Articles Index
How To Do a Short Sale
The fundamentals behind a short sale in real estate, why lenders may accept a real estate short sale, how to do short sales, and how a short sale financially affects sellers, whether or not the seller is in foreclosure.
HOPE for Homeowners Refinance Through FHA
The HOPE for Homeowners program allows an FHA refinance for upside-down home owners, touted as relief from foreclosure or short sales, providing home owners qualify for the FHA program.
Book Review of Real Estate the Rome Way
Review of Margaret Rome's book, Real Estate the Rome Way. First-person perspective from a top-producing real estate agent about what it takes to forge a career in real estate.
About the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit
Explanation of the 2009 $8,000 home buyer tax credit. How to qualify for the home buyer tax credit.
6 Things to Know Before You Buy That Short Sale House
How to figure out if buying that short sale house will work. Questions to ask the short sale listing agent, and how to research the home's history before writing a short sale offer.
Six Things to Know About Earnest Money Deposits on Bank-Owned Homes
How earnest money deposits are handled on bank-owned homes. Why some REO lenders make earnest money deposits non-refundable, and how to deal with non-refundable deposits.
Beware When Buying a Flipper Home
Before buying a flipper home, find out the history of that flipper because you may get turned down for a mortgage. Why lenders reject loans on flipper homes from qualified borrowers.
What is Like-Kind Real Estate?
Definition of like-kind real estate and how like-kind properties are treated in a tax-deferred 1031 exchange.
How to Price a Short Sale
How to figure out how much your short sale home is worth on the market. Pricing your short sale home to sell and at a price acceptable to your lender.
7 Short Sale Selling Mistakes
Top 7 mistakes made by short sale sellers, and why some short sales are doomed from the start.
How to Change a Shower Head
How to change a shower head by removing the old shower head and installing a new shower head.
5 Ways to Find a Short Sale Listing Agent
How to find a short sale listing agent. Why it's more important to hire an agent with short sale experience than a neighborhood real estate agent to sell your home on a short sale.
Will a Short Sale Ruin Credit?
Will a short sale ruin your credit rating? What is better: a short sale or a foreclosure? Length of time before a home owner can buy another home after a short sale or foreclosure.
The Nehemiah Program and FHA Loans
Using the Nehemiah program gives the buyer a down payment and closing costs -- up to 6% of the sales price -- when used in conjunction with an FHA loan. While Nehemiah marries perfectly with FHA, other types of loans are also permissible under Nehemiah.
Top 5 Lowball Offer Mistakes
Top 5 mistakes buyers make when writing lowball offers. Why sellers reject lowball offers. How to avoid making mistakes when writing a lowball offer.
Tax Breaks for Victims of Natural Disasters
How U.S. taxpayers can deduct losses from a natural disaster. The limitations for natural disaster and casualty loss tax deductions.
12 Days of Christmas for Home Sellers
Real estate angle on the 12 days of Christmas. What did your agent give you to during the 12 days of Christmas?
Is a Delaware Statutory Trust a Safe Real Investment Investment?
Is a Delaware Statutory Trust a safe real estate investment? How you can do a 1031 Exchange or buy directly into a Delaware Statutory Trust.
Why You Can't Buy That Bank Repo Home
Qualifications for buying bank repos. Why banks may refuse to sell bank repos to certain types of buyers. Bank repo guidelines for buying fixer homes.
Top 3 Mistakes Home Buyers Make When Obtaining Loan Approval
Top 3 mistakes home buyers make when obtaining loan approval and preapproval letters. How buyers sabotage offers by submitting the wrong loan approval letters.
How to Do Tenants in Common 1031 Exchanges
How to defer taxes for investment purposes through Tenants in Common 1031 Exchanges. Types of property that qualify for a tenants in common 1031 exchange, understanding section 1031 of the IRS tax code and completing tax-deferred exchanges.
How to Do 1031 Exchanges
The specifics of a 1031 exchange; why 1031 exchanges defer capital gains taxes and how to qualify for a 1031 exchange.
How a Qualified Intermediary Faciliates a 1031 Exchange
What does a Qualified Intermediary do to facilitate a 1031 exchange? Why 1031 exchanges may require the services of a third party, called the Qualified Intermediary, to comply with IRS regulations.
Why Do I Need a Real Estate Agent?
Why you might need a real estate to buy or sell a home. What do you have to gain or lose by not hiring a real estate agent?
How to Find Your Neighborhood Businesses
How to find neighborhood businesses in a new area. Adjusting to your new home and getting to know your neighborhood business owners.