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Landlord Liability for Dog Bites

 

Landlord Liability for Dog Bites

 

Landlords are often fearful to accept rent to tenants with animals especially dogs because the reasons that they are worried about is their liability if the dog can bite one of the tenant or otherwise injures someone that must take immediate action.

 

Of course this can be a valid concern by the landlord; but it is also an unnecessary concern.

There are only certain instances when a landlord may be held liable if a tenant’s dog bites or injures an individual.

 

 

Who Is Usually Liable?

 

Majority cases, if the pet or in a specific the dog harm, the owner of the dog is the one who is primary responsible. Since the liability for a dog bite often rests on the tenant, landlord must give an advise prior before the lease start, especially those with animals, to purchase renter's insurance.

Important thing that they always examine the policy to make sure it does not exclude coverage for injuries or damage caused by a dog or that it does not exclude certain dangerous dog breeds from the coverage.

 

When Is a Landlord Liable?

 

Keep in mind that each state has different laws, so it is important to check locally to determine the exact rules that may apply to you.

A landlord is not being held liable if a tenant’s pet or dog attacks someone. But According to Nolo.com, a landlord could be held accountable if they already know the dog was dangerous and could have had the dog removed.

 

 Download my app today! Text RE911 to 87778 to get my free real estate app, .  If you need help downloading my app, please call my Smarter Agent support team at 856-614-5423.

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A home warranty is an affordable way to cover the costs of unexpected mechanical failure of a major system or appliance in your new home. A home warranty is specifically designed to cover the kinds of repairs that home insurance does not: appliances, plumbing and electrical, air conditioning and furnaces, and pool equipment.

The average annual cost of a home warranty policy is between $250 and $400. Most home warranty companies offer comparable coverage within the same price range. The premium is payable at close of escrow and customarily protects you for one full year. Repairs are typically handled through the home warranty company with a minimal deductible. Often times the cost of the first year premium is offered as an incentive by sellers to solicit the sale of the property.

The age and condition of the home should be a consideration when choosing to purchase a home warranty. A fifteen year-old home with original equipment, versus a two year old home will likely have different financial risks. Your Realtor can help you decide if a home warranty policy is right for you based on your individual circumstances.

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Why Should I Consider a Home Warranty?

Homeownership is expensive enough all on its own, without adding the cost of repairs and replacements. When moving into a home where appliances and systems have been previously used, there is always the chance that the general wear and tear, or the way in which they were previously used and maintained, could cause breakdown and/or complete failure. These repairs/replacements can be astronomically costly and often times occur unexpectedly. A home warranty will protect you financially from most of the frequently occurring breakdowns of home system components and appliances.

No matter what policy or Insurer you use be sure to read the details of coverage, ie: the fine print. Many of these companies require that you call them absolutely FIRST when a repair is needed. If you call your neighborhood plumber, hvac or electrician, then the insurance company may not cover the work. So be aware of this detail now, before any emergency repairs are needed.

Discuss your unique needs and concerns with your home warranty representative. If you do not have a trusted home warranty representative, your Realtor can refer you to one.

This information is meant as a guide. Although deemed reliable, information may not be accurate for your specific market or property type. Please consult a Realtor professional or home warranty representative for more information home warranty policies.

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Should You Compare Quotes from Various Agents for Home Insurance?

Don’t be fooled by funny commercials and catchy slogans; insurance is quite complicated.  Varying levels of coverage, locations and other factors make insurance policies very different from one provider to the next.  That is why it is so important to compare various quotes from different insurance agents.

Wild Changes for Multiple Locations

Check out these findings from Bankrate for multiple quotes for various locations

Comparing Insurance Policies

City, State

Number of Quotes

Variation in Highest and Lowest Quote (in %)

Chicago, IL

4

121

Indianapolis, IN

3

56

Grand Rapids, Mich.

3

55

Columbus, Ohio

4

37

Racine, Wis.

3

37

Minneapolis

3

18

Bankrate used the websites of popular insurance providers to get quotes for various cities.  The parameters for the quotes were as follows:

  • Single family home
  • Full replacement policy
  • Value of home $250,000
  • Liability policy of $300,000
  • A deductible of $500
  • Medical coverage of $1,000 for each person

As you can see from the chart in Racine, WI the 3 quotes for the same property varied by 37%.  For higher priced areas such as Chicago, IL the quotes differed by as much as 121%.

What Causes the Differences?

photo credit: StockMonkeys.com via photopin cc

Every year the insurance department from each state will approve a set of rates which is based upon the actual losses in the state from prior years as well as anticipated claims for the upcoming year.  Each insurance company uses a team of actuaries to look at historical data to come up with a reasonable expectation of insurance claims for the upcoming year and compares that with the company’s financial ability to pay the claims.

Each insurance company has their own standards and guidelines for assigning rates.  One company may place a higher weight on the costs to build in a particular neighborhood while a second insurance company would place more emphasis on the rate of crime and possibility for a natural disaster.  This is one reason why it is so important to thoroughly investigate a new neighborhood and understand the area’s history before buying a home.

Rash of Disasters Take Their Toll

The disasters from that past few years all over the country have resulted in higher insurance in multiple areas.  Tornadoes in Missouri, flooding in Tennessee and hurricanes along the northeast have left a wake of millions of dollars of damaged buildings, automobiles and personal belongings.

All of these events, and many similar disasters, have driven up the cost of homeowner’s insurance. Along with these natural problems there is also the issue of higher costs to build a home after it is totaled and the decreased investment returns that insurance companies have experienced with the sluggish economy.

Before getting a policy with an insurance agent make sure all of your bases are covered.  You will obviously need a policy that will take care of your home and your mortgage loan if the property is completely destroyed.  You also need to take an inventory of your belongings to make sure they are protected in the case of burglary, fire or other event.  Some people have collections of valuable items such as art, jewelry and firearms.  Losing these items can be disastrous, especially if the insurance policy is not adequate for the loss.

Verona, Wisconsin Homes for Sale

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Welcome-to-Wisconsin-300x225.jpg?width=300The Wisconsin housing statistics are in for March of 2014. Here is an excerpt from what the Wisconsin Realtors® Association (WRA) had to say:

Home sales dropped for the third straight month in Wisconsin as the frigid temperatures and hefty snowfall continued into March, according to the latest analysis of housing market activity released by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA). Compared to March 2013, home sales declined 11.3 percent in March 2014, which contributed to a weak first quarter. First-quarter sales fell 8.5 percent compared to the first quarter of 2013. However, the median price of existing homes rose a modest 1.9 percent to $136,500 over the period between March 2013 and March 2014. Median prices were up 4.2 percent for the first quarter relative to the same quarter last year.

Even with spring officially arriving in the middle of March, the spring selling season has been slow to gather steam,” said Steve Lane, chairman of the WRA board of directors. “We are hopeful that the spring thaw will jump-start the selling season that traditionally gains momentum in the second quarter,” Lane said. Still, Lane noted that the first quarter sales remain above their levels of two years ago — a year that had a relatively mild winter by comparison.

Below are the number of Home Sales and Median House Prices for the state of Wisconsin, Rock County, and Dane County. These stats include Janesville and Madison. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to these figures. As you probably have heard, home sales & prices have been increasing over the past few years. This month again showed a decrease of home sales statewide, but an increase in home prices. Dane County's prices increased around 4% in March, year over year, while Rock County's median home price stayed nearly the same. Rock County did show an increase in home sales though, in contrast with the rest of the state.

Thinking of purchasing a home before prices or rates rise any further?! I'd be happy to show you any homes currently listed for sale. Feel free to visit Home Listings in Rock County to search for current Rock County properties or visit Home Listings in Dane County for homes in Dane County Wisconsin.

Now might be the right time to sell your Wisconsin home. Feel free to take a look at our cutting edge Rock Realty Marketing Plan! If you would like some insight into how much your home is currently worth, I would be happy to provide you with a free comparative market analysis. This is a report that gives a close estimate to what your home might sell for in your current local Wisconsin real estate market. Click below:

What's My Wisconsin Home Worth?

Has your home value fallen below what you currently owe? Have you experienced a hardship like divorce or job loss? A short sale may be right for your situation. Visit our page on Wisconsin Short Sales for more information.

Housing Statistics for the State of Wisconsin:

March 2014
Home Sales: 4,588
Median Home Price: $136,700

March 2013
Home Sales: 5,160
Median Home Price: $134,000

Housing Statistics for Dane County, WI:

March 2014
Home Sales: 490
Median Home Price: $203,000

March 2013
Home Sales: 534
Median Home Price: $195,000

Housing Statistics for Rock County, WI:

March 2014
Home Sales: 149
Median Home Price: $102,900

March 2013
Home Sales: 133
Median Home Price: $103,000

View my report from last month. Wisconsin February 2014 Housing Statistics

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24 Asset Management and VRM

Anyone else feeling totally conflicted on whose mandatory webinar training to attend, you know, ever since they started SCHEDULING RIGHT ON TOP OF EACH OTHER?! lol. Trying to get me to choose who I will serve or just major coincidence?

So obviously, they're not getting 100% attention tomorrow as I'll have my screen split and be fading the volume from one to the other every so often...since they TRACK your attendance. *sigh*

Thankful for replay links, I am...

Good night.

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To replace a gas water heater in your home, you need to follow a five-step plan. It is very important, first of all, to consider hiring a licensed and experienced contract to do the job.
The first stage is to get the old gas water heater off the wall or remove it from its current position in the home. Before you even attempt to remove the old water heater, you must shut off the gas using an open end wrench that can be adjusted to fit the valve.
Make sure that no gas is leaking by looking closely at the pilot light. If you have successfully shut the gas off at the valve you will see the pilot light die out (this is a slow process and does not happen instantly). Then smell the area and satisfy yourself that there is no small of gas in the area.
Turn the pilot light switch off and take off the exhaust duct which you'll see at the top of the water heater unit. Next you will need to close off the water valve (often positioned beneath the kitchen sink) then release the water from the heater into a large bucket or bowl. While waiting for this to drain, use a wrench to disconnect the gas from the heater.
Then connect the new parts of the flex pipe for the hot "in" and cold "out" before connecting a new flexible gas line. You will need to secure the gas line connections with strong putty over the fitting. Make sure you get the old fitting removed on the incoming gas supply using a wrench.
The next stage is to connect the new gas water heater to the water supply. Use sand paper or an emery cloth to shear off the ends of the pipes. You have to solder the segments of pipes using a propane torch. Now your new valve unit is ready and you must apply strong tape over the new fitting to allow a clean connection to the cold water flex-pipe. Next, you will need to solder a new connection between the valve assembly and the supply pipe that allows incoming water.
Once you have established the cold water connection, you need to attend to the hot water system. Solder a fitting to the outgoing pipe and then fill the heater with water. Turn the mains water stop cock on and then connect the gas flex pipe. Once the water has filled, open up the gas valve and ignite the pilot light.
From here you can set your desired temperature and begin using your new gas water heater.
It is always recommended that you hire a licensed and experienced contractor to replace your water heater.
At PamsVas.com we are here to support Real Estate agents and their assistant needs
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TREO International Are they legit?

I recently received this solication.  Does anyone have any experience receiving listings from TREO?

Thanks,

Gary

 

For more than three decades, TREO International has provided consistent management and disposition solutions for a client base of over 75 regulated financial institutions, government agencies and mortgage insurance companies, in addition to private investors. By excelling through many up and down economic cycles, we are known as a credible player in the Default and Real Estate Industries. 

What does this mean to you?

By being a part of our Elite Status Agent network, you will receive:

Discounts for Industry Conferences and Webinars

BPO and Desktop Valuation assignments (72.3% led to active listings & sales)

Notifications of our exclusive Note Sale events*

REO Referrals and Listings

·  Networking Opportunities

  DRE Accredited Classes

 Nationwide marketing for all of your listings

Join Our Network To Jump To The Forefront !!!!

You can join our network free of charge; the free membership excludes BPO and REO assignments

*If you are unfamiliar about note sales, we have an answer for that, too! We offer a substantial discount to the “Note School” training to those in our Network.

Although the Default Industry is not for everyone, if you have an interest in it, being a part of the TREO International Network will expand your knowledge and experience in the Industry. Our premiere network of nationwide resources, coupled with proven expertise, makes becoming a part of TREO International Network the right choice

Please see our website at www.treonet.com for more details.

TREO International…Your Default Industry leader!

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Buying a new home is quite an undertaking. The stress of buying a mortgage and planning on how you will pay back your lender can be a daunting process. It seems that a mortgage term can take a lifetime. Some mortgage periods last 20 years, most will go on for 25 years but there are 30-year terms available if you want to stretch out your payments over a longer period.

 

Before you can even start to do any calculations – and we will at a later stage – you will need to get some figures written down first. The significant figure, of course, is the price of the home you are buying. Next, you will need to write down a figure representing any down payment (or deposit); this is assuming there is a deposit, in this example we will work without a deposit sum.

 

So, how exactly is a real estate mortgage payment amortized? We have the price of your home – let us say you are buying a small condo in South Carolina valued at $100,000. You will have made the offer to the seller (via the real estate agent of course) and then you will need to establish a lender that is prepared to loan you the sum of $100,000 (remember you are not putting down any deposit).

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 The lender will offer you an interest rate by which you must pay on top of your $100,000. If you decide to reduce the amount of monthly payments you would normally go for a 30-year term, rather than a shorter period. At 30 years with a fixed rate of 4.5% throughout the life of the mortgage you would have to pay $506.69 a month.

 

Now, there are 360 months covering the life of your mortgage, so that's 360 x $506.69, which means over the life of your mortgage loan you will pay a total of $182,408. The first thought you will have is that you are paying some $82,400 more than the actual selling price of your South Carolina condo.

 

Well, it's the way a mortgage payment is amortized, so if you want to drag out the loan over 30 years then any fixed rate is actually a good bargain, despite the US interest rates at an all-time low in the present climate. These low interest rate figures may well go up at some point in the future but it would be unlikely that we will see the historic highs before the housing market collapse pre-2007.

If you are a Real Estate Agent and need our Virtual Assistants, CONTACT US

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Broker's Price Opinion is the way forward when hired sales agents use a method to calculate the selling price of a home that has been repossessed. One will usually find the need for a Broker's Price Opinion when a lender or a mortgage company thinks the expense of a property cannot be determined, therefore forcing the lender to order the BPO. It is the real estate broker that carries out the valuation.

The price that is determined from the BPO is issued in a report which can be a four or five page official document and includes key information such as:

• The neighborhood and property prices in the immediate ZIP code

• The price of similar properties in that neighborhood

• Regional market aspects

• Condition of the property

Sales trends are also taken into consideration and the BPO agent will also look at aspects like how much repair needs to be carried out on the property, whether the garden, fixtures, fittings and foundations are in disrepair and even crime figures which could lower the pricing opinion of the local area. 

A lender or a bank will hire an agent to carry out the BPO and there are a number of different reasons why they may order a BPO on a real estate property. These will include real estate owned properties where homes will have been repossessed following non-payment of monthly revenues, foreclosures, short sales, and sometimes just to double check a previous appraisal of a home's price.

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The estimated value of a property could be calculated by a real estate broker or a company that is certified to carry out a BPO. Another determining factor in BPOs is the cost it might take to get the home up to scratch and ready to sell on the normal market. A home that has been repossessed is more often than not in a state of disrepair, or it could have had the gas and electricity turned off. 

A home that has been through foreclosure may even require extensive work on the yard areas, plumbing, rewiring, fire or water damage, driveway repair or simply need modernization and redecoration carried out. These factors and costs are calculated in to the report by the real estate agent and then passed on to the financial institution, such as the bank, lending association or financial institution that has requested the BPO in the first place. 

If you are a Real Estate agent that specializes in processing BPOs, contact us about being your virtual assistant to help you process all your orders.

CONTACT US HERE for more information on helping you with your BPOs.

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I Am So “explicative” Over It!

I am sick of agent calling me to ask, “Will your property 666 Money Pitt Ln, you know, the one with busted pipes, will that go FHA?”

I am so flabbergasted at the question that I can’t figure out a creative yet, flagrant way to respond without coming off hostile or sarcastic.

When I am not sick of these agents calling me with these kinds of questions, I am tired of having to deal with agents who are too lazy to do their own research or at least, have a working knowledge of your profession.  If you are going to be an agent, work with buyers, you might want to have some kind of knowledge of lending products….just saying.

So, in other words, I am sick and tired of these lazy agents….I am. I have been in this business for 9 years, my 10 year anniversary comes up this September and in that 10 years, I can honestly say I have only met a handful of agents who seem to get it. It’s truly sad that our industry is comprised of so many who don’t see our industry as a profession….filled with professionals.

For goodness sake people, what other profession can you tell me that helps consumers make the biggest financial decision of their lives? Now….when you come up with some of those professions, stop and ask yourself, do those professional industries have the same amount of nincompoops in their profession?

Maybe I am just venting…maybe I have just leapt off the wall of reason, two feet into pure insanity but, I am just so done with idiot agents. I am…..I am over it.

Another example, last week, I had an agent ask me, “What should I tell my client?” I almost flipped out. I really almost had a Jeff Lewis flipping out moment. It took everything in my strength not to go off on this agent. I took about 3 seconds, centered myself, and replied, “You tell them the truth, exactly what happened.” She just couldn’t come to terms with it….”the truth”…she said, I said, “Yes”….and her reply was, “I could lose her as a client.” At this point, I wasn’t able to contain myself so, I just got quiet…didn’t say a word….an awkward silence fell on the phone call and after about 8 seconds or so, she just hung up on me.

Our profession is filled with less than professional people. Somewhere down the line, we got caught up and have somehow confused the definitions of Professional and Professionalism. What I mean is, some people think it’s not professional to tell another agent to do the right thing. In both these situations above, I got calls from Managing Broker who thought they were being nice to call me and tell me their agent wasn’t happy with me or that I cost them business. …..ooohh….Let’s just say, don’t call me to complain about me when the just of your complaint is, “Well, maybe you could have been nicer”.

I am not in the business of being nice. As a colleague, I will provide you professional service, I will provide you with quality customer service and that includes telling you when you are wrong. That include telling you, plainly, simply, without ambiguity what needs to happen. If that hurts your feelings, if the truth causes you some compulsion to cry or run to your Broker with a complaint…..well, go and talk with Judge Judy or Gordon Ramsay and see what they would say.

Now, at times….I will admit, my patience is thin and the day has been long and hard so, I can be less than my chipper, over the top friendly self however, I will go out of my way to help you. People who know me, know this to be true…I will help you but, I can’t fix stupid.

So….what do you need to know about me.

  1. I can’t fix stupid: If you are suppose to know something as a professional…..you better know it.

  2. I can’t work with liars: If I smell a lie….I will find it and in and…yes, I will be pissed so, don’t expect any empathy from me.

  3. I will not do your job: If I am not your Broker, don’t expect me to do your job. If I am your Broker, I hired you because; you know how to do your job.

  4. Be accountable: Don’t be afraid of accountability, you won’t grow and become a better person without it.

  5. Keep open to learning: None of us know it all, even I learn new stuff every day but, if you shut down to learning, if you shut your mind down to instruction, I have no time for you.

Agents / Realtors, let’s be professionals, let’s hold each other accountable, let’s stop doing others jobs and create an environment of honest discussion, free flow of ideas and most importantly, an environment where don’t have to worry about hurting feelings when truth is spoken. Sometimes the truth hurts…it just does.

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The Right Way to Investigate Your New Neighborhood

Investigating-Neighborhood-300x165.jpg?width=300

The house looks perfect and it has all the features you need.  The location is convenient for your needs and there really is nothing standing in the way of buying this particular property.  STOP.  Don’t buy the house until you do one thing; investigate your new potential neighbors.  Here are some tips for finding out the not so obvious facts.

Make Multiple Visits at Multiple Times

One of the best things you can do before buying the home is to visit the home are various times and various days.  The appearance of the neighborhood at 11:00 am on a Wednesday will likely be different from the appearance on a Thursday night.  Look for neighbors that are in the yard, on the street and how busy the roads are.  Are any of the neighbors engaged in any loud activities such as parties, electric tool use or other annoying sounds?  Take your time and make sure to visit the home on the weekend as well.

Chat Up Your Potential Neighbors

The people that will be your neighbors have the information you need.  However, it can be a challenge to get them to talk.  During your visits look for people out in the yard engaged in various activities.  Start a pleasant conversation and ask them about their opinion of the area and the neighborhood.  Ask a few open ended questions and give them a chance to talk.  Make sure to ask if there are any troublesome neighbors to look out for or any problems in the area such as sink-holes, poorly built homes or sewer issues.

Use the Internet

Various websites like Google and Bing offer maps and street views of nearly every known address.  Type in the address and look around.  It is likely that the pictures are at least a few months old if not a few years.  The home could look exactly like it does now or there could be some major changes.  Take time to look at the home you intend to buy as well as the adjoining properties.  You may discover something that raises a red flag and causes you to consider a different property.

Check Police Records

There are some websites and even smart phone apps that provide detailed police records for neighborhoods.  These sites will usually list things such as robberies, vehicle thefts, and violent crime. Some neighbors on one street may not be aware of crime that is frequently occurring one or two streets over.

See if anyone is Blogging

Sometimes there will be a blog or even a small community newspaper published for the area that you are considering.  If you can find the blog or recent paper take some time to review the information.  Local events, improvements in the neighborhoods and other items will likely give you enough detail to see if this is the right area for you.

Some of these steps may take a bit of time to complete and may seem awkward at first.  However, considering the large investment that comes with owning a home it really makes sense to spend some time researching your new neighborhood and ensure that it will be as nice as your new home.

Middleton, WI Homes for Sale
Waunakee, WI Homes for Sale
Beloit, WI Homes for Sale
Milton, WI Homes for Sale

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I received a email asking to join, I'm always spectacle these days, here is the email;

Press Release:

AMC Settlement Services Offering New Volume Opportunities

  

 

From: AMCSS Agent Coordination Department

December 2, 2013

  

 

Dear Valued Agent:

 

   AMC Settlement Services, a national provider of real estate valuation services, is currently in the process of aggressively expanding our preferred partner network. To ensure we continue to provide superior levels of service to our customer base, we are actively campaigning to on-board new agent relationships. You were referred as a current provider of BPO/CMA valuation products and AMC Settlement Services would welcome the opportunity to add you to our approved network.

 

     If you are interested in new volume opportunities, please reply to this email or by sending your request to amcssvaluations@amcssc.com anddonna.teti@amcssc.com . Your response should simply include a request for further information. Once received, our operational staff will deliver you an agent Set-Up package which will require your completion and return in order to be added to our approved agent network.

 

Thank you for your time and we look forward to potentially adding you to our network and initiating a mutually beneficial long-term relationship.

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I'm getting this email weekly. Anybody else getting this? What's the deal?

You have been selected to attend "Licensed Real Estate Listing Agents needed for Region 8 "........Don't Let The Window Of Opportunity Close! HUD, Chase, B of A, and several other Major Asset Management companies are currently recruiting in select cities and states and need listing agents. If you received this notice you are located in or around a high volume territory. Be the first to register in your Local County .

 

Find out what 2  MAJOR  Banks and Asset Companies are currently recruiting agents in select territories.....Hear real life testimonials from agents who ( IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS ) have Doubled and Tripled their listing volume with bank assigned assets . Hear live testimonials from AGENTS who have RECENTLY applied the EXACT same Tools and Techniques found in this webinar to start LISTING Bank Homes. You will receive the SAME information in this WEBINAR with absolutely no obligation to purchase anything.

 

**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:  In the sessions below for the FIRST TIME EVER we will be announcing the signup link to an Asset Company that has recently been verified to be actively seeking listing agents in your county..

 

 We will be working in your local area  2 DAYS ONLY - Register below now to ensure a spot in your local county

 

Friday, March 28th, 2014 

STARTS 10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST 

 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6449283666486304002

 

Friday, March 28th, 2014 

STARTS 12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST 

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8085693419175095554 

  

  

Monday, March 31st, 2014 

STARTS 10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST 

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3261439917372176897

 

Monday, March 31st, 2014 

STARTS 12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST 

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2404254055288245761

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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During the housing market down turn around 2007, millions of home owners suddenly found their homes were edging towards negative equity and despite interest rates dropping to historically low levels, many homeowners still went under and could no longer afford to keep up their mortgage payments.
This brought about foreclosure and lenders would often be forced to seize the home and repossess the property after it did not receive any monthly payments from the homeowner. What this meant was that thousands of homes across America became real estate owned, or REO. For those new home buyers, and even investors that have begun springing up, there are suddenly great choices of properties available.
But is it more difficult to buy a seized property than it would be to purchase a regular home that has been maintained and lovingly lived in? Usually potential home buyers will avoid buying into REO properties because there are a number of negative issues that frighten potential homeowners away.
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It is not uncommon to find REO homes in a state of disrepair, lawns that have not been manicured and mowed, windows that are boarded up and utilities like gas and electric not working. Sometimes the amount owed on the home happens to be more than its market value; this will immediately scare potential buyers off. But this is not always the case – some REO properties are auctioned off at ridiculously low prices and even if there is some maintenance work to be done (as there so often is) then it still works out to be a real value for the money.
If the lender simply holds onto the property as an asset value, it is not going to be making the lender any profit or money, so selling the home – even at a very low cost – is so often an option that lenders will consider. This is a win-win situation for buyers, but how does a home get into this state in the first place?
A home goes into a state of distress as soon as the homeowner fails to keep up with the mortgage payments. Usually if more than three payments are missed then foreclosure process starts to take place. The next stage is the equity has to be determined, and to achieve this we obtain a Broker's Price Opinion (BPO) or order an appraisal.
Contact us for more information on Real Estate agents that specialize in REO properties in your area.
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Wisconsin Quitclaim Deeds

Wisconsin Quitclaim DeedA quitclaim deed allows property owners to transfer whatever interest they may have in a specific piece of real estate. The Wisconsin statutes do not contain a specific form for deeds, but they do define what the different conveyances mean, and the minimum information necessary in each (Wisc. Stat. 706.02, 706.10(4)). To be eligible for recording, a deed also must meet all the local rules for content and format as well as the statutory requirements set forth in Wisc. Stat. 706.05.

As opposed to a warranty deed, a quitclaim deed offers no guarantees that the owner has good title or even ownership at all; it simply conveys whatever interest exists at the time of the deed’s signing. Once buyers accept it, they are left with little to no recourse against the former owner. This lack of protection makes a quitclaim deed unsuitable for purchasing real estate from an unknown party.

Yet, a quitclaim deed is fully sufficient to convey property in other circumstances. Consider the following scenarios:

  • Familial transfers: Quitclaim deeds are often used to transfer property within families, for example, between parents and children, siblings and other closely related family members.
  • Adding or removing a spouse: Whether resulting from marriage or divorce, a real estate owner can use a quitclaim deed to add a spouse to the title or to remove him or her.
  • Transferring real estate to an LLC or corporation: Since corporate transfers often happen between closely related entities, they are usually done with this deed.
  • Transferring real estate to a trust: Estate planning for subsequent generations often involves an initial transfer from a family member into a trust.
  • Clearing the title for insurance purposes: In the process of researching the chain of title, title companies may find a "cloud" on it. Generally this means that someone who is not identified in the ownership history may have an interest in the property. This can be amended if the person in question executes a quitclaim deed.
  • Removal of a potential interest holder: Prior to funding a loan, lenders may require someone who is not going to be on the loan, such as a spouse, to record a quitclaim deed, thus formally foregoing any future interest in the property.

Many of the above transfers are exempt from Wisconsin’s real estate transfer tax pursuant to Wisc. Stat. 77.25 as long as only nominal or no consideration is paid in exchange. Even if the transfer or removal of an interest falls under one of these exemptions, the transfer tax return form should be submitted in order to identify and document the exemption.

Further information about quitclaim and other real estate deeds is available at Deeds.com.

This article information was provided by Deeds.com. This is not legal advice and you are encouraged to consult legal counsel with any questions.
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Welcome-to-Wisconsin-300x225.jpg?width=300The Wisconsin housing statistics are in for February of 2014. Here is an excerpt from what the Wisconsin Realtors® Association (WRA) had to say:

For the second straight month, home sales dropped as Wisconsin recorded its coldest winter in decades according to an analysis of February housing market activity released by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA). Existing home sales dropped 10.1 percent relative to February 2013; however median prices actually increased substantially, rising 7.4 percent to $130,000 over the same 12 month period.

We live in Wisconsin. We expect slow sales in February,” said Steve Lane, chairman of the WRA board of directors. “But we broke many records for cold temperatures this winter, so it’s not surprising this year’s February sales were off the 2013 pace,” Lane said. “Weather extremes weren’t the only thing that conspired to dampen sales. Median prices have grown consistently since March of 2012 and mortgage interest rates have been climbing and are now almost a full percentage point higher than this time last year,” Lane said.

Below are the number of Home Sales and Median House Prices for the state of Wisconsin, Rock County, and Dane County. These stats include Janesville and Madison. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to these figures. As you probably have heard, home sales & prices have been increasing over the past few years. This February showed a decrease of home sale statewide, but an increase in home prices. Dane County's prices stayed fairly stagnant year over year, while Rock County's median home price was up over 20%!

Thinking of purchasing a home before prices or rates rise any further?! I'd be happy to show you any homes currently listed for sale. Feel free to visit Rock County, WI Home Listings to search for current properties listed in Rock County or visit Dane County, WI Home Listings for homes in Dane County.

Now might be the right time to sell your Wisconsin home! If you would like some insight into how much your home is currently worth, I would be happy to provide you with a free comparative market analysis. This is a report that gives a close estimate to what your home might sell for in your current local Wisconsin real estate market. Click below:

What's My Wisconsin Home Worth?

Has your home value fallen below what you currently owe? Have you experienced a hardship like divorce or job loss? A short sale may be right for your situation. Visit our page on Wisconsin Short Sales for more information.

Housing Statistics for the State of Wisconsin:

February 2014
Home Sales: 3,338
Median Home Price: $130,000

February 2013
Home Sales: 3,688
Median Home Price: $121,000

Housing Statistics for Dane County, WI:

February 2014
Home Sales: 331
Median Home Price: $193,000

February 2013
Home Sales: 349
Median Home Price: $195,000

Housing Statistics for Rock County, WI:

February 2014
Home Sales: 109
Median Home Price: $97,500

February 2013
Home Sales: 108
Median Home Price: $78,700

View my report from last month. Wisconsin January 2014 Housing Statistics

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Foreclosure filings are down to record lows, but a more sinister-sounding problem may be on the rise—"zombie foreclosures."

RealtyTrac released its U.S. Foreclosure Market Report for February, reporting that foreclosure filings (default notices, schedule auctions, and bank repossessions) were 112,498, down 10 percent from January and down 27 percent from the previous year.

Foreclosure filings in the month of February represent the lowest monthly total since December, 2006—a more than seven-year low.

"Cold weather and a short month certainly contributed to a seasonal drop in foreclosure activity in February, but the reality is that new activity is no longer the biggest threat to the housing market when it comes to foreclosures," said Daren Blomquist, VP at RealtyTrac.

"The biggest threat from foreclosures going forward is properties that have been lingering in the foreclosure process for years, many of them vacant with neither the distressed homeowner or the foreclosing lender taking responsibility for maintenance and upkeep of the home—or at the very least facilitating a sale to a new homeowner more likely to perform needed upkeep and maintenance," Blomquist said.

As of the first quarter of 2014, a total of 152,033 properties in the foreclosure process had been vacated by the homeowner. These “zombie foreclosures” represent 21 percent of all properties in the foreclosure process.

Owner-vacated properties have been in the foreclosure process an average of 1,031 days, nearly three years.

"One in every five homes in the foreclosure process nationwide have been vacated by the distressed homeowner, but it is closer to one in three foreclosures in some cities," Blomquist added. "These properties drag down home values in the surrounding neighborhood and contribute to a climate of uncertainty and low inventory in local housing markets."

The state with the most owner-vacated foreclosures was Florida with 54,908, representing 36 percent of the national total. Illinois (15,512), New York (10,880), New Jersey (8,595), and Ohio (7,780) rounded out the top five states for owner-vacated foreclosures.

Foreclosure starts fell back to 51,842, their lowest level since December, 2005. A total of 47,715 U.S. properties were scheduled for a future foreclosure auction in February, down 15 percent from the previous month and down 21 percent from a year ago.

Bank repossessions (REO) were 30,307 in February, up less than 1 percent from January. Year-over-year, REO properties were down 33 percent.

States with the highest foreclosure rates in February were Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, and Illinois.

Among metros with populations of 200,000 or more, Florida held nine of the top ten metros for foreclosure rates in February. The dubious honor of leader went to the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville metro, where one in every 296 housing units were in foreclosure—nearly four times the national average.

ww.dsnews.com

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Russia Took Aim at US Housing and Fired Warning Shot.

The claims may be inflammatory however, Hank Paulson, former US Treasury Secretary during the 2008 financial crisis that saw the bursting of the American housing bubble says he was approached by Chinese senior leadership who claimed that during our 2008 financial crisis, they wanted to partner with China to sell Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac securities in hopes of further crippling the US financial markets.

Hank Paulson, “Here I’m not going to name the senior person but, I was meeting with someone…. This person told me that Chinese had received a message from the Russians which was, “Hey Let’s join together and sell Fannie and Freddie securities on the market” The Chinese weren’t going to do that but again, it just, it just drove home to me how vulnerable I felt until we had put Fannie and Freddie into conservatorship.”

For many years now, I have been writing blogs on just how terrible our debt crisis is. I have been land blasted by the progressive liberal left that argue we don’t have a debt crisis and my fears are unfounded….or even worse, the stuff of conspiracy theories. I have stayed true to my believe that having so much of our debt controlled or in the hands of foreign countries that aren’t allies of America is dangerous and one day, may come back to haunt us. The quote from former Secretary of the Treasury further strengthens my position that wars in the future will expand to more than just ground forces taking over a sovereign nation however, digital warfare and economic warfare will become more common in this new century.

If you don’t see the urgency of our debt crisis and how our uncontrolled spending could be a fatal shot to our economic health as a country….just ask Russia what their opinion is. Based on this communication Hank had with China, our enemies see our debt crisis as an opportunity to bring us down. The fact that Hank would come out and say this now should be eye opening, it should shake this country to it’s very foundation. Lady Liberty will be crushed under the mighty weight of debt….a burden she isn’t naturally strong to carry.

My point, is that our Liberty, our Freedom, our America can only survive, thrive, prosper when we as a country are not vulnerable to outside economic warfare. Our problem is, economic warfare is preventable, it’s easily remedied by controlling our spending however, like a meth addict, what is it going to take for us to hit our preverbal bottom….what do we have to go through before those dependent on the system wake up and ask themselves not what your country can do for you but, what can you do for your country?

By then, it may be too late.

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BPO/Appraisel reports

Has anyone been experiencing a form called appraisal "ACI" form coming up on orders instead of the regular BPO forms to complete which also mentions something about a fee in the terms of agreement?  Is this actually a true appraisel report form?  The reason I'm asking, is that I have one of my vendors who's system will ask me to upload this program to install to complete a BPO report and some orders upload the standard BPO form I'm used to completing.  I'm wondering if this vendor is trying to fool the banks by getting agents to complete an appraisel report as a BPO fee report and then turn it in and get the nice appraisel fee?   I'm thinking this could be illegal if infact the "ACI" form is for appraisels?  These days, you don't know which vendors to trust anymore. They keep telling me their client has to sign off on the one's I am unable to bill to get paid, yet the ones that I have been able to bill are the ones that I used the standard BPO forms?  Anybody have a thought on this one?

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WinDS Conference 2014
April. 23-26, 2014
Green Valley Ranch Resort and Spa
Henderson, NV
Special Opportunity 
Freddie Mac on-site interviews available
 

  Do not miss this amazing conference.  

Open to Members, non-members, Both Men and Women

 

WinDS conference 2014

 

April 23 - 26, 2014

 

ROOM BLOCK ENDS MARCH 23, 2014 - BOOK YOUR ROOM NOW!

BOOK ROOM AT:https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_ei_new&eventID=10292914

 

Freddie Mac On-Site Interviews

 

Thursday, April 24, 2014 

Freddie Mac will be conducting on-site interviews for several of their sourcing areas, for conference attendees.  A list of registered attendees will be sent to Freddie Mac prior to the conference.  

 

Selection Process for Prospective Listing Brokers

 

If you would like to become a HomeSteps listing broker, please click here  to access the Supplier Profile Questionnaire and register as a prospective broker. This must be completed in order to be considered for an interview. 
 
For Additional Information and to access the Broker Sourcing Areas Go to:

 

 

 

 Additional Special Opportunity at the WinDS Conference - 

 
Bubba Mills, Corcoran Coaching is offering an extraordinary opportunity for one WinDS Conference attendee.  This is a chance to be mentored and coached to build your business, no matter what your business is. 

 

Mentorship opportunity for 90 days at no cost to the selected person. 

 

Person selected will be mentored by Bubba Mills.  Will "meet" 2 times per month.  $12,000 Value
 
Mission:  Success has no destination. 

 

Information for Application
Written proposal to include the following:
-          Someone who wants to build their business
-          Strong entrepreneurial spirit, vision and drive
-          Someone who wants to go down a journey
-          Involved in some form of community stabilization; not in sales, but number of families              served.
-          Willing to mentor others
-          Provide a description of what mentee wants, what is their desired outcome.
-          Tell your story outlining your past, present and journey you want for your future.
-          Include pictures, articles, etc. which you feel will "paint your picture."
Mentorship opportunity open to all attendees
  
Please submit all applications to:
shelleykaye@shelleykaye.com  (no later than April 4, 2014)

 

Winner to be announced at the WinDS conference
Silent Auction to benefit the WinDS Foundation:  
Thursday evening during Opening Reception
If you would like to contribute an item or give a donation, please contact shelleykaye@womeninds.com

 

 

Join us for our Awards luncheon on Saturday, April 26, 2014 (Included in cost of conference)

Honorees:

Marcia Toms, Project Manager, PEMCO Ltd.

Rodney Hood, Relationship Manager, JP Morgan Chase

 

 

Pre-Conference Courses 

 Available to paid conference attendees

 

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Freddie Mac Credit Smart Training and Certification  

8:30 am-4:30pm $25 fee includes lunch and handbook 

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 Agenda Subject to Change

 

Pre-conference training and certifications offered by industry affiliates.  Additional fees may apply.

 

 REGISTER TODAY:  WWW.WINDSCONFERENCE2014.COM

 

 AND BOOK A ROOM AT THE GREEN VALLEY RANCH RESORT AND SPA

BOOK A ROOM   Room block ends March 23, 2014

  

 BECOME A WINDS MEMBER:  SPECIAL OFFER:  $99 membership registration fee 

www.womeninds.com  or contact shelleykaye@womeninds.com for additional information

 

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