Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Real Estate Buzz.....

Bank of America, the nation’s largest mortgage service company since acquiring Countrywide in 2008, announced that they will resume foreclosing on homes Wednesday, December 1st. This comes after the banking giant self-imposed a foreclosure moratorium in the wake of the “robo-signing” scandal that received wide spread media attention in 2009. While this news is undoubtedly another blow to beleaguered homeowners, it comes none too soon for investors looking to purchase post foreclosure properties. In the final quarter of 2010, investors have found slim pickings at Trustees’ Sale auctions across the country.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also made an announcement on November 24th that they will resume the auction sale of homes that have loans serviced by Bank of America, Chase, PNC Financial and others.

The last several years have seen several cessations and moratoriums on foreclosure proceedings that have caused the pool of available investment properties to dry up until the next wave of foreclosures begins. Many agents have struggled during these times to find suitable properties for their clients. My unique approach to securing homes for my investor/clients has insured that we at Share Builders Inc/The Force Realty have actually thrived during these past several years of market flux.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also made an announcement on November 24th that they will resume the auction sale of homes that have loans serviced by Bank of America, Chase, PNC Financial and others.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

10 Overvalued Global Real Estate Markets

10 overvalued global housing markets

I found a great article about the real estate market globally. Take a look by clicking the link below.....



U.S. market considered 'fairly valued'
BY INMAN NEWS, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2010


http://www.inman.com/news/2010/10/28/10-overvalued-global-housing-markets

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Short Sales vs Foreclosures

I have recently had a few people that I have been talking to about short sales over the past several months come to me with great urgency for help.

Both just had foreclosure (NOD) notices taped to their door, which signifies the start of the formal foreclosure process.
The foreclosure process takes about 121 days to complete before the bank can sell your house at the trustee sale.

A typical short sale can take 2-4 months from the start of processing, but that is under the most ideal circumstances and I am sure most of you have heard that things rarely go smooth during these transactions. That being said, it is not necessarily too late but it definitely does limit our choices and makes things tougher.

Banks have started to get stricter on foreclosure postponements during short sale processing so the longer you wait to start the short sale (if that is the best decision for you) the less chance of success we will have because we have little room for error (or losing a buyer, or changing negotiators, etc).

The main point of this email is to let you know that if you are considering your options on what to do with your home do not procrastinate!

Meet with the appropriate professionals (CPA, attorney, financial advisor, etc) and form a game plan sooner rather than later. It could mean the difference in a successful short sale with the best of outcomes (full release from the deficiency without contributions) to a foreclosure or possible bankruptcy (if sued by the bank). If you have any questions or want to meet for a confidential consultation about your options please email or call me.

They are always free. I am a very good source of real world information (aside from your uncle Joey in New York of course!).



Also, please forward this to anyone in your database that may appreciate the information!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

The Real Estate Buzz......

Real estate prices in our area continue to remain steady. After the tax credits for home buyers expired last May, there was concern that the market could tank. Yet, existing home sales have stabilized over the past year. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors, reports that the housing market continues to recover on its own power without the homebuyer tax credit. The NAR reported in September that existing-home sales rose by 7.6% in August following a big correction in July.



I think people are beginning to hedge their bets. Prices haven’t been this good for a long time. Sellers are serious. The rate for a 30-year conventional fixed-rate mortgage fell to a record low of 4.43 in August according to Freddie Mac. Note that the rate was 5.19 percent in August 2009.



So what is holding back more buyers? The main reason given is a lack of confidence in our national economy. Many believe that the November elections will create a new direction and confidence will grow. If that is so, then buying now will be seen as the smart move.



JUST ASK

Q: What is a CMA?

A: A Comparative Market Analysis, or CMA, is an in-depth analysis of the home’s worth in today’s market. If you are thinking about selling your home, then we need to determine the fair market value first. There are online sites as well as newspaper listings that will give valuations. But each house is different and most sales are not posted publicly for months. It takes an expert who has walked through the recent homes for sale, knows the streets of the neighborhood, and knows the trends of real estate transactions to best assess which properties to compare to yours in order to create a realistic CMA.



MY TOWN

Any parent knows the value of good schools for their children. But the value of good schools doesn’t only affect children and their families, it also impacts neighborhoods and the property values of your home. Even if you don’t have school-age children, knowing the ratings of schools in your current home or prospective new homes will affect your pocketbook in the long run.



The Internet offers some free resources to find school ratings. Check out www.greatschools.org for comprehensive school data nationwide. Peruse the website to find the top schools in small, medium, or large US cities (click Find a School tab, then Choose the Right School, then Moving with Kids). Or search for a specific city to review the Academic Performance Index results.



FYI

With a large amount of bank-owned properties on the market, it's a great time for homebuyers looking for good deals. But bidding on bank-owned homes also means the homebuyer has to compete with investors bringing cash offers.



Fannie Mae's got a new program for their Real Estate Owned (REO) properties. For homeowners, this is a way to buy properties that have reduced prices BEFORE investors can buy them. After the property hits the market, you've got fifteen days to look at the property.



Qualified homebuyers must be owner-occupants and can receive up to 3.5% of the final sales price, which can be used toward closing cost assistance including a home warranty, if desired and available. Eligible offers must be submitted on or after Sept. 23, 2010, and must close by Dec. 31, 2010. The sale must close within 60 days of the offer being accepted.



Let me know if you are interested in this program. It is being offered through real estate professionals to give their clients the heads-up. Properties available under this program can be viewed on the REO Web site www.HomePath.com.

Monday, September 27, 2010

10 Reasons Why It is A Good Time to Buy a Home NOW!!

SEPTEMBER 16, 2010, 7:13 A.M. ET
By Brett Arends
ENOUGH WITH THE DOOM AND GLOOM ABOUT HOMEOWNERSHIP! Brett Arends explains why owning a home is a good thing.

So here are 10 reasons why it's good to buy a home.

1. You can get a good deal. Especially if you play hardball. This is a buyer's market. Most of the other buyers have now vanished, as the tax credits on purchases have just expired. We're four to five years into the biggest housing bust in modern history. And prices have come down a long way– about 30% from their peak, according to Standard & Poor's Case-Shiller Index, which tracks home prices in 20 big cities. Will prices fall further? Sure, they could. You'll never catch the bottom. It doesn't really matter so much in the long haul.

2. Mortgages are cheap. These are the lowest rates on record. As recently as two years ago they were about 6.3%. If inflation picks up, you won't see these mortgage rates again in your lifetime. And if we get deflation, and rates fall further, you can refinance.

3. You'll save on taxes. You can deduct the mortgage interest from your income taxes. You can deduct your real estate taxes. And you'll get a tax break on capital gains–if any–when you sell. Sure, you'll need to do your math. You'll only get the income tax break if you itemize your deductions, and many people may be better off taking the standard deduction instead. The breaks are more valuable the more you earn, and the bigger your mortgage. But many people will find that these tax breaks mean owning costs them less, often a lot less, than renting.

4. It'll be yours. You can have the kitchen and bathrooms you want. You can move the walls, build an extension–zoning permitted–or paint everything bright orange. Few landlords are so indulgent; for renters, these types of changes are often impossible. You'll feel better about your own place if you own it than if you rent.

5. You'll get a better home. In many parts of the country it can be really hard to find a good rental. All the best places are sold as condos. Money talks. Once again, this is a case by case issue: In Miami right now there are so many vacant luxury condos that owners will rent them out for a fraction of the cost of owning. But few places are so favored. Generally speaking, if you want the best home in the best neighborhood, you're better off buying.

6. It offers some inflation protection. No, it's not perfect. But studies by Professor Karl "Chip" Case (of Case-Shiller), and others, suggest that over the long-term housing has tended to beat inflation by a couple of percentage points a year. That's valuable inflation insurance, especially if you're young and raising a family and thinking about the next 30 or 40 years. In the recent past, inflation-protected government bonds, or TIPS, offered an easier form of inflation insurance. But yields there have plummeted of late. That also makes homeownership look a little better by contrast.

7. It's risk capital. No, your home isn't the stock market and you shouldn't view it as the way to get rich. But if the economy does surprise us all and start booming, sooner or later real estate prices will head up again, too. One lesson from the last few years is that stocks are incredibly hard for most normal people to own in large quantities–for practical as well as psychological reasons. Equity in a home is another way of linking part of your portfolio to the long-term growth of the economy–if it happens–and still managing to sleep at night.

8. It's forced savings. If you can rent an apartment for $2,000 month instead of buying one for $2,400 a month, renting may make sense. But will you save that $400 for your future? A lot of people won't. Most, I dare say. Once again, you have to do your math, but the part of your mortgage payment that goes to principal repayment isn't a cost. You're just paying yourself by building equity. As a forced monthly saving, it's a good discipline.

9. There is a lot to choose from. There is a glut of homes in most of the country. The National Association of Realtors puts the current inventory at around 4 million homes. That's below last year's peak, but well above typical levels, and enough for about a year's worth of sales. More keeping coming onto the market, too, as the banks slowly unload their inventory of unsold properties. That means great choice, as well as great prices.

10. Sooner or later, the market will clear. Demand and supply will meet. The population is forecast to grow by more than 100 million people over the next 40 years. That means maybe 40 million new households looking for homes. Meanwhile, this housing glut will work itself out.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

73% of all homes in Clark County are down at leat 50%. And rents have held up well because the homeowners that are short-selling or vacating homes due to foreclosure must begin renting.

Choose the property wisely and you can get steady income and a good chance of solid appreciation over the next ten years. Seek out places that were growing before the recession and have something compelling to offer that will drive future growth. If you need a mortgage, make sure your monthly income will be enough to cover you loan payments plus a 20% cushion to cover repairs, vacancies and property management.

Real Estate is the only investment that gives you: Cash Flow. Appreciation, Depreciation and Equity Build Up.

Call for more information (702) 236-6266 or www.sharebuildersinc.com

Thursday, September 2, 2010

The Real Estate Market is HOT

Although the news may sound like the world is coming to end. The real estate market and the individuals who are in the "know" are CASHING IN!! This is the best time to purchase whether a owner/occupant or as a real estate investor. If you are wanting to get into the market as an investor here are a few rules to live by:


RULES TO INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE

1. Have a business plan….. Why real estate? What do you want to accomplish investing in real estate?

2. Have a criteria and stick to it.

3. Do your research on the properties.

4. Always put your investment property in an LLC. Get legal advice.

5. Have a good CPA and Attorney

6. Always have CASH FLOW. Without the cash you will not be able to make it work.

7. Do not purchase investment property with large yards or swimming pools. Costly to maintain.

8. Never rent to FAMILY or FRIENDS. This is a business not a charity.

9. If you are purchasing property with a loan, ALWAYS get a fixed interest rate and on a 15, 20 or 30 year loan program.

10. ROI (return on investment) less than 60 months. This will depend on your own criteria and properties Performa

Visit my website www.sharebuildersinc.com or call (702) 236-6266

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Defense for you Asset

I have had a discussion on this topic a few months back, however It seems I having the same conversation with many investors, homeowners, and business owners.

An important discussion is keeping your asset protected.

Living trusts are used by millions of people who wish to keep their assets from going through probate when they die. Most living trusts, however, are not adequate for protecting assets from creditors because the trusts are revocable. This means that the person setting up the trust can revoke or change the terms of the trust at any time. If you have a revocable trust, and you can get control of the assets, the courts have consistently held that your creditors can also get control of those assets.

Trusts that are irrevocable can be more successfully used to protect assets. Once you set up an irrevocable trust, you cannot change the terms or revoke it. In essence, you have given your assets away; they are no longer available to satisfy claims against you. A judgment creditor cannot get to these funds. These are just two trusts that are avaiavable, there are many more.

What about LLC's, S, Corps, C Corporations are another way of protection.

Real estate asset protection do you need it? Well, considering that real-estate is risky enough as it is, if someone gets killed or hurt you are likely to be sued by the injured victims or family members. That is a given as accidents do happen but lawsuits are more likely to happen when people know you own property. Particularity in this age where someone can sue a business because the coffee they were drinking was too hot or where a lady was awarded 12 million dollars in a foiled suicide attempt on the train tracks.

Consider this scenario you are sued for $2,000,000, your insurance will cover $1,000,000 but guess who is left with a $1,000,000 problem. The day before life was rosy but today you are in the poor house. You could of avoided that issue all together if you had real estate asset protection that is if you didn't have the property in your name.

The biggest mistake you can make is to put your real estate in your own name as it all a part of public record. Anyone can look at what you have determine its current market value and deduct what you owe to see what they can take you for. Putting your name out in public land registry is equivalent to painting a bulls eye on your back to prying eyes such as attorneys, creditors and even tenants.

But what entity is the real estate asset protection? What entity or corporate structure do I use to buy and sell to hold real estate? How can I limit my liability exposure? These are very good questions to ask and a good place to start.

Certainly your first protection is liability insurance, but should judgments exceed your insurance or should your insurance not cover you for whatever reason you need real estate asset protection.

A land trust is a form of an irrevocable living trust used to take title to real estate so the beneficiaries cannot be easily discovered. However the land trust is not considered to be a separate taxable entity and there are no tax benefits of transferring property in or out of it.

A corporation is an effective device to buy and sell real estate so if the beneficiary of the land trust is a corporation one can have the tax benefits of being taxed after expenses at a corporate rate rather than before expenses and at the higher rate of an individual. As an individual you may also be taxed as a dealer at 15% for buying and selling.

Depending on your tax situation you might be better off with a C Corporation rather than a S Corporation. A corporation is a C Corporation by default and files a separate tax return whereas a S corporation is specially set up so that it splits up its profits to its shareholders as dividends. The shareholders then report their income on their own personal tax returns. In most cases its better to start out as a S Corporation and later change into a C Corporation when the tax advantages become evident.

A LLC or limited liability company allows the shareholders to participate in the running of the company without sharing its liability. Like a S Corporation the profits and losses flow to the owners. Buying and selling may subject the owners as an active activity to a dealers tax of 15% making the C corporation a better choice. If the business is primarily rents the LLC may be better. Its conceivable that one can form an LLC for every property and file one personal income tax if there is only one owner.

In any case get as much insurance as your entity can sustain to cover your real estate and business activity. Insure the entity is the names insured. Making sure the entity holds title to all your real estate to insure you won't be named the defendant in any potential lawsuit.

Those are some areas to consider before you obtain further professional advice for getting the best real estate asset protection

Monday, August 2, 2010

How to Raise Financially-Smart Kids

There is a great article on how to raise fincially smart kids. I thought I would share it with others.



http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2010/07/29/raise-financially-smart-kids/

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Investing In Las Vegas = CASH FLOW!!

It is truly amazing the deals that are here in Las Vegas. Investors can cash flow like crazy!!! Another property 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom for $25,000. This unit can be rented out for $795.00 a month. Now that's what I call CASH FLOW. Just think if you had 10 of these properties. Laughing all the way to the bank $7950.00 coming in each month. I will be going on some incredible trips!! Any one want to join me. Where would you go first. Since I am a scuba diving, I will be going to the South Pacific.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit

Nevadans Receive Kudos For Efforts to Extend First Time Homebuyer's Tax Credit
2010 NAR President Vicky Cox Golder expressed her thanks to the NVAR Board of Directors for their efforts to extend the closing deadline for the Homebuyer Tax Credit. NAR worked closely with Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle to enact this important legislation. Extending the Tax Credit Closing deadline will help provide additional stability to real estate markets across the nation.

Click here to read 2010 NAR President Vicky Cox Golder's letter.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Wealth Creation through Real Estate

I have found many people wanting to know how to create wealth through real estate but have not done anything about it. Reasons are many:

1. Scared and/or Fear
2. Do not know how or where to start
3. Have a mentor to show them
4. No Credit or Money
5. No time

The list goes on.

There is an easy way to create wealth through Real Estate!

Check out www.sharebuildersinc.com

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Asset Protection

I have spoke with many buyers/investors in the last couple of weeks and I have been having the same conversation about asset protection. I have found that fewer buyers/investors even know what that is let alone how to do it. There is an excellent resource guide/book called Lawyers are Liars, Author is Mark Kohler, CPA and Lawyer. Here are a few tips:

A limited liability company (LLC), also known as a company with limited liability (WLL), is a flexible form of business enterprise that blends elements of partnership and corporate structures. It is a legal form of business company, in the law of the vast majority of United States jurisdictions, which provides limited liability to its owners. Often incorrectly called a "limited liability corporation" (instead of company), it is a hybrid business entity having certain characteristics of both a corporation and a partnership or sole proprietorship (depending on how many owners there are).

An LLC, although a business entity, is a type of unincorporated association and is not a corporation. The primary characteristic an LLC shares with a corporation is limited liability, and the primary characteristic it shares with a partnership is the availability of pass-through income taxation. It is often more flexible than a corporation and it is well-suited for companies with a single owner.


It is important to understand that limited liability does not imply owners are always fully protected from personal liabilities. Courts can and do pierce the corporate veil of LLCs when some type of fraud or misrepresentation is involved, or under certain situations where the owner uses the company as an "alter ego."[1

Thursday, June 24, 2010

NO LIMITS!!

I had an incredible coach (Jordan Wirsz) share this information with me and I thought I would share it with you.

Do you know what a 10% stake in the Apple Inc. company is worth today? I do. $22 Billion to be exact. Did you know, there were actually THREE founders of Apple? His name was Ron Wayne, and was one of the three original founders of Apple. His story is a bit more unique than the typical Billionaire technology founder...Instead, he made a decision that would change his life (or maybe a better way to put it, would NOT change his life) forever. Only 11 days after the Apple enterprise was founded, Ron Wayne began to second guess himself and the other two Apple founders, including legendary Apple icon, Steve Jobs.


We all doubt ourselves at times...Our business, our thoughts, our "gut instincts," but what Ron Wayne did, was sold out. Literally. Only 11 days after his entry into the business, he sold his stake back to the other two founders for a mere $800, considering it "found money," at the time he was thrilled to have the $800. Today, that same 10% stake would be worth a staggering $22 Billion. Today, Ron Wayne lives in Pahrump Nevada, in a small single story house, with a metal carport, and living off of his social security check, going to the Casino's every day, hoping his luck will turn around.


Ron said, "I made the best decision I could at the time, with the information I had, and now I'm living with the decision."


Who would have known, right? I mean Apple, who would have thought? In 1976, that $800 was worth a lot more than it is today...And at the time, Ron's greed made him take the short, sweet, and easy way out of a partnership before it really even began. That greed driven decision cost him $22 Billion.


If you have a passion, a mission, drive, focus, dedication, determination, tenacity to succeed, then you need to know that there is absolutely NO limits to what can be accomplished. The only limits we have are the ones we give ourselves.

Monday, June 21, 2010

FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS

First Time Homebuyer's Tax Credit Extension


The proposed extension of the home buyer’s tax credit is still not finalized. Only the first step has been completed. As of June 16, 2010, the United States Senate passed a bill extending the deadline for closing escrow on a home buyer’s tax credit


Have them contact me today!!
(702) 236-6266
WWW.SHAREBUILDERSINC.COM

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Monopoly is the Game of Life

Playing Monopoly was fun when we were kids. We got excited when the other players landed on the properties we own when they had to pay rent. Make that game true in your life. I will show you how it’s done.

Renting your space is wasting your profit/money. Owning your own space is putting your profit/money to use. Allow me to show you how to purchase space for youself.

Come out ahead and at the TOP of the game of life.

www.sharebuildersinc.com

(702) 236-6266

Monday, June 7, 2010

Sprint into Action! Real Estate Investing

I pride myself in sprinting into action to get things done. Yes, I make goals and reach them. However if you just keep making and creating goals and doing nothing it will never happen.


So I ask these questions


Have ever wanted to invest in real estate?

Have you ever wanted to purchase your first home?

Do you have good/bad credit?

Do you have enough down payment?

How soon do you want to achieve you goal?

I say SPRINT INTO ACTION, find someone that assist you and do it.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Real Estate: Whats It For? To built monthly Income.. Or What?

One of the things that I have found over the years in working with clients that own real estate is that people love buying real estate, but they constantly make critical mistakes when doing so. The starting point in deciding what to buy and how to buy it should begin with the answer to this question: Why Should I buy and what is it for?

This question that you ask yourself may sound ridiculous, however an important one for your financial future. Timing is so important. What was the famous line in real estate? Location, location, location. Look back at the years 2003 to 2008 at the feeding frenzy. If someone bought in those years they bought at the high part of the market; thus, the foreclosure and short sale phenonumen. The rule of thumb to any investing or any business is TIMING, TIMING, TIMING. So do some soul searching. The time frame, expectations, and, most importantly, whether the property will be used to create income, for appreciation, or for growth and income (both).

Real Estate for Income

When buying real estate for income it is necessary to look at the type of income that you purchase. Single family homes in the Las Vegas area will be a great investment, for income if done correctly. Let me give you an example: A three bedroom home in Las Vegas, Nevada that would sell for 80,000 rents for $1,500 per month. Subtracting out the annual expenses of the debt service (mortgage payment), property taxes, insurance, and a little extra for overhead it would not be uncommon for this property to net $7,200 after expenses. Take that to another level. Invest in 10 homes with that same outcome that would be $72,000 a year. Go a little further, invest in 20 homes would equal $144,000 a year. We have not even discussed the tax advantages. Your CPA would give you that information.

Let’s take a look at commercial property. Multiunit properties, apartments, or commercial properties may be far superior in terms of income than single family homes. In today’s market, you may be able to find a 6 unit property for $500,000. Obviously the figures are larger however so is the return. If done correctly.

Using leverage (OPM or OPC) may also allow for additional income on a property.
End Result: You need to do some planning prior to purchasing a property and find a knowledge real estate agent that has done investing for themselves. You should consider the types of properties, how to fund the property, whether to use leverage, who will manage the property, what improvements it may need, and what annual expenses it might have, among other issues. The list of considerations is long, but the outcome will be well worth the hard work if done correctly.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Real Estate is Moving in Las Vegas

We have seen a strong upward trend in real estate over the past few months. Usually, as families head out for summer vacations, things slow down. But so far nothing is happening as usual: activity remains high and affordability is attracting buyers.

By May, existing home sales rose again with buyers motivated by tax credits, low interest rates and improved customer confidence. Home sales increased 7.6 % nationwide, an increase of 22.8 % over May of 2009. "Although inventory levels remain above normal and much of the gain last month was seasonal, the housing price correction appears to be essentially over," NAR's Lawrence Yun reports.

Home ownership continues its yearlong trend of remaining within reach of more households than it has for almost two decades. According to the National Association of Home Builders, companies are starting to hire new employees and the economy is beginning to rebound.

I am seeing that there is strong activity in turn-key homes. Investment and Fixer-uppers are popular right now. As a more savvy investor is picking up several Commercial and Residential properties a month. A novice investor (who has money and/or credit) can take advantage of this market and start building their investment portfolio.

To learn how to invest in property:


For more information please contact: Dawn Houlf (702) 236-6266 or www.sharebuildersinc.com

JUST ASK
Q: Where is everyone moving?

A: Americans are on the move. According to the Census Bureau, here are the top five new destinations:

1.Washington, D.C. The nation's capital topped the list, with an inbound move rate of 67.8%. According to the Census Bureau, the city's population growth rate nearly tripled between 2008 and 2009.
2.Oregon. Second most popular is the Pacific Northwest. Oregon had a 58.9% inbound move rate.
3.Arkansas. Arkansas ranked third on the list, with an inbound rate of 57.7%.
4.Nevada. For 18 years, Nevada had been the nation's fastest-growing state. Nevada ranked fourth in 2009, with an inbound move rate of 57.2%.
5.Wyoming. Wyoming held steady as the fifth highest inbound destination with a rate of 56.3%.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

What Goes Into My Credit FICO Score

What is a FICO score?

In the United States a credit score (FICO – Fair Isaac Company) is a number that is based on a statistical analysis of one individual’s credit report and is used to decide the creditworthiness of that individual and the probability of the individual to repay the debt. A FICO score is based on obtaining information from their credit report, typically from the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and Trans Union.

What goes into a FICO Score?

35% Payment History
30% Amount Owed
15% Length of Credit History
10% Types of credit used
10% New Credit


What is the minimum FICO score I need to get the best rate possible?

Fico scores range from 300 to 850. A credit score of 760 or higher places you in top tier. Only 15 % have scores above 800. The benefits are practically the same if you have a 760 score. The median score is 723.

How long can negative items on my credit history impact my score?

7 years. Negative items generally affect your score. As time goes by their impact will lessen. If you pay your bills and keep account balances low and do not open a lot of new ones your score can rebound fairly quickly.

What is required to clean up my credit score?

Paying bills on time and not maxing out credit. About 2/3 of your score is based on payment history. The later you are the more points you lose and how much you owe and the percentage of your credit limit that you have used. Try to keep your balances on credit cards below 25% of your available credit.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Short Sale Update

As many of you have heard there is a government program that has taken effect on April 5th, 2010 called HAFA (Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives) that is suppose to help expedite the short sale process by offering incentives to servicers and investors on loans, as well as borrowers, in the hopes that is cooperative effort with shorten the recovery time of the housing market. Here is a quick overview below as to what the program entails and how to qualify. Keep in mind that you have likely heard ads on the radio or seen them on tv or in magazines, making it seems like this process is a breeze. Don't be fooled! It is potentially easier than it has been but there are still a lot of hoops to jump through to qualify!

Make sure that you discuss your specific issues with a individual that has done short sales over 2 years. You may have questions or know someone that wants to know their options please have them call me because time is of the essence especially if they are late on their mortgage payment.

HAFA Overview
- takes place 4/5/10
- helps by pre-approving short sales and releasing borrowers from future liability of the debt
- pertains only to first mortgages!
- must go through HAMP (Making Home Affordable) program first
- financial incentives provided to servicers, investors, and homeowners who qualify
- uses standardized processes, documents, and timeframes (however there are no concequences to servicers that don't comply)
- investors must waive right to seek deficiency judgements

HAFA Requirements (for eligibility)
- must be borrower's principle residence
- loan must be a 1st mortgage
- loan must be originated before January 1st, 2009
- mortgage is delinquent or default is imminent
- current unpaid principle balance is equal to or less than $729,750
- borrower's total monthly mortgage payment exceeds 31% of borrower's gross income

Incentives (subject to change)
- borrowers qualify for $3,000 in relocation assistance
- servicers qualify for $1,500 for administration and processing fees (may be increased due to recent changes)
- investors qualify for $2,000 for subordinate lien holder payoff (may be increased due to recent changes)

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Credit Needs some TLC? Can Rapid Rescore Help?

I had a client that was ready to close on a his home and of course the lender requirement was to pull credit one last time. To our surprise the current credit report showed an issue that was cleared up some time ago. Now what? Rapid Rescore! I found some answers with some research. You can do this your self however, the service is inexpensive so I suggest not wasting your time or have anxiety about and have your current lender perform the service. I found some useful information on this website:

http://www.finweb.com/banking-credit/improve-your-credit-score-with-a-rapid-rescore.html





Rapid Rescore

A rapid rescore is a process that will allow you to quickly change something on your credit report. Traditionally, if you notice something on your credit report such as a late payment, it could take months for it to be corrected. In most cases, you will have to wait at least 90 days before it will make its way onto your credit report. If you are trying to shop for a mortgage or some other type of loan, this will not be conducive to this process. If you need the loan quickly, you may end up paying a much higher interest rate because your credit score was lower than it should be. In times like these, using a rapid rescore can be very beneficial as it could potentially save you thousands of dollars in interest fees.

How It Works
There are over 200 companies that offer rapid rescoring services. These companies work closely with the three major credit bureaus and will be able to change something on your credit report within a few days. Unfortunately, you are not able to access these companies directly as a member of the general public. In order to gain access to a rapid rescoring company, you will have to go through another company. Companies that have access to rapid rescoring services are mortgage brokers, banks, and other types of lenders. This means that if you want to quickly change something on your credit report, you need to work with a lender in order to do so.

Cost
In order to complete this process, you will have to pay something extra to the lender that you are working with. However, typically the cost to have something changed is quite small. In many cases, you will pay less than $50 for this service. For such a small cost, it can make a huge difference in the amount of money that you pay. For example, if you are shopping for a mortgage, changing something on your credit report good lower the interest rate on your loan by 1 percent or more. This could represent well over $100,000 in savings over the life of the loan.

Who Should Use Rapid Rescoring?
If you have any mistakes on your credit report and you are shopping for a loan, you should definitely consider using a rapid rescore. If you have a credit score that is lower than 680, you could most likely benefit from the services that a rapid rescoring company could provide. If you are able to bump your credit score up to above 700, it will put you into a different category of borrowers, which will provide you with better interest rates

Your Money is better off in Real Estate

Investors Money is better off in Real Estate!

A business associate shared this this article with me and I thought I would share it with everyone.

I have always believed in investing in real estate as a long term retirement strategy. Lets face it, you as the investor or buyer have more control of what, when, why, and how rather than relying on companies that have their bottom line in mind than yours.

I no longer believe that individual investor's are treated fairly in the stock market and the banks, showing huge earnings the last quarter, seem to be trading only to their benefit and no one else's. In short, Goldman Sachs lost money only 11 days in the last 12 months. That would be impossible for us to do and it seems from their congressional testimony that they are making money on both ends of the deals they are doing.


In contrast, "Seven of the investment bank's nine "recommended top trades for 2010" have been money losers for investors who adopted the New York-based firm's advice". How can a company that is right on 96% on their investments be wrong 78% of the time on their clients investments? I think its incumbent upon me to point this out and raise the issue that until something changes drastically, real estate may be a much better option for your money.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aF5tV7uvY0FU&pos=12