With housing values continuing to fall and mortgage interest rates at record lows, this has to be the best time in decades to buy a property – if you have the cash and credit to get to the closing table. In the latest set of numbers, the National Association of Realtors reported that more than [...]
Q: My wife and I live in a loft condo complex that we purchased in 2006 for $270,000 with a zero down 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) at 6.25 percent that is set to expire next month. There have been several foreclosures in the building and the units are only appraising for $180,000 to $200,000. [...]
Q: Will my mortgage company set the price for the amount they will accept for a short sale? And, will that number include the fee for a Realtor to help sell it? A: You have asked an interesting question and the answer will depend on various factors. For starters, if you are going through a [...]
Q: I’m in trouble with my house. I’m heading to foreclosure, unless I can complete short sale quickly. Once we’re done with the property (either due to foreclosure or in a short sale), can the mortgage company require me to use my retirement savings towards reducing the amount of their loss? I have about $200,000 [...]
The unemployment rate in America is one of the top issues facing our country. It was last reported at 9 percent in April of 2011. While this is something that the president and government are focused on, they are working on job growth as a solution for getting America back to work. Job growth and [...]
Congress Doubles Funding for Troubled USDA Housing Loans Steve Cook, Real Estate Economy Watch While slashing funds for disability, elderly, and Native American housing programs, Congress has doubled the funding for a USDA housing program that may cost the government $4 billion in defaulting loans. Why? Because over a third of the government-guaranteed rural home [...]
Save Money in 2011 on Your Premiums Linda Rey We’re almost halfway through 2011. How are those resolutions from January doing? Lucky for all of us, we don’t need a new year or a resolution to want to save money, especially on insurance. Save Money with Your Deductibles Before you start eliminating or lowering coverage [...]
Mike Rowe, host of the Discovery Channel’s TV program Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe, testified before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee’s hearing on “Manufacturing Our Way to a Stronger Economy” on May 11, 2011. Rowe spoke in support of U.S. manufacturing jobs and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ (AEM) “I Make America” campaign. [...]
Skip the Allowance and Hire Your Child Eva Rosenberg, EA It takes about $200,000 to raise a child (not including paying for college), according to the USDA’s annual report. Play with this nifty tool at Bankrate.com to see just how much your child costs. How can you reduce these staggering costs? Two ways: Teach your [...]
Q: My husband, our two-year old daughter and I have been living in a home for a year. We used to live in a high rise condo in a nearby city, and that property has been up for sale for over a year. I'm the listing agent as well as the owner and we currently [...]
