What is “buyer’s remorse?”
With some frequency it happens that buyers often have a sense of remorse after contracting to buy a home. Why? A home is a very large purchase. Not just in terms of dollars, but also in the sense of...
View ArticleShould I Buy A House In “As Is” Condition?
Question: We’re considering the purchase of a home on an “as is– basis. We understand that we should get a home inspection and other checks before we buy. However, isn’t the seller also supposed to...
View ArticleWhat If We Find Termite Damage?
Question: What happens if a termite report shows termites or termite damage? Answer: You need to look at the specific terms of the sale agreement. If there’s an active pest infestation, many standard...
View ArticleShould I Buy With A Land Contract?
A “land contract– — also known as a “contract for deed” or “agreement for sale” — is a way to buy property on an installment basis. You make payments and then after some or all payments are made you...
View ArticleUncle Sam’s $8,000 For First Time Home Buyers
The government is hoping if you don’t now own a home that you’ll make the logical choice and buy one this year. If you do, there’s an $8,000 credit from Uncle Sam available to help you out. Last year...
View Article500,000+ Grab First-Time Homebuyer Credit
More than 500,000 buyers have used the first-time homebuyer credit to purchase a home. Amazingly enough, more than 38,000 buyers have already claimed the write-off but do not qualify. Why? In most...
View ArticleMaking The First-Time Buyer Tax Credit Better — Or Worse?
There is now a new effort on Capitol Hill to increase the first-time buyer credit from $8,000 to $15,000. Under S1230, first-time buyers would be able to get a credit equal to as much as 10 percent of...
View ArticleSince When Are Appraisal Conflicts Okay?
On RealTalk, a listserve with some 30,000+ agents and brokers, several relate that they have had bad experiences under the new Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) concept, something which only began...
View ArticleAppraisers Seek Sensible Reform
There’s been considerable debate regarding the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC), the agreement to curb appraisal abuses worked out between New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Fannie Mae,...
View ArticleReal Estate: Could Realty Brokers Have Prevented the Mortgage Meltdown?
Part of the puzzle of the mortgage meltdown has been the role of real estate brokers. Could real estate brokers have done more to prevent home buyers from making inappropriate purchases or using loans...
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