Stock Markets Vacillate, Credit Markets Remain Stuck
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped again this morning. It was down another 200 points just before 9am Central time. It briefly rose and then beg...
NAR’s Index Of Pending Home Sales Rises In August
The National Association of Realtors announced yesterday that pending sales of existing homes rose in August to 93.4, up from 87.0 in July. That's a 7...
Owner Occupied Status Affects Mortgage Refinancing
A renter asks about an owner-occupied requirement with regard to mortgage refinancing. The renter says his landlord has refinanced the property twice, each time claiming he lives there. The renter wonders if the landlord breaks the law by claiming the property is owner-occupied during a mortgage refinance. Circumstances may change after the mortgage refinance occurs and that lenders don't have time to follow up.
Contractor Files Lien To Get Payment For Work On Home In Foreclosure
Can a contractor collect payment from a mortgage company that owes for work on a fire-damaged home that has since been foreclosed on. The contractor nearly finished the work and then the mortgage company foreclosed on the home and halted payment to the contractor. Can the contractor file a lien to get the money he's earned working on the home that has since been foreclosed?
Daughter Assumes Mortgage Payments
Can a daughter's name be added to the deed of her home since the daughter has started to make mortgage payments for her parents? While it may seem like a good short-term solution, there are many implications to the daughter assuming the mortgage. How can they protect both the parents and the daughter in the transaction? There have been incidents where the children assuming the mortgage have evicted their parents. Another option is to add the daughter's name to the house deed in addition to the names of the parents.
Seller Financing Risks Require Due Diligence
A home owner asks about offering seller financing on a home he's selling. He wants to know what's involved in seller financing and who to involve in the transaction. First he needs to assess whether a potential home buyer will make the home mortgage payments and what to do if the buyer later stops making payments. When a seller sells a home with seller financing it's as if the seller becomes a mortgage lender or bank. That means the seller may have to be willing to foreclose in an owner financing situation.
Tenancy In Common And Property Ownership
A father changed the ownership of his property from joint tenants with right of survivorship to tenancy in common. The father later signed a quit claim deed giving his interest in the property to his daughter. What does tenancy in common mean for property ownership? Is the property ownership divided equally so everyone gets the same amount of land? State laws and how the father changed the joint tenancy will determine the answer to the property ownership.
Mortgage Loans Change In Economic Crisis
With the real estate market in decline, mortgage lenders are stricter about requirements for loans. Do you need a bigger down payment, a better credit score, or more solid work history? How has qualifying changed and what do you need to know in order to qualify for a mortgage loan in today's tough market? Watch this Expert Real Estate Tips segment to find out more about what mortgage lenders require.