A group of REALTORS in the South East Valley Association of REALTORS has put forth an effort to save and adopt pets who have been left behind in foreclosed homes. Unfortunately, sometimes foreclosure even leaves these wonderful animals lost and homeless. LOHPF is a non-profit group that rescues, fosters, heals and adopts these animals. If you would like more information, please visit http://LostOurHome.org and you can see pictures of the pets and find out how you too can make a difference.
If you are interested in buying or selling your home or other real estate in Gilbert, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa or another city or town in Maricopa or Pinal counties, contact Marie Zubkoff at 480.233.7051 or Andrew Walsh 602.527.2639 with US Preferred Realty.Visit us at http://YourGilbertHome.com Thank you!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Count down to Tax Credit Elimination
ALL FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS MUST CLOSE BY MIDNIGHT NOVEMBER 30, 2009.
Well, that is if you qualify for, and want to take advantage of.... the $8,000 tax credit for purchasing a home. In past posts we went over some of the qualifications for the tax credit such as:
1) You cannot have owned a home in the past three years.
2) Income requirements cannot exceed $75,000 if single and $150,000 for married.
3) The credit is worth 10% of the purchase price of the home up to a maximum credit of $8,000.
Now, what does the December 1, 2009 due date mean? Well it means that your home must CLOSE on or before midnight of November 30, 2009. OR YOU LOSE THE CREDIT.... Make sure if you are presenting offers that you allow a few days to a week for minor delays... Do not risk $8,000! Because you cannot get an extension unless Uncle Sam gives it to everyone.
Exactly how much time does that leave you if you have not even started to find a home? Well let's work backwards. Say to be safe you allow the closing two Fridays before the deadline. That makes it November 20th. Now once the property is found you need an average of 45 days to close. So let's figure the under contract date to be October 6. So if your home is to be under contract by October 6, that allows about seven weeks from today to find your home. Certainly plenty of time for you to find an agent, obtain financing from a qualified lender, and start looking. But, you do not have time to sit on the fence to determine whether or not you want to continue renting for another couple months before looking while you wait to see what the market does.
So, it's time to contact that qualified agent. Marie Zubkoff at 480.233.7051 or Andrew Walsh 602.527.2639 with US Preferred Realty. Visit us at http://YourGilbertHome.com Thank you!
Well, that is if you qualify for, and want to take advantage of.... the $8,000 tax credit for purchasing a home. In past posts we went over some of the qualifications for the tax credit such as:
1) You cannot have owned a home in the past three years.
2) Income requirements cannot exceed $75,000 if single and $150,000 for married.
3) The credit is worth 10% of the purchase price of the home up to a maximum credit of $8,000.
Now, what does the December 1, 2009 due date mean? Well it means that your home must CLOSE on or before midnight of November 30, 2009. OR YOU LOSE THE CREDIT.... Make sure if you are presenting offers that you allow a few days to a week for minor delays... Do not risk $8,000! Because you cannot get an extension unless Uncle Sam gives it to everyone.
Exactly how much time does that leave you if you have not even started to find a home? Well let's work backwards. Say to be safe you allow the closing two Fridays before the deadline. That makes it November 20th. Now once the property is found you need an average of 45 days to close. So let's figure the under contract date to be October 6. So if your home is to be under contract by October 6, that allows about seven weeks from today to find your home. Certainly plenty of time for you to find an agent, obtain financing from a qualified lender, and start looking. But, you do not have time to sit on the fence to determine whether or not you want to continue renting for another couple months before looking while you wait to see what the market does.
So, it's time to contact that qualified agent. Marie Zubkoff at 480.233.7051 or Andrew Walsh 602.527.2639 with US Preferred Realty. Visit us at http://YourGilbertHome.com Thank you!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Investor Short Sales Part Two
Yesterday I gave you five key points to determine whether or not you should list your house with an investor who is ultimately going to purchase your home in a short sale situation. Here are a few more topics.
6). Earnest deposit. Let's face it, an earnest deposit is required on nearly every real estate transaction in the United States. So expect them to open escrow upon your acceptance of the purchase offer and put down a reasonable earnest deposit.
7). What if the offer is cash? Well then you should require to see proof of funds, you may be surprised to find out that some cash offers are really not cash at all. It is just financing and a buyer trying to present a "better looking" offer.
8). You need to know what will happen if the bank does not accept the offer that is presented from the investor. Your home is listed with their preferred listing agent, who has submitted an offer to the bank with an amount they want to pay for it. Remember you as the seller have signed the purchase offer and agreed to sell your home to them. You cannot just back out now, but what if the bank is not accepting the offer? Will they continue to market your home to other potential buyers? Or will they keep your home under contract until it forecloses.
9). As with any transaction, whether it be real property or other, you need to use your best judgment and be sure to do your due diligence.
As with any real property transaction in Maricopa and Pinal counties, we recommend you use us! Marie Zubkoff 480.233.7051 and Andrew Walsh 602.527.2639 with US Preferred Realty. Visit us at http://YourGilbertHome.com Thank you!
6). Earnest deposit. Let's face it, an earnest deposit is required on nearly every real estate transaction in the United States. So expect them to open escrow upon your acceptance of the purchase offer and put down a reasonable earnest deposit.
7). What if the offer is cash? Well then you should require to see proof of funds, you may be surprised to find out that some cash offers are really not cash at all. It is just financing and a buyer trying to present a "better looking" offer.
8). You need to know what will happen if the bank does not accept the offer that is presented from the investor. Your home is listed with their preferred listing agent, who has submitted an offer to the bank with an amount they want to pay for it. Remember you as the seller have signed the purchase offer and agreed to sell your home to them. You cannot just back out now, but what if the bank is not accepting the offer? Will they continue to market your home to other potential buyers? Or will they keep your home under contract until it forecloses.
9). As with any transaction, whether it be real property or other, you need to use your best judgment and be sure to do your due diligence.
As with any real property transaction in Maricopa and Pinal counties, we recommend you use us! Marie Zubkoff 480.233.7051 and Andrew Walsh 602.527.2639 with US Preferred Realty. Visit us at http://YourGilbertHome.com Thank you!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Investors Listing & Buying Short Sales?
Have you been contacted by an investor that wants to list and buy your short sale? Here are five tips to think about and questions to ask before listing with them. We will cover more on another day.
1). Are they requiring the use of their preferred listing agent or REALTOR? If so who is that listing agent representing. Who is going over the listing agreement with you? Is it the investor who is buying the property or the listing agent who is supposed to represent you?
2). Make sure you receive and fully understand the agency disclosure and election. NO real esate transaction should ever take place without a buyer AND seller acknowledging both sides by signing this!
3). What are the current market comparables to your home? Ask for this and review them. Make sure the homes accurately represent yours.
4). Short sale addendum, make sure there is a short sale addendum included and you thoroughly read and understand it.
5). Look for, Read and Understand the opt out clause. Generally as a seller if you accept a buyer's offer, you must sell your home to them. In the presence of a short sale though, the sale is contingent upon the lender's or "third parties" approval (if a short sale addendum is included).
A bonus tip when you are working with investors, is to make sure all of the forms are drafted from boiler plate Arizona Association of REALTORS forms. These forms are created in the interest of the general public. Please please please if you do not understand any of the forms, consult an attorney to help explain them to you.
If you are approached by an investor looking to purchase your home, please also interview other agents whose primary focus is to sell your home rather than buy it to make a profit. A traditional REALTOR has the same goal as you which is to sell the home. Not to buy it in hopes to make a big profit.
Contact Marie Zubkoff at 480.233.7051 or Andrew Walsh at 602.527.2639 with US Preferred Realty to discuss your Arizona Real Estate needs. If you are a buyer or seller, we can help. visit us at http://YourGilbertHome.com Thank you!
1). Are they requiring the use of their preferred listing agent or REALTOR? If so who is that listing agent representing. Who is going over the listing agreement with you? Is it the investor who is buying the property or the listing agent who is supposed to represent you?
2). Make sure you receive and fully understand the agency disclosure and election. NO real esate transaction should ever take place without a buyer AND seller acknowledging both sides by signing this!
3). What are the current market comparables to your home? Ask for this and review them. Make sure the homes accurately represent yours.
4). Short sale addendum, make sure there is a short sale addendum included and you thoroughly read and understand it.
5). Look for, Read and Understand the opt out clause. Generally as a seller if you accept a buyer's offer, you must sell your home to them. In the presence of a short sale though, the sale is contingent upon the lender's or "third parties" approval (if a short sale addendum is included).
A bonus tip when you are working with investors, is to make sure all of the forms are drafted from boiler plate Arizona Association of REALTORS forms. These forms are created in the interest of the general public. Please please please if you do not understand any of the forms, consult an attorney to help explain them to you.
If you are approached by an investor looking to purchase your home, please also interview other agents whose primary focus is to sell your home rather than buy it to make a profit. A traditional REALTOR has the same goal as you which is to sell the home. Not to buy it in hopes to make a big profit.
Contact Marie Zubkoff at 480.233.7051 or Andrew Walsh at 602.527.2639 with US Preferred Realty to discuss your Arizona Real Estate needs. If you are a buyer or seller, we can help. visit us at http://YourGilbertHome.com Thank you!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Underwater Homes
Another real estate milestone number crunch. Due to the decline in home prices, now 32% of homes in the US are without equity as compared to 15% a year earlier. This is according Moody's Economy.com. The states at the top of this list? You ready? They are pretty close... Nevada at number one with 40%, Arizona number two at 37% and California number 3 at 33%. Who is doing the best? Well that is West Virginia at 13%, and Louisiana at 16% is number 2. Here is an article you may find of interest at the WSJ. http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/2009/08/05/more-homeowners-upside-down-on-mortgages/
Remember for your Arizona real estate questions and needs, contact Marie Zubkoff 480-233-7051 or Andrew Walsh 602-527-2639. Your US Preferred Realty agents, visit us at http://YourGilbertHome.com Thank you!
Remember for your Arizona real estate questions and needs, contact Marie Zubkoff 480-233-7051 or Andrew Walsh 602-527-2639. Your US Preferred Realty agents, visit us at http://YourGilbertHome.com Thank you!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Taylor Bean to Cease Operations
Here is a link to an article by James R Hagerty regarding the Taylor Bean mortgage lending corporation... http://http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124949523458308423.html
This anouncement will hold up many home purchases that were awaiting to close if they were using Taylor, Bean & Whitaker for lending or funding. Not only that, but many of the borrowers may find themselves having to pay perdiem charges if they were purchasing an REO home. Many sellers may lose their buyers and ultimately end up with their home foreclosed if that buyer cannot get new financing right away. This is not just a secondary purchaser of loans, this is a company that would actually fund the purchase.
Please call Marie Zubkoff 480.233.7051 or Andrew Walsh 602.527.2639 with US Preferred Realty to purchase your home in Arizona or if you need to sell your home. We excel in short sales and distressed properties. Visit us at http://YourGilbertHome.com.
This anouncement will hold up many home purchases that were awaiting to close if they were using Taylor, Bean & Whitaker for lending or funding. Not only that, but many of the borrowers may find themselves having to pay perdiem charges if they were purchasing an REO home. Many sellers may lose their buyers and ultimately end up with their home foreclosed if that buyer cannot get new financing right away. This is not just a secondary purchaser of loans, this is a company that would actually fund the purchase.
Please call Marie Zubkoff 480.233.7051 or Andrew Walsh 602.527.2639 with US Preferred Realty to purchase your home in Arizona or if you need to sell your home. We excel in short sales and distressed properties. Visit us at http://YourGilbertHome.com.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Fannie Mae posts $14.8 Billion net loss
In a Wall Street Journal article "Fannie Seeks $10.7 Billion From Treasury After Big Loss" written by Nick Timiraos, he says Fannie posted a $14.8 Billion loss and needs $10.7 Billion for the US Treasury. The loss is due to rising unemployment and more prime borrowers defaulting on their loans. See the story here http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124960826802413197.html
The treasury has already pledged to provide as much as $400 Billion to keep Fanie Mae and Freddie Mac going. We have yet to see how the Obama administration will ultimately determine how the two companies will be run and/or divided or privatized or nationalized. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the two largest buyers of mortgages on the secondary mortgage market.
If you are considering to purchase a home and looking for a lender to purchase real estate in arizona, please contact Marie Zubkoff 480.233.7051 or Andrew Walsh 602.527.2639 for a referral. We can also keep you away from brokers who were relying on the Taylor Bean who has recently ceased operations. Visit and send us a message at http://yourgilberthome.com/
The treasury has already pledged to provide as much as $400 Billion to keep Fanie Mae and Freddie Mac going. We have yet to see how the Obama administration will ultimately determine how the two companies will be run and/or divided or privatized or nationalized. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the two largest buyers of mortgages on the secondary mortgage market.
If you are considering to purchase a home and looking for a lender to purchase real estate in arizona, please contact Marie Zubkoff 480.233.7051 or Andrew Walsh 602.527.2639 for a referral. We can also keep you away from brokers who were relying on the Taylor Bean who has recently ceased operations. Visit and send us a message at http://yourgilberthome.com/
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