replaced by 16-year veteran Kerry Collins, who retired on July 7 after playing in 195 career games, but was coaxed back by the Colts in late August to serve as insurance for Manning.

“I feel comfortable with the offense,” Collins said. “I feel like I’ve come a long way in the short time since I’ve been here. I’ve really buckled down and grinded on it. Certainly I’ve got a lot to learn, but as far as my comfort level it’s pretty high.”

The last player to start a game under center for the Colts other than Manning is current 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh on Dec. 21, 1997.

The 38-year-old Collins will be trying to get the Colts off to one of their customary fast starts as they have opened the season with at least seven straight victories four times since 2005. That does not include last year, however, when the Texans road a club record-setting performance from running back Arian Foster to post a 34-24 win at home.

That victory only fueled more thoughts of Houston making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history given it was coming off a club-record nine-win season, but the Texans lost eight of their final 10 games and finished just 6-10 on the season.

The NFL’s reigning rushing champion, Foster is also dealing with an injury as he is day-to-day with a left hamstring injury that was aggravated in a preseason game on Aug. 20.

“Well, if Arian’s full speed, he can play,” said head coach Gary Kubiak. “We want him to play. We need to be at our best to win a football game, but at the same time, we’ve got to listen to what’s going on.”

With quarterback Matt Schaub and wide receiver Andre Johnson in the mix, the offense should be able to overcome a limited Foster. The defense could also catch a break on Sunday if Manning can’t play as it makes its regular-season debut in the 3-4 scheme brought in by new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

Where the players line up isn’t the only new thing on defense. Last year’s embattled secondary features two big free agent acquisitions in cornerback Johnathan Joseph and free safety Danieal Manning, while sack machine Mario Williams will shift from end to outside linebacker in the new look.

The Texans are 4-5 all-time in season openers and haven’t won back-to-back Week 1 games since 2002-03, while the Colts have captured 10 of their last 15 season openers.

KEYS TO THE GAME

Can the Colts shut down Foster this season? The Houston back rushed for a team-record 231 yards in last season’s opener to get his incredible campaign off and running and added another 167 total yards and a score in the Week 8 loss at Indy. Foster’s hamstring could make that past success moot however.

Expectations won’t taper off even without Manning, so Collins will need to quickly step his game up. The veteran has been through the trenches and has played in a Super Bowl, but hasn’t had a lot of time to prepare for this start. Mix in a Williams-led attack and it could be a long day for Collins if he doesn’t get help from his blockers.

Even against Collins, who is familiar with Houston having spent time with the Titans, the Texans will have no chance at their first playoff berth if the secondary doesn’t improve. That starts in Week 1 and the likes of Joseph and Danieal Manning will be counted on early and often. A healthy Ryans will help the defense all around, but so will solid coverage.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

The Colts appear to be heading into unfamiliar territory without Manning and that is bad news against a Texans club that is ready to show the NFL it is a playoff-ready team. Houston’s biggest disadvantage was its secondary and it was still able to win a shootout at home over Indianapolis a season ago. The Colts have long been a thorn in the Texans’ side, but no Manning will leave them on their heels a bit in this one.

Source: http://www.LaTimes.com

Help?! I want to buy my first home….Top 10 First Time Homebuyer Tips!

Hello! I’m Andrea Vadas with The Homeland Group at Keller Williams! Andrew and I have partnered together to offer some tips to you for buying your first home. Whether you are trying to get out of your parents home or your cramped apartment, we hope these are helpful in leading you to homeowners bliss!

1. Attend a First Time Homebuyers Seminar: Many Real Estate Company’s and Mortgage Companies hold these free seminars to help you put a plan together and answer any questions that you may have. NOTE: Royal United Mortgage and Keller Williams team up to offer a FREE First Time Homebuyers Seminar monthly. Contact andrew.regan@royalunitedmortgage.com or andreavadas@kw.com to inquire about dates and times.

2. Know How Much You Can Afford: In order to avoid the disappointment of having your heart set on that 5 bedroom home with a finished basement only to later learn that it exceeds the allowable debt to income ratios. We suggest that you first get prequalified for a mortgage and speak with a loan consultant who can tell you what price range to shop in! You can submit for pre-qualification by Clicking Here.

3. Priorities your Needs and Wants:  You may WANT a jacuzzi tub, but NEED a Main Floor Master bedroom…home buying is all about compromising! This is the time when you sit down with your partner, if you are buying with another person, and make a list of things you agree on and things that you do not so that you can begin the process of prioritizing those needs and wants.

4. Explore Your Mortgage Options: Unless you are going to be paying for your new home by cash, most people will need to obtain a mortgage. A mortgage is simply a piece of paper which utilizes the property as collateral for a loan. Therefore, if you do not pay the loan back, the bank will come and take the property…through a process known as Foreclosure.  The tricky part is knowing what type of loan to obtain. This is where an experienced loan officer such as Andrew Regan comes in handy! Andrew can explain all of your options to you, from a 30 year fixed loan or Option Arm loan to Governmental Programs such as VA and FHA. Visit the Royal United Mortgage Company site to learn more about available loan programs.

5. Look into First Time Homebuyer Programs: The Government offers several First Time Homebuyer programs such as grants to assist in downpayment and closing costs. Depending upon the qualifications, these grants are either forgiven after you stay in the property for 2 years or they may require repayment. There are also programs which you may qualify for that allow you to receive a tax credit for a portion of the interest that you may monthly in your mortgage payment. Some of these questions can be answered at the First Time Homebuyer Seminar or by contacting your loan originator or Realtor.

6. Get Pre- Approved for a Loan: Consider the pre-qualification letter your ticket to be able to view homes. However, much like an engagement, a pre-qualification letter is simply a commitment, but you still have to make it to the alter!  A Loan Originator will pre-qualify you based on your credit and income however, there will still be many items to be collected once you decide on a home and these items will have to ultimately be approved by the loan underwriter prior to closing For a fast and easy Pre-Approval visit www.RoyalUnitedMortgage.com or speak directly with Andrew Regan at 317-289-4553!

7. Find the Right Realtor: Your real estate agent is your insider to the world of home buying, and the right agent can be a real asset to have on your side when buying your first home. You want someone you can trust and who will give you quality advice when you need it.

Many real estate agents specialize in certain areas of town or types of property, so ask your prospective agents how many homes they’ve sold in your target area or what type of certifications they hold to see if they fit your needs.  You may want to look into hiring a Realtor, which just means that your real estate agent is a member of the National Association of Realtors and has pledged to abide by a code of ethics set out by the group .  Just as you wouldn’t want to hire a part time attorney if you were being sued, you may want to make sure that your Realtor works in real estate Full Time. The Real Estate industry is quickly changing and if the agent isn’t up to date on any new laws or programs, you may pay the price in the end.

Contact Andrea Vadas at www.BuyandSellIndyHomes.com or 317-514-5404 for more information!

8.Understanding the Offer Process: Once you’ve found your dream home, it’s time to submit an offer! Your agent will do some research and advise you on an appropriate asking price. You will then need to make decisions such as the amount of earnest money, expected closing date, concessions that you may ask the seller to pay, whether you want a home inspection, home warranty or survey and what additional items you may want to include in the sale.  You will also want to make sure that your offer contains any necessary contingencies. A contingency is a ‘safety net’ that will allow you to terminate the agreement if certain items are not met. Such as inspection, financing, or the sale of your existing home. Once the offer is submitted to the seller, they may choose to accept, deny or counteroffer. This process can carry on through several back and forth counter offers until an agreed upon offer is decided. Have patience with this part of the process, it is a necessary evil!

9. Get a Home Inspection: 

Imagine biting into a pristine red apple, just to find that it’s turned to mush inside. You don’t want this to be the feeling you get with your new home. This is where a home inspection comes in. The inspection should make you aware of what might be hiding in the walls or underneath the floors before you finalize the sale. If the home inspector finds a major problem, you’ll be very excited you spent the money to have the home inspection. If not, then you can be even more confident in your investment.

Choosing a home inspector can be tricky, but your agents experience with certain companies can really be helpful in suggesting an inspector. When selecting your home inspector, you may want to check with associations, such as the American Society of Home Inspectors and the National Association of Home Inspectors, that require that members abide by certain standards and a set of ethics

10. Understand What you are Signing: You are in the home stretch now and only a stack of papers stands between you and your dream of home ownership. Closing day can bring a wave of emotions, stress, anxiety, nerves, happy, excitement. It may help to have your loan officer or realtor provide a copy of the documents and closing statement a day or two before the closing so that you can review them on your own time and not feel the pressure to read every line while sitting in a room with 5 other people staring at you!  Do not rely on other people to make sure that specific information is correct, you have to be your own advocate and carefully review anything that you are signing.

Some new homeowners find it useful to bring a friend or family member who has experienced the process before and can help walk you through it.

Buying a home is a big leap, but doing your research and involving the right people can make your home buying experience one that will soon have you saying “Home Sweet Home” with a smile.

 

For more information on buying your new home contact: Andrew Regan, Loan Originator 317-289-4553 andrew.regan@royalunitedmortgage.com or Andrea Vadas 317-514-5404 www.buyandsellindyhomes.com

 

 

Does the Obama Refi plan pertain to YOU?!

Since details of President Obama’s housing plan won’t roll out until March 4, I thought I’d review what we know so far about qualifying for a refinance loan under Obama’s plan. To qualify, you must:

• Owe between 80-105% of your mortgage. An analysis of Zillow Q4 Real Estate Market Reports shows that 26% of mortgage holders, or 14.8 million homeowners, currently qualify to refinance under these specifications. One quarter (24.6%) of homeowners with mortgages (14 million) do not qualify because they are underwater and owe more than 105% of their home’s value. This is especially true in hard-hit areas of California or Florida, where home values have fallen 40% or more since the peak.
• Have your loan backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Approximately 60% of single-family loans are backed by Fannie or Freddie, but a homeowner may not know this about their own loan. If you don’t know, call your lender and ask.
• Have a conforming loan. That means a loan under $417,000 in many areas — or up to $625,500 in high-cost areas like San Francisco, Boston or Washington, DC. Even still, theZillow Home Value Index (median home value) for the city of San Francisco is $724,244, which says that lots of people have loans higher than the conforming limit. (Note: theconforming loan limit for certain high-cost areas of the U.S. for 2009 mortgage originations is now $729,500.)

So, to put it simply, if you want to know if you will qualify for a refinance under this plan…don’t call Stonegate Mortgage, or Cornerstone Mortgage, or First Indianapolis Mortgage…call ME, your loan ranger at Royal United Mortgage 317-289-4335 or andrew.regan@royalunitedmortgage.com