Investment Property Content Index - Page 1

When you want to start buying investment property you want to assemble an expert team. Look at your first home as investment property. And always have an exit strategy when buying investment property. Look here for more advice for handling investment property and information about laws and regulations for investment property.

**Qualifying For a Mortgage Loan Stricter For Home Equity Lines Of Credit** Today, bank requirements for a loan are stricter for new home equity lines of credit than they were just a few years ago. Banks and lenders are tightening the requirements for home equity lines of credit and other personal lines of credit to make sure their funds are safe. Now, banks might require higher credit scores, more equity in your home, and other strict requirements before they will give you a line of credit. However, if you shop around, you may be able to find a bank willing to give you a home equity line of credit.

**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.

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.

**Investment Property Short Sale Generates Phantom Income** When an investment property is sold as a short sale, it generates what is known as "phantom income." The IRS looks at the difference between what the property is worth and what your sold it for in the short sale as income. You should receive a 1099 for the phantom income generated by the short sale of the investment property.

**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.

Today on the Ilyce Glink Show, Ilyce recapped one of the biggest weeks we have seen in at least a year as far as financial news is concerned: new unemployment figures were released, Fannie Mae announced its Deeds for Lease program, the House of Representatives passed a health care reform bill and the $8,000/$6,500 first-time home-buyer tax credits were extended and expanded. Ilyce also took calls from listeners wondering whether or not the tax credits applied to their second home or investment properties. Short answer: The tax credits apply only to the primary residence of first-time or trade-up buyers. Read our [Q&A with Ilyce](http://www.thinkglink.com/article/2009/11/05/8000-first-time-home-buyer-tax-credit-extended-and-expanded-questions-and-answers) for more information on the tax credit. And, if you're interested in investment properties, consider our new collection of e-books: ["The Successful Real Estate Investor's Guide."](http://thinkglinkstore.com/package-of-5-financial-ebook5.html)

Ilyce Glink Show Notes - November 8, 2009. Big news week: $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit was expanded to include trade-up buyers, and extended until June 30, 2010; Unemployment numbers are out and awful: Nationally, unemployment rose to 10.2 percent, 17.5 percent if you include a broader measure of unemployment; Fannie Mae introduced its Deed For Lease program; Five more banks closed, bringing the total for the year to 120; the House passed health care reform. NEW EBOOKS ON INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE ARE AVAILABLE; Get your FREE books and Ebook deal.

Winterize Your Home And Get a Tax Credit. The IRS has advised taxpayers that the Expanded Recovery Act Tax Credit will help homeowners winterize their homes so they can save energy and save money at the same time. But the IRS cautions homeowners to check the tax credit certification before they buy winterizing tools.