Wednesday, October 29, 2008
National Trend of Home Price Declines Continues into the Second Half of 2008
CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS ON RESIDENTIAL VACANCIES AND HOMEOWNERSHIP
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Existing-home sales projected to rise next year
Housing starts, including multifamily units, are likely to fall 28.2 percent to 973,000 units this year, and come in around 843,000 in 2009 as builders continue to clear the accumulation in inventory.The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage will probably average 6.1 percent in the fourth quarter and rise gradually to 6.6 percent by the end of 2009.
Housing affordability index is expected to average 18 percentage points higher this year than in 2007.The unemployment rate is projected to average 6.4 percent in the fourth quarter and then average 6.6 percent in 2009. Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, is estimated at 4.0 percent for 2008 and 2.0 percent next year. Inflation-adjusted disposable personal income is forecast to grow 1.7 percent this year and 1.0 percent in 2009.— NAR
Pending Home Sales Up Sharply
The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in August, jumped 7.4 percent to 93.4 from an upwardly revised reading of 87.0 in July, and is 8.8 percent higher than August 2007 when it stood at 85.8. The index is at the highest level since June 2007 when it stood at 101.4.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Buying Bank Owned Properties (REO)
You’ve watched the late-night infomercials and you’re ready to do the bank “a favor” and take a problem off their hands. Plus, you expect to make "a killing" in the process. Sounds great and it might just happen, but first you should take a look at some facts and get prepared.
REO vs. Foreclosure
An REO (Real Estate Owned) is a property that goes back to the mortgage company after an unsuccessful foreclosure auction. You see, most foreclosure auctions do not even result in bids. After all, if there was enough equity in the property to satisfy the loan, the owner would have probably sold the property and paid off the bank. That is why the property ends up at a foreclosure or trustee sale.
Foreclosure sales begin with a minimum bid that includes the loan balance, any accrued interest, plus attorney's fees and any costs association with the foreclosure process. In order to bid at a foreclosure auction, you must have a cashier's check in your hand for the full amount of your bid. If you are the successful bidder, you receive the property in "as is" condition, which may include someone still living in the property. There may also be other liens against the property.
Since what is owed to the bank is almost always more than what the property is worth, very few foreclosure auctions result in a successful sale. Then the property "reverts" to the bank. It becomes an REO, or "real estate owned" property.
REO Properties For Sale
The bank now owns the property and the mortgage no longer exists. The bank will handle the eviction, if necessary, and may do some repairs. They will negotiate with the IRS for removal of tax liens and pay off any homeowner’s association dues. As a purchaser of an REO property, the buyer will receive a title and the opportunity to investigate the property.
A bank owned property might not be a great bargain. Do your homework before making an offer. Make sure that the price you pay (if you’re successful) is comparable to other homes in the neighborhood. Consider the costs of renovation, including time to complete them. Don’t get caught up in a ‘bidding war’ and pay over market value. It’s an old myth that “foreclosures” are a bargain.
How Banks Sell REO's
Each bank/lender works a little differently, but they all have similar goals. They want to get the best price possible and have no interest in "dumping" real estate cheaply. Generally, banks have an entire department set up to manage their REO inventory.
Once you make an offer to purchase, banks generally present a "counter-offer." It may be at a higher price than you expect, but they have to demonstrate to investors, shareholders and auditors that they attempted to get the highest price possible. You should plan to counter the counter-offer.
Your offer or counter-offer will probably have to be reviewed and approved by several individuals and companies. Even once an offer is accepted, the bank may insert wording like “..subject to corporate approval with 5 days."
Property Condition
Banks always want to sell a property in "as is" condition. Most will provide a Section 1 pest certification, but not unless you include it in your offer and negotiate the point. They will allow you to get all the inspections you want (at your expense), but they may not agree to do any repairs.
Your offer should include an inspection contingency period that allows you to terminate the sale if the inspections reveal unanticipated damages that the bank will not correct.
Even though you agreed to “as is," always give the bank another opportunity to make repairs or give you a credit after you’ve completed your inspections. Sometimes they’ll re-negotiate to save the transaction instead of putting the property back on the market, but don’t take it for granted.
Banks do not want to see a lot of proprietary disclosures; they are exempt from the California Seller’s Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS-14). If there are real estate agents involved, either representing you or the bank, those agents are required to provide you their disclosure statements.
Most banks will not provide financing on their REOs but it doesn’t hurt to ask. Especially if the property has extensive damage and you are purchasing it "as is."
Hopefully these tips will manage your expectations. Remember that REO's sell at pretty close to full market value and are not the deals presented on late night television.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Green real estate
Existing Home Sales Down in March
Foreclosures UP in First Quarter of 2008
Tax Credit Would Get Buyers Off Fence
NAR said the tactic has been successful before; A 1975 temporary tax credit helped to “clear an over-supply of newly constructed homes during an economic downturn.”“We urge Congress to move quickly to conference and final passage of this tax incentive,” said Jim Helsel, NAR treasurer and a partner in RSR, REALTORS®, in Lemoyne, Penn. “Failure to act quickly could further stall the housing market, hurting many of our members, who are predominantly small businesses owners and self-employed individuals.” Testifying for NAR before the House Committee on Small Business, Helsel said there are “three critical features for an optimal home buyer tax credit.”
The credit should apply to all residential real estate — not solely foreclosed properties.
It should be temporary and only apply for a short period of time.
It should provide higher income limits than those the House has imposed, particularly for single individuals. “If these measures are put in place, many individuals who are sitting on the fence will take steps to buy a home.
This would not only help homeowners, buyers and sellers, but also it could expand activity as individuals furnish, paint and improve their homes.
This would help boost the nation’s economy,” Helsel said.NAR also discussed the importance of updating the “passive loss” rules that were enacted in 1986 to bring small investors back to real estate. The passive loss rules were not indexed for inflation, making the tax incentive irrelevant in most cases, Helsel said.
Foreclosures, Delinquencies Hit Records
The seasonally adjusted delinquency rate for mortgage loans on one-to-four-unit residential properties stood at 6.35 percent of all loans outstanding at the end of the first quarter of 2008 on a seasonally adjusted (SA) basis, up 53 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2007, and up 151 basis points from one year ago, according to MBA’s National Delinquency Survey. The delinquency rate includes loans that are at least one payment past due but does not include loans in the process of foreclosure.
The percentage of loans in the foreclosure process was 2.47 percent at the end of the first quarter, an increase of 43 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2007 and 119 basis points from one year ago.
While these numbers seem disturbingly high, experts note that certain states and certain types of loans are skewing the national figures upward. Specifically, most of the problems step from prime and subprime adjustable-rate loans 60 and 90 days past due in California and Florida.
The 30-day delinquency rate is still below levels seen in 2002.
“The problems in California and Florida are extraordinary and they are the main drivers of the national trend,” said Jay Brinkmann, MBA’s Vice President for Research and Economics. The quarterly rate of foreclosure starts on subprime ARM loans in California was 9.24 percent. This rate, combined with Florida’s rate of 8.25 percent, drove up the national average foreclosure start rate to the point where 43 states were below the national average of 6.32 percent.
California saw a total of approximately 109,000 foreclosure starts and Florida 77,000. The next highest states were Texas, Michigan and Ohio with between 24,000 and 20,000 each.About 20 states had drops in their number of foreclosures started, including Michigan, Ohio and Indiana where problems have been the most severe for the last several years, Brinkmann said.
Source: The Mortgage Bankers Association (06/06/2008)
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Saturday, January 12, 2008
Governor to Act on Transit Bill
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-legis_11_webjan11,1,1176332.story?track=rss&ctrack=1&cset=true
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/735936,ctaupdate011008.article
Friday, January 04, 2008
SEVEN WAYS TO GET A JUMP START ON YOUR TAXES
Earlier is better when it comes to working on your taxes. Taxpayers are encouraged to get a head start on tax preparation, especially since early filers avoid the last minute rush and get their refunds sooner.
Here are seven easy ways to get a good jump on your taxes long before the April deadline is here:
- Gather your records in advance. Make sure you have all the records you need, including W-2s and 1099s. Don’t forget to save a copy for your files.
- Get the right forms. They’re available around the clock on the IRS Web site, IRS.gov.
- Take your time. Don’t forget to leave room for a coffee break when filling out your tax return as rushing can mean making a mistake.
- Double-check your math and verify all Social Security numbers. These are among the most common errors found on tax returns. Taking care will reduce your chance of hearing from the IRS and speed up your refund.
- E-filing is easy. E-filing catches math errors and provides confirmation your return has been received and gives you a faster refund.
- Get the fastest refund. When you e-file file early, you receive your refund faster. When you choose direct deposit, you receive your refund sooner than waiting for a check.
- Don’t panic. If you have a problem or a question, remember the IRS is there to help. Try the IRS Web site at IRS.gov or call the IRS customer service number at 800-829-1040.
Are you concerned that your efforts to get ready early may be affected by the Alternative Minimum Tax legislation passed by Congress in December? Most individuals will not be impacted, so it is still a good idea to get an early start on your preparations. Even if you are filing one of five forms affected by the recent legislation, the IRS expects to be ready for your return by February 11. You can review a list of the impacted forms and find out the latest news about when the IRS will be ready for your return at IRS.gov.