Contracts Content Index - Page 1

Contracts are probably involved in every major purchase, investment opportunity and legal action you take. Always read contracts thoroughly and make sure you understand everything. You might want to have a lawyer look over any contracts before you sign them. Learn more here about contracts and how to protect yourself.

A contractor can be used for home remodeling, home improvement projects and any of those little repair jobs around the house. The best way to get a good contractor is to get referrals from friends or other people you trust. Learn more about hiring a contractor and what recourse you can take if the job doesn't go smoothly.

**Refinance Fees: How Much Is Too Much?** When you're refinancing your mortgage, how much should you be paying in refinance fees? It can be hard to tell what fees you're paying to the lender, what is prepaid interest, and what are the other costs of the loan. Refinance fees, especially for prepaid interest, can add up to the closing costs of refinancing your loan. Have your lender explain exactly what all the refinance fees are going toward before you make any decision about refinancing or canceling your refinance.

**8000 Tax Credit First Time Home Buyer Rules For Buying With A Partner** Can you qualify for the 8000 tax credit for first time home buyers if you are buying a house with a partner? if you're not married you can probably still claim the first time home buyer tax credit on your tax return, even if your partner doesn't qualify for the first time home buyer tax credit. Ask a tax professional for help to make sure you maximize the benefits of the 8000 tax credit for first time home buyers. Also, when buying with a partner, it's usually for the best to draw up a partnership agreement about how the home will be purchased.

Getting answers about your income account. What are you supposed to do when a broker seems unable or unwilling to provide you with details about one of your accounts? You do have options: get in touch with a manager, use a different representative or find public data using another company's information. You should always feel as though you are benefiting from the very best customer service.

Ilyce Glink Show Notes - November 15, 2009. Today on the show, we discussed the new Fannie Mae Deed For Lease Program in Detail; the new CreditKarma Survey on credit card debt; The October 2009 Realty Trac Foreclosure survey; Divorce and Mortgages; Mike Rose, a senior loan officer with Bank of America, came on to talk about some of the new mortgage rules with regard to divorce and FHA; Peggy Abkemeier, President of Rent.com discussed a new survey of investment property owners. NEW EBOOKS ON INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE; EBOOK SPECIAL.

**Bad Neighbors Fight Over Access To Yard** Neighbors can turn into bad neighbors when fighting over fences or yard access and maintenance issues. The best way to deal with a bad neighbor is usually through communication, but you may be able to get some legal help. Look up your local ordinances to see what kind of rights you're given to your neighbors land to maintain your own property. A bad neighbor can ruin an otherwise perfect home for you, so try to resolve bad neighbor situations so both neighbors are happy.

**$8000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit and Closing On New Construction** If you are buying a home as a first time home buyer or repeat buyer, the extended $8000 credit or the expanded $6500 credit should be of interest to you. But you need to be careful with timing. If you close too late, you might not be entitled to the credit. You must close and move into your new home before the tax credit expires. If you're still working on construction by the time the home buyer tax credits expire, you will not qualify for the $8000 first-time home buyer tax credit or the $6500 trade-up buyer tax credit.

**Short Sale vs Foreclosure: Which One Can You Get To Close Faster** When you are out shopping for a home are you better off looking for a seller doing a short sale or buying a home that has been foreclosed on by the bank. In a short sale you will deal with the owner of the home but will be at the mercy of the bank but in a foreclosure, you will be dealing directly with the bank trying to sell the home in the open market.

Majority of property owners experiencing higher vacancy rates. Seventy percent of property owners are experiencing higher vacancy rates this year. The vacancy rate has been above 10 percent since June 2009. A recent Rent.com survey looks at how property owners are coping with these trends and encouraging tenants to stay or move to their units.

Property owners are finding creative ways to fill vacancies during the recession. Over 70 percent of property owners have experienced higher vacancy rates over the past year. Recent vacancies are primarily a result of job loss and tenants trying to save money on rent by moving to a cheaper unit or doubling-up with roommates. Property owners are modifying credit policies to fill units during the recession. Owners are also lowering rent, relaxing pet policies and offering unit upgrades. Read the full press release below from Rent.com.

Real Living and GMAC Real Estate hope to provide an even higher level of customer service. The real estate companies have announced a merger with plans to target a female audience and for an emphasis on customer service. Real Living and GMAC will rebrand under the Real Living name, with offices across the country. Real Living will focus on female customers, with a plans for an exceptional customer service experience. The Real Living, GMAC merger comes after Brookfield Residential Property Services acquired both GMAC and Real Living.