THE PUMPKIN STORY

The holiday we know as Halloween began over 2,000 years ago with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. You can find more fascinating information about it online. In the 1800s, Irish and Scottish immigrants brought their Halloween traditions to America. Today, Halloween combines ancient customs, folklore, and modern fun.

Have you ever wondered why the pumpkin is such a big part of Halloween? It all started in Ireland, where people once carved turnips into lanterns to scare away evil spirits. These were called Jack-o’-lanterns, inspired by the legend of Stingy Jack, a man doomed to wander the Earth with only a glowing coal inside a hollowed-out turnip.

When Irish immigrants came to America, they discovered that pumpkins were bigger, brighter, and easier to carve. The tradition quickly took root, and the pumpkin became the new face of Halloween.

Today, carving pumpkins is less about superstition and more about creativity and family fun, celebrating the beauty of the season—just like the pumpkins my camera picked up!

Enjoy and share!

The mortgage business is full of twists and turns — you never really know what can happen tomorrow. The industry changes constantly, and lenders who aren’t tightly bound to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac underwriting guidelines often introduce new programs or creative updates to existing ones. These innovations help us find flexible mortgage solutions for our clients.

We learn about these opportunities not only through lenders’ emails but also during presentations from company representatives. Every week, a lender hosts a Zoom training for our team, and once a month we hold an in-person session that brings everyone together.

Last week, Roobina Ovanessian from LendingPros visited our office to share several new strategies and program “twists” that we can now offer to our clients. Click this link to watch a piece of Roobina’s presentation posted today on my YouTube channel.

Best wishes,

Manny Kagan,
President,
Pacific Bay Financial Corporation
Your professional mortgage broker since 1983

NMLS #205637
DRE #00874630

 

THINGS HAPPEN

Have you ever been at a tire shop at 7:15 in the morning? Well, I am here now.

Yesterday, a panel in my car showed that my rear left tire needed attention. I drove to the gas station to fill it with air, but I knew I’d have to visit my favorite tire shop, Rolling Stone, first thing in the morning. Online, I found out they open at 7:00, so I arrived 15 minutes early — only to find eight vehicles already ahead of me. I was told I’d have to wait at least an hour.

Fortunately, I brought my writing pad, so I could make good use of the time.

On my way there, I was listening on YouTube to a talk titled Things to Tell Yourself Every Morning. The second affirmation really struck me: “No matter what happens, do not get upset.” A good reminder — especially this morning.

Once my tire was fixed, I continued listening to the rest of the affirmations, which I’ll share with you later. Meanwhile, I kept writing notes for my upcoming book, How to Enjoy Comfortable Aging, where I explore various aspects of life we encounter as we advance in age. Many of these topics I also discuss every Monday on my channel on Telegram under the title Comfortable Aging with Manny Kagan.

Stay tuned to my weekly posts— and, for now, enjoy the three photos from the tire shop, which are quite self-explanatory.

 

… EVEN WITH UNCONVENTIONAL INCOME

Calculating income to qualify for a mortgage can be challenging since lenders typically rely on reported income — which isn’t always straightforward. Many clients have unconventional ways of being paid, and that income isn’t always reported to the IRS.

For example, some lenders can use 12 to 24 months of bank statements, significant account balances, or a profit and loss statement prepared by a tax professional for self-employed borrowers.

Recently, we learned about another innovative way to show income from Jas Pardiwalla, a representative of the lender NMSI. We’ve just closed two mortgages with them using their TVE Qualifying Program, and it’s proving to be an excellent option for many borrowers.

Please take a moment to watch the short video (by clicking this link) that explains how this program works.

If you have any questions, feel free to call me anytime: (415) 225-7920

Best wishes,

Manny Kagan,
President,
Pacific Bay Financial Corporation
Your professional mortgage broker since 1983

NMLS #205637
DRE #00874630

Into the Void — Discovering Ma
in Everyday Life

Recently, I received a thoughtful gift from a friend — a magazine titled Breathe: The Power of Less – A Guide to Letting Go, Embrace the Stillness, Find What Matters. One of the stories inside, “Into the Void: Exploring the Benefits and Beauty of Empty Space,” explored the meaning of the Japanese word Ma.

Ma conveys the concept of empty space — the pause between things — and its deep relationship to all aspects of life. Reading it brought to mind the words of Dr. Deepak Chopra, who once said that “the only reason we can read is because there is space between the letters.”

The next day, I was in my office on a very full and demanding day — working on three purchases and one refinance — when I began receiving calls from a new client looking for properties to buy. Around one o’clock, I felt the need to take a break. That’s when I remembered the concept of Ma.

I decided to step away. I drove to Pacifica, about fifteen minutes south, to my favorite café, Soul Grind. I ordered my favorite Bali Salad, and while eating, I found myself in a light conversation with a stranger. Afterwards, I went to the nearby beach — a favorite spot for surfers — and filled my lungs with the fresh ocean air.

When I returned to my car, I felt renewed, calm, and ready to get back to work. On the drive back to the office, a client called to get preapproved for a mortgage. With interest rates coming down, I expect we’ll soon be busier with refinancing — but I will always remember and practice the value of Ma: the empty space that gives meaning, rhythm, and peace to everything around it.

The three images you can see inside my story capture moments from this experience.

Care and Share!

REJOICING OF THE TORAH

The holiday of Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of the Torah) celebrates the start of a new year of scripture readings.

Jewish study of the scriptures, or Torah, is structured as a yearly cycle. This holiday marks the end of the past year´s cycle of Torah readings and the start of a new one. In general, Simchat Torah is considered a part of the Shemini Atzeret holiday, which follows Sukkot.

Simchat Torah is celebrated on the twenty-third day of the month of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar, which usually falls between late September and early October in the Gregorian calendar.

During Simchat Torah services, the ark containing the holy scriptures is opened and the Torah scrolls are taken out to be carried around the sanctuary seven times in circuits known as hakafot. The worshipers dance and sing in celebration as the scrolls are borne around the synagogue.

While Simchat Torah is not a public holiday in the United States, many Jewish-run organizations are closed on this date.

Please click this link to watch and listen to my brief Simchat Torah Greetings addressing my friends, clients and partners.

Chag Sameach!

DOGS IN SAN FRANCISCO

I decided to write this story after reading an article in The Wall Street Journal titled “America’s Most Dog-Friendly City Has Had Enough.” It described how dogs in San Francisco are misbehaving in public spaces.

It reminded me of when we got our Labrador, Max, eight years ago from his breeder in Monterey. From the very first day, I started recording my experiences with him. I also borrowed 21 “how-to” books from the public library to learn what to do in any given situation.

This journey of learning and discovery led me to publish my book, 42 Encounters with Dog Lovers, where I shared my everyday experiences and the lessons I learned from those books. We had dogs before, but we never really made an effort to learn how to train them properly.

This time, not only did I read everything I could, but we also took Max to obedience school.

As a result, Max became a wonderful, well-behaved dog. He listens to my commands and responds to situations calmly and thoughtfully — without causing problems.

San Francisco truly is a city for dog lovers. There are so many open spaces where dogs can run free without a leash. One of our favorite spots is Fort Funston, where we love to walk along the trail by the ocean. And this is where I took three images of dogs.

If you ever have any issues with your own companion, please feel free to reach out to me — I might be able to help. If you’re my client ( or would like to become one), please request the book as a gift from me.

The best way to contact me is to just call me directly at (415) 225-7920.

With warm regards,

Your friend

ONLY THOSE WHO WORK
MAKE MISTAKES

There’s an old saying: “Only those who don’t work don’t make mistakes.” I was reminded of that recently — and it proved to be a valuable lesson.

Last week, I was assisting a client purchasing a condominium for $3.5 million with a loan amount of $2.5 million. Their income was verified through 12 months of bank statements, and the down payment — partly a gift from the client’s grandfather — was properly documented. Everything seemed to be on track.

However, I overlooked one important detail: reserves.

Reserves are the funds a borrower must have available after closing — often held in retirement or investment accounts — to cover future mortgage payments. Depending on the lender, this requirement may range from three to twelve months of total housing expenses (principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and HOA dues).

In this case, the client did not have the required reserves, and as a result, the loan could not be approved. The borrower eventually found another lender offering a different program that suited their situation.

This experience served as a strong reminder: no matter how long you’ve been in the business, attention to every detail matters. I’ve since added new internal checks to ensure that the reserve requirement is reviewed early in the process for all jumbo and non-QM loans.

Mistakes are part of professional growth. The key is to learn from them and make sure they don’t happen again.

If you have questions about financing, jumbo loans, or alternative income documentation, feel free to reach out — I’m always glad to share my experience and insights.

Meanwhile, if you want to continue this discussion, you are welcome to watch my YouTube video by clicking this link.

Best wishes,

Manny Kagan,
President,
Pacific Bay Financial Corporation
Your professional mortgage broker since 1983

NMLS #205637
DRE #00874630

 

IN THE SOUL OF THE BEHOLDER

You’ve probably heard the phrase “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” But last Sunday, I realized—it may also be “in the soul of the beholder.”

That day, I was walking through my neighborhood with a friend. We often discuss the Torah together, and sometimes our views on life couldn’t be more different. For example, he sees a human being as nothing more than a biological machine with a brain. So, I asked him, “If the brain controls everything, where do feelings like love come from?” He didn’t have a clear answer.

After all, the Torah teaches: “Hashem God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the soul of life, and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).

During our walk, I paused to photograph some roses. My friend asked, “Don’t you already have enough pictures of roses?” I smiled and replied, “I’m not photographing flowers. I’m capturing beauty.”

For me, beauty is not only something I see—it’s something I feel with my soul. And just as important, it’s something I can share—with friends, with strangers, with anyone who needs a gentle reminder that life is more than what meets the eye.

So here are a few roses from one and the same bush. Enjoy them. Care for beauty wherever you find it. And share it generously.

TONIGHT BEGINS YOM KIPPUR, THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

While it’s part of the Jewish tradition, I believe its meaning is universal—this is a time when God looks at all of humanity with love and judgment.

For the next 25 hours, it’s a time of reflection, forgiveness, and renewal. From my heart, I ask your forgiveness if I have ever said or done anything that hurt you, whether I meant to or not. And I want you to know that I forgive you as well.

May we all be written in the Book of Life, and may the coming year bring peace, health, and kindness.

Click here to watch my  brief video message addressing my friends, clients and social media followers.