Archive for the ‘Real Estate’ Category
What do buyers really want
January 21st, 2010 | 
Author: When people call me, typically one of the first requests they make is for a house in a “nice” neighborhood. And this makes sense to want a neighborhood that is safe and enjoyable. But there are some benefits to buying real estate in the rough part of town or on the wrong side of the tracks. This article highlights some of them.
- There is less worry of your neighborhood going downhill because it is already downhill. Good neighborhoods can get bad and bad neighborhoods can get better. Since the price usually reflects the current condition, buying in a neighborhood that has room for improvement might be a good idea.
- If you are buying a rental, you usually get better cash flow in rough neighborhoods. If you are renting your property, there are more renters and they are more long term. It’s difficult to rent in good neighborhoods because fewer people are looking to rent and those who do are generally there short term while they look for a house to buy.
- You can look better in comparison to other landlords. Landlords in rough areas frequently don’t maintain their properties as well as people in nice areas. Therefore, if you maintain your properties, you can blow away your competition, and charge more for it.
- If you are in a rough neighborhood, you can propose that your property change will improve the neighborhood and you have a better chance of getting a different zoning. Conversely, if you are in a good neighborhood, it’s hard to make the same argument.
- You can buy more property. If you want to spend 500k, you can either buy one house in an upscale neighborhood or six or seven houses in a rougher neighborhood.
- They’re more recession proof. When the economy goes south, real estate in rough neighborhoods is less affected.
In summary, I am not saying you have to buy in a bad neighborhood. But simply that if you are looking for long term investments sometimes its a good idea to wander over the tracks and look around a bit.
Posted in Real Estate | 
Tags: Bad Neighborhood, Better Chance, Buying Real Estate, Cash Flow, Current Condition, Economy, Good Neighborhood, Landlords, Nice Neighborhood, People, Recession Proof, Rough Areas, Rough Neighborhood, Seven Houses, Term Investments, Upscale Neighborhood, Worry, Wrong Side Of The Tracks | 
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Short Sales vs. Foreclosure: Tips for Working with Mortgage Lenders
Simon Volkov By:
Most people are confused about short sales vs. foreclosure. Both are options presented by mortgage lenders when borrowers can no longer afford to stay in their home. Homeowners facing foreclosure or attempting to negotiate short sales should consult with their bank’s loss mitigation department to determine which option is available.
Similarities and differences exist with short sales vs. foreclosure. Neither option allows borrowers to keep their home. Short sales allow borrowers to sell their property at a discounted rate to satisfy the balance owed on their mortgage note. Foreclosure forces homeowners to return the property to the lender and relinquish all monies vested in the property.
Short sales are usually the better solution for borrowers delinquent on their mortgage loan, but not yet entered into foreclosure. This type of arrangement requires approval from the mortgage lender and requires borrowers to undergo a financial audit.
When borrowers become delinquent on their mortgage loan, their account is turned over to a loss mitigator. These individuals work with borrowers to resolve the delinquency. Loss mitigators will first attempt to obtain a loan modification if borrowers are able to make future mortgage payments.
When borrowers do not qualify for a modified loan, banks can offer the option of a short sale if the borrower and their property meet specific criteria. In order to determine eligibility, borrowers must submit a short sale packet consisting of various financial documents such as bank and credit card statements, payroll records, tax returns, and a list of income and expenses.
Most loss mitigators require submission of a short sale hardship letter. The letter of hardship allows borrowers the opportunity to explain circumstances which caused the mortgage delinquency. Loss mitigators prefer handwritten letters that not only include a timeline of events, but any actions taken to overcome financial difficulties.
Depending on the lender’s policies, borrowers must either have a buyer lined up or list their property through a realtor. If banks allow borrowers to list their property, the home must be sold within a few months. Otherwise, the lender will commence with foreclosure proceedings.
It is important to understand the type of short sale available through the lender. Two types exist and include Payment in Full or Deficiency Judgment. Payment is Full is the preferred choice because is releases the borrower from paying additional funds.
When banks issue deficiency judgments, the borrower is held responsible for the difference between the sale price and loan balance. Deficiency judgments can amount to several thousand dollars and take years to repay. Judgments remain on the borrowers’ credit history until paid in full and can prohibit them from obtaining any type of credit for several years.
Foreclosure remains on borrowers’ credit reports for up to ten years. The foreclosure process can take between three and twelve months to complete. Once property is foreclosed it is placed for sale through public auction. If the property does not sell, it is returned to the lender.
Bank owned homes are sold through the bank’s loss mitigation department or local realtors. When foreclosed real estate sells for less than the loan balance, mortgage lenders can issue deficiency judgments against the homeowner.
One solution to prevent foreclosure deficiency judgments is to request a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure. Similar to ‘Payment in Full’, a deed in lieu releases borrowers from repayment of the deficiency amount.
Most people are confused about short sales vs. foreclosure. Both are options presented by mortgage lenders when borrowers can no longer afford to stay in their home. Homeowners facing foreclosure or attempting to negotiate short sales should consult with their bank’s loss mitigation department to determine which option is available.
Similarities and differences exist with short sales vs. foreclosure. Neither option allows borrowers to keep their home. Short sales allow borrowers to sell their property at a discounted rate to satisfy the balance owed on their mortgage note. Foreclosure forces homeowners to return the property to the lender and relinquish all monies vested in the property.
Short sales are usually the better solution for borrowers delinquent on their mortgage loan, but not yet entered into foreclosure. This type of arrangement requires approval from the mortgage lender and requires borrowers to undergo a financial audit.
When borrowers become delinquent on their mortgage loan, their account is turned over to a loss mitigator. These individuals work with borrowers to resolve the delinquency. Loss mitigators will first attempt to obtain a loan modification if borrowers are able to make future mortgage payments.
When borrowers do not qualify for a modified loan, banks can offer the option of a short sale if the borrower and their property meet specific criteria. In order to determine eligibility, borrowers must submit a short sale packet consisting of various financial documents such as bank and credit card statements, payroll records, tax returns, and a list of income and expenses.
Most loss mitigators require submission of a short sale hardship letter. The letter of hardship allows borrowers the opportunity to explain circumstances which caused the mortgage delinquency. Loss mitigators prefer handwritten letters that not only include a timeline of events, but any actions taken to overcome financial difficulties.
Depending on the lender’s policies, borrowers must either have a buyer lined up or list their property through a realtor. If banks allow borrowers to list their property, the home must be sold within a few months. Otherwise, the lender will commence with foreclosure proceedings.
It is important to understand the type of short sale available through the lender. Two types exist and include Payment in Full or Deficiency Judgment. Payment is Full is the preferred choice because is releases the borrower from paying additional funds.
When banks issue deficiency judgments, the borrower is held responsible for the difference between the sale price and loan balance. Deficiency judgments can amount to several thousand dollars and take years to repay. Judgments remain on the borrowers’ credit history until paid in full and can prohibit them from obtaining any type of credit for several years.
Foreclosure remains on borrowers’ credit reports for up to ten years. The foreclosure process can take between three and twelve months to complete. Once property is foreclosed it is placed for sale through public auction. If the property does not sell, it is returned to the lender.
Bank owned homes are sold through the bank’s loss mitigation department or local realtors. When foreclosed real estate sells for less than the loan balance, mortgage lenders can issue deficiency judgments against the homeowner.
One solution to prevent foreclosure deficiency judgments is to request a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure. Similar to ‘Payment in Full’, a deed in lieu releases borrowers from repayment of the deficiency amount.
Buying Real Estate Using Rent-To-Own And Lease-Purchase Options
Real Estate Advisor By:
Owing a home is a big part of the American dream. But not everyone is fortunate enough to become a homeowner due to delimiting factors such as insufficient income, bankruptcy, bad or no credit, loss of employment, etc. For people with such troubles, owning a home is a distant dream and some of these people resign themselves to a lifetime of renting. But such people are not without options. Rent-to-own, which is also known as a lease-purchase option, can be an excellent alternative available to some people who are currently unable to buy a home.
A rent-to-own or lease-purchase option is an agreement between a prospective home buyer and a home seller. The agreement is basically a rental contract with a right to purchase the property after a period of time (usually 1 year). When a home seller offers a lease-purchase option, what they are really offering is the option to rent the house at some monthly rate, and to lock in the sales price of the home now, even though the prospective buyer would not actually purchase the house until a later time (if at all).
Here is a hypothetical example. Let’s say the monthly rent for a home is $1700. Under a lease-purchase option, a prospective buyer would rent the home for the $1700 a month, but would also pay an additional premium (e.g., $200-$300) every month for the option to buy the home after a period of time (usually 1 year). So in this example, the total monthly rent is actually $2000, but $200-$300 of the money will be applied toward buying the house at a later time. In other words, the home seller would apply the $200-$300 extra paid every month toward the prospective buyer’s down payment at the end of the year.
The good news for prospective home buyers is that it allows them to lock in the purchase price of the home now, even though they are not purchasing the home until a later time. The bad news is that if a buyer decides not to purchase the home at the end of lease term, the seller often keeps the premium amount paid over the year, although this is usually a point of negotiation.
Prospective home buyers should know that many of the terms described above are negotiable such as how much the monthly rent will be, how much extra has to be paid every month for the option fee (if any), the length of the lease term, etc. The other issue to consider is if it makes sense to lock in a home purchase price now in markets where real estate prices are still declining.
When compared to renting, a lease-purchase can be an attractive alternative because it gives prospective buyers an opportunity to own a home before they normally would be able to. There are some advantages to a lease-purchase option such as:
1) Low or No Initial Down Payment. Many lease-purchase options do not require an initial down payment.
2) Equity Advantage. At the end of the lease term, the value of a home may have appreciated over time, which benefits the purchaser.
3) Living Experience. Prospective home buyers have the opportunity to try out a home and neighborhood before purchasing the property.
4) Leverage Advantage. With just a small investment, a prospective buyer can control a property; yet still have the option of not buying the home if market conditions don’t warrant it.
Rent-to-own or lease-purchase option can be an effective strategy to home ownership. However, there are both positive and negative aspects to this type of approach (as described above). A good real estate agent can help you navigate the complex world of rent-to-own and lease-purchase option properties.
Owing a home is a big part of the American dream. But not everyone is fortunate enough to become a homeowner due to delimiting factors such as insufficient income, bankruptcy, bad or no credit, loss of employment, etc. For people with such troubles, owning a home is a distant dream and some of these people resign themselves to a lifetime of renting. But such people are not without options. Rent-to-own, which is also known as a lease-purchase option, can be an excellent alternative available to some people who are currently unable to buy a home.
A rent-to-own or lease-purchase option is an agreement between a prospective home buyer and a home seller. The agreement is basically a rental contract with a right to purchase the property after a period of time (usually 1 year). When a home seller offers a lease-purchase option, what they are really offering is the option to rent the house at some monthly rate, and to lock in the sales price of the home now, even though the prospective buyer would not actually purchase the house until a later time (if at all).
Here is a hypothetical example. Let’s say the monthly rent for a home is $1700. Under a lease-purchase option, a prospective buyer would rent the home for the $1700 a month, but would also pay an additional premium (e.g., $200-$300) every month for the option to buy the home after a period of time (usually 1 year). So in this example, the total monthly rent is actually $2000, but $200-$300 of the money will be applied toward buying the house at a later time. In other words, the home seller would apply the $200-$300 extra paid every month toward the prospective buyer’s down payment at the end of the year.
The good news for prospective home buyers is that it allows them to lock in the purchase price of the home now, even though they are not purchasing the home until a later time. The bad news is that if a buyer decides not to purchase the home at the end of lease term, the seller often keeps the premium amount paid over the year, although this is usually a point of negotiation.
Prospective home buyers should know that many of the terms described above are negotiable such as how much the monthly rent will be, how much extra has to be paid every month for the option fee (if any), the length of the lease term, etc. The other issue to consider is if it makes sense to lock in a home purchase price now in markets where real estate prices are still declining.
When compared to renting, a lease-purchase can be an attractive alternative because it gives prospective buyers an opportunity to own a home before they normally would be able to. There are some advantages to a lease-purchase option such as:
1) Low or No Initial Down Payment. Many lease-purchase options do not require an initial down payment.
2) Equity Advantage. At the end of the lease term, the value of a home may have appreciated over time, which benefits the purchaser.
3) Living Experience. Prospective home buyers have the opportunity to try out a home and neighborhood before purchasing the property.
4) Leverage Advantage. With just a small investment, a prospective buyer can control a property; yet still have the option of not buying the home if market conditions don’t warrant it.
Rent-to-own or lease-purchase option can be an effective strategy to home ownership. However, there are both positive and negative aspects to this type of approach (as described above). A good real estate agent can help you navigate the complex world of rent-to-own and lease-purchase option properties.
Reed Lattin By:
The sub-prime mortgage crisis that struck Phoenix and other places in the US really made an impact on many families. In fact, there are many who are facing foreclosures. So some borrowers who are in danger of losing their homes are now thinking if Phoenix short sales are for them. If you want to know whether a foreclosure or a short sale, such as Phoenix short sale and Arizona short sale, is the better deal for you, read on.
People who are not familiar with Arizona short sale laws often think that just letting go of the ownership to their homes is better than selling it through a Phoenix short sale. However, foreclosure is something that you really must avoid. Aside from losing your house, foreclosure could bring a host of other problems, including having bad credit and ending up with a huge debt. With these things in mind, it seems that any other alternative, including Phoenix short sales, is more advantageous compared to foreclosures.
Ideally, you can sell your home at a much higher price than you bought it. However, with a financial crisis, this is like shooting for the moon. Unless you are talking about markdown sale like a short sale, it may be hard to sell your home. So what is your next choice? A Phoenix short sale or an Arizona short sale is your next viable option. So what are Phoenix short sales? Basically, a short sale, such as Phoenix short sales, is a discount sale of your home. This means that you agree on selling your home at a much lower price. And the money you get will be used to pay off your mortgage. Some lenders are willing to forego of the balance of the loan if homeowners agree on short sales. So Phoenix short sales allow you to fully satisfy your debt even if the amount paid is lower than the amount owed.
People who are facing foreclosure should consider Phoenix short sale or Arizona short sale. This is especially true for those who live in Arizona, where prices of homes have plummeted. Although people end up having neither home nor money in Phoenix short sales, at least they will be able to get rid of their mortgage and other debts. With Phoenix short sales you can use your income or money in your savings account to start on a new slate instead of using hard-earned cash for mortgage payment. And since you might need to borrow again in future, you have to avoid bad credit rating. You can do this with Phoenix short sales.
Some think there may be a few disadvantages with Arizona short sale or Phoenix short sale, such as paying taxes for the difference between Phoenix short sales proceeds and the mortgage amounts. However, this has been solved in because of legislations are already being made to omit paying additional taxes for Phoenix short sales. Once you have already decided that Phoenix short sales are for you, the best thing to do is find a real estate agent to help you. It is not really very easy to find potential investors on your own. Besides, with the help of professionals, Phoenix short sales will be made expeditiously and will be handled well.
The sub-prime mortgage crisis that struck Phoenix and other places in the US really made an impact on many families. In fact, there are many who are facing foreclosures. So some borrowers who are in danger of losing their homes are now thinking if Phoenix short sales are for them. If you want to know whether a foreclosure or a short sale, such as Phoenix short sale and Arizona short sale, is the better deal for you, read on.
People who are not familiar with Arizona short sale laws often think that just letting go of the ownership to their homes is better than selling it through a Phoenix short sale. However, foreclosure is something that you really must avoid. Aside from losing your house, foreclosure could bring a host of other problems, including having bad credit and ending up with a huge debt. With these things in mind, it seems that any other alternative, including Phoenix short sales, is more advantageous compared to foreclosures.
Ideally, you can sell your home at a much higher price than you bought it. However, with a financial crisis, this is like shooting for the moon. Unless you are talking about markdown sale like a short sale, it may be hard to sell your home. So what is your next choice? A Phoenix short sale or an Arizona short sale is your next viable option. So what are Phoenix short sales? Basically, a short sale, such as Phoenix short sales, is a discount sale of your home. This means that you agree on selling your home at a much lower price. And the money you get will be used to pay off your mortgage. Some lenders are willing to forego of the balance of the loan if homeowners agree on short sales. So Phoenix short sales allow you to fully satisfy your debt even if the amount paid is lower than the amount owed.
People who are facing foreclosure should consider Phoenix short sale or Arizona short sale. This is especially true for those who live in Arizona, where prices of homes have plummeted. Although people end up having neither home nor money in Phoenix short sales, at least they will be able to get rid of their mortgage and other debts. With Phoenix short sales you can use your income or money in your savings account to start on a new slate instead of using hard-earned cash for mortgage payment. And since you might need to borrow again in future, you have to avoid bad credit rating. You can do this with Phoenix short sales.
Some think there may be a few disadvantages with Arizona short sale or Phoenix short sale, such as paying taxes for the difference between Phoenix short sales proceeds and the mortgage amounts. However, this has been solved in because of legislations are already being made to omit paying additional taxes for Phoenix short sales. Once you have already decided that Phoenix short sales are for you, the best thing to do is find a real estate agent to help you. It is not really very easy to find potential investors on your own. Besides, with the help of professionals, Phoenix short sales will be made expeditiously and will be handled well.
Real Estate Business By:
LuxuReal International, Inc. is a top real estate marketing firm which markets only top Philippine Real Estate properties. LuxuReal International, Inc. aims to provide “luxury living within your reach”, with an array of condominiums, condotels, house & lots, and resorts developed by top names in the Philippine real estate industry. Among the roster of featured developers are top Philippine Real Estate companies such as Avida Land, Ayala Land, DMCI, Earth+Style, G2 Global, Megaworld, SMDC and Vista Land. Featured properties include Ridgewood-towers Taguig, Ponticelli Daang Hari Alabang and Canyon Woods Tagaytay among others.
In its website, www.myluxureal.com, home buyers can have a quick search for a property in preference to location, property type and price. Photos have been included for each property for a better view of sample unit. The website posts brief information such as the amenities, location, nearest road that travellers are familiar with, the typical venues you can see near the property and some write ups of featured properties. You can also browse either by developer or by the latest properties. If you want to be updated you can check out their news and events, and do not forget to view their latest promos posted for some properties to get discounts, add-on furnishing and more.
LuxuReal International is also looking for partners for Philippine real estate projects such as Global Sales Managers, Brokers and Agents and Global Referral Partners.
For more details on LuxuReal International, Inc., visit their website at http://www.myluxureal.com and experience luxury living within your reach.
For inquiries visit http://www.myluxureal.com/contact-us/
LuxuReal International has the primary goal of fully satisfying their customers desire to invest and find their dream homes, condos, farm lots, vacation & beach resorts. They are partnering with the best property developers so that they too can provide their customers the best value for customer’s investment.
LuxuReal International, Inc. is a top real estate marketing firm which markets only top Philippine Real Estate properties. LuxuReal International, Inc. aims to provide “luxury living within your reach”, with an array of condominiums, condotels, house & lots, and resorts developed by top names in the Philippine real estate industry. Among the roster of featured developers are top Philippine Real Estate companies such as Avida Land, Ayala Land, DMCI, Earth+Style, G2 Global, Megaworld, SMDC and Vista Land. Featured properties include Ridgewood-towers Taguig, Ponticelli Daang Hari Alabang and Canyon Woods Tagaytay among others.
In its website, www.myluxureal.com, home buyers can have a quick search for a property in preference to location, property type and price. Photos have been included for each property for a better view of sample unit. The website posts brief information such as the amenities, location, nearest road that travellers are familiar with, the typical venues you can see near the property and some write ups of featured properties. You can also browse either by developer or by the latest properties. If you want to be updated you can check out their news and events, and do not forget to view their latest promos posted for some properties to get discounts, add-on furnishing and more.
LuxuReal International is also looking for partners for Philippine real estate projects such as Global Sales Managers, Brokers and Agents and Global Referral Partners.
For more details on LuxuReal International, Inc., visit their website at http://www.myluxureal.com and experience luxury living within your reach.
For inquiries visit http://www.myluxureal.com/contact-us/
LuxuReal International has the primary goal of fully satisfying their customers desire to invest and find their dream homes, condos, farm lots, vacation & beach resorts. They are partnering with the best property developers so that they too can provide their customers the best value for customer’s investment.
