Real Estate Content Index - Page 2

**Home Buyer Tax Credit Cut-Off Dates: Do I Qualify?** The $8000 first-time home buyer tax credit has been extended and a new $6500 trade-up buyer tax credit was expanded. Some home buyers are upset because they don't qualify for the home buyer tax credit. It's unfortunate that some people just missed the cut-off dates for the home buyer tax credit, but the tax credits have to begin and end somewhere. Do you qualify for the home buyer tax credit?

**Should I Refinance My Mortgage?** Mortgage interest rates keep falling, now below 5 percent. Should you refinance your mortgage? It's more difficult to get a mortgage refinance in today's lending market, but it might be worthwhile to try to refinance your mortgage. Will it reduce your monthly mortgage payments? Will a mortgage refinance shorten the term of your loan? You need to determine why you want to refinance your mortgage to determine the best refinancing scenario for your loan.

**Loan Modification Help: Get Some Answers From The Bank CEO** Are you in loan modification hell? Like thousands of other people, this reader has filed for a loan modification, but can't get any answers about the future of his loan modification from his lender. The banks are swamped with loan modifications and foreclosures right now, but you deserve answers about the future of your loan, too. If you're not getting anywhere by calling customer services lines and other options, try using the format below to document your loan modification situation and get some answers from the bank CEO.

**$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.

Taylor Bean & Whitaker Customers Still Waiting for Answers. Think Glink has reported for weeks now that former Taylor Bean & Whitaker customers would get answers after the Oct. 31 deadline, by which new loan servicers were to have sorted out who would take what Taylor Bean & Whitaker loans. While there has been some progress made, Taylor Bean & Whitaker customers are still waiting for many answers.

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.

HUD Secretary Donovan and FHA Commissioner Stevens briefed leaders on the FHA's financial outlook today, in coordination with the release of its annual independent actuarial study. The study found the capital reserve ratio to be 0.53 percent of total insurance in force this year, well below the congressionally mandated threshold of two percent. The FHA holds $31 billion in total reserves today. Robert Ryan was introduced as the FHA's first-ever Chief Risk Officer. Ryan will focus on understanding risk to the FHA's insurance fund and develop policy responses that address that risk.

FHA cash reserves fall to the lowest level in history, below the congressionally mandated level. The Federal Housing Administration's mortgage insurance cash reserves fell to the lowest levels in recorded history, 0.53 percent. The FHA announced today FHA cash reserve levels have fallen below the congressionally mandated threshold. The annual independent accounting survey of the FHA came with the assessment that additional action needed to be taken to manage risk to prevent further losses.