Real Estate Blog Filters | The Real Estate Blogosphere "filtered" for your convenience

Monday, April 09, 2007

Checking Out Real Estate Licensing and Exam Basics

Every state has at least two license levels for its real estate agents: salesperson and broker. (Briefly, a real estate broker is someone authorized by the state to perform certain activities such as ...

Checking Out Real Estate Licensing and Exam Basics

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Zambrano Corp. unit joins Terminus as Highland Building developer

More than a year after Knoxville, Tenn.-based Terminus Real Estate announced its plans for the long-vacant Highland Building in East Liberty, the project could be jump-started with an injection of capital from a local developer.

Zambrano Corp. unit joins Terminus as Highland Building developer

Friday, April 06, 2007

Congress sticks a knife in the piggyback

Congress passed a law that makes mortgage insurance tax deductible. This will make paying mortgage insurance more favorable than getting a piggyback loan for a lot of borrowers.

Congress sticks a knife in the piggyback

'A lot of bargains out there'

When Yelena Takhtamanova, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco economist, began her 2007 forecast for the East Bay chapter of the California Association of Mortgage Brokers, she said she hoped the audience could help her - she's in the market for a house.

'A lot of bargains out there'

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Remorse builds as construction drags

Question: My fianc and I bought a home to be constructed by a builder. He offered financing from construction to the permanent mortgage. I now regret that I'm locked in before the house has even been completed. The builder is paying the interest on the construction loan during the one-year building period. We will refinance after the house is completed. What do you think of this arrangement?

Remorse builds as construction drags

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Woodheads of the world, untie!

Someone who refuses to refinance a mortgage, even though rates have fallen and anyone with half a brain knows that it makes financial sense to refi, is known as a woodhead.

Woodheads of the world, untie!

Homeowner on Social Security can give adjustable loan the boot

Question: Why did my adjustable rate mortgage go from 6.5% to 8.5% interest last month? It is tied to the 11th District cost of funds index. I will soon be 76 and owe only $74,500 on a house worth about $700,000. I doubt I would qualify to refinance because my income is only Social Security benefits and some small rental income. What should I do?

Homeowner on Social Security can give adjustable loan the boot

Refinancing won't solve debt problems

Tapping equity to refinance a mortgage will wipe out credit card and student loan debt, but it creates new problems if you keep on spending, says the Debt Adviser.