Monday, August 25, 2008

Home Related Actions: A

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands if not millions of homeowners are realizing this fact in today s depressed housing market. The worst scenarios for home owners are those situations where there is a looming ARM adjustment in a year to three years where the homeowner had planned to refi or sell before mortgage interest rates adjust higher.



It is mostly a result of either a" no money down" home purchase or tapping that ever- growing equity with some form of 100% home financing. Have you ever noticed Adjustable Rate Mortgages NEVER go down? For some that have a fixed rate, it s just a matter of waiting until home values go up. It s SO painful! In many, if not most homes this has historically been the case. The exceptions to this waiting strategy occur in very localized areas where the economy has gone down the toilet giving homeowners a double whammy.


If you stay in one house long enough the value will eventually go back up. So what s a homeowner to do? We will cover them in two parts. Actually there are a number of things that can be done. Part 1 is related to financing and Part 2 is related to the home itself. If you acquired a sub- prime mortgage due to credit issues, begin a full court press on raising your credit scores. Financing related actions: a.


This is too broad a subject to cover here but you must start TODAY! If you had to get a stated income sub- prime or" Alt A" mortgage due to income that is difficult to document, you need to talk with your CPA or accountant. Go to our website in the upper part of the page above my toll free number and click on the link for guaranteed help. b. If you are using aggressive tax tactics to shelter some earned income you may need to need reconsider, especially if the benefit was a one- time tax reduction. You could even file an amended return for the prior year or two. Remember, you are paying a higher interest rate for as much as 40 years. Work with both your accountant and mortgage professional to analyze the situation.


Another thing you could do is to sell a car to get rid of a car payment. Your goal is to have enough documentable income to qualify for a conforming mortgage, which will have a lower interest rate throughout the life of the loan. c. If you have to replace it, buy a much cheaper car or let a non- borrowing spouse finance it so it doesn t hit your DTI. Get an accurate appraisal even if you must have a new one done. Home related actions: a. Pay close attention to negative adjustments between your home and the comparables. Yes you may have to put more money in your home to significantly increase the value but you will do it on the absolute cheap( cheap price not cheap quality) .


It should give you a starting point on what modifications you can make. Don t hesitate to pick up the phone and ask your appraiser what should be done. The most important single item most homeowners overlook is STREET APPEAL! A good example would be to finish a basement or eliminate some condition items noted by the appraiser. b. At resale, it s everything. Much of the work must and should be done by the homeowner.


Cute houses resell better and faster in ALL markets. c. If you use contractors, only use them for critical building code items like electrical, structural and some plumbing, otherwise you could make your situation worse. d. It s hard to get your money from$ 10, 000 dollars worth of granite countertops in many locations much less make money. e. Consult a realtor about what buyers want and don t over improve for your neighborhood. If you must sell or want to sell, clean and depersonalize your structure. There you have it. Nothing on the floor and empty looking closets, personal photos gone to storage, no wild colored paint or special paint treatment( There IS a reason relocation companies favor ivory. ), and no broken ANYTHING!


So stop being depressed and start taking action. Good Luck! A planned set of actions is the best cure for many anxieties.

Read more...

This Makes Buying Or Moving Into A Valrico Home Is A Good Choice - Finance and Real Estate Articles:

Located north of Tampa, Valrico is an unincorporated community within the Hillsborough County, featuring the typical, Florida adavantages and disadvantages of a small town. If you want to relocate to Tampa Bay Area, or from Tampa, Florida to a smaller town, one of the options to be considered is Valrico.

Why Buy Property Or Real Estate In The Limousin I Ask- And The Answers Are There Many - Finance and Real Estate Articles:

Why buy property or real estate in the Limousin I ask- and the answers are there many.

Many Individuals Choose To Rent Out Their Property In Cyprus Instead Of Selling - Finance and Real Estate Articles:

While Cyprus is a very popular location the value of the property there seems to fluctuate quite often. When the prices dip pounce on them because you may not get such a good deal in the future.

No comments: