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	<title>Joel Dameral&#039;s South Lake Tahoe Real Estate Blog (530-545-8827) &#187; Foreclosure</title>
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		<title>Good News for Foreclosures??</title>
		<link>http://joeldameral.com/2010/06/12/good-news-for-foreclosures/</link>
		<comments>http://joeldameral.com/2010/06/12/good-news-for-foreclosures/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 12 Jun 2010 16:15:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joel Dameral</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://jdameral.blogs.rwnetwork.com/?p=280</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A smaller percentage of mortgages were delinquent and the rate of those entering the foreclosure process slowed in the fourth quarter of 2009, possible signs that the foreclosure crisis that has gripped many of the nation’s housing markets is finally starting to ease, a trade group has reported. “We are likely seeing the beginning of [...]]]></description>
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<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 280px"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:P060708_22.03-02-.JPG"><img class=" " title="Sign of a mortgage centre in East London" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/P060708_22.03-02-.JPG/300px-P060708_22.03-02-.JPG" alt="Sign of a mortgage centre in East London" width="270" height="203" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Image via Wikipedia</p></div>
</div>
<p>A smaller percentage of mortgages were delinquent and the rate of those entering the <a class="zem_slink" title="Foreclosure" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreclosure">foreclosure</a> process slowed in the fourth quarter of 2009, possible signs that the foreclosure crisis that has gripped many of the nation’s housing markets is finally starting to ease, a trade group has reported.</p>
<p>“We are likely seeing the beginning of the end of the unprecedented wave of mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures that started with the <a class="zem_slink" title="Subprime lending" rel="wikinvest" href="http://www.wikinvest.com/concept/Subprime_lending">subprime</a> defaults in early 2007,” said Jay Brinkmann, chief economist of the <a class="zem_slink" title="Mortgage Bankers Association" rel="homepage" href="http://www.mbaa.org/default.htm">Mortgage Bankers Association</a>, in a written statement.</p>
<p>The delinquency rate for mortgages on one- to four-unit residential properties was a seasonally adjusted 9.47% of all mortgages outstanding in the fourth quarter, down from 9.64% in the third quarter and up from 7.88% in the fourth quarter of 2008, according to the <a class="zem_slink" title="Mortgage Bankers Association" rel="homepage" href="http://www.mortgagebankers.org/">MBA</a>’s quarterly delinquency survey.</p>
<p>Delinquencies include mortgages that are at least one payment or more past due but not yet in foreclosure.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, 1.2% of outstanding mortgages entered the foreclosure process in the fourth quarter, down from 1.42% in the third quarter and up from 1.08% in the fourth quarter of 2008. The percentage of mortgages at some point in the foreclosure process at the end of the fourth quarter was 4.58%, up from 4.47% in the third quarter and 3.3% in the fourth quarter of 2008.</p>
<p>The MBA survey covers about 44.4 million loans on one- to four-unit residential properties, or about 85% of all first-lien residential <a class="zem_slink" title="Mortgage loan" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortgage_loan">mortgage loans</a> that are outstanding in the country. No doubt, the foreclosure nightmare isn’t over yet.</p>
<p>The percentages of loans 90 days or more past due and loans in foreclosure process set record highs in the fourth quarter, according to the report. Many of those loans more than 90 days past due are in <a class="zem_slink" title="Mortgage modification" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortgage_modification">loan modification</a> programs, and some of them have been seriously delinquent for months waiting for modifications to get finalized.</p>
<p>But the good news is there are fewer problem loans actually entering delinquency—likely a result of fewer layoffs, Brinkmann said. “We normally see a large spike in short-term mortgage delinquencies at the end of the year due to heating bills, Christmas expenditures and other seasonal factors. Not only did we not see that spike but the 30-day delinquencies actually fell by 16 basis points from 3.79% to 3.63%,” he said. He added that the non-seasonally adjusted 30-day delinquency rate has only dropped three times in the past between the third and fourth quarter—”and never by this magnitude.”</p>
<p>Depending on the fate of seriously delinquent mortgages—whether they are cured with modifications or ultimately enter foreclosure—the percentage of mortgages somewhere in the foreclosure process could start to see a gradual decline in the second half of the year, he said during a conference call with reporters.</p>
<p>If normal seasonal patterns hold, there could be a bigger drop in the 30-day delinquency rate in the first quarter of 2010, Brinkmann said. That would be a positive sign for the months and years ahead. “The continued and sizable drop in the 30-day delinquency rate is a concrete sign that the end may be in sight,” he said. “With fewer new loans going bad, the pool of seriously delinquent loans and foreclosures will eventually begin to shrink once the rate at which these problems are resolved exceeds the rate at which new problems come in. “It also gives us growing confidence that the size of the problem now is about as bad as it will get,” he said.</p>
<p>According to the MBA data, Florida was the most problematic state, in terms of delinquencies. Twenty-six percent of Florida mortgages were one payment or more past due at the end of the year, and 20.4% of mortgages in the state were 90 days or more past due or already in the foreclosure process.</p>
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		<title>10 Foreclosure Myths (busted?)</title>
		<link>http://joeldameral.com/2010/06/09/10-foreclosure-myths-busted/</link>
		<comments>http://joeldameral.com/2010/06/09/10-foreclosure-myths-busted/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:19:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joel Dameral</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Foreclosure]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://jdameral.blogs.rwnetwork.com/?p=269</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The following is insite to what a majority of people think about buying a foreclosure and what is actually true.  I hope it helps. Trulia.com and RealtyTrac recently surveyed US adults to get some insight into what people *think* is involved with buying a foreclosure. Here are the Top 10 Myths that came up, and [...]]]></description>
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<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 280px"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Foreclosedhome.JPG"><img class=" " title="Half million dollar house in Salinas, Californ..." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Foreclosedhome.JPG/300px-Foreclosedhome.JPG" alt="Half million dollar house in Salinas, Californ..." width="270" height="203" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Image via Wikipedia</p></div>
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<p>The following is insite to what a majority of people <strong>think </strong>about buying a <a class="zem_slink" title="Foreclosure" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreclosure">foreclosure</a> and what is actually <strong>true</strong>.  I hope it helps.</p>
<p>Trulia.com and <a class="zem_slink" title="RealtyTrac" rel="homepage" href="http://www.realtytrac.com/">RealtyTrac</a> <a href="http://info.trulia.com/index.php?s=43&amp;item=89" target="_blank">recently surveyed US adults</a> to get some insight into what people *think* is involved with buying a foreclosure. Here are the Top 10 Myths that came up, and the facts to set the record straight:</p>
<p><strong>1.       </strong><strong>Foreclosures need a huge amount of work.</strong>  92 percent of consumers expressed that if they bought a foreclosure, they would be willing to make home improvements after they closed the deal, with 65 percent being willing to invest 20 percent or less of the purchase price.  Although stories of foreclosures missing plumbing and every electrical fixture are very memorable, many foreclosed homes need only the (relatively inexpensive) cosmetics that many new homeowners want to customize no matter what kind of home they’re buying: paint, carpet, etc.<strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>2.       </strong><strong>Foreclosures sell at massive discounts, compared to other homes.  </strong>Almost every member – 95 percent – of the surveyed group expected to pay less for a foreclosed home than for a similar, non-foreclosed home; 18 percent had realistic expectations of less than a 25 percent discount.  However, 36 percent expected to receive a bargain basement discount of 50 percent or more off the value of a similar non-foreclosure.  Reality check: while foreclosures might be discounted massively from what the former owner paid or owed, their discounts are much more modest when compared to their value on today’s market and the prices of similar homes.<strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>3.       </strong><strong>Buying a foreclosure is risky.  </strong>49% of respondents said they perceived buying a foreclosure as risky.  And yes &#8211; buying a foreclosure at the auction on the county courthouse steps can have risks, including the risk the new owner will take on the former’s owner’s liens and other loans.  But most buyers looking for foreclosures are looking at bank-owned properties, which are listed on the open market with other, ‘regular’ homes.  Buying these homes is really no more risky than buying a non-foreclosed home.<strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>4.       </strong><strong>You can’t get inspections on the property when you buy a foreclosed home. </strong> County auction foreclosures don’t often offer the ability for buyers to have the homes inspected.  But virtually all bank-owned properties for sale on the open market not only allow, but encourage buyers to obtain every inspection they deem necessary. This is because almost every bank sells their foreclosed homes as-is, and they want to avoid later liability.  It’s in everyone’s best interests to make sure that the buyer has full information about the property’s condition before they close the deal.<a href="http://images.trulia.com/blogimg/9/6/f/8/382213_1274374849657_o.jpg"><img src="http://images.trulia.com/blogimg/9/6/f/8/382213_1274374849657_b.jpg" alt="" align="right" /></a></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p> <strong>5.       </strong><strong>There are hidden costs to watch out for when buying a foreclosed home.  </strong>Sixty-eight percent of survey respondents who felt there is a negative stigma to buying a foreclosure expressed  the concern that buying a foreclosure poses the danger of hidden costs. At some foreclosure auctions, there are buyer’s premiums and other hefty fees that can really add up and take a chunk out of the effective savings the buyer stood to realize. However, when you buy a bank-owned property that is listed for sale with a <a class="zem_slink" title="Real estate" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_estate">real estate</a> <a class="zem_slink" title="Real estate broker" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_estate_broker">agent</a>, the <a class="zem_slink" title="Closing cost" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closing_cost">closing costs</a> are the same as they would be if you bought a non-foreclosed home. Overdue property <a class="zem_slink" title="Property tax" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Property_tax">taxes</a>, HOA dues and other bills left behind by the defaulting homeowner are cleared by the bank that owns a foreclosed home before it is sold on the market, though these items should be watched out for if you buy a home at the county foreclosure auction.<strong></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>6.       </strong><strong>Foreclosures are more likely to lose their value than “regular” homes. </strong>Thirty-five percent of U.S. adults who believed there are downsides to buying foreclosed properties believed this myth. In fact, because foreclosures often offer a discount from the home’s current <a class="zem_slink" title="Market value" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Market_value">market value</a>, they may offer some degree of insulation from further depreciation.  Whether a home loses its value or not has to do with the dynamics of the local market, including the area’s supply of homes, demand for homes, interest rates and the health of the employment market – not with whether the home was or was not a foreclosure at the time it was purchased.<strong></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>7.       </strong><strong>Most foreclosures happen when homeowners just walk away.  </strong>Out of homeowners with a <a class="zem_slink" title="Mortgage" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortgage">mortgage</a>, only 1 percent said walking away from their home would be their first choice if they were unable to pay their mortgage.  And a whopping 59 percent of mortgage-holders said they wouldn’t walk away from their home – no matter how upside down they were on their mortgage. Most foreclosures happen when the owners lose their jobs or their mortgage adjusts to the point where they absolutely cannot pay the mortgage, no matter how hard they try.  Voluntary ‘walk-away’s are simply not as popular as many people think.<strong></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>8.       </strong><strong>When you buy a foreclosure, you should lowball the bank – they are desperate to get these homes off their books.  </strong>Stories about in the press abound about the large numbers of foreclosed homes the banks have on their books.  We’ve all heard the adage that banks have no interest in owning these properties.  But the real deal is that they’re simply not desperate enough to <em>give</em> these places away.  Also, the banks mostly service the <a class="zem_slink" title="Default (finance)" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Default_%28finance%29">defaulted</a> loans – they don’t own them.  Various groups of investors do, and they hold the banks accountable to selling the bank-owned property at as high a price as possible, helping them cut their losses.  Many banks won’t even consider lowball offers, and many bank-owned properties actually sell for above the <a class="zem_slink" title="Ask price" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ask_price">asking price</a>.  Before a bank will take a lowball offer, they will almost always reduce the list price first, and see if that attracts a higher offer than the lowball one they have in hand.<strong></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>9.       </strong><strong>You need to be able to pay in cash in order to buy a foreclosure.  </strong>Again, if you buy a foreclosed home on the county courthouse steps, you might need to bring a cashier’s check and be ready to pay for the place on the spot.  By contrast, bank-owned homes are bought through a more normal real estate transaction, which means buyers can obtain a mortgage to finance the home just like they would if the home weren’t a foreclosure. It is true, though, that in some markets, banks prefer offers from cash buyers, but this tends to be in situations where the property’s condition is pretty dire, and the bank knows this may make it hard for a buyer to obtain financing.<strong></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>10.   </strong><strong>It’s easier to buy a foreclosure with bad credit if you get a mortgage with the same bank that owns the property. </strong> Think about it: why would the bank want to end up with the same property as a foreclosure, again? Well, that’s what would happen if they allowed buyers with low credit scores to buy their foreclosures just to earn the interest on the mortgage. In reality, many banks do offer incentives like lower fees or closing cost credits for buyers who use their bank for their mortgage. But the buyers must meet the same credit, income and other qualification standards as anyone else would to seal the deal.  <strong></strong></p>
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		<title>HUD To Speed Resale of Foreclosed Properties</title>
		<link>http://joeldameral.com/2010/01/28/hud-to-speed-resale-of-foreclosed-properties/</link>
		<comments>http://joeldameral.com/2010/01/28/hud-to-speed-resale-of-foreclosed-properties/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:49:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joel Dameral</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[In an effort to stabilize home values and improve conditions in communities where foreclosure activity is high, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan recently announced a temporary policy that will expand access to FHA mortgage insurance and allow for the quick resale of foreclosed properties. The announcement is part of the Obama administration’s commitment to addressing foreclosure. [...]]]></description>
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<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 202px"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40518938@N00/2539334956"><img class=" " title="Sign Of The Times - Foreclosure" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3235/2539334956_87cef7e457_m.jpg" alt="Sign Of The Times - Foreclosure" width="192" height="144" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Image by respres via Flickr</p></div>
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<p>In an effort to stabilize home values and improve conditions in  communities where foreclosure activity is high, HUD Secretary Shaun  Donovan recently announced a temporary  policy that will expand access to FHA mortgage insurance and allow for  the quick resale of foreclosed properties. The announcement is part of  the Obama administration’s commitment to addressing foreclosure.  Secretary Donovan recently announced $2 billion in Neighborhood  Stabilization Program grants to local communities and nonprofit housing  developers to combat the effects of vacant and abandoned homes.</p>
<p>“As a result of the tightened credit market, FHA-insured mortgage  financing is often the only means of financing available to potential  home buyers,” said Donovan. “FHA has an unprecedented opportunity to  fulfill its mission by helping many home buyers find affordable housing  while contributing to neighborhood stabilization.”</p>
<p>With certain exceptions, FHA currently prohibits insuring a mortgage  on a home owned by the seller for less than 90 days. This temporary  waiver will give FHA borrowers access to a broader array of recently  foreclosed properties.</p>
<p>“This change in policy is temporary and will have very strict  conditions and guidelines to assure that predatory practices are not  allowed,” Donovan said.</p>
<p>In today’s market, FHA research finds that acquiring, rehabilitating  and reselling these properties to prospective homeowners often takes  less than 90 days. Prohibiting the use of FHA mortgage insurance for a  subsequent resale within 90 days of acquisition adversely impacts the  willingness of sellers to allow contracts from potential FHA buyers  because they must consider holding costs and the risk of vandalism  associated with allowing a property to sit vacant over a 90-day period  of time.</p>
<p>The policy change will permit buyers to use FHA-insured financing to  purchase HUD-owned properties, bank-owned properties, or properties  resold through private sales. This will allow homes to resell as quickly  as possible, helping to stabilize real estate prices and to revitalize  neighborhoods and communities.</p>
<p>“FHA borrowers, because of the restrictions we are now lifting, have  often been shut out from buying affordable properties,” said FHA  Commissioner David H. Stevens. “This action will enable our borrowers,  especially first-time buyers, to take advantage of this opportunity.”</p>
<p>The waiver will take effect on February 1, 2010 and is effective for  one year, unless otherwise extended or withdrawn by the FHA  Commissioner. To protect FHA borrowers against predatory practices of  “flipping,” where properties are quickly resold at inflated prices to  unsuspecting borrowers, this waiver is limited to those sales meeting  the following general conditions:</p>
<p>-All transactions must be arms-length, with no identity of interest  between the buyer and seller or other parties participating in the sales  transaction.<br />
-In cases in which the sales price of the property is 20% or more above  the seller’s acquisition cost, the waiver will only apply if the lender  meets specific conditions.<br />
-The waiver is limited to forward mortgages, and does not apply to the  Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) for purchase program.</p>
<p>For more information, visit <a href="http://www.hud.gov/" target="_blank">www.hud.gov</a>.</p>
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		<title>FHA To Raise Some Premiums This Spring</title>
		<link>http://joeldameral.com/2010/01/21/fha-to-raise-some-premiums-this-spring/</link>
		<comments>http://joeldameral.com/2010/01/21/fha-to-raise-some-premiums-this-spring/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:07:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joel Dameral</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[The Federal Housing Administration won&#8217;t raise the 3.5 percent minimum downpayment requirement for mortgages it guarantees as long as borrowers have FICO scores of 580 or better. Beginning early this summer, however, borrowers with credit scores below 580 will be required to make downpayments of at least 10 percent in order to participate in FHA&#8217;s [...]]]></description>
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<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 220px"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:US-FederalHousingAdmin-Logo.svg"><img class=" " title="Logo of the Federal Housing Administration." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/US-FederalHousingAdmin-Logo.svg/300px-US-FederalHousingAdmin-Logo.svg.png" alt="Logo of the Federal Housing Administration." width="210" height="131" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Image via Wikipedia</p></div>
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<p>The Federal Housing Administration won&#8217;t raise the 3.5 percent minimum downpayment requirement for mortgages it guarantees as long as borrowers have FICO scores of 580 or better.</p>
<p>Beginning early this summer, however, borrowers with credit scores below 580 will be required to make downpayments of at least 10 percent in order to participate in FHA&#8217;s mortgage insurance program.</p>
<p>This spring, the Obama administration also plans to raise the upfront mortgage insurance premiums paid by all FHA borrowers to 2.25 percent, up from 1.75 percent now.</p>
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		<title>Possible Home Loan Modification Problems</title>
		<link>http://joeldameral.com/2010/01/19/possible-home-loan-modification-problems/</link>
		<comments>http://joeldameral.com/2010/01/19/possible-home-loan-modification-problems/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:37:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joel Dameral</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[RISMEDIA, January 19, 2010—(MCT)-The last thing many troubled homeowners want to hear is that they could be denied a car loan after they get a chance to modify their home loan. But credit scores can get dinged after a home loan modification, making it more costly or tougher to get a loan or credit card. [...]]]></description>
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<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 250px"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Credit-score-chart.svg"><img class=" " src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Credit-score-chart.svg/300px-Credit-score-chart.svg.png" alt="Factors contributing to someone's credit score..." width="240" height="160" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Image via Wikipedia</p></div>
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<p>RISMEDIA, January 19, 2010—(MCT)-The last thing many troubled homeowners want to hear is that they could be denied a car loan after they get a chance to modify their home loan. But credit scores can get dinged after a home loan modification, making it more costly or tougher to get a loan or credit card.</p>
<p>Hundreds of thousands of homeowners find themselves in a financial squeeze, thanks to the recession and the meltdown in the housing market. Lenders have offered trial loan modifications to more than 700,000 eligible borrowers. As of late November 2009, about 31,000 trial loans have been made permanent, which requires at least three on-time payments under the trial program and proof of income.</p>
<p>What these troubled homeowners don’t realize is that these attempts to avoid foreclosure may result in their credit scores taking a hit. A potentially damaged credit score is one of those hidden costs of home loan modification—and it varies significantly depending on your lender, as well as when you received your loan modification, your credit history and how your loan was altered.</p>
<p>“They need to tell people up front that this could happen,” said James Sperr, of Belleville, Mich. Sperr and his wife, Carol, received a trial modification that cut their house payment, including taxes and insurance to $957 a month from $1,140 a month. But it came with a hit to their credit score. “Our credit rating has gone from the 800s to 750,” Carol Sperr said. “It’s punitive to a consumer who is already scared, frustrated, mad,” said John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education for Credit.com. The Sperrs said they had never been late or missed a mortgage payment, but their bank had reported them as being behind on payments. Their credit score took a hit, falling from the 800s to 750. “They tell us that once the paperwork ‘catches up’ and the new loan is finalized, they will correct the credit reporting agencies,” Carol Sperr said.</p>
<p>No one saw this coming. “I didn’t find out about our credit until they did a check on this van we bought,” James Sperr said. He said his wife was able to provide more documentation that their mortgage was in compliance so they did not have to pay a higher rate or get shut out of a loan. Others aren’t so lucky.</p>
<p>Loan modifications remain a good thing, but they often come with that consequence. Homeowners who face hardships but cannot traditionally refinance their mortgages can try to get a loan modification. A modification temporarily reduces the monthly payment, which can be helpful if someone’s dealing with a pay cut. Typically, the principal amount owed on the loan is not reduced or changed and the amount of debt owed is not forgiven. The federal government has programs, and banks and credit unions have proprietary programs as well.</p>
<p>Yet many homeowners feel blindsided when they discover that their credit score has dropped by 50 to 100 points or even more after they entered a trial modification. “What’s the point of the additional credit damage? What have they just accomplished by doing that to the borrower?” asked John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education for Credit.com.</p>
<p>In the first few months after receiving a trial modification, Ulzheimer said, it is possible that the initial payments would show up as a “partial payment plan” on a credit report, which turns into a negative hit to a credit score. This can be a problem even for homeowners who never have missed a mortgage payment. “It really depends on how the mortgage company decides to report this to a credit agency,” said Julie Bos, group manager and certified credit counselor for GreenPath Inc. in Grand Rapids, Mich. A homeowner who is behind on payments will see credit score damage, and that won’t change from a modification. “If you’re already delinquent, your credit is already impacted,” said John Snyder, manager of foreclosure programs for NeighborWorks America. But consumers who are making their mortgage payments are getting modifications, too, perhaps because wages were cut or jobs were lost. They may be struggling to stay current, but their credit may not be bad when they start a modification.</p>
<p>Some might argue that it’s not a wise move to take on more debt, such as a car loan, if a person saw a cut in pay and needed a home loan modification. But many consumers often cannot control when their car breaks down. On top of that, lenders benefit from home loan modifications because potential foreclosures can be avoided.</p>
<p>Unknowingly though, many consumers discover themselves boxed in later when they try to get approved for credit. “They’re concerned about the damage to their credit. They’re not happy about it,” said Bos. “If you go out and try to purchase a car in two months, you could be denied,” she said. Or you might have to get a co-signer or put down a bigger down payment or accept a higher interest rate to get a loan.</p>
<p>What’s even stranger is that not all home loan modifications will hit consumers in the same way on their credit reports. Consumers who modify their mortgages under federal programs, such as the Making Home Affordable and the Home Affordable Modification Program, now can do so without hurting their credit scores since those modifications are listed as a “loan modified under a federal plan” as of Nov. 1. Here’s the sticking point: If you are able to modify your loan through an individual bank or credit union’s program and not a government plan, it’s likely your credit score will be hurt. To complicate matters further, eventually a “loan modified under a federal plan” on your credit report could hurt your score, too.</p>
<p>Ulzheimer noted that the only reason the new reporting guidelines do not damage your credit scores is because FICO, the company that created the FICO credit score, hasn’t had a chance to study the long-term predictive value of loan modifications to credit risk.</p>
<p>Still, homeowners who are in trouble must realize that a foreclosure or a short sale would be listed as a charge-off or settlement on a credit report and last seven years, Ulzheimer said, while a modification would typically last a few years.</p>
<p>If you do receive a loan modification, ask questions and be more careful about how you handle your credit elsewhere to try to combat any potential damage.</p>
<p>Before making any moves, talk to a nonprofit housing counselor.</p>
<p>Read more: <a href="http://rismedia.com/2010-01-18/can-loan-modifications-cause-trouble-down-the-road-2/#ixzz0d7k3G054">http://rismedia.com/2010-01-18/can-loan-modifications-cause-trouble-down-the-road-2/#ixzz0d7k3G054</a></div>
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		<title>10 Big Impact Low Cost &#8220;Renovations&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://joeldameral.com/2010/01/18/10-big-impact-low-cost-renovations/</link>
		<comments>http://joeldameral.com/2010/01/18/10-big-impact-low-cost-renovations/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:59:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joel Dameral</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=206</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Do you have some—but not unlimited—cash for upgrades? Here are budget-minded enhancements to make your home stand out from the competition.   1. Tidy up kitchen cabinets. &#8220;Potential buyers do open kitchen cabinets and look inside,&#8221; says Morrissey. &#8220;Home owners can add rollout organizing trays so when buyers peek in, they feel like there’s lots of [...]]]></description>
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<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 250px"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:House_front_door.jpg"><img class=" " src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/House_front_door.jpg/300px-House_front_door.jpg" alt="The front door of a house is often decorated t..." width="240" height="498" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Image via Wikipedia</p></div>
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<p>Do you have some—but not unlimited—cash for upgrades? Here are budget-minded enhancements to make your home stand out from the competition.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>1. Tidy up kitchen cabinets.</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;Potential buyers do open kitchen cabinets and look inside,&#8221; says Morrissey. &#8220;Home owners can add rollout organizing trays so when buyers peek in, they feel like there’s lots of room for their stuff.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>2. Add or replace tile.</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;By retiling very inexpensively, you make a room look way cleaner that it was,&#8221; says Javier Zuluaga, owner of Home Repairs and Remodeling LLC in Tempe, Ariz. &#8220;Every city has stores that offer $1 to $2 tile, so home owners have to pay only for the low-cost tile and labor to replace a dated backsplash or add a new one. We also use inexpensive tile to upgrade bathrooms.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>3. Add a breakfast bar.</strong></p>
<p>When a wall separates a kitchen from a family room, suggest cutting out an opening to create a breakfast bar. &#8220;In one home, there was a cutout in the wall between the kitchen and living room,&#8221; explains Matthew Quinn, a sales associate at Quinn’s Realty &amp; Estate Services in Falls Church, Va., who handles estate and real estate sales for family members whose loved ones have passed away. &#8220;We left the structure of the cutout, added an oversized granite breakfast bar, and put chairs in front of it. That cost about $600.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>4. Install granite tile instead of a slab.</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;Everybody is hot for granite kitchen countertops, but that can be a $5,000 upgrade,&#8221; says John Wilder, a general contractor and owner of Fence and Deck Doctor in New Castle, Ind. &#8220;Instead, home owners can put in 12-inch granite tiles for about $300 in materials and get very high impact for little money.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>5. Freshen up a bathroom without retiling.</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;With a dated bathroom, I recommend putting in a new medicine cabinet for $100 to $150, light fixtures for about $100, a faucet for $50 to $75, and a vanity for $200 to $300,&#8221; says Wilder. &#8220;And instead of replacing the tile, the existing grout can be lightly scraped and regrouted, which leaves a haze that can be buffed out and will make the tile look brand new. Also install glass shower doors. A French door adds a lot of panache and elegance for $250, and people will notice the door, not the tile. With all that, you’ve done a bathroom remodel for $1,000 to $2,000.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>6. Freshen up the basement.</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;If home owners have cement block or poured concrete walls in the basement, suggest they have a contractor fill in cracks with hydraulic cement and then paint with waterproofing paint,&#8221; recommends Wilder. &#8220;They can then add a top coat to add color. They can also paint the basement floor with a good floor paint, which spiffs it up. The basement may not be finished, but it’s no longer a damp dungeon.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>7. Add a room.</strong></p>
<p>Look for large spaces that can be enclosed to create a new bedroom for just the price of creating a wall. &#8220;One time, we closed off a half-wall to an office and added a door to the other side of the room, thus creating another bedroom,&#8221; says Quinn. &#8220;That $400 procedure, which took a contractor one day, netted about $40,000 in the sales price.&#8221; Zuluaga has also added bedrooms inexpensively. &#8220;In a two-bedroom house, there was an archway that led to a third room that was used as a den,&#8221; he explains. &#8220;It had a dry bar where there would have been a closet, so we took out the dry bar and created a closet so the owners had a third bedroom.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>8. Spruce up cabinet fronts.</strong></p>
<p>Suggest home owners update tired-looking kitchen cabinets. Reconditioning is the least expensive move for under $1,000. &#8220;If the wood is starting to look shabby from use or contaminants in the air, we take out the nicks and scratches, recondition it with oil, and put new hardware on,&#8221; explains Heidi Morrissey, vice president of marketing and sales at Kitchen Tune-Up in Aberdeen, S.D. For $1,500 to $4,000, owners can replace the cabinet doors and drawer fronts, and for $4,000 to $12,000, they can have all the cabinets refaced. &#8220;With refacing, owners can change the color of the cabinets by replacing the door and having a new skin put on the boxes,&#8221; says Morrissey. &#8220;If they have oak cabinets today, they can have cherry the next day.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>9. Replace light fixtures.</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;In a foyer and in bathrooms and kitchens,&#8221; says Wilder, &#8220;replacing overhead light fixtures provides a lot of pop for a little money.&#8221; If the kitchen has track lighting, Zuluaga suggests the home owner spend $450 to $600 to have an electrician replace it with recessed canned lights on a dimmer switch to add ambience. For about $700, Zuluaga also suggests installing pendant lights over a kitchen island or peninsula.</p>
<p><strong>10. Tech-up the garage.</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;Sometimes we replace the garage door opener with a remote touchpad entry system,&#8221; says Zuluaga. &#8220;That costs about $425 and makes it look like a high-end system.&#8221;</p>
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		<title>Why a Tax Credit???</title>
		<link>http://joeldameral.com/2010/01/12/why-a-tax-credit/</link>
		<comments>http://joeldameral.com/2010/01/12/why-a-tax-credit/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:49:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joel Dameral</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=192</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[RISMEDIA, —As part of the government’s high price-tag efforts to rejuvenate the flailing American economy, on November 6, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law an expansion and extension of the home buyer tax credit. With housing at the center of the country’s economic engine, extending the lifeline a little further for a little longer [...]]]></description>
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<p>RISMEDIA, —As part of the government’s high price-tag efforts to rejuvenate the flailing American economy, on November 6, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law an expansion and extension of the home buyer tax credit.</p>
<p>With housing at the center of the country’s economic engine, extending the lifeline a little further for a little longer is being hailed as a significant measure by both economists and real estate leaders.</p>
<p>The estimated cost of the home buyer tax credit, part of the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, is $18.5 billion, yet another mind-boggling sum in a series of stimulus strategies. With that $18.5 billion comes great responsibility for real estate professionals—a responsibility to maximize the opportunity and help get the wheels of the housing market turning again.</p>
<p>“The extension and expansion of the home buyer tax credit was absolutely necessary for the housing market and, most importantly, the U.S. economy,” says Alex Perriello, president and CEO, Realogy Franchise Group. “Clearly, Congress and the Administration recognized that inaction on their part—and thus an expiration of the previous first-time home buyer credit—would have been extremely detrimental. We’re proud of the active role that Realogy management and brokers played in educating key policy makers in Washington about the economic benefits of extending and expanding the home buyer tax credit.”</p>
<p>“The extension of the tax credit—and its expansion to include qualified move-up buyers—offers additional hope for a struggling economy and unlimited opportunity for dedicated brokers and agents,” agrees Steve Brown, special liaison for Large Firm Relations, NAR, and broker/owner of Irongate Realty in Dayton, Ohio.</p>
<p>“Activity inspires people—this tax credit has stimulated the entire economy,” says Tami Bonnell, president of the U.S. Organization for EXIT Realty. “There was a glut of people who stood still, not sure what to do. Finally, especially with the addition of the existing homeowner portion of the credit, people are jumping onboard.”</p>
<p>According to Greg Rand, managing partner of Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty in Westchester County, New York, the home buyer tax credit helped the real estate industry—nationwide—to a 2009 fourth quarter that marked the biggest increase in home sales in 20 years. “The media is finally beginning to pick up on what’s going on and is finally driving some positive consumer confidence. This is prompting people to start thinking about purchasing a home.”</p>
<p><strong>Absorbing the Details…Quickly</strong><br />
As Margaret Kelly, CEO of RE/MAX International, Inc., explains, “Congress extended the tax credit and amended it to include repeat buyers in hopes of securing a more sustained real estate upswing. However, the narrow window suggests none of us should count on another extension.” With a deadline of April 30, 2010 (closing must occur by June 30), consumers need to act fast in order to capitalize on the expanded and extended credit. In order for consumers to act fast, brokers and agents must serve as a trusted guide.</p>
<p>“First and foremost, we cannot and should not assume that real estate consumers know what we know,” advises Perriello. “As real estate professionals, we are closest to the situation and it is imperative for the industry to aggressively impart our knowledge and promote the key facts about the home buyer tax credit in order to educate potential home buyers about the various details that may specifically apply to their specific situations.”</p>
<p><strong>Here are the main points of the tax credit legislation: </strong></p>
<p>-The Timeline: The credit is available for homes purchased on or after November 7, 2009 and before May 1, 2010. The federal income credit can be claimed on one’s individual or joint tax return for the purchase of any single-family home (newly constructed or resale, single-family detached, townhomes or condominiums) between the dates of November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010. Home purchases subject to a binding sales contract signed before May 1, 2010 will also qualify for the tax credit as long as closing occurs by June 30, 2010.</p>
<p>-Who’s Eligible: The tax credit is now available for first-time home buyers and eligible current homeowners. A first-time home buyer is defined as an individual who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase. This law applies for both parties in a married couple; if you haven’t owned a home for three years, but your husband has, then neither one of you can qualify for the tax credit. A qualified current homeowner who wishes to move to a different home (a “move-up” buyer), must have owned and resided in their residence for five consecutive years out of the last eight.</p>
<p>-Salary Requirements: Under the legislation, the income limits to qualify are the same for both first-time home buyers and current homeowners: Single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with a joint income up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit. According to Goldman Sachs, these income limits make almost all first-time home buyers eligible and approximately 70% of current homeowners eligible. Single taxpayers who earn between $125,000 and $145,000, and married couples who earn between $225,000 and $245,000 are eligible to receive a partial credit.</p>
<p>-Credit Amounts: The maximum credit amount for first-time home buyers is $8,000; the maximum credit amount for current homeowners is $6,500. The federal tax credit amounts to 10% of the cost of the home, up to a maximum credit of $8,000 for first-time home buyers and $6,500 for current homeowners. Under the new legislation, a tax credit may only be issued for homes purchased for $800,000 or less.</p>
<p>-Tax Facts: Provided the home-owner stays in the home for three or more years, the tax credit is a true credit and does not need to be repaid. The tax credit is fully refundable, meaning the credit will be paid out to eligible taxpayers, even if you owe no tax or the credit is more than the tax owed. The credit is claimed using Form 5405, which you file with your original or amended tax return. Buyers can claim the credit on their 2009 taxes, even if the home is purchased in 2010, by filing an amended tax return.</p>
<p>-Fraud Prevention: The current tax credit legislation has built-in fraud measures, therefore, anyone claiming the credit must provide documentation to prove that the sale has closed, such as a copy of their HUD-1 Settlement Statement. The law also prevents anyone younger than 18 from claiming the credit.</p>
<p><strong>Motivating Move-up Buyers</strong><br />
While the extended deadlines and increased salary caps of the tax credit are indeed a boon to first-time home buyers, the expansion of the tax credit to include current homeowners stands to have a significant impact on home sales.</p>
<p>According to Scott McDonald, president of RE/MAX Gateway in Chantilly, Virginia, and a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, “Over the last year, we have seen few move-up buyers as a result of lost equity, uncertainty of perceived value in the market as a result of foreclosures and short sales, and low consumer confidence. It is a matter of education on the Realtor’s part as well as the media to get the word out to our move-up market.”</p>
<p>“The expanded tax credit means that the gridlock caused by a stagnant ‘move-up’ market could be broken and the field could soon be wide open,” says Sherry Chris, president and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate.</p>
<p>Ken Trepeta, director of Real Estate Services for the National Association of Realtors, explains that move-up buyers are eligible for the tax credit as long as the home being sold or vacated was their principal residence for five consecutive years within the last eight. “To elaborate, it must be the same home,” says Trepeta. “It is not enough that they have been homeowners for five consecutive years, they must have been in the same home for five consecutive years.” McDonald and Trepeta underscore the important fact that current homeowners need not sell their existing home in order to take advantage of the credit. They may keep it and rent it for additional profit.</p>
<p><strong>Getting the Word Out</strong><br />
For the tax credit to succeed in buoying the real estate market, it is essential for brokers and agents to aggressively market the benefits—and the deadlines—of the legislation to consumers.</p>
<p>At Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty, Managing Partner Joe Rand, an attorney, has developed a home buyer tax credit website­—www.homebuyertaxcredit.com—and a “Home Buyer Tax Credit Eligibility Test” that will let buyers know if they qualify. If they do, the program will provide an instant option to download the proper tax documents.</p>
<p>To get the word out about the website, the Rands are budgeting $100,000 of the firm’s marketing budget to broadcast media—specifically radio. “We’ve seen a lot of general interest in buying a home,” says Greg Rand. “Right now, if people aren’t aware or clear on the tax credit, they’ll seek out a source that explains it quickly—that, in turn, might just make our company a bit stickier.” Educating consumers on the tax credit is compulsory and many real estate experts are leading that charge.</p>
<p>“The bottom line for all consumers is ‘how does this impact me?’” says Bonnell. “We’re trying to help them answer that and we’re getting excellent results. I put on webinars to the general public—buyers, sellers, investors, etc.—twice on the second Tuesday of every month. On it, we go over the changes since the new adjustment. They can submit questions during the webinars and we typically answer them right there.”</p>
<p>Misunderstanding or confusion over the details of the tax credit can prevent many consumers from pursuing a home purchase. As Perriello says, “As professionals, it is our obligation to make sure we properly communicate the new tax credit details because an educated consumer is an empowered consumer.”</p>
<p><strong>Great Expectations</strong><br />
Industry leaders have high hopes for the extended and expanded tax credit, believing it may be just what the housing market needs to make its way out of the trough in 2010. But time is of the essence—and that’s all part of the plan.</p>
<p>“It is important that there is a clear time limit for the tax credit because the purpose of this economic stimulus is to jump-start momentum in the housing market and the economy,” says Perriello. “The expanded home buyer tax credit is intended to provide an incentive for a broader pool of home buyers to make a home purchasing decision in the early part of the year. Otherwise, lacking the urgency of such a deadline, more potential buyers might stay on the sidelines.”</p>
<p>“We expect the tax credit to continue to encourage home buyers to enter the housing market through the extension dates, then the typical spring market should take hold and the housing industry will help carry us further out of the recession if conditions remain stable,” says McDonald.</p>
<p>“The extended and expanded home buyer tax credit should help increase demand, stimulate home sales and, ultimately, reduce inventory levels,” adds Perriello. “In turn, this should help stabilize home sales prices. Those are all necessary steps that need to occur before we can have a sustainable long-term recovery in the market.”</p>
<p>Read more: <a href="http://rismedia.com/2009-01-03/18-5-billion-reasons-to-make-the-home-buyer-tax-credit-work/#ixzz0cN1kZKd1">http://rismedia.com/2009-01-03/18-5-billion-reasons-to-make-the-home-buyer-tax-credit-work/#ixzz0cN1kZKd1</a></div>
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		<title>Finding the &#8220;Right&#8221; Agent</title>
		<link>http://joeldameral.com/2010/01/01/finding-the-right-agent/</link>
		<comments>http://joeldameral.com/2010/01/01/finding-the-right-agent/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:53:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joel Dameral</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General Real Estate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[agent]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[El Dorado County  California]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[I would encourage you to talk to friends, family, and/or coworkers in your area who have recently bought or sold a property to get 3 or 4 references. Interview those agents- asking questions like: 1. How would you market my house? (Online must be PART of their answer). 2. How would you come to a [...]]]></description>
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<div>I would encourage you to talk to friends, family, and/or coworkers in your area who have recently bought or sold a property to get 3 or 4 references. Interview those agents- asking questions like:</p>
<p>1. How would you market my house? (Online must be PART of their answer).<br />
2. How would you come to a listing price for the house? (A comprehensive market analysis of your comps. Be sure to share any unique features your house has).<br />
3. What is their online experience? (My company in CA pushes listings to over 30 search engines and real estate sites).<br />
4. How many houses do they currently have listed? (The less listed the more likely they are to show yours).<br />
5. Commissions? Is there a reduced commission if the agent handles both sides of the sale? Is there a reduced commission if someone in their office handles the buyer side of the sale?<br />
6. Is there anything you can do to make your house more inviting to buyers? (Like de-cluttering, painting, getting a home inspection and termite report, etc).<br />
7. The last thing you should ask is if they have any questions for you.</p>
<p>I think that a great agent would ask to see and take pictures of your house before your formal interview. They should then bring a sample flier that they would post outside your house, a virtual tour, and hopefully the market analysis. All else being equal- go with who you feel the most comfortable talking with. Remember this is a business relationship.</p></div>
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		<title>Thinking of That Remodel??</title>
		<link>http://joeldameral.com/2009/12/31/thinking-of-that-remodel/</link>
		<comments>http://joeldameral.com/2009/12/31/thinking-of-that-remodel/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:32:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joel Dameral</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General Real Estate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[agent]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[realtor]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Despite a slow market and a slight decrease in the resale value of most remodeling projects, Realtors report that the smartest home improvement investments may also be some of the least expensive. Results from the 2009 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report show that small-scale exterior projects are the most profitable at resale, according to estimates [...]]]></description>
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<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 202px"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14519664@N00/2448448396"><img class=" " src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/2448448396_86504cb183_m.jpg" alt="Remodeled Kids Room" width="192" height="128" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Image by gr8matt via Flickr</p></div>
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<p>Despite a slow market and a slight decrease in the resale value of most remodeling projects, Realtors report that the smartest home improvement investments may also be some of the least expensive. Results from the 2009 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report show that small-scale exterior projects are the most profitable at resale, according to estimates by Realtors who completed a recent survey.</p>
<p>On a national level, eight out of the top 10 projects in terms of costs recouped were exterior replacement projects that cost less than $14,000. Certain types of door and siding replacements, as well as wood deck additions all returned more than 80% of project costs upon resale. A steel entry door replacement–a new addition to this year’s list–recouped 128.9% of costs, followed by upscale fiber-cement sliding replacements at 83.6%. Wood deck additions recouped 80.6% of costs.</p>
<p>“Once again, this year’s Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report highlights the importance of a home’s first impression,” said NAR President Vicki Cox Golder, owner of Vicki L. Cox &amp; Associates in Tucson, Ariz. “With exterior projects returning a high percent of project costs upon resale, Realtors can help give your home curb appeal while adding value to the real estate transaction.</p>
<p>The 2009 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report compares construction costs with resale values for 33 midrange and upscale remodeling projects comprising additions, remodels and replacements in 80 markets across the country. Data are grouped in nine U.S. regions, following the divisions established by the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the 12th consecutive year that the report, which is produced by Hanley Wood, LLC, was completed in cooperation with Realtor Magazine, as Realtors provided their insight into local markets and buyer home preferences within those markets.</p>
<p>On a national level, the project with the biggest improvement from 2008 was the attic bedroom addition, recouping 83.1% of remodeling costs compared to 73.8% in 2008. The only other interior project that landed in the top 10 was a minor kitchen remodel with 78.3% costs recouped.</p>
<p>Other exterior projects in the top 10 include midrange vinyl and upscale foam-backed vinyl sliding replacements, which returned more than 79% of costs. In addition, several types of window replacements–midrange wood, midrange vinyl, and upscale vinyl–all returned more than 76% of costs upon sale.</p>
<p>Similar to last year’s report, the least profitable remodeling projects in terms of resale value were home office remodels and sunroom additions, returning only 48.1% and 50.7% of project costs.</p>
<p>Regionally, cities in the Pacific states of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington once again outperformed the rest of the nation in terms of remodeling costs recouped upon resale. The West South Central region of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; the East South Central region of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee; and the South Atlantic region of the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia also performed relatively well.</p>
<p>The regions that generally returned the lowest percentage of costs were New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont), East North Central (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin), West North Central (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota), and the Middle Atlantic (New York and Pennsylvania).</p>
<p>Golder commented that remodeling projects are just one of many factors that contribute to a home’s overall resale value. “As the first, best source for real estate information, Realtors are experts in providing insight into what projects and investments will make a difference in your house. It’s important to consult with a Realtor who can explain the variety of factors that affect a home’s value, such as location, condition of surrounding properties and the regional economic climate,” she said.</p>
<p>For more information, visit <a href="http://www.realtor.org/" target="_blank">www.realtor.org</a>.</p>
<p>Read more: <a href="http://rismedia.com/2009-12-23/homeowners-exterior-remodeling-projects-prove-best-bang-for-your-buck/#ixzz0b7Tz34PO">http://rismedia.com/2009-12-23/homeowners-exterior-remodeling-projects-prove-best-bang-for-your-buck/#ixzz0b7Tz34PO</a></div>
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		<title>Things To Look Out For In Foreclosures</title>
		<link>http://joeldameral.com/2009/12/29/things-to-look-out-for-in-foreclosures/</link>
		<comments>http://joeldameral.com/2009/12/29/things-to-look-out-for-in-foreclosures/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:24:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joel Dameral</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[buying home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[agent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business and Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[california]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreclosure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[realtor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Realty World Lake Tahoe]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=167</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I found this article to be very informative.  When I have a client that has their hearts set on foreclosures I try to discuss these very issues with them.  Many times they decide the forclosure is not for them. RISMEDIA, December 21, 2009—It’s easy pickings out there for many potential homebuyers. Housing prices are at [...]]]></description>
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<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 250px"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Foreclosedhome.JPG"><img class=" " src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8f/Foreclosedhome.JPG/300px-Foreclosedhome.JPG" alt="Half million dollar house in Salinas, Californ..." width="240" height="180" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Image via Wikipedia</p></div>
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<p>I found this article to be very informative.  When I have a client that has their hearts set on foreclosures I try to discuss these very issues with them.  Many times they decide the forclosure is not for them.</p>
<p>RISMEDIA, December 21, 2009—It’s easy pickings out there for many potential homebuyers. Housing prices are at their lowest in more than a decade, inventories are high, analysts are predicting a new wave of foreclosures and the government is offering two substantial tax credits for which many homebuyers qualify.</p>
<p>But bargain buyers beware, warns Vince Mastronardi, whose property preservation business has been busy preparing foreclosed homes for sale.</p>
<p>“Buyers need to educate themselves about the potential pitfalls of purchasing distressed property,” says Mastronardi, president of On-Site Specialty Cleaning &amp; Restoration. “It’s not so much what damage occurred, but the source of that damage and how long before the problem was addressed.”</p>
<p><strong>These 10 signs may indicate that trouble is around the corner. </strong></p>
<p>1. Unheated house in winter months. If the home has been properly winterized, there’s no need for heat. But if the home has not been properly winterized, pipes will burst and cause water damage.</p>
<p>2. Missing sinks, toilets and other fixtures. Make sure they’ve been properly removed and not ripped from walls and floors.</p>
<p>3. Peeling, bubbling, and discolored paint; swelling in walls or ceilings (especially around kitchens and bathrooms) or a musty odor all indicate water damage and, potentially, the presence of moisture and mold.</p>
<p>4. Fungus growth inside cabinets, behind drawers and built-ins. Fungus could mean that there has been water damage. Since water falls down, look for the source above the mold.</p>
<p>5. Blocked drains or pipes will cause future problems and may have already created sewage backups.</p>
<p>6. Black cobwebs, greasy gray residue on walls and/or a strong oily odor. This could point to potential soot damage or a malfunctioning furnace.</p>
<p>7. An older home with extensive renovations. Check with the city for pulled permits in order to get remolding details. If asbestos is present and has been disturbed, be sure it’s been remediated by a certified specialist.</p>
<p>8. Excessive painting of every nook, cranny, door and floor may mean that the seller is covering up mold.</p>
<p>9. Discolored subflooring. From the basement, check the subflooring above for stains and small holes, both caused by mold.</p>
<p>10. Air Quality. The air quality within a home tells a lot about the home’s condition. Be sure to include air and surface testing in your home inspection. It’s a few hundred dollars well spent.</p>
<p>“Time and technique are the most important factors of effective clean-up and preventing future problems like mold or contamination,” Mastronardi explains. “Ideally, professional cleanup begins within a few days of the damage; technicians are trained, certified or licensed; and equipment is specialized and up to date.”</p>
<p>Ask the seller to explain how the damage was fixed. Plus, check out the company that performed the repairs to ensure it has industry-recommended certification. If needed, follow-up with the seller or repairing company for specific repair details.</p></div>
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