Minnesota Hud Homes

Underwater Homeowner Refinance Programs Extended For 1 More Year

FHFA Extends Refinance Program By One Year

Washington, DC — Federal Housing Finance Agency Acting Director Edward J. DeMarco has announced an extension of the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), a refinancing program administered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to June 30, 2012. The program was set to expire on June 30 of this year. In addition, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will make the following adjustments to their programs: Freddie Mac will exempt HARP loans from their recently announced price adjustments and Fannie Mae will conform their eligibility date to May 2009.

The program expands access to refinancing for qualified individuals and families whose homes have lost value. HARP has grown over the past year. In 2010, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac purchased or guaranteed more than 6.8 million refinanced mortgages. Of this total, 621,803 were HARP refinances with LTVs between 80 percent and 125 percent. This is up from 190,180 in 2009, when HARP began.

For more information on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac refinance activity, see FHFA’s Fourth Quarter 2010 Foreclosure Prevention & Refinance Report. Additionally, homeowners can visit www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov for more information on the program.

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The Federal Housing Finance Agency regulates Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks. These government-sponsored enterprises provide more than $5.9 trillion in funding for the U.S. mortgage markets and financial institutions.

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WHY Pick RE/MAX?

There are lots of reasons why you might choose to select one agent or company vs another. Unless you have a best friend or relative who you “have” to use, I would like to show you how I am different. I believe I have an excellent value proposition as to why you would select me as your agent and RE/MAX as your company. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and discuss how I can help you meet your housing goals-whether it be buying or selling. Interview a couple of agents, you will see there is a difference. You may wonder how does RE/MAX stack up within the Twin Cities. The attached PDF’s will give you some market share information as well as agent productivity-based on a 2010 compilation of the numbers. While these are just some of the metrics on which to base your decision, success does leave clues. How can I help you?

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Down Payment Assistance Synopsis

Where there is a will, there is a way. There are many many programs today that are city specific. So, the attached synopsis is a multi county foreclosure down payment assistance pool. Basically, there is money available for purchasers of distressed homes. If you want to buy a home and are flexible in which area you make your purchase, we can try to find you some programs.

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Gifts and Grants can be considered towards borrowers funds on certain 3% down conventional loans

Yes, you read that right. I just got an email today from a leading mortgage insurance company that is willing to underwrite this loan. You will need at 740 or better score. But, what an opportunity. In many ways, this is like FHA, but with a little higher credit threshold. The KEY difference, besides credit score, is the lack of an upfront MI (mortgage insurance) premium and as well as a smaller required monthly premium. This product could be a game changer for the MI company and conventional loans.

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Purchase 80/10/10 and 80/5/15 STILL exists

As of this post, the 80/10/10 and 80/5/15 can still be done. While underwriting has allowed it, it has been very difficult to find a second mortgage product that would write a 5 or 10% second mortgage. Well, after many phone calls, we have sourced two lenders who at this time are willing to offer the second mortgage. One is a bank and the other is a credit union. As with EVERY program, the rules can and do change at any given moment. The key to both product is extremely high credit scores and a file that utilizes conservative ratios. If you don’t have at least a 700 score, this might not be something you can utilize at this time. For the 80/10/10, you will need a 740 or better score.

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What Is Your Home Worth Today?

I found a cool resource at http://www.FHFA.gov. If you go there, in the middle of the page you will find something called the Home Price Calculator. You input your home purchase information in terms of State, quarter in which you purchased and the quarter in which you’d like to get the valuation. Next, you hit calculate, and it will show you a chart. While it isn’t specific to YOUR exact home, it does give trends for your area. If you want specific information-specific to your home-within the Twin Cities metro-give me a call and we can discuss your situation. I can then give you guidance on what the value might be.

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Did you know-Current & Future Housing Data

Watch this video-then call me to help you buy or sell a new home or investment property.

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8 Tips For Finding Your New Home

A solid game plan can help you narrow your homebuying search to find the best home for you.

House hunting is just like any other shopping expedition. If you identify exactly what you want and do some research, you’ll zoom in on the home you want at the best price. These eight tips will guide you through a smart homebuying process.

1. Know thyself
Understand the type of home that suits your personality. Do you prefer a new or existing home? A ranch or a multistory home? If you’re leaning toward a fixer-upper, are you truly handy, or will you need to budget for contractors?

2. Research before you look
List the features you most want in a home and identify which are necessities and which are extras. Identify three to four neighborhoods you’d like to live in based on commute time, schools, recreation, crime, and price. Then hop onto REALTOR.com to get a feel for the homes available in your price range in your favorite neighborhoods. Use the results to prioritize your wants and needs so you can add in and weed out properties from the inventory you’d like to view.

3. Get your finances in order
Generally, lenders say you can afford a home priced two to three times your gross income. Create a budget so you know how much you’re comfortable spending each month on housing. Don’t wait until you’ve found a home and made an offer to investigate financing.

Gather your financial records and meet with a lender to get a prequalification letter spelling out how much you’re eligible to borrow. The lender won’t necessarily consider the extra fees you’ll pay when you purchase or your plans to begin a family or purchase a new car, so shop in a price range you’re comfortable with. Also, presenting an offer contingent on financing will make your bid less attractive to sellers.

4. Set a moving timeline
Do you have blemishes on your credit that will take time to clear up? If you already own, have you sold your current home? If not, you’ll need to factor in the time needed to sell. If you rent, when is your lease up? Do you expect interest rates to jump anytime soon? All these factors will affect your buying, closing, and moving timelines.

5. Think long term
Your future plans may dictate the type of home you’ll buy. Are you looking for a starter house with plans to move up in a few years, or do you hope to stay in the home for five to 10 years? With a starter, you may need to adjust your expectations. If you plan to nest, be sure your priority list helps you identify a home you’ll still love years from now.

6. Work with a REALTOR®
Ask people you trust for referrals to a real estate professional they trust. Interview agents to determine which have expertise in the neighborhoods and type of homes you’re interested in. Because homebuying triggers many emotions, consider whether an agent’s style meshes with your personality.

Also ask if the agent specializes in buyer representation. Unlike listing agents, whose first duty is to the seller, buyers’ reps work only for you even though they’re typically paid by the seller. Finally, check whether agents are REALTORS®, which means they’re members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. NAR has been a champion of homeownership rights for more than a century.

7. Be realistic
It’s OK to be picky about the home and neighborhood you want, but don’t be close-minded, unrealistic, or blinded by minor imperfections. If you insist on living in a cul-de-sac, you may miss out on great homes on streets that are just as quiet and secluded.

On the flip side, don’t be so swayed by a “wow” feature that you forget about other issues—like noise levels—that can have a big impact on your quality of life. Use your priority list to evaluate each property, remembering there’s no such thing as the perfect home.

8. Limit the opinions you solicit
It’s natural to seek reassurance when making a big financial decision. But you know that saying about too many cooks in the kitchen. If you need a second opinion, select one or two people. But remain true to your list of wants and needs so the final decision is based on criteria you’ve identified as important.

G.M. Filisko is an attorney and award-winning writer who has found happiness in a brownstone in a historic Chicago neighborhood. A frequent contributor to many national publications including Bankrate.com, REALTOR® Magazine, and the American Bar Association Journal, she specializes in real estate, business, personal finance, and legal topics.

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4 Tips to Determine How Much Mortgage You Can Afford

By knowing how much mortgage you can handle, you can ensure that home ownership will fit in your budget.

Here are six surefire ways you can get your finances in order before you buy a home.

Homeownership should make you feel safe and secure, and that includes financially. Be sure you can afford your home by calculating how much of a mortgage you can safely fit into your budget.

Instead of just taking out the biggest mortgage a lender qualifies you to borrow, consider how much you want to pay each month for housing based on your financial and personal goals.

Think ahead to major life events and consider how those might influence your budget. Do you want to return to school for an advanced degree? Will a new child add day care to your monthly expenses? Does a relative plan to eventually live with you and contribute to the mortgage?

Still not sure how much you can afford? You can use the same formulas that most lenders use, or try another of these traditional methods for estimating the amount of mortgage you can afford.

1. The general rule of mortgage affordability
As a rule of thumb, you can typically afford a home priced two to three times your gross income. If you earn $100,000, you can typically afford a home between $200,000 and $300,000.

To understand how that rule applies to your particular financial situation, prepare a family budget and list all the costs of homeownership, like property taxes, insurance, maintenance, utilities, and community association fees, if applicable, as well as costs specific to your family, such as day care costs.

2. Factor in your downpayment
How much money do you have for a downpayment? The higher your downpayment, the lower your monthly payments will be. If you put down at least 20% of the home’s cost, you may not have to get private mortgage insurance, which costs hundreds each month. That leaves more money for your mortgage payment.
The lower your downpayment, the higher the loan amount you’ll need to qualify for and the higher your monthly mortgage payment.

3. Consider your overall debt
Lenders generally follow the 28/41 rule. Your monthly mortgage payments covering your home loan principal, interest, taxes, and insurance shouldn’t total more than 28% of your gross annual income. Your overall monthly payments for your mortgage plus all your other bills, like car loans, utilities, and credit cards, shouldn’t exceed 41% of your gross annual income.

Here’s how that works. If your gross annual income is $100,000, multiply by 28% and then divide by 12 months to arrive at a monthly mortgage payment of $2,333 or less. Next, check the total of all your monthly bills including your potential mortgage and make sure they don’t top 41%, or $3,416 in our example.

4. Use your rent as a mortgage guide
The tax benefits of homeownership generally allow you to afford a mortgage payment—including taxes and insurance—of about one-third more than your current rent payment without changing your lifestyle. So you can multiply your current rent by 1.33 to arrive at a rough estimate of a mortgage payment.

Here’s an example. If you currently pay $1,500 per month in rent, you should be able to comfortably afford a $2,000 monthly mortgage payment after factoring in the tax benefits of homeownership.

However, if you’re struggling to keep up with your rent, consider what amount would be comfortable and use that for the calcuation instead.

Also consider whether or not you’ll itemize your deductions. If you take the standard deduction, you can’t also deduct mortgage interest payments. Talking to a tax adviser, or using a tax software program to do a “what if” tax return, can help you see your tax situation more clearly.

G.M. Filisko is an attorney and award-winning writer who’s owned her own home for more than 20 years. A frequent contributor to many national publications including Bankrate.com, REALTOR® Magazine, and the American Bar Association Journal, she specializes in real estate, business, personal finance, and legal topics.

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Who Manages The HUD Homes?

The country is divided into different areas. Each area works with different companies. In addition, some areas have different rules. For example, the $100 down program is not available in all areas of the country. Like everything these days, you need to check on availability. To determine who is the manager, go to this map http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/reo/mm/mm3map.pdf

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Minnesota Foreclosure comparison report

A very interesting year over year foreclosure report was just released. It takes the MN foreclosure crisis and breaks down the data into micro data. It is definitely worth looking at if you want to identify trends and opportunities.
http://www.hocmn.org/Stock/Editor/file/REPORTS/2010_YrEnd_ForeclosureCount/2010_Annual_ForeclosuresInMN.pdf

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Two Special Twin Cities Home Buying Programs

One program is called FPP-Foreclosure Partnership Program, and the other is NSP2 Homebuyer Assistance Program.  Both programs offer incentive money for a purchase.  I can use these financing programs with one of our mortgage investors.  Consider checking them out to see if they’d work for you.

HennipenCounty-Non-forclosedHomes-overview

HennipenCounty-Nsp2-overview

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You CAN do an FHA short sale

HUD recently issued guidance on this issue. IF you have an FHA loan, call me and we can work through the discussion of whether or not you may qualify for a short sale. See the HUD letter below.

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HAFA Update-More Beneficial

Apparently the OLD HAFA wasn’t as successful as hoped. Yet, the program had some great attributes. They’ve just tweaked it, and are about to roll out a new improved version. See the sheet between for a comparison. The ability to pay the second lien holder a larger amount to make a settlement is what I feel will allow more HAFA short sales to close.

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Rebuilding Credit To Get A Mortgage

Often, especially in this market due to the recession, we find potential home buyers who have had a life event or “bump in the road” that affects their ability to obtain a new loan. If you want to buy a home, you will have to have a certain number of reporting trade lines and for certain length of time. MOST mortgage programs require 3-5 trade lines and a minimum of two years of reporting. The other criteria is the actual credit score-which generally has to be 620, 640 or even 660 as it is all lender dependent. A manual underwriting where they use alternative credit such as rent payments, cell phone bill, utility bills, and the cable bill might be able to be used-but only with a few certain programs and lenders. So, the best bet is to re-establish credit as quickly as possible. HOW ABOUT NOW!! Don’t wait-it will only extend the time until you are going to be eligible. I have put together a list of resources that might be helpful. This list is only a starting place for your research. If you find another good resource please post it in the comments below so that the list can be expanded upon.

TOP IDEAS FOR CREDIT RE.doc

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Projected Loss Severity Of A Foreclosure-both 2010 & 2011

Short sales are probably going to be the loss mitigation method of choice.  When you look at the loss severity of a foreclosure, you can see why some other method might be preferable.  Look at the Fitch ratings report here and see for yourself.  This may be useful information when negotiating with the banks and servicer.

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Buying Rental Property In The Twin Cities

Have you ever wanted to own rental property, but were unsure where to start? I teach a class on the topic. I’ve decided to make the outline into a PPT. I cover the information in my class in much more depth and breadth, but this will give you a lot of useful information. If you are interested in discussing purchasing a rental property as an investment, just give me a call and we can set up a time to meet and review how I can help you become a “real estate mogul”.

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Mortgage Insurance May Still Be Deductible For Some Buyers

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Is There An Opportunity Right In Front Of YOU

I just watched an amazing video which I’ve posted below called the Money Tree. There are so many different interpretations. One that struck me was that people are oblivious to opportunity that is right in front of them. How many of us are looking for something that we already have or is within our reach? How many people are NOT buying real estate today when they could be looking at this as an incredible wealth building opportunity for what it is over the long term-assuming properties rise again in value? I was showing homes this past weekend. It was incredible to see townhomes in great communities selling for 40-60% less than they had sold for just as little as 5 years before. Luckily for my client, we are going to make an offer and ACT. Watch this video and don’t let the opportunities in your life pass you by. Don’t let life pass you by. Happy New Year and may 2011 be your best yet!

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December Is The Time To Reflect

Are each of us doing all we can to make the world a better place? Many of us have our favorite charity and organizations we support. RE/MAX is a very large sponsor of Children’s Miracle Network. Many people don’t realize how much has been given. Each time I sell a home, I automatically donate a portion of my commission to this organization. Other RE/MAX agents like myself contribute from their commission checks as well. Together, with RE/MAX we have collectively given over 100M. I would encourage everyone to consider finding an organization they believe in and make giving a part of their life. Just imagine what the world could look like?

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Short Sales Are Today’s Investor Opportunity

Short sales can be win win transactions for everyone. Take a look at the video and give me a call to get started.

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Getting Ready to Sell Your House

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HUD Has A YouTube Channel-Here Is There Vid On Buying A Home

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Google lets you create cool templated websites

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Can Home Ownership Contribute To Your Wealth?

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Minnesota Foreclosure And Distressed Home Fact Sheets PLUS Twin Cities First Time Buyer Special Programs

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What Does The Foreclosure Moratorium Mean To A Distressed Homeowner?

Check out the PDF and share with your friends/family who might need this information.

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Minnesota First Time Home Buyer Tips

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Top Seven Tips For Home Buyers

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The Difference Between Judicial And Non-Judicial Foreclosures

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Foreclosure resource page

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Possible Effects From The Foreclosure Halt

By Rob Minton & John Mazzara

In case you’ve somehow missed it, many of the largest U.S. mortgage servicing companies have halted foreclosures. Ally Financial’s GMAC Mortgage, Bank of America, JP Morgan and PNC have stopped foreclosures in many states – BOA has, in fact, put a moratorium on foreclosures in all 50 states.

Pressing the pause button on foreclosures came as the result of several states’ attorneys general inquiring into the validity of foreclosure judgments for which mortgage servicers did not properly handle documents.
The “blind stamping” of documents – signing off on documents without really reading them – has come under fire after one manager admitted to signing off on about 8,000 foreclosure documents a month without reading them to verify facts. The mortgage companies have halted foreclosures while they investigate practices in their foreclosure processes.

Of course, it being an election year and all, members of congress are calling for a federal probe of lender misconduct. In the short-term anyway, the halt in foreclosures might give some struggling homeowners a little extra time to get on their feet. It might finally lead to overworked employees at busy banks getting the help they need to properly handle foreclosures, and it should make banks a little more willing to work with homeowners to modify distressed loans. With fewer foreclosures hitting the market, home values in some areas might creep up.

There are some long-term effects, though, that can’t be ignored. And some of them are downright troubling.
First, the halting of foreclosures for any period of time by banks that hold as many mortgages as these firms do is going to stop up the pipeline. Tons of foreclosed homes hit the market over the past two or three years, but there are more coming. Stalling that flow of homes now is going to drag out the process for a longer period of time. That means, for one, likely longer pressure on home values. Most experts will agree: The inventory of unsold homes on the market, many of them foreclosures, has to get smaller before home values will stabilize completely.

The effect on the volume of homes sales could be staggering if the moratorium lasts longer than a month or two, and/or if more servicing companies join the party. Across the U.S., foreclosures make up about 30 percent of all home sales. In California, Florida, Nevada – the states that have been hit hard by foreclosure – they make up a considerably larger percentage of all sales.

It’s also safe to assume that title insurance companies are going to be reluctant to insure titles on homes that have been foreclosed. That could be a huge problem because no lender is going to make a loan on home without an insured title. And what happens if the bank has already re-sold homes that were invalid foreclosures? Are the title insurance companies going to have to pay the new buyers?

On top of all that, the whole mess is going to make potential real estate buyers even more nervous about the market, which is already dealing with a huge drop in demand since the federal government’s tax credits for home buyers expired. Perhaps the delay in the flood of foreclosed homes to the market will give time for demand to return, but more likely is yet another “doom and gloom” real estate scenario that will scare buyers and investors off.

Hopefully, the big lenders agreement to halt foreclosures was a gesture of good faith made to the attorneys general, a sign that the firms are taking seriously the matter of following proper procedure in foreclosures. Hopefully, investigations will determine that for the most part, the banks are doing things the right way and will be able to move on.

Because while the short-term effects of the halt might seem attractive, a long-term foreclosure problem would not be good for anybody involved in real estate. In Minnesota, the market has definitely slowed, but some of this is seasonal. I think that the foreclosure issue will put more pressure on all parties involved to pursue short sales. Short sales are generally less expensive-in terms of loss-to the lender. Also, a short sale generally is viewed more positively on your credit. So, why aren’t more short sales being pursued? Rather than give you my conspiracy theory and explain who makes money throughout the foreclosure process, I would simply encourage you to follow the money.

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Monitor Foreclosure Fraud From Around The Country

Have you heard of the “think big work small” guys?  Unless you are in the mortgage or real estate industry, you may not know who they are.   In a nutshell, they are awesome.  They produce a 5 minute daily video synopsis of what’s happening in our industries.  Today’s video referenced a new site called http://www.4closurefraud.org I went there to take a look.  It is another excellent resource for anyone who wants to monitor articles and information regarding foreclosure fraud-meaning foreclosures done incorrectly with the likes of robo signers, faulty documentation, and more.  Go there and bookmark for future reference.

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Lenders Are Halting Foreclosures-Temporarily

Not all lenders, but a few of the largest-including Bank Of America- have recently suspended foreclosures in all 50 states. What will be the outcome and when will they move forward again with the process? It is all an unknown at this time. What we do know, is that they may not have processed the paperwork properly. Now, it appears they will be reviewing everything twice before they go forward. Ultimately, the end result will probably end with the home being foreclosed upon if the homeowner is actually behind and there hasn’t been a modification. But for many, this reprieve will probably be a nice relief in this tough economy. Here is a link to a recent article from our local paper http://www.startribune.com/business/104612084.html?page=3&c=y

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Here’s What The Federal Reserve Has To Say

There is an interesting report from the Federal Reserve entitled REO and Vacant Properties http://www.bos.frb.org/commdev/REO-and-vacant-properties/REO-and-vacant-properties.pdf You can read/download the report at this link.

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There is a NEW HUD HOME lookup site

HUD is marketing their homes on site located at http://www.HUDhomeStore.com At this site you will be able to locate the HUD Home inventory on a national basis.  All these homes will make it into the MLS as well, but if you are specifically inquiring on a HUD property, this the place to look first.

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Data.gov – A Cool Site With Lots Of Great Info

http://www.Data.gov I just found this site and wanted to share it.  It has a ton of info and reports.  If you have a project or just an “inquiring mind”, this is sure to be a hit.  Check it out and get the data you need.

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Homepath.com is Fannie’s Foreclosure Portal

Fannie Mae posts their foreclosured properties with a Realtor of their choice and also on http://www.HomePath.com.  What is cool about a Homepath property is that many times they will qualify for Homepath loans (requiring only 3% down) and no appraisal.  They also have a homepath Renovation loan.  There is a program called FirstLook, which allows certain selected developers and non profits to purchase these homes for rehabilitation first, so you might loose a home that is really a good deal. Still, don’t let this deter you.  I recently sold a home in Brooklyn Center that was a HomePath property.  It was pretty nice, just a little dirty. Because it was in very good shape, we were able to use FHA financing.  I’ve found that FHA financing is cheaper than Homepath with a minimum down payment.  We’ll have to see if that changes in the future.

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HUD Homes Investing

By Hector Lesende

HUD homes sales are very popular in the Miami real estate market. Investors are always looking for bargain prices when purchasing real estate. HUD homes Daily All Bidders list is the best way of buying HUD homes for investors. HUD is offering a lot of incentives in order to sell their Miami real estate inventory. The $100 down payment for owner-occupants is a very attractive FHA loan incentive. The FHA 203k program is a good way to obtain money for repairs. The 203k program allows the buyer to combine the cost of repairs and the mortgage. HUD is also giving sales allowances that allow the buyer to pay down the mortgage, pay closing costs, or make repairs. These incentives do not apply to investors.

Daily All Bidders – Investors are not allowed to purchase a HUD home in the initial bidding period. The investor must wait for the property to go into the Daily All Bidder status. When a Miami HUD home does not sell in the initial offer period it goes into a Daily bid list. This is when the investors come in and pick up the property at a discount. Investors try different bids usually starting low and moving up until their bid is accepted. The Daily bid is an excellent way for the investors and end users to buy a HUD home in the Miami real estate market without having to compete in the regular bid process. Investors do not want to get caught up in a bidding war which can raise the sales price. The first acceptable HUD bid is accepted in a daily manner. HUD will reject all offers that do not meet their guidelines and is considered too low.

HUD will not disclose the percentage they will take as the lowest bid. This percentage could be from 13% to 50% or less depending how long the property remains in the Miami real estate market. All Miami HUD homes used to sell on the initial offer period and for a lot more money than the starting bid. It was not uncommon for a property to sell for 50% over the list price with multiples bids offered for the same property. All of this has changed dramatically. Now most of the HUD properties do not sell in the initial period. Most of the Miami real estate inventory is sold in the Daily bids at discounted prices. The net to HUD is usually is now much lower than the original price.

Many investors study the bid results page so that they can determine the lowest percentage HUD will accept. The results also shows the selling office, date of sale, the offer accepted and the net to HUD. All HUD homes are sold in as is condition. An investor must make a bid through a registered real estate agent. There are now more HUD homes available for sale in the Daily bid list. The numbers of HUD homes will increase greatly due to the high number of FHA loans being originated. Investors must consider the Daily All Bidders when purchasing a HUD home in the Miami real estate area.

Hector Lesende is owner/licensed real estate broker in Miami, Florida. Please visit http://www.lesende.com We will sell your home fast. We offer a Foreclosure List. Search Miami Real Estate Blog Search Coral Gables Real Estate.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hector_Lesende
http://EzineArticles.com/?HUD-Homes-Investing&id=1672855

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HUD Foreclosures – Finding a Foreclosed HUD Home Online

By Carrie Reeder

HUD homes are ideal for first time home buyers or real estate investors

searching for inexpensive properties. HUD properties consist of

foreclosed homes with a FHA mortgage loan. Once the home is foreclosed, the

goal is to resell it quickly. Thus, if you can meet the criteria for a

mortgage, you can obtain a HUD foreclosed property. Locating a HUD

property using the internet is quick and easy because various websites offer

listings of foreclosed homes.

Government Housing Agencies and HUD

If you are looking to buy a HUD home, websites operated by government

agencies, such as HUD, are the best resources. The information included

on these websites is free to the public. In addition to providing an

up-to-date list of HUD homes in your area, websites will also provide a

step-by-step guide on how to bid, purchase, and find financing for a HUD

property.

Once you have accessed the HUD website, perform a quick search for HUD

listings in your state. This search will provide a list of homes

including detail property description, sale price, agent contact information,

and so forth. Some HUD homes are owner occupant, whereas others are

opened to all bidders. Real estate investors can buy properties in the

latter category.

Real Estate Agents and Realtor Listings

In addition to obtaining listings through government agency websites,

you may also find up-to-date HUD properties working with a real estate

agent. The majority of agents have websites that include an exhausted

list of properties for sale.

Along with these properties may include HUD foreclosed homes. If

working with a realtor or agent, obtain the company’s or agent’s website

address. Regularly refer to their online listing of homes. Every so often,

a HUD home will be included among the listing.

Online Listing of HUD Homes for Sale

Purchasing a list of HUD foreclosed homes for sale has advantages and

disadvantages. For starters, the list you purchase may be outdated or

may not include properties in your area. Instead of purchasing a one-time

list of HUD foreclosures, consider subscribing to an online listing

service that offers an up-to-date listing of properties.

These services are beneficial because you can search properties across

the country, which is great for investors. Moreover, you have the

option of receiving email notifications when a new HUD home is listed.

View our recommended list of foreclosed homes online

Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about loans and bad credit mortgage loans.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carrie_Reeder
http://EzineArticles.com/?HUD-Foreclosures—Finding-a-Foreclosed-HUD-Home-Online&id=133415

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Check Out Energy Rebates

EnergyStar.gov –  Check Out Energy Rebates

This is a government site that offers lots of energy saving tips as well as explains what energy saving grants or credits might be available.

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Foreclosure Trends Newsletter

Here is the latest issue of my foreclosure trends newsletter.  As you can see, the trend is not our friend, in the sense that the housing market has not recovered.  Until jobs come back and people are employed and feel safe in their employment, they will tend to avoid making a committment.

ForeclosureTrends.pdf

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HUD home buying tips

Provided by Patti Mazzara-Venture Development 952-285-4319 We can finance HUD homes.  While this information was going to be for Realtors to share with buyers, it is applicable for HUD buyers directly.

Bidding & Buying HUD homes—it seems to be the hot ticket in town.

However – Remember these key points to avoid problems and advise buyers:

Only primary residence buyers allowed in the first round of bidding.
·         Advise buyer that if home is being offered as eligible for FHA financing it:

o        Has an existing FHA appraisal that must be used (unless expired)                                                                      AND
o        The sales price has usually been based on the existing appraised                                               value.  Bidding above the sales price may result in them paying the                                                       difference out-of-pocket between their bid and appraised value.

·         HUD does not automatically provide title insurance.  Explain this to your buyer and make sure that the lender has disclosed this additional expense to them if they want to purchase it to avoid surprises at closing.  Only if HUD has agreed to pay closing costs, could the insurance be provided at HUD’s expense.
·         If HUD is offering a repair escrow, explain to buyers that this amount can be ADDED to their FHA loan, but HUD doesn’t pay for it.
·         Lender documents must be to the title company up to 10 days prior to closing date in some states.  Make sure the buyer’s lender understands and can accommodate the requirement.
·         HUD signs closing packages first.  Then once the loan proceeds and the title company receives buyer down payment and closing costs, the buyer is allowed to sign.  Make sure that the lender is aware and has the ability to fund the loan BEFORE they have a completed loan package.
·         Closing delays are common due to “title clearing” issues.  Foreclosed homes can have several liens due to utilities, taxes; etc that must be dealt with before closing can take place.  Prepare the buyer in the beginning and discuss potential challenges, such as rescheduling of moving trucks, and possible rate lock extension fees.

Buyers will appreciate your proactive approach to making their dream come true!

“The information provided has been based on rules and regulations issued by Federal Agencies and interpreted for you by MortgageCurrentcy.com.  Interpretations are not guaranteed but we attempt to make them both easy to understand and help you sell more real estate.  Check with your local and state authorities to ensure that you meet all requirements and disclosures.”

Copyright © 2009   Reprinted with permission   MortgageCurrentcy.com

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Twin Cities Foreclosure Trends-From our MLS & Realty Trac

Besides the board of realtor sites:  http://theThing.mplsrealtor.com and market data posted elsewhere at http://www.MplsRealtor.com I have a subscription to Realty Trac.  My subscription gives me additional data about foreclosures and trends within certain zip codes.  This is in addition to my daily subscription to Finance & Commerce (a business newspaper that prints all the foreclosure information as well as very timely articles regarding the business community).  If you are looking for someone who has experience and access to information about distressed sales, we need to be working together.  Whether buyer or seller-I can help you understand the market we are in and the options and opportunities available to you.  Give me call today.

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Real Estate Information

These are a couple of my newsletters that have a ton of valuable information. Go check them out.

Foreclosure Market Trends Newsletter
http://www.realtytrac.com/MarketTrends/NewsLetter.aspx?guid=131bd355-1b69-4bd1-99cd-2f0c9a936810

Real Estate Cyber Space Tips
http://www.REcyber.com/cybertips/r11627

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Minnesota Commercial Real Estate

Minnesota Commercial Real EstatBy Eric Morris

The commercial real estate of Minnesota is concentrated on the “twin cities” of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Minneapolis is the largest city in Minnesota, as well as the seat of Hennepin County. It is situated in the southeast central part of Minnesota, on the Mississippi River. It flanks its “twin city” of St. Paul. Minneapolis is a major hub of commerce and industry, and serves a large agricultural region. During the 1900s, manufacturing, milling, food processing, health services, computers, and graphic arts grew as the city’s major industries. There are fifteen Fortune 500 companies that have their headquarters in the Minneapolis and St. Paul metropolitan area. The Ninth Federal Reserve Bank’s headquarters is also located in the city.

Also, the twin cities are famous for their broad range of cultural appeal, and there are many historical museums in Minneapolis. They include the Walker Center, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, which is located at the University of Minnesota’s Minneapolis campus.

St. Paul has a population of over 270,000, and is smaller than Minneapolis. It lies along the Mississippi River, adjacent to Minneapolis, forming the metropolitan area of the twin cities. St. Paul is a port of entry in the Mississippi, in addition to being a railroad hub. The city is a financial, commercial, and industrial center. St. Paul also shares an international airport with its twin. Among the city’s various industries are construction, electrical and medical equipment, paper and plastic products, sheet metal, motor vehicles, food and consumer goods. Other industries are oil refining, and printing and publishing.

Minnesota Real Estate provides detailed information on Minnesota Real Estate, Minnesota Real Estate Listings, Minnesota Commercial Real Estate, Real Estate Agents in Minnesota and more. Minnesota Real Estate is affiliated with Sarasota Real Estate Marketing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Morris
http://EzineArticles.com/?Minnesota-Commercial-Real-Estate&id=269799

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Outstanding Video-An Inspiration To All-Be The Best You Can Be!

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Twin Cities Home buyer book

Thinking about buying a home but don’t know where to start? Why not start by reading the home buyer hand book that we have provided below. It is a great place to start to get the information you need. When you’re ready, we would love to help you find and finance a new home.

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Open Source Documents-Unbelievable Resources-Find YOUR topic of Interest

If you’ve never visited http://www.Archive.org, you are missing a wonderful site.  From this site, you will find many resources that are out of copyright and you can download and use them as you wish.  You will find all the classics and some fun things as well.  Just for fun, I have the download of a book called “Little Gardens” which is a book about setting up a garden on a city lot.  This is just one of the MANY fun things you’ll find.  You can download and watch old music, movies, and cartoons as well.  Plan to spend some time on the site should you decide to visit, as it is very cool.  Click here to download the book Little Gardens

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Sell Your Home Faster-Learn The Home Selling Secrets Of Successful Sellers

Here is a special report that outlines over 450 ideas on how to sell your home faster.  This report is just one of the many home buyer, home seller, and investor reports that I can make available to you.  Read this report and call me to arrange a time to see how I can help.  Download Now

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House Flip Boot Camp

If you are anything like millions of Americans you have probably caught countless shows on cable television that boast the serious profits that can be made by flipping houses. This is a very true statement, serious money can be made when one goes about flipping the correct way, however, serious money can be much more easily lost when a house flip goes wrong. If you are hoping to find your way to fortune through real estate investing you need to pull yourself up by the bootstraps and understand a few house flip basics.

The first thing you need to understand is that the ultimate goal in a venture such as this is to make as much money as possible in as little time as possible. This means several things to the wise investor not the least of which is that you must always have a complete inspection performed before you make any sort of financial commitment to the house. A good inspection can help you identify work that must be done, whether or not there is any structural damage, or whether there are any unexpected problems such as signs of termites or water damage behind the walls.

These are very important things to know and should have a significant impact on your offer on the property as they will have a direct effect on how much you will need to invest in making the property sellable and whether or not the property will even be profitable when you consider how much money will be needed to get it in minimal selling condition and how much you can reasonably expect to sell the house for after that.

Once you have the inspection done it is a good idea to take into account all the things that will need to be done to improve the property and the things that must be done in order to get the property in sellable condition along with permits that are needed, inspections that are needed, and jobs that require licensed contractors in order to meet local code requirements. Each of these will take a significant amount of investment in order to accomplish and that should also reflect in your offering price.

Far too few would be house flippers manage to take in the big picture when making plans and this is where they end up missing out on the bigger profits that can be made by successfully flipping houses for the lowest possible investment with the highest possible return on their investments. When making your plans you will want to go with changes that are cost effective.

Avoid making significant structural changes to the house unless you have a licensed contractor sign off on the wisdom and safety of those changes, as they can be very costly as well as dangerous to the stability of the property. At the same time you should salvage as much as possible within the existing structure. Flooring and paint are almost always required in a house flip but you do not always need new cabinets in the kitchen or bathroom fixtures. Chances are new doors and hardware in the kitchen would be a great fix for drab and tired cabinetry while greatly impacting the overall look of the kitchen without robbing you of some serious profits (doors cost significantly less than making new cabinets and can add the appearance of custom cabinetry).

The biggest idea to walk away from house flip boot camp with is the idea that the most visual impact you can have on the home for the least amount of money the better. In other words you don’t want to purchase a home that needs new heating or air conditioning as they are not visual changes and are quite expensive. Find a house to flip that needs minor cosmetic repairs and a little dose of style and imagination and you will be able to maximize your profit. That is what real estate investing is all about after all.

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Funding Your Flip

Real estate investments are quite expensive. Not only do you need the money to purchase the property you will be flipping but you will also need money for the improvements, repairs, and renovations that need to be made along the way. Unfortunately, the real estate business is a tricky business and there aren’t very many traditional lenders that are willing to go full out in support of your real estate investment business venture.

This means you are going to have to either fund a good portion of the expenses yourself or you are going to have to find some other means of financing your house flip. First things first, the less you pay in interest the more money you bring home. You do not want to max out your credit cards in search of profits from a house flip if it can be avoided. Merchant accounts aren’t much better but they can help you keep better track of exactly how much money you are spending on the flip and some will even give you 90 days same as cash (this is great if you can complete the process within 90 days).

It should be said that these aren’t methods that are endorsed by the writer but they are definitely possibilities when it comes to funding your house flip. The best-case scenario is that you would have the money to play with and assume no real risk in the house flipping process but very few people trying to get started in real estate investing have that luxury.

That being said, one way that is extremely risky (especially if you are nearing retirement age) is to cash out your retirement funds. This is not attractive for many reasons not the least of which are the facts that there are hefty penalties for doing this and you are risking your retirement security. It is an option however if you are in a bind for your flip. If your flip is successful it’s water under the bridge, the money can be returned or reinvested and the profit from your flip can then help fund subsequent flips or other types of real estate investments.

If you discuss things carefully with your family and decide that you are all willing to take the risk you can also risk your home by taking out a second mortgage for the funds. Again this is not the preferred method because the assumed risk is great for the security of your family. It is very important that everyone involved be aware that flipping houses is a risky investment. Not only is it risky because you aren’t experienced but the real estate market is fickle. Your house could sit for several months requiring costly carrying costs before it sells.

Forming a partnership is another way to share the risks and help lighten the burden when it comes to flipping houses. Keep in mind that this is a stressful business venture and should be treated as a business venture. For this reason a volatile or fledgling friendship may not be the best risk for a venture such as this. If you do choose a partnership you need to carefully discuss the type of financial and labor investment that is expected of each partner and the share of profit that each partner expects to receive as well.

You should also consider carefully whether you are willing to risk the friendship for the sake of profits or would you rather go with a partnership that isn’t a close friend (most real estate investment groups have people willing to help with the financial side and assume the risk for the lion’s share of the profits).

Banks will typically fund a portion of the property costs if you can come up with an adequate down payment and show them a well thought out business plan. Do not rely on banks however if you have poor credit, lack a business plan, or do not have a sizable chunk of your own money to invest in the venture.

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Finding a Flip

Flipping houses is becoming increasingly popular. Unfortunately, the popularity of the idea is creating a bit of competition among those who would love to try it out for the first time. The increased competition often serves to drive up the costs involved in purchasing the profit, which only manages to lower the profit potential. However if you find a good deal and feel that the property is a good candidate for a flip you can ask yourself the following questions to help you determine whether or not the property really is a good candidate.

1. Have you had a qualified inspection and determined that there are only minor repairs that need to be made to the property and the landscaping? This is important because every repair that needs to be made will eat into your budget. You want to complete the project with as little extra money invested as possible in order to get the greatest return on your real estate investment possible.

2. Is the property suitable for the neighborhood? By this I mean is the property a three-bedroom house build for families in the middle of a retirement community or is it a one bedroom, cottage-style home in the midst of family houses? These aren’t exactly a good match and can cause problems when it comes time to sell.

3. Can the neighborhood bear the price you need to bring in from the flip? If you are creating an upscale home in a marginal neighborhood you are almost guaranteeing a loss on your investment. You want to find a house in need of repairs selling cheap in a neighborhood of much better houses so that it can bring in the profit you are hoping to get when all is said and done.

4. Can you make the changes you envision for the house on your budget and without significantly changing the structure of the house? This is a biggie and one that often gets overlooked. You do not want to start knocking out walls or creating additions when flipping a house. That is something you should leave for the new owners. You want to make as few waves as possible and only make changes that will improve the value of the home.

5. Can you improve the value of the home enough to make it worth your while in a short amount of time? This is another big deal when it comes to a house flip. It takes time and money to make the changes that most “flippers” have in mind for their investment, especially first time flippers. Do you have the time to stick with it and the money to cover the carrying costs while you are in the process of making the changes?

6. Is the property in a high demand neighborhood, city, etc. for selling properties? Another common mistake is buying in areas that are hard sells for buyers. It is often quite simple to find lower priced properties that are attractive at first glance however; if you can’t sell the property you purchase to flip it really defeats the purpose of putting all that time, effort, and money into making the improvements.

7. Can you do the work or will you need professionals and if so, will it still be cost effective? Be careful that you do not overestimate your abilities in this if possible. It is great to think you can put down a hardwood floor but the reality of doing it is quite another matter. Be sure you have a realistic understanding of the potential costs involved in the flip and whether or not the property will still be profitable in the worst-case scenario.

Answer these questions when checking out potential real estate investment and house flipping properties and you should be well on your way to a successful flip, at least as far as the selection of the property goes. You should also find a house to flip that you like as you will likely be spending a great deal of time there.

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Do You Need a Property Manager?

There are many decisions that you will need to make when investing in real estate. One of those decisions, for those handling rental properties is whether or not you need a property manager. Property managers have many uses and are a great idea for those who have many properties to handle and wish to have a life away from their real estate investing businesses. A property manager is your buffer between your tenants and your family.

The benefits of a good property management service are quite numerous. To begin with you will find that they eliminate the need for tenants to have your phone number. If you’ve dealt with rental properties before without the buffer of a property manager you are surely aware that it doesn’t matter what time of night or the morning things go wrong, you are the first person your tenants call to fix those things. A property management service is able to handle many things for you while letting you sleep through the night. It’s no small favor when you consider the multiples of tenants as you purchase more properties. A few late night phone calls and many rental property owners are almost ready to get out of the business of renting properties.

Property management services also often happen to have a qualified staff of maintenance people that can handle many of the things that go wrong with rental properties. The fee for these services may be included in your fees for the using the property management service in general or certain services may charge additional fees. Regardless your property manager or property management team is often the best source to find contractors to handle the repairs they cannot make for you as well as the repairs that they can. It’s nice to know that you won’t be getting up bleary eyed in the morning calling around for a plumber on the first exceptionally cold day of winter. Moreover it’s nice to know that someone else can deal with some of the negative things about owning rental properties.

My personal favorite reason to seek the services of a property management service is that they are qualified to handle the legalities of taking care of tenants who cannot make the rent for months on end. This is after all a business and while you can relate to the circumstances that leave some people unable to pay their rent you need the income from their property in order to make your bills. It’s much easier to leave some of the less pleasant tasks to someone else, especially if you are a softy for sob stories.

Property managers also handle the advertising for your property and the cleaning up and retouches that are necessary between tenants. They also allow you to take vacations and such filled with the knowledge that your properties and tenants are in good hands even when you aren’t there to oversee everything. Everyone needs to take a break sometimes it’s nice to know that with a reliable property manager you can actually sit back and relax while taking those breaks without worrying about all the particulars of the properties you own so far away.

If you are going to invest in real estate, this is one of the most worry free ways you can do it. The more properties you have, the more sense it makes to utilize the services of a reliable property management team.

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Benefits of Flipping Houses

Aside from the obvious financial rewards that go along with real estate investing and flipping houses there are a few more abstract benefits that can be gained when you embark on a house flipping adventure if you are looking for a little more incentive to get going in the direction of your dreams of real estate riches through flipping houses.

Most things in life have more than one pro or con to them and the same can be said when it comes to flipping houses. Whether you are doing this for a living or this is a one-time deal you will find that there are all kinds of little lessons you learn along the way. Knowledge is rarely a bad thing and the lessons you learn while flipping houses are lessons that can be applied in many aspects of your life.

1. Budgeting. There are few things that can give you a crash course in budgeting quicker than flipping a house. In order to successfully flip the house you are working on you will need to learn to budget quickly or you will wind up literally hemorrhaging money. Learning to set a budget and stick with it are both necessary skills for any flipping houses but when they carry over into other real life applications you will find that this is a very useful skill that has you looking at everyday purchases with new eyes.

2. Muscle Definition. Who knew that flipping houses would be such an excellent workout? This is especially true for those who traditionally hold jobs that aren’t necessarily dependent upon physical labor and those that do much of the work themselves (which is highly recommended when you can in order to save expensive and profit eating labor costs.. From heavy lifting to hammering and several other physical jobs in between you should discover that your labors are rewarded in more ways than simply watching your project come together.

3. Attention to Detail. This is a huge benefit that comes from flipping houses and you will get better at this with every subsequent flip. The money, when flipping houses is often made in the small details that others will overlook such as new electric faceplates, proper staging, and a good eye for color throughout the property. These things make potential buyers see a home that is loved and cared for rather than just another house on their list of places to see. If you take this attention to detail into your 9 to 5 job after flipping houses or into your tax preparation, event planning, and home organizing you will find that the lessons you’ve learned while flipping houses are well worth the time, effort, and labor that went into learning them.

4. Positive Thinking. You will hear many times in life that positive thinking is a powerful tool. There are very few places that this holds true more than when it comes to flipping houses. You definitely want to season your positive thinking with a nice hefty dose of reality but you should be aware that thinking positively has many benefits to you when flipping houses and in almost every other aspect of your life. You do not want to spend the time you could be improving your flip searching for problems or excuses.

5. Just Do It. The old Nike commercials had a point and if flipping houses doesn’t teach you anything else it should teach you this lesson. Procrastination wastes money. Every day that you carry the house you carry the expenses of the house (electric, mortgage, interest, etc.. get in there, get it done, and move on to the next project. Putting off the distasteful tasks won’t make them go away so you may as well go ahead and get them over with.

Flipping houses isn’t rocket science but it does take a unique combination of luck, skills, and stubbornness to turn a profit in this particular business. Learning the lessons above will help you not only succeed when it comes to flipping houses but in other aspects of your life as well.

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Real Estate Investing-Everything You Need To Know!

I came across this e-book and I wanted to share it with you.  I thought the information was useful, the rolodex link in the back of the book with investor resources was incredible.  I think you will enjoy it-it is a pretty light read.  If you get all fired up and want to start looking for property, just give me a call.

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RECENT News Release: Legal Service Plans Can Benefit Homeowners Facing Foreclosure

Pre-paid legal recently had a news release that explains how their service may benefit homeowners who are in distress and facing a foreclosure. We sell the PPD Pre-Paid Legal service plan at our website https://www.prepaidlegal.com/Multisite/Multisite?site=hub&assoc=mazzara You probably want to look at the family plans unless you are a small business. You can visit the site, watch the video, and learn more. I not only sell the plan, I am also a user of the plan. I think PPD is great based on my own personal experience. I have called upon them to answer questions and they have been of assistance over the years. If you have questions that aren’t answered online, call me.

Read the news release here:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/legal-service-plans-can-benefit-homeowners-facing-foreclosure-70452157.html

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Extension And Expansion Of Home Buyer Credit-4/30/2010

A Big WOW!!  The credit has been expanded to include homeowners who have owned their home for the past 5 years. No longer do you need to be a first time buyer.  The dollar limit is $8000 for first time buyers and $6500 for move up buyers.  This GREAT news.  Combine this with 50 year lows in interest rates, and you’d be crazy not to consider making a move.  If you feel secure in your job, think hard about buying  home at this time.  We can help you make the right move. Visit this site-which is from the National Association Of Home Builders  http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/faq2.php This site give you all the rules and regulations as they now apply.

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Why Foreclosure Is Often Preferred By The Loan Servicer Instead Of Offering A Loan Modification

Have you ever wondered why a foreclosure occurs when a better solution might have been a modification?  Would you like to read the facts and figures and see how mortgages are bundled, sold and serviced?  You will soon see it is isn’t pretty, we are in the midst of a crisis, and it is likely to get worse before it gets better.  That being said, you can probably guess why-it’s about the money.  It is a little more complex than that-the report is 60 pages-but is explains the incentive and disincentives that are at conflict within the mortgage market today.  Once you understand how all the pieces go together, you can see that something “different” needs to be done.  I am a strong free market believer, but in this case, the government needs to have a mandate and rule that is guided towards keeping people in their homes.  Left to current industry solutions, the mortgage mess will continue to play out and get worse.  If you click on the link below, you will find the free report from the National Consumer Law Center.

http://www.consumerlaw.org/issues/mortgage_servicing/content/Servicer-Report1009.pdf

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Home Buyer Tax Credit Information Update

It’s now official!! The tax credit has been extended and expanded. YOU NEED TO HURRY! You now have until the end of April 2010. The following summary of the credit is provided by the National Association Of Realtors. The following two documents cover the changes in the new law. Now get out there and buy a home!!

NAR FAQ: Homebuyer Tax Credit Changes
NAR Issue Brief: Homebuyer Tax Credit Changes

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Minnesota Real Estate Newsletter Gives Access To Great Computer & Life Tips

I maintain a number of real estate sites, blogs, and newsletters. One newsletter that provides a number of computer tips to help you function better with a computer is http://www.REcyber.com/cybertips/r11627 The site is full of cyber space tricks and great places to visit. We have link to this site on the list of MN Real Estate links, but I wanted to highlight this particular newsletter because it different from what most agents provide. From this newsletter, you can also access all the back issues-from 2001 and beyond. It is really quite a useful resource-spend some time there if you have a chance.

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Buy A Minnesota Investment Property With Confidence

RE/MAX has put together a “how to guide” on how to buy investment property.  Since knowledge is power, get the guide and brush up.  It’s your money-get the information you need to become a successful Minnesota investment property investor.

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The Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan

In the past few months, we have definitely seen the economy go down hill. The housing market has almost crashed and many people are looking for relief. With so many people having difficulty making home payments, the list of foreclosures is large and going up by the thousands every single day. Well, in order to try to help people dealing with this problem the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan has been created and will soon be started up. Of course many people are not even aware of all that this plan has to offer. So, here is a closer look at the plan, why it has been created, the components of the plan, how to know if you are eligible, and when it all is going to get started.

Why This Plan Has Been Created

So, you may be wondering why the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan has been created by the Obama Administration. Well, the plan has been developed to help the millions of families that will probably be facing foreclosure in the near future as well as people who are working hard to keep current on their mortgage. We are dealing with a real estate crisis as well as an economic crisis. In order to keep problems from going even lower as the foreclosures mount up, the administration hopes that this plan will help to stabilize the market and eventually start things back on an upward trend. The plan is supposed to help millions of people keep current on mortgage payments and to help prevent foreclosures from happening as well. It will work to help the housing market recover while helping workers pay on their mortgages to prevent a further crisis.

This plan comes with several different components. Here is a look at the three main components that make up this plan, how they work, and the goals of each component as well.

Component #1 – Offering Refinancing for Homeowners that are Responsible

The first component of the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan is to offer refinancing to homeowners that have proven to be responsible. This way they don’t continue to suffer because of falling home prices. Some people are having great difficulties dealing with their mortgage payments, since now their homes are worth far less than what they owe on their mortgage. This component of this plan will work to help those people refinance for lower rates and payments so they can continue to afford paying on their home without having to face foreclosure in the future.

Component #2 – Homeowner Stability Initiative ($75 Billion)

The second component of the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan is a homeowner stability initiative to the tune of $75 billion dollars. This will include a loan modification plan that will reach out to lenders to help them reduce payments and will also provide incentives to borrowers as well. This is expected to be helpful to 3-4 million people who own homes. Clear guidelines are laid out within the plan for the loan modifications that will take place as well. During bankruptcy people may be able to modify their home mortgages as well. It should also help out FHA loan programs and should provide more hope to those that own their own homes today.

Component #3 – Strengthening Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae

The third component of this plan is going to help strengthen the confidence in Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, which should help to keep mortgage rates low. This component has several different steps to it. It will provide for responsible homeowners low cost refinancing if they are dealing with problems due to home prices that are falling. This will help them to reduce the payments that they are paying each month so they are more affordable. There is also money to help prevent foreclosures as well.

Who This Program Will Reach Out To

There are many people that this plan is attempting to reach out to. It is focusing on those who own homes and who are at risk of ending up in foreclosure. It provides loan modification to these people. It also reaches out to those who have not been missing their payments. For families that have a lot of debt, there are special provisions in this plan for them as long as they going into debt counseling that is HUD certified. It should provide protection to tax payers, will provide counseling as well as outreach, and will limit foreclosures in the future as well.

How to Know if You are Eligible

So, now that you know a bit more about the Homeowner Affordability and Stability plan, you may be wondering how you can know whether or not you are eligible for this plan. Usually you’ll need to have enough income to make a new payment and you’ll need to have a fairly good payment history as well. Of course not all of the eligibility details are out yet, and they will be announced when the program gets started.

When the Program Starts (March 4th)

Wondering when this program will get started so you can start benefiting? Well, you’ll find that the program is going to get started on March 4th, when you’ll be able to find out a whole lot more about it.

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Investors Can Buy HUD Homes – Learn the Criteria

HUD government homes or repo homes where the mortgage was insured by FHA and then foreclosed upon may be bought as owner-occupied homes or by investors.  The process for an investor is different and all investors must abide by HUD’s guidelines.

Every foreclosed home for sale by HUD is first placed on the market for ten days where only buyers who intend to occupy the home are allowed to bid.  This is called the Exclusive Listing period and investors are not allowed to bid during the first 10 calendar days after the HUD home listing is posted.  Listings are posted every Friday morning and from that time, for the next ten calendar days, as an investor, you may not submit an offer to HUD.

Once the 10 calendar day exclusive listing period has passed, HUD opens the bid to the general public, which includes bids by investors. This general public bid period is where as an investor you can make an offer though a real estate broker who is licensed to sell HUD homes and these bids are reviewed and the highest acceptable bid will be selected.

HUD homes are priced and sold at market value or what homes in the area are selling for through an appraisal process.  If you, as an investor, are interested in a hudhome, you should indicate to your real estate agent to keep an eye on any given HUD home you are looking at for an investment to ensure you will have a chance to bid once the exclusive listing period for owner-occupied bids is closed.

If you are successful in making a bid on a HUD home as an investor, you must follow the guidelines HUD requires.  Within 48 hours after your bid acceptance, your real estate broker must submit to HUD a signed sales contract and then you will have 45 days to close on your HUD home investment.

Down payments are different for investor purchased HUD homes.  As an investor, if you win a bid on a one-unit hudhome, a 25% minimum down payment is required.  If you win the bid on two to four units, a 15% minimum down payment is required.

Earnest money is also required by HUD when buying a hudhome, even for investors.  HUD requires $1,000 earnest money for offers more than $50,000 but earnest money never exceeds $2,000.  $500 is required for home priced and sold at $50,000 or less and if you are purchasing a HUD vacant lot, 50% of the listing price will be your earnest money requirement.

As an investor, your earnest money may be returned by HUD under certain conditions.  For uninsured sales, 100% of the earnest money is forfeited by the investor for failure to close, no matter what the reason.  It is important to note here that even as an investor you only have 45 days to close so ask your real estate agent what is required by you to ensure you close on time and do not forfeit your earnest money.

If your sale is an insured sale, 50% of your earnest money will be forfeited for failure to close or if the investor is considered by HUD to be an unacceptable buyer.  100% of your investor earnest money will be forfeited to HUD if you fail to close on your HUD investment property for any reason within the 45-day period set by HUD.

All other criteria for buying hudhomes, whether you are an investor or buy the HUD home as an owner-occupied residence remain the same.  For example, once your bid is accepted as an investor, your real estate broker must submit your signed sales contract within 48 hours.  You and your real estate agent will then work with a HUD closing agent and submit the required documents to close within HUD’s 45 day time period. Failure to close in HUD’s timeframe, may cause you to lose your earnest money.

It is recommended that you use a HUD closing agent.  If you choose your own closing agent, HUD will not pay their fees.  HUD will, however, pay the fees of a HUD approved closing agent.

If you find you can’t meet the 45-day deadline to close on a HUD home, your real estate agent should contact the HUD closing agent two weeks prior to the 45-day deadline.  Extension fees are required if HUD accepts your Extension Request Form as submitted by your real estate agent.  All investors must pay these extension fees in certified funds, cashier’s check, or money order.  Fees are set by HUD on the following basis.  If the investment hudhome you are buying is $25,000 or less, the fee is $150.  If the investment property is $25,001 to $50,000, your extension fees will be set at $225.  Finally, if the investment home you are buying is $50,000 or over, you will be required to pay $375.  Again, all fees must be paid to HUD in certified funds as described above.

Buying a HUD foreclosure home as an investment can be an easy process if you make sure the real estate agent you are using is knowledgeable and qualified to sell hudhomes.  Seek out real estate brokers who are licensed to sell HUD properties and are aware of the timelines, bidding process, and deadlines for investors to ensure you win the bid.  Your real estate agent should also be versed in earnest money and down payments required by investors as they vary from owner-occupied dollars.  Finally, if you find you need to file an extension for closing as an investor on a hudhome, make sure your real estate agent understand the fees involved and how they are to be paid.

If you think a foreclosure home by HUD is an investment you want to make, remember that all HUD homes are sold on an “as-is” basis and do require a home inspection by a licensed home inspection contractor.  Make sure you understand that if any needed repairs or zoning changes are required that you will need to take care of this on your own and HUD makes no warranties or helps with zoning changes on your behalf as an investor.

Investing in a HUD home is a good idea if you wish to rent out the HUD homes you buy or revitalize them and resell them at a higher profit.  HUD urges you to make sure your real estate broker is extremely educated in handling your investment purchase.

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The HUD Home Process – From Offer to Closing Day

Purchasing a HUD home or a home where the mortgage was insured by the FHA and has gone into foreclosure is not as hard of a process as you may think.  Whether you are looking at a hudhome as part of the Good Neighbor Next Door (GNND) program or looking to purchase the home as an investor, there are some guidelines HUD homes for sale have and you should know about them and adhere to them to ensure your purchase.  Here we will go through the process of purchasing government homes from offer to closing day.

Who Can Buy a HUD Home?

Anyone can purchase a hudhome and the foreclosed homes may be purchased as an owner-occupied home or investors.  Buyers who are seeking a foreclosed home on an owner-occupied basis have a priority bid period over investors of ten days.

How Are HUD Homes Priced?

All HUD homes are sold at market value price or what is called the appraised market value.  A buyer can make any offer, but usually, HUD will accept only those offers close to the market value price, unless they offer a price reduction on a hudhome that isn’t selling.

All HUD homes are sold “as is,” meaning that HUD does not make any warranties nor do they guarantee the home’s condition.  Home inspections are recommended and required prior to buying a hudhome to ensure any needed repairs will fall within your budget or if you can roll them into your new mortgage.  Home inspections are ordered and paid for by the buyer and you should only hire a licensed inspector.

What Are HUD Deadlines?

Unlike a conventional home purchase where you and the seller may negotiate for as long as you wish, HUD has certain deadlines.  To be fair to every buyer, HUD has timelines that you must meet in your bid otherwise the bid you make on the hudhome will face cancellation.  For example, once your real estate broker sends your bid to HUD and it is accepted as the highest bid, your real estate broker must send your signed sales contract within 48 hours of the bid or your bid will be canceled and HUD prefers closings within 45 days of bid.

How Are Bids or Offers Submitted?

You must have your bid or offer submitted to HUD through a real estate broker who is licensed to sell a HUD home.  Offers are submitted through an electronic bidding process by your broker.  Each bid is stored within a computer and after a HUD set time period, the computer calculates the highest bidder automatically.  Your broker is then notified if you are the winning bidder and asked to submit a signed sales contract within 48 hours of your bid.  Failure to abide by the 48-hour period will cancel your bid.

How Are HUD Homes Listed?

All new listings by HUD are released weekly each Friday morning.  During the first ten days of any new listing on each Friday morning, HUD only accepts bids from owner-occupied bidders.  It doesn’t matter if you submit a bid on day one, day five, or day ten, as long as the bid has been received electronically, HUD considers all owner-occupied bids to be submitted simultaneously.  On the 10th day, all owner-occupied bids will be reviewed and winning bids are posted daily at 1:00 pm.  This initial 10-day period is called the Exclusive Listing Priority Period.

After the 10-day period has passed and no winning bids are confirmed, HUD will open up the bidding to the general public.  These general public bids are reviewed and in the event the property still remains unsold after general public bids, all daily bids received by 11:59 pm will be reviewed and winning bid results are posted the next day by 1:00 pm.  HUD reviews all bids after 1:00 pm on Friday afternoon or on Saturday or Sunday on the Monday following.

What is the HUD Home Closing Process?

Once your signed sales contract has been submitted to HUD through your real estate broker within the 48 hour time period, HUD will acknowledge your sales contract and provide your real estate agent a letter letting you know that you now have 45 days to close.  A HUD closing agent is assigned to you and will work with your broker to ensure you close on time with all the required documents.  It is important to note that if your real estate agent uses a HUD closing agent, HUD pays their fees.  If you use your own closing agent, you are responsible for paying all closing cost fees.

What Else Should I Know?

If you are buying a HUD foreclosed home, HUD will pay up to 5% commission to the selling broker, or your real estate agent.  HUD will also pay up to 3% of standard closing costs if you use one of their closing agents.  HUD will also reimburse loan origination fees of up to one percent on your new mortgage.  You can also ask your real estate agent to explain how earnest money can be returned and what requirements must be met.  Be sure to ask about how earnest money is refunded because if this happens to you, certain guidelines must be followed to receive all or half of your earnest money if you fail to close on the HUD home.

What If I Need More Time?

If for any reason, you feel you and your real estate agent or financial institution can’t complete the closing process within 45 days, your real estate agent must notify the HUD closing agent at least two weeks prior to your 45 day deadline and submit HUD’s form “Request For Extension of Closing Date,” and HUD may extend your timeframe for another 15 days.  Your real estate agent must provide appropriate documentation on why you need an extension in additional to certain monies required.

For example, with every approved extension request, HUD must also receive a cashier’s check, money order or other certified funds made payable to HUD that are considered extension fees.  The extension fees are based on the contract sales price.  For example, if the hudhome you are purchasing is less than $25,000, you pay $10 per day or $150, homes sold at $25,001 to $50,000 have a $15 per day fee or $225.  HUD homes that sell for over $50,000 and require the 15-day extension will pay a fee of $25 per day or $375.  Whether you need to pay $150, $225, or $375, these fees must be submitted to HUD in certified funds or money order as described above.

Purchasing a HUD foreclosure home requires you to keep in close contact with your real estate agent, especially if you require an extension.  All 15-day extensions applied for owner-occupied buyers will have no fees if your real estate agent provides to HUD documentation indicating a timely loan and loan application was made and that your mortgage approval is very close.  Further, if you are charged an extension fee, HUD retains all fees whether you close on time or not and then used as part of your closing costs.

Summing It All Up

Purchasing HUD homes for sale is an easy process if you utilize a real estate broker who is licensed to sell HUD homes and understands the HUD home buying process.  When going through any HUD approved real estate broker, ask them how knowledgeable they are about the entire process of buying a HUD home from offer day to closing day.

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HUD Homes for $100 Down Payment

On most FHA loans, a homebuyer would have to put down a 3.5% down payment.  Recently, they are now offering loans with 100% financing and only a $100 down payment for owner-occupied homes.  So how does the HUD homes for $100 work?

HUD does have special requirements on the $100 down payment hudhomes for sale.  All buyers must live in the property for a least one year and the $100 down payment option is not available to investors.  The buyer must offer the full asking price of the HUD home and the buyer must use an FHA loan for the purchase of the hudhome.  You must also meet the qualifications for an FHA-insured loan.

How Does the Program Work?

On every Friday, HUD lists their foreclosed homes for sale.  The first ten days, HUD accepts offers only from owner-occupied buyers.  This is called the exclusive listing period.  On the eleventh day, HUD can pull the listing to re-price it or open up the bidding to non-owner-occupied buyers.  The $100 down payment is good for those owner-occupied interested buyers in that first ten-day timeframe.

First, you can visit your realtor to get pre-qualified for the $100 down payment HUD program.  This is a process where you submit personal information to HUD and they will give you pre-approval for the program.  Next, you search for a hudhome for sale.  Once you decide on a residence, your real estate broker will submit the 100dollarHUDHomes offer to buy.  You will be competing with other buyers within the first ten days.  One you win the bid, you purchase the hudhome using an FHA insured loan.

Are There Special Requirements?

HUD does have some requirements in order for you to qualify for the $100 down payment hudhome opportunity.  They are as follows:

• It must be your primary residence and you must live there for one year.
• You must offer HUD’s full asking price to be considered.
• You must obtain and FHA-insured loan that has either a fixed rate or an adjustable rate and is 30 or 15 years in length.
• Your debt to income ratio must be 31%/43%.
• The maximum amount of the loan cannot exceed $362,790.
• This HUD offer is good on all HUD single-family homes, townhouses, planned unit development homes, and condos.
• You must have a minimum credit score of 580 and if you recently had a bankruptcy, it must have been discharged 24 months prior to your hudhome purchase.
• You must have two years of employment history and FHA mortgage insurance is required for all $100 down payment HUD homes.

How Do I Start?

You can speak with your real estate broker who can tell you what HUD homes are available for sale in your area.  You will work with them to get you pre-qualified for the $100 down payment option and obtain an FHA-insured mortgage through a conventional lender, such as your local bank.

The HUD $100 down payment offer will not last forever, so if you are interested in purchasing a foreclosed HUD home, contact your realtor today to get started.

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