Axia Home Loans Blog

Axia Home Loans Expands Into Nevada with New Reno Branch Location

jessicafernholz — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 23:43:53 +0000

Axia Home Loans Expands Into Nevada with New Reno Branch Location

BELLEVUE, WASH — February 1, 2013. Axia Home Loans, a full-service mortgage banking company headquartered in Washington State with offices in seven western states, is continuing to expand. This branch marks the 13th branch opened outside of Axia’s home state since February of 2012.

Leading Reno’s operations is new Branch Manager Katherine Miller-Flanagan, a near 30-year mortgage industry veteran who values high quality, great ethics and professionalism. Miller-Flanagan is a Reno native with strong regional and local ties to the mortgage, lending and real estate industries. She enjoys working with a tight knit group of professionals who have a history of working well in a team setting. Joining Kathy at Axia are Loan Originators: Dean Lucich, Renee Whitney, and Nicole Chase who will be supported by a superb Operations Team including Amy Hicks and Teri Eustaquio.

“Axia has a very strong customer service platform, which is crucial to everything,” shared Miller-Flanagan. “They’re able to take the mortgage application, process it, and close in a timely manner, which means everything in this industry.” She also added that she wants to ensure a positive first impression within the Reno-local marketplace and to deliver upon this strong platform. “We want our market to get a feel for the fact that Axia is a good, solid company that values the customer highly,” she emphasized.

New growth in this region can be attributed to Kevin Hoyt, Axia’s West Coast Regional Manager, who will continue to quarterback expansion, strategy and operations for the company in parts of Oregon, California and Nevada. He is a relationships-oriented mortgage industry veteran recently added to the Axia Management Team in 2012.

“Kathy is an extraordinary manager who has built some of the best and largest branches in the Reno market,” said Hoyt about his choice for Branch Manager. “We are very excited to have her join our great team.”

About Axia Home Loans

Axia Home Loans is a full-service mortgage banker. Founded in 2007 and locally owned, the company provides access to a wide array of products and customized lending solutions, offers superior customer service and adheres to the highest ethical standards. Axia is licensed in fourteen states and operates thirty branches throughout the Western United States. The company employs more than one hundred loan originators and two hundred staff. Axia Home Loans is a registered trade name of Axia Financial, LLC. More information about the company is available at www.axiahomeloans.com.

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Media Contact: Brody O’Connor, Director of Sales and Marketing (425) 274-9528, brody.oconnor@axiahomeloans.com

Axia Home Loans and Axia Financial are registered trademarks of Axia Financial LLC NMLS ID 27830. Axia Home Loans is an Equal Housing Lender.

Axia Home Loans and The Cascade Team Enter Preferred Lender Partnership

luketushar — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 23:08:06 +0000

Axia Home Loans and The Cascade Team Enter Preferred Lender Partnership to Deliver Superior Home Purchase, Sale and Financing Services

Partnership aligns with each company’s commitment to local lending, high-touch customer service and sustainable home ownership

Bellevue, WA | January 07, 2013 — Axia Home Loans® LLC, and The Cascade Team Real EstateTM, LLC, today announced their strategic partnership for serving home buyers and sellers in Washington, California and Arizona. In alignment with each company’s history of service excellence, Axia Home Loans is now the preferred lender for The Cascade Team’s residential clients.

This partnership comes at a time when local real estate markets are beginning to heat up. With inventories dropping, competition among buyers is increasing. The Cascade Team’s knowledgeable agent base and use of advanced technology, coupled with Axia Home Loans’ local full-service lending centers and experienced staff, allows for a streamlined loan process that leads to reliable on-time closings. The preferred lender relationship creates a new level of service and a greater competitive advantage for The Cascade Team and Axia Home Loans. Together, the companies are well positioned to grow their current market shares and expand into new markets.

“I’m proud to enter this strategic relationship with The Cascade Team,” said Keith Frachiseur, president of Axia Home Loans. “Each of our companies is recognized for innovative, high-touch client service. We also share core values based on a genuine respect for our clients, and are looking forward to working together to create sustainable home ownership in the markets where we live and work. Our preferred lender status aligns perfectly with our long-term commitment to creating deeper engagements with consumers and business partners.”

The Cascade Team’s clients will enjoy special advantages as a result of this preferred lender agreement, including reduced or waived origination fees, discounted closing costs, home buyer credits, and other valuable benefits. This will allow qualified buyers to save thousands of dollars on their home purchase. Axia Home Loans has the financial stability and flexibility to make good lending decisions. Supported by progressive technology, efficient processes and sensible underwriting, this partnership will enable smoother real estate transactions for all involved.

“Having a partner that we can rely on to deliver a high-quality lending process is huge,” said Cary Porter, owner of The Cascade Team. “We’re on a substantial growth trajectory, and are expanding in the same key markets as Axia Home Loans. Axia has achieved an industry-leading pull through rate based on efficient and experienced local underwriting, resulting in high levels of confidence in the quality of their preapprovals. Together, we are able to provide a superior real estate buying and selling experience.”

About Axia Home Loans
Axia Home Loans is a full-service mortgage banker. Founded in 2007 and locally owned, the company provides access to a wide array of products and customized lending solutions, offers superior customer service and adheres to the highest ethical standards. Axia is licensed in fourteen states and operates thirty branches throughout the Western United States. The company employs more than one hundred loan originators and two hundred staff. Axia Home Loans is a registered trade name of Axia Financial, LLC. More information about the company is available at www.axiahomeloans.com.

About The Cascade Team
The Cascade Team is a full-service real estate brokerage. The company services buyers and sellers in real estate transactions utilizing the most advanced proprietary technology and home marketing platform, while incorporating the highest level of customer service. With subsidiary divisions including Business Opportunity, Property Management and an In-House Short Sale Team, the company has branches in San Diego and Phoenix, and local offices in Issaquah, Issaquah Highlands, Bellevue and Seattle. Founded in 2006 and locally owned, The Cascade Team employs more than one hundred twenty agents and staff. More information about the company is available at www.thecascadeteam.com.

Media Contacts:

Axia Home Loans
Brody O’Connor, director of sales and marketing, (425) 274-9528, brody.oconnor(at)axiahomeloans.com

The Cascade Team
Janet Jolly-Porter, director of marketing and brand, (425) 830-6743, janet(at)thecascadeteam.com

Axia Home Loans and Axia Financial are registered trademarks of Axia Financial LLC NMLS ID 27830. Axia Home Loans is an Equal Housing Lender.

The Cascade Team RE is a registered trademark of The Cascade Team Real Estate. CA DRE # 01885920, James Hall DB – CA DRE# 01704157

Holiday Cooking Ideas: Red Velvet Christmas Pancakes

julian — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:32:22 +0000

Red Velvet Isn’t Just For Cupcakes

Christmas is only ONE WEEK AWAY!!

Tis the season for lots of home cookin’, baking, and playing with recipes and design ideas for your home and family. Here’s something we found while digging around one of favorite sources – bettycrocker.com – to add to our weekly list of great recipes and ideas.

Why not wake your family up to a special surprise breakfast this Christmas morning with this delightful spin on a classic dish:

Ingredients

Cream Cheese Topping

4 oz (half of 8-oz package) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
3 tablespoons milk
2 cups powdered sugar

Pancakes

2 cups Original Bisquick® mix
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon unsweetened baking cocoa
1 cup milk
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons red paste food color*
2 eggs
Powdered sugar, if desired
Candy sprinkles, if desired

Directions

Step 1) In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and 3 tablespoons milk with electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Gradually beat in 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, on low speed until topping is smooth. Cover; set aside.

Step 2) In large bowl, stir all pancake ingredients except powdered sugar with wire whisk until well blended. Heat griddle or skillet over medium-high heat (375°F). (To test griddle, sprinkle with a few drops of water. If bubbles jump around, heat is just right.) Brush with vegetable oil if necessary or spray with cooking spray before heating.

Step 3) For each pancake, pour slightly less than 1/4 cup batter onto hot griddle. Cook 2 to 3 minutes or until bubbles form on top and edges are dry. Turn; cook other side until golden brown. Use seasonal-shaped cookie cutters to cut out shapes from warm pancakes. Or, generously grease inside of any seasonal-shaped pancake mold. Fill mold according to manufacturer’s directions and cook as directed.

Step 4) Spoon cream cheese topping into resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag. Cut off tiny corner of bag; squeeze bag to create outline around edge of shapes or drizzle topping over pancakes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and candy sprinkles.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 14

Source: BettyCrocker.com

Enjoy making this delicious treat with your family this season and think about all the great treats and amazing sweets and pastries that will come your direction. If you wind up making this recipe please share on the Axia wall and tell us about who you made these for.

Happy Holidays from Axia Home Loans!!

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About Axia Home Loans: Axia Home Loans is a full-service mortgage banker. Founded in 2007 and locally owned, the company provides access to a wide array of products and customized lending solutions, offers superior customer service and adheres to the highest ethical standards. With subsidiary divisions including The Advisors, TILA Mortgage and Axia Home Loans with branches in Idaho, Arizona, Hawaii, California, Montana, Utah and Washington State, Axia employs more than one-hundred loan originators. Locally Axia operates twelve branch offices with locations in Bellevue, Renton, Bothell, Longview, Lynnwood, Alderwood, Olympia, Yakima, Vancouver, Liberty Lake and Spokane. Axia Home Loans is a registered trade name of Axia Financial, LLC.

Winter Home Maintenance Checklist

julian — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 22:11:23 +0000

Keep your home and yard safe from the elements this winter season

Routine maintenance can improve your home’s resale value, increase the efficiency of your home and appliances, and reduce costs associated with emergency repairs. Keep your home safe and efficient year round with these simple projects that are worth paying attention to.

Winter Projects

Maintenance is the key word here to address and many times there are a variety of items around our homes that we neglect when the weather turns chilly. This year think twice about your home and maybe having an inspection to see where you may need to spend your next home project fund.

Here is a shortlist of some of the more popular items people address:

Remove screens from windows
Replace screen door(s) with winter storm door(s)
Clean gutters and downspouts
Check roof for damage and repair

Check and fortify insulation around doors and windows
Cover or store patio furniture
Make sure your snow equipment is operable and accessible
Prune shrubs, and perennials; remove annuals
Make sure that the water supply that leads to your outside water spigots has been shut off to prevent frozen pipes. In harsh climates, cover your outside faucets with insulated faucet covers.
Make sure your homeowner’s insurance is up-to-date. Make sure your policy reflects recent home improvements, other increases to your home’s value, and new major purchases like electronics and appliances.

Source: Zillow.com

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Axia Home Loans Holiday Party Was A Hit!

julian — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:26:08 +0000

Dancing and Singing the Night Away

In one of Sodo’s premier venues in Seattle Axia’s employees and family enjoyed a fantastic night of singing, dancing, celebration and a little giving. Live music by Michelle Taylor and the Blues Junkies carried the night away and the food was out of this world by Herban Feast. Axians even had the opportunity to take their portrait with Santa while wearing their favorite holiday disguise a la masquerade style.

Enjoy the online image slideshow at this link | Password: axiabooth

A little sharing: Axia’s CEO Gellert Dornay gave a rallying speech to share recent successes and what lay in store for Axia in 2013. Also, several successes, employees and departments were highlighted for their efforts. Lots of great sharing!

A little giving: Axians donated about 60+ gifts to HopeLink, a local chapter of a national non-profit we’re supporting this holiday season. HopeLink supports local families in need for the holiday season providing a variety of items and services for the less fortunate.

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Axia Supporting HopeLink: Last Day To Donate to Their Christmas Drive

julian — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 21:30:22 +0000

Axia Is Giving This Christmas To Less Fortunate Families

Axia is helping all those in need this December 5th through the 14th by participating in Hopelink’s ‘Giving Tree’ Program. These past couple weeks Hopelink provided tags to Axia employees, which is available for ALL Axia employees, that have a ‘boy’ or ‘girl’ listed as well as age ranges and items to buy for those children. And generally all of these in-kind donations are tax-deductible.

About Hopelink

Hopelink is a local non-profit organization helping nearly 7,000 local children receive Christmas presents. They also do many other things to help the community.

Food drives and food banks
Housing-emergency family shelters
Family Development-working with risks of homelessness.
And many more fabulous things.

To learn more about HopeLink see their website here.

Connect with them on Facebook.

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Axia Core Values: Three Standards of Excellence Practiced by Ethical Leaders

julian — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 23:06:59 +0000

Ethics Extend A Long Way in Business

In business and in personal situations we’re constantly faced with ethics-based decisions. Whether it be sharing with your 5-year old that lying to their mother is not acceptable and why, or that hiding certain costs or expenses is bad practice, or that talking with a client behind someone’s back, we’re confronted with these type decisions on a daily and weekly basis.

Many successful business leaders and influential philanthropists are some of the most ethical personalities to ever walk the earth. Here are three standards of excellence you can practice and/or incorporate that are practiced by some of these very ethical leaders:

Ethical Communication

However this is translated this is the cornerstone of today’s ethics frontline. There are times that people misconstrue a truth or statement so making sure that the most ethical route is taken to assure quality communication methods are intact and portray a very ethical message. The moment that a leadership position is taken, for example, there is great opportunity to position truth and superior ethics atop the moral podium,

Ethical Quality

Each ethical leader fathoms that there are three major factors to ensure their global market competitiveness of their company: a quality product, top notch customer service and excellence in delivery. Keeping the quality ticker up is essential and an absolute must!

Ethical Collaboration

The most ethical leaders need the assistance of many advisors and have many mentors. These leaders surround theirselves with great problem solvers and answers and hire from a select pool of candidates. Collaborating in today’s marketplace is of utmost importance so recruiting a team that upholds a high level of ethics is extremely important to the success of the group and leader.

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Holiday Baking at Home With Axia: Classic Milk Chocolate Peppermint Bark

julian — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:00:11 +0000

A Holiday Classic Recipe for Sharing

The holidays are no longer ‘coming’ soon to an Axia near you, they are actually staring us in the face! Tis the season for lots of home cookin’, baking, and playing with recipes and design ideas for your home and family. Here’s something we found while digging around one of favorite sources – allrecipes.com – to add to our weekly list of great recipes and ideas.

Ingredients

2 (12 ounce) packages milk chocolate chips
2 (12 ounce) packages white chocolate chips
2 teaspoons peppermint extract
8 peppermint candy canes, crushed, divided

Directions

1) Line a 12×18 inch jelly roll pan with aluminum foil.

2) Melt the milk chocolate in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each melting, for 1 to 5 minutes (depending on your microwave). Do not overheat or chocolate will scorch. Stir in the peppermint extract. Spread the chocolate evenly in the prepared pan; chill until set, about 30 minutes.

3) Meanwhile, melt the white chocolate in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each melting, for 1 to 5 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup of the crushed candy canes.

4) Spread the white chocolate mixture evenly over the milk chocolate. Sprinkle the remaining candy cane pieces evenly over the white chocolate layer.

5) Chill until set, about 1 hour. Break into small pieces to serve.

Yield: Makes about 3.5 pounds

Source: Allrecipes.com

Happy Holidays from Axia Home Loans!!

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Think Efficiently For Your Next Move: Five Great Tips to Trim Time & Costs

julian — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 23:43:15 +0000

Make Your Move Efficient For Your Family

If it’s time to move then it’s time to move. But this time around look to trim some of those expenses and maybe enjoy a few meals out instead of spending it on the moving company! According to a 2010 report by Worldwide ERC the average professional household spends $12,230 on their moving costs. This is reported for a full-service professional move whereby the company would pack all your belongings and handles the entire move for you. And while many professionals decide to go this route, others opt to take the moving burden upon their selves, however not usually feasible for most families.

1) Decide What Stays and What Goes

If you’re like the rest of America you’re housing a variety of items in your household or garage or storage that are on the ‘need to go’ list. Whether you’re renting a truck for a local move or moving cross country, the size of your load and overall weight will play a factor in the expense. Be sure to trim your move by cataloging your belongings and getting rid of larger, bulkier items that might be just collecting dust.

2) Timing Is a Huge Cost Saver

If you’re thinking about moving June 1st, you’re asking for a more expensive move! Instead, consider your move between the months of October and April and look to move mid-month. Typically the rental market leases expire around the beginning of any month and the moving market is busier this time of month.

3) Save dough on boxes & moving supplies

Did you know you can purchase 25, 50 or 100 boxes on Craigslist or from a yard sale for a fraction of what you would spend at a moving supply store like a UHaul?! For every person moving there’s usually someone that needs to move, and hence these boxes and supplies need a new home and it might not be there dumpster! Take advantage of this and save that extra money for buying presents this year.

4) Make Planning and Staying Organized a Priority

It may look funny when you’re saying to yourself, “Do I ‘really’ need to color coordinate my move and packing?,” however when you do this you’ll save your family and movers a great deal of time and stress by the power of information. Everyone will know where things do, if for example RED means ‘fragile’ and GREEN means ‘kitchen’, and so on. Make lists and stick to them! Determine what needs to stay, what needs to go, and what can be donated, etc., so your move runs much smoother.

5) Gain Yourself a Tax Break!

Did you know that if you’re moving because of a change in employment that you could be eligible to deduct several moving-related expenses such as your transportation, storage costs for household items and eve your travel or lodging expenses related to this!? For a better idea of whether you qualify or not, take a peek at this handy IRS guide or consult your tax and accounting professional.

These were the top five tips from moving experts when hiring movers by U.S. News.

Source: MSN Real Estate News

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Seattle Mortgage Bankers Association Holiday Party Is Next Week!

julian — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:08:36 +0000

Get Ready to Jingle All the Way at the Garage

Looking for a chance to blow off some steam, gather co-workers for some fun and laughter, or enjoy the company of colleagues from the industry? Then get ready for SMBA’s Holiday Party. Tuesday, December 11, we will be holding our annual Holiday Party at The Garage located on Capitol Hill in Seattle. We have reserved an area that has the 6 lanes of bowling and 2 billiards tables. Bring your spouse, bring a date, bring a colleague and come join us for some holiday cheer!

Tues, December 11, 2012
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: The Garage on Capitol Hill
Address: 1130 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122

Get more info or register

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