Condominium Content Index - Page 1

A condominium is another real estate option other than a traditional stand-alone home. Usually condos are purchased with mortgage, but in difficult markets or selling situations they may be rented as apartments. Learn more here about condominium housing.

**HUD Revised Streamline Refinance Transactions** Streamline mortgage refinance applications will be undergoing some changes. Under the HUD revised streamline refinance, there are changes to the mortgage seasoning, payment history requirements, and verification of assets, employment and income. For a streamline refinance without an appraisal there will be a new maximum mortgage amount, and under the HUD revisions, there is is maximum combined loan-to-value amount for the streamline refinance. Read the full letter below for more details on the changes to HUD streamline refinance applications.

**Home Buying Risks, Pitfalls and Tips For New Construction Homes Part 2** Home buying has risks associated with it, particularly the purchase of a new construction home in a new development. There are pitfall all along the way. What should you do to protect yourself? How do you handle the uncertainty of buying a new construction home in a new development? One reader suggests that the buyer should share any risks in that new construction purchase with the lender that give the buyer the loan. Would you agree? What about municipal inspections and certificates of occupancy? The builder's or developer's reputation? What about using a real estate attorney? Leave your comment below.

**Home Buying Risks, Pitfalls and Tips For New Construction Homes** Home buying has risks associated with it, particularly the purchase of a new construction home in a new development. There are pitfall all along the way. What should you do to protect yourself? How do you handle the uncertainty of buying a new construction home in a new development? One reader suggests that the buyer should share any risks in that new construction purchase with the lender that give the buyer the loan. Would you agree? Leave your comment below.

Credit history and credit score ruined by lender while borrower applies for loan modification under the Obama Making Home Affordable Plan. While applying for the Making Home Affordable Loan Modification Program some lenders may require borrowers to make temporary payments into escrow or hold accounts while their applications are being reviewed. But the lender will also report those borrowers as late or delinquent to credit reporting bureaus and borrower's credit history and credit scores will suffer.

Home prices decline while existing home sales rise slightly in the second quarter. Median home prices fell 15 percent from a year ago, thanks to home prices going down due to foreclosures and short sales. According to the latest survey out from the National Association of Realtors, existing home sales are up 3.8 percent from the first quarter. Home sales rose due to lower median home prices, the first time home buyer tax credit and lower interest rates.

Renovation costs have soared out of control - even in the current recession. You'd think that renovation costs would be less because fewer home improvement contractors are employed. But that doesn't seem to be the case. Consumers, mindful of renovation costs are staging their home improvement projects. Doing home improvement projects in phases lowers renovation costs.

What is the purpose of a title company? To avoid title insurance problems and issues. A title company's responsibility is to search the public records and inform the prospective homeowner about any issues and problems that affect the title of a property they intend on buying.

If you are a first time home buyer and want to claim the $8000 first time home buyer tax credit, make sure you meet all the guidelines and restrictions. To qualify for the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit, it must be your primary residence and you must fall under a certain income limit. You can claim the $8000 first time home buyer tax credit if you make up to $75,000 for individuals, $150,000 filing jointly. The tax credit begins to phase out after that, and is eliminated at $95,000 ($170,000 for joint filing) of income.

Under what circumstances do you have to repay the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit? If you bought your first home in 2008, you may have qualified for the $7,500 first time home buyer tax credit that has to be repair in equal $500 installments. But if you bought your home in 2009, you don't have to repay the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit except in certain circumstances. Here are the rules for knowing when you have to repay the tax credit, so you don't run afoul of IRS rules.

In its 2008 survey of mortgage fraud, the FBI concluded there is a strong correlation between mortgage fraud and distressed real estate markets. Indeed, some of the states with the highest levels of mortgage fraud also had the highest levels of foreclosures. But new mortgage fraud scams emerged in 2008 that tested the abilities of the FBI to contain them. Here is a look at the newest mortgage fraud scams.